If you have read others of my North Korea entries you will be aware that monuments to, statues of and murals and pictures of the Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il liberally adorn the country. Every city, town, and indeed village, has an assortment of these. I do hasten to add, though, that these items are not on every street corner as some more sensationalist observers like to portray. Continue reading “Eternal Life Monument – Yeong Saeng”
We were given a choice of two hotels for out overnight stop in the Mt Myohyang area. The first was the luxury Hyangsan Hotel, tucked away at the base of Mt Myohyang. A couple of our group, wisely, chose to stay here so we did get a look around – see below. Continue reading “Sleeping, Eating and Coffee from Heaven”
Mt Myohyang, in addition to being a favourite recreational area for the Great Leader, Kim Il-sung, and the Dear Leader, Kim Jong-il, is a sacred mountain area as, according to legend, it was the home of King Tangun, forefather of the Korean people. Continue reading “Walking on Mt Myohyang”
When we visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun (mausoleum of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il) in Pyongyang we were guided through numerous rooms full of certificates, degrees, awards, vehicles, boats and much more, bestowed upon the Great and Dear Leaders during their lives. There were literally thousands of items on display here.
This abundance of accolades and gifts was but a mere foretaste of what was to come. Continue reading “Treasures in the Mountains”
No-one outside North Korea really knows how many people died in the 1994-2000 famine and estimates range from 240,000 and 3,500,000. The collapse of the Soviet Union left the country without its traditional external support, a series of droughts and floods lead to failed harvest after failed harvest and the centrally planned economic system failed so disaster resulted.
So, what do you do when your country is going through a horrific famine and thousands of people are dying of starvation or hunger-related illnesses? Continue reading “And all they wanted was Sex”
It had been a long day but having finished dinner around 10pm there was still one more activity prior to calling it a day. It was time to eat some some petrol baked clams. Continue reading “Try some petrol baked clams”
We had been up since around 6am so when we arrived at our hotel, the Ryonggang Hot Spring House, at around 8pm we well and truly needed a rest. But no, before we were given our room keys we had to eat dinner first. Such is the life of a tourist in North Korea. Continue reading “Ryonggang Hot Spring House”
Those who have read others of my North Korea entries will be aware of what North Korea thinks of the United States. Since 1866 when the US warship, the General Sherman, was destroyed and all its crew killed after it sailed up the Taedong River seeking to engage in trade with, and land missionaries in, the country against the expressed wishes of the Korean Imperial Court, the United States has been seen as the very devil incarnate. The US continues to be held responsible for everything negative in North Korea. Every opportunity to demean, belittle, humiliate and insult the US is availed of. Continue reading “Sinchon Museum of American War Atrocities”
Nampo (or Namp’o), having started out life as a small fishing village, is now North Korea’s most important industrial and port city. It is located about 50 kms to the south west of Pyongyang and 15km from the mouth of the Taedong River. Continue reading “Nampo – North Korea’s Industrial Region”
The Rambling Wombat 