A Tourist In North Korea
Jan 25, 2019, 10:00 am
#92
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Jan 25, 2019, 9:18 pm
#94
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Seattle & Seoul.... and now, Maastricht....
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Jan 26, 2019, 5:31 pm
#96
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Fascinating that the itinerary, and everything on it has not changed in 6 years since I've gone!
Like its the exact same sights. Exact same books they pull out at the library. Even the mass games card-flippers images are the same.
Great pics!
Like its the exact same sights. Exact same books they pull out at the library. Even the mass games card-flippers images are the same.
Great pics!
Jan 26, 2019, 6:13 pm
#97
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Jan 26, 2019, 9:31 pm
#98
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Dubai
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. Definitely an experience of a lifetime!
!Cheers, our_kid
.. Yes, I am guessing a lot has not changed in six years!It would have been for African govt VIP's visiting for the National day. A few African countries have good relations with North Korea.
Jan 29, 2019, 4:22 am
#100
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Dubai
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. Yes, it was a truly memorable experience of a lifetime to get a small glimpse of such an isolated and recalcitrant country.
Jan 30, 2019, 7:23 am
#101
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,835
A simply epic trip report Daniel.
As for those criticising for moral reasons, further integration and assimilation (of which tourism is a part) is a much better strategy to generate positive change rather than reinforcing isolation, in my view anyway.
As for those criticising for moral reasons, further integration and assimilation (of which tourism is a part) is a much better strategy to generate positive change rather than reinforcing isolation, in my view anyway.
Jan 30, 2019, 7:10 pm
#103
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Germany
Posts: 3,779
An amazing report!!
Was the western guide an employee of Koryo Tours, or does North Korea now employ Westerners in its tourism bureau? Judging from various past NK trip reports, there used to be just a North Korean guide and a minder.
Surprised to learn there are 15 hotels open to foreigners in Pyongyang - I thought there were just Koryo Hotel and Yanggakdo (and of course the upcoming Trump Ryugyong Tower)
Did you have hot water in your hotel in Pyongyang? Your obsession with hot spring water at RyongGang looks a little suspicious
Was the western guide an employee of Koryo Tours, or does North Korea now employ Westerners in its tourism bureau? Judging from various past NK trip reports, there used to be just a North Korean guide and a minder.
Surprised to learn there are 15 hotels open to foreigners in Pyongyang - I thought there were just Koryo Hotel and Yanggakdo (and of course the upcoming Trump Ryugyong Tower
)Did you have hot water in your hotel in Pyongyang? Your obsession with hot spring water at RyongGang looks a little suspicious
Jan 30, 2019, 10:39 pm
#104
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Dubai
Posts: 3,301
. Yes, better to have some exposure to foreigners than none at all. Ms. Chang's choice of lipstick was surprisingly Chanel! The western guides often bring hard-to-get items into the country too, like English-Korean language learning books.Thank you, kayexalate
.An amazing report!!
Was the western guide an employee of Koryo Tours, or does North Korea now employ Westerners in its tourism bureau? Judging from various past NK trip reports, there used to be just a North Korean guide and a minder.
Surprised to learn there are 15 hotels open to foreigners in Pyongyang - I thought there were just Koryo Hotel and Yanggakdo (and of course the upcoming Trump Ryugyong Tower)
Did you have hot water in your hotel in Pyongyang? Your obsession with hot spring water at RyongGang looks a little suspicious
Was the western guide an employee of Koryo Tours, or does North Korea now employ Westerners in its tourism bureau? Judging from various past NK trip reports, there used to be just a North Korean guide and a minder.
Surprised to learn there are 15 hotels open to foreigners in Pyongyang - I thought there were just Koryo Hotel and Yanggakdo (and of course the upcoming Trump Ryugyong Tower
)Did you have hot water in your hotel in Pyongyang? Your obsession with hot spring water at RyongGang looks a little suspicious
. The Western guide is employed by Koryo Tours. If you do a private tour you just get Korean guides. Yes, I was surprised there was more than a few hotels too. They get a fair few number of Chinese tourists too so I guess they spread them around the various hotels. No issues with hot water or power. I was expecting freezing cold showers and frequent black outs but we had no problems whatsoever.
Feb 3, 2019, 12:26 pm
#105
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: DCA
Programs: Delta Gold
Posts: 158
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.
