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I took photos of North Korea using my iPhone

The part the government doesn’t show

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North Korea is one of those countries you can barely call a tourist destination. Our idea of it is limited to the picture painted by words of people who have been to Pyongyang, and the photos sanctioned by its own government.

Tours are mostly restricted to the capital, and can only be done through state-owned travel agencies. What many people don’t know is there are ways to see at least three more North Korean cities — the parts the North Korean government doesn’t want tourists to see.

The Gear

Using my iPhone 7 Plus and the Ztylus Revolver M Series Lens Kit, I got to peak at and capture Sinuiju, Uiju, and Chongsu in North Korea by going along the border city Dandong, as well as the Yalu River, the body of water that separates the two countries.

The 6-in-1 lens system offers the following combos: wide-angle + telephoto, fisheye + telephoto, and macro + super macro. Just to get it out of the way: I don’t find the macro and super macro lenses to be as useful since the phone needs to be pointed at subjects really close — less than one inch away — for the camera to focus.

The best I could do were these small flowers and insects from around Dandong that don’t really say much about the place. The bokeh on these photos is cool, but I’d much prefer a portrait lens especially when traveling.

The wide-angle + telephoto and fisheye + telephoto combos are great though, especially because the telephoto lenses provide up to 4x zoom without losing quality, while the wide-angle and fisheye capture so much more than the iPhone 7 Plus’ main lens.

The Bridge

View of Sinuiju, North Korea and the Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge

Three bridges connect China to North Korea but only the Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge is being used. Majority of North Korea’s international trade is done between Dandong and Sinuiju through this bridge.

Beside it is this pedestrian bridge that any tourist can use but ends in the middle of the river. Both bridges were bombed during the war, but this one was never repaired. On the other side of the river is a ferris wheel, water slide, and people playing basketball.

The Mountain

Dandong is where the Great Wall of China starts in the east and it sits across a mountain called Hushan.

When climbing to the top, there are a few of these passageways that you can use as resting points.

From one of the windows you can see the remainder of the wall that you need to climb.

Getting to the top is no easy feat but it’s worth it since you get a good view of Uiji county.

Here’s Dandong, China on the left, and Uiji, North Korea on the right.

You can go down through the other side so you can get a closer look at agricultural land and some houses in Uiji.

At the foot of the mountain are signs prohibiting people from crossing the border…

… as well as some North Korean products like ginseng, tiger bone liquor, and soap you can buy as souvenirs. They’re also selling North Korean Won, but they’re most likely counterfeit.

The River

Another way to see North Korea is by taking a van further up Dandong. Speedboats cross the Yalu River past this broken bridge, and bring you to an area that’s already North Korean territory.

Up close you can see houses and buildings in Chongsu, North Korea that look abandoned.

But as you go along the river you’ll find signs of life: cows, farmers walking around, and occasionally, their pet dogs. I even saw a lady doing her laundry along the river.

This is what most of the houses I’ve seen look like. Unlike Pyongyang that has plenty of signs of urban development, this part of North Korea remains mostly rural, with agriculture as one of the main sources of living.

Before the boat turns around, you’ll see this bridge that locals use to cross to another part of North Korea. I saw some kids swimming in this area, and a few people on their bikes wearing clothes that look like they’re from the 1980s.

On the way back, the Chinese guide will try to sell you a North Korean bill, which, again, is probably fake.

Apart from the usual North Korean souvenirs I’ve seen in other shops, the ones sold at the wharf include Matryoshka dolls, plush keychains, and selfie sticks.

These photos don’t tell the whole story, just like a Pyongyang tour isn’t a definitive representation of North Korea. For sure there’s a lot more I didn’t see, both good and bad, beyond these border cities; but seeing North Korea through a different lens, no pun intended, without the state-organized tours is one of those life experiences money can never buy.

Before this trip, I thought I’d see heavily barricaded cities with soldiers constantly patrolling the border. Instead, what I saw were North Koreans living their lives as normally as possible, enjoying the outdoors, looking up and not down on screens like the rest of the world.

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Features

Inside London’s biggest Samsung experience space

Samsung KX ignited my grandest domestic fantasies

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July 27, 2026

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Stepping into King’s Cross following an invigorating stroll past St. Paul’s Cathedral and a quick ride on the Circle Line shifted my mood into pure aspiration.

London bustled around me, and as I approached Coal Drops Yard, I felt a familiar flutter. I caught myself mentally evaluating my outfit and my posture, filled with a sudden desire for my surroundings to match my grandest domestic fantasies.

I walked forward with genuine admiration, unaware that my destination was Samsung KX, the brand’s 20,000 sq ft. experiential flagship store in the UK.

Stepping inside felt like walking into a cathedral of modern design. Massive glass windows bathed the interior in natural light and offered sweeping views of people strolling outside.

They seemed oblivious to the marvels inside, while I stood frozen, already convincing myself I needed every single item on display.

Between workstations and digital playgrounds

The store layout struck an intentional balance between high performance and everyday living. At the heart of the space stood the Samsung Vision AI displays, arranged as a central living room showcase with striking fixtures. It felt like a high-end Mayfair penthouse.

Watching the Vision AI coordinate the living space, I realized true luxury is complex technology operating so seamlessly I never had to think about how it worked.

Beside it, productivity setups featuring the Galaxy XR showed how modern work could blend into personal space just as gracefully.

Further inside, the latest mobile lineup filled the display tables with the Galaxy Z Fold7, the Galaxy Z Flip7, and a curated set of matching accessories. This was before Samsung officially unveiled the next-generation Galaxy Z Fold8 and Z Flip8.

WATCH: Hands-on: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8, Flip8, Ultra

Beyond the devices, the space opened into a lively hub with a kitchen bar, an event workshop area, and a Gamer Bus parked near a Mobile Gaming Bus Stop.

Surrounded by tech journalists comparing specs, I realized high-stakes gaming wasn’t exactly my domain. My idea of extreme competition usually involves bidding wars on vintage decor. Still, I could appreciate the craft behind the setups.

Sanctuary for the aesthetic soul

I gravitated toward the far right of the store, where the smart home ecosystem came alive, skipping the productivity workstations behind the central hub without a second thought.

I’m helpless in front of a bespoke living space that looks like it belongs on the cover of Architectural Digest.

Samsung had divided the smart home section into distinct real-world scenarios, each one showing how connected technology could elevate a different corner of a home.

We started in the Smart Kitchen, where the Home Control system was on demo. One press on the panel turned the kitchen into a control room.

The refrigerator screen and the ambient TV both displayed live security feeds from the home CCTV. I envisioned a delightful image of myself entertaining guests while keeping an eye on my front door from the island counter.

Further in, townhouse-style suites brought the vision to life. There’s a multi-room layout with a dining area, and a garage with integrated laundry along with a dedicated AirDresser.

Nearby, a solo living setup demonstrated the Samsung Routine feature. Through SmartThings, it adapts lighting and climate the moment you step through the door.

Where whimsy meets fine art

The highlight of the tour, for me, was a dedicated Moomin zone, showcasing The Frame Pro alongside Samsung’s flagship TVs.

Tove Jansson created the Finnish fairytale trolls in 1945, filling her stories with quiet adventures in Moominvalley. Seeing the illustrations rendered on ultra-high-definition displays made the technology feel closer to gallery art than showroom tech.

 

 

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I stood there imagining how easily I could switch my living room wall from a classical oil painting to a whimsical illustration, depending on my mood. It proved that modern displays can soften a living space instead of overpowering it.

Walking out of Samsung KX, I realized the tour gave me far more than a look at new gadgets. It sparked a real desire to curate a home that feels smart and beautifully tailored to my life.

Experiencing technology through the lens of design and daily comfort makes me want to dream bigger. To build a space where every moment feels simpler and maybe… a little more elegant.

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Hands-On

Hands-on: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8, Flip8, Ultra

Samsung’s freshest foldables come out of the oven

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July 23, 2026

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Three foldables. Three very different people.

Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra — the productivity maximizer. Heritage form factor, everything cranked to the max.

The Galaxy Z Flip8, pure style. The smallest, loudest, most you one of the bunch.

And finally, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 — the new beginning.

Built for the way most of us actually use our phones: watching, reading, scrolling. The one I keep reaching for and have a feeling THE Michael Josh will be using a lot.

Same family. Three ways to experience it.

Head over to our hands-on video on the latest and greatest Galaxy Z8 family for you to know your best bet.

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Apps

The case for traveling without a plan

How Grab’s 5-Star Travel Guide replaced my spreadsheets, for personal travel anyway

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July 16, 2026

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I have somehow acquired the reputation of a man permanently in transit.

Fill your feed with airport check-ins, road trips, hotel rooms, and race bibs for a decade, and people stop seeing travel as a hobby. They start treating it like a personality trait. And naturally, everyone is always breathless to know: “MJ, how on earth do you manage it all?”

Here’s the truth: every trip begins long before I pack a bag. A good itinerary takes time. Flights, hotels, transfers, backup plans, restaurant lists all have to fit together well enough to make the trip feel worthwhile.

My colleagues would probably call me a Type A traveler. They’ve watched me run international coverages and high-stakes business trips entirely off spreadsheets. Spreadsheets!

Timed down to the exact micro-second, complete with contingency plans for every possible disaster short of an alien invasion.

And they are completely right. For work. But personal travel? Oh, darling, personal travel plays by a completely different set of rules.

The luxury of letting go (and the panic that follows)

A month before departure, I am all about securing the basics. But once the flights and rooms are locked in? I completely let go.

I would much rather leave room for fabulous, unexpected curiosity than fill every single hour with another rigid destination.

Part of it is sheer decision fatigue. I spend so much of my professional life making executive decisions that the last thing I want to do on vacation is have a minor existential crisis at 2:00 p.m. over which artisanal café deserves the honor of my afternoon. I want to wake up, look at the sunlight filtering through the curtains, and let the universe decide.

Of course, ironically, that absolute freedom can spiral into its own fabulous brand of panic. I know I want to go somewhere chic. I just have absolutely no idea where.

Which is precisely how Grab’s 5-Star Travel Guide quietly became the most indispensable accessory of my latest getaway.

Finding somewhere to spend the afternoon

I recently flew to Cagayan de Oro to spend some quality time with my long-term, long-distance, low-commitment, casual boyfriend. (Yes, it’s complicated, but the mystery keeps it glamorous.)

I arrived with absolutely zero plans, and this was entirely deliberate. If there is one thing a strong, independent person must never do, it is rely on someone else to dictate his day — even if that someone is technically his own handsome, local tour guide.

Instead of waiting around for an itinerary to be handed to me, I simply opened my Grab app while I’m in downtown and slithered over to their Travel Guide.

My fabulous friend, Syra, glided over from Midtown, and we agreed to rendezvous in Uptown to finally check out H Proper Coffee, which was practically screaming at me from the top of the Grab list.

It’s the city’s legendary third-wave coffee pioneer — complete with a deeply impressive roastery — and it has recently, thank goodness, expanded to Makati.

The guide also flirted with other familiar, delicious names like Milestone Coffee (where Syra and I had gossiped over lattes just six months prior), alongside Bowerbird Coffee, Fukuro, Apostrophe Café, The Lone Wolf, and Grae Coffee.

I must say, the recommendations were utterly spot-on. They weren’t just highly rated by random bots; these were the actual enclaves that the city’s stylish locals genuinely know and love.

Dinner dilemma (solved!)

The Travel Guide came through yet again when the sun began to set and the crucial question of dinner arose. Now, I absolutely adore discovering hidden neighborhood gems and family-run eateries. They possess a soul that no luxury restaurant could ever replicate.

That said, every proper holiday demands at least one evening where you put on a sharp blazer, splash on some Tom Ford, and indulge in a truly beautiful meal.

Unsurprisingly, Cucina Higala seduced me all over again. Look, I am a creature of habit. If I know an establishment delivers perfection, I will return.

Seeing it sitting proudly near the top of Grab’s curated list felt like a delicious little pat on the back; a quiet validation that my impeccable taste is worth trusting after all.

Beyond the plate

Refreshingly, the guide doesn’t stop at flat whites and fine dining. Grab’s Travel Guide also highlights local luxury hotels.

Though, fair warning, a few of them are the sort that make your credit card wince slightly. (But darling, they are five-star for a reason.)

It also curates actual experiences. Browsing through the app, I found options for everything from heart-pounding whitewater rafting and sharp Pilates studios, to a world-class pottery atelier, a folkloric museum, and a sweeping, adventure-filled mountain retreat.

Some were already on my radar, but others? I would never, in a million years, have stumbled upon them myself. And that is the thrill of traveling this way. You leave just enough empty space in your diary to be utterly surprised.

For the spontaneous traveler

Let’s be clear: planning every detail down to the last centavo is not a flaw. When you’re younger or traveling on a strict budget, every single peso counts, and a meticulously plotted itinerary ensures you maximize both your wallet and your time.

But eventually, thank heavens, you reach a stage in life where the itinerary matters just a little bit less. A stage where time and budget stop being the terrifying monsters standing between you and a boarding pass.

You learn that not every single meal requires three weeks of intense counter-research. Not every hour requires a reservation confirmation number.

Sometimes, the most breathtaking, unforgettable moments happen simply because you wandered into a doorway you weren’t even looking for.

So, book the flight. Secure the hotel. Figure out how you’ll get around. Then let your feelings, and Grab’s Travel Guide, decide the rest.

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