A Tourist In North Korea
Feb 5, 2019, 12:12 am
#107
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Dubai
Posts: 3,301
Thanks Daniel for another amazing trip report. Thank you for sharing it. I've read several other accounts from other visitors to N. Korea, several that mention minders following them to the bathroom or two sided mirrors in hotel bathrooms-- stuff like that. I didn't get the sense that you experienced any of that.
I would love to visit N. Korea someday, and now just await for travel restrictions to loosen for us.
I would love to visit N. Korea someday, and now just await for travel restrictions to loosen for us.
. Yes, I was expecting the trip to be abit more 'Potemkin'-like but we didn't really experience any of that. Hopefully after the second Trump-Kim meeting in Da Nang the US will relax the travel restrictions.. Yes, it was great to get a brief glimpse 'behind the curtain'.
Feb 5, 2019, 2:54 am
#108
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Let me check my Logbook
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Posts: 2,350
Many thanks for investing the time and effort into making this fascinating Trip Report. Also thanks for the pictures of a land I expect I will never visit. I got a question for you. When you entered North Korea did anyone ask you if you were bringing any Bibles or religious literature into the country?
Feb 5, 2019, 12:13 pm
#109
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: BWI
Posts: 1,782
I recommend that you read A River in Darkness: One Man's Escape from North Korea by Masaji Ishikawa. I downloaded and read it on my kindle. Very interesting read.
I suspect that the people that are cheering and smiling are doing so because 1) they believe the crap about North Korea and their leaders or 2) they are scared to death to not be cheering along (fear of being turned in for not being patriotic).
I suspect that the people that are cheering and smiling are doing so because 1) they believe the crap about North Korea and their leaders or 2) they are scared to death to not be cheering along (fear of being turned in for not being patriotic).
Feb 5, 2019, 10:52 pm
#110
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Dubai
Posts: 3,301
Many thanks for investing the time and effort into making this fascinating Trip Report. Also thanks for the pictures of a land I expect I will never visit. I got a question for you. When you entered North Korea did anyone ask you if you were bringing any Bibles or religious literature into the country?
. Bibles and religious literature were all banned. They looked at your books at customs. I only had my Koryo guidebook with me though.I recommend that you read A River in Darkness: One Man's Escape from North Korea by Masaji Ishikawa. I downloaded and read it on my kindle. Very interesting read.
I suspect that the people that are cheering and smiling are doing so because 1) they believe the crap about North Korea and their leaders or 2) they are scared to death to not be cheering along (fear of being turned in for not being patriotic).
I suspect that the people that are cheering and smiling are doing so because 1) they believe the crap about North Korea and their leaders or 2) they are scared to death to not be cheering along (fear of being turned in for not being patriotic).
The people living in the capital live a relatively good life (by DPRK standards) and are the most loyal to the regime. The conscripts in the parade are also their sons, daughters, brothers and sisters etc. so there was at least some genuine excitement and adulation for the soldiers.
Apr 7, 2019, 6:27 am
#112
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Cape Town
Posts: 25
Very similar to what I saw last week there. Going with a smaller group can be better as one can be slightly more flexible .. We managed to see a Buddhist temple and talk to the monk for nearly an hour .. a highlight of the tour. There was zero interest in searching cameras, pictures, etc. on entering or departing from the airport.
Apr 8, 2019, 5:01 am
#113
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Dubai
Posts: 3,301
Very similar to what I saw last week there. Going with a smaller group can be better as one can be slightly more flexible .. We managed to see a Buddhist temple and talk to the monk for nearly an hour .. a highlight of the tour. There was zero interest in searching cameras, pictures, etc. on entering or departing from the airport.
Apr 14, 2019, 12:48 am
#118
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Dubai
Posts: 3,301
. I am guessing the 737 was there for some of the African VVIP's attending the independence day celebrations.. Great to hear you had Ms. Chang showing you around the country. I hope you got to hear her wonderful singing too.
Apr 23, 2019, 10:16 am
#119
Moderator, Trip Reports
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Holy Cow Daniel-san, what a simply stupendous report. Amazing in fact. I read the whole thing. Having my consultant hat on for a moment, I'd hate to think of the non-billable hours the whole thing took you to complete! North Korea is definitely NOT on my bucket list - I'm happy to simply live vicariously through you.
Apr 23, 2019, 11:11 am
#120
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: AA
Posts: 14,743
Holy Cow Daniel-san, what a simply stupendous report. Amazing in fact. I read the whole thing. Having my consultant hat on for a moment, I'd hate to think of the non-billable hours the whole thing took you to complete! North Korea is definitely NOT on my bucket list - I'm happy to simply live vicariously through you.