TheRamblingWombat Myohyang-san

International Friendship Exhibition

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Throughout our tour in North Korea our guides went to great lengths to extol the virtues and wholesomeness of North Korea and its Leaders and took great pride in the fact that it and its people are pure, clean and devoid of negative outside influences. Our guide told us of how the State makes every effort to protect itself and its citizens from everything bad and wicked. This, of course or at least for the domestic audience, explains why North Korea isolates itself from the outside world rather than the outside world isolating itself from North Korea. Continue reading “International Friendship Exhibition” →

TheRamblingWombat Myohyang-san

Pohyon Temple – Mt Myohyang

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Pohyon Buddhist temple, one of the few places of worship in North Korea open to foreign visitors, dates from 1042 and the Koryo dynasty. It was founded by a monk named Kwanghwak and is named after the saint that guards the morals of Buddha. The current incarnation of the temple mainly dates from post the Korean war (1951-53) when the temple complex was extensively damaged by US bombings with over half of the buildings completely destroyed. Continue reading “Pohyon Temple – Mt Myohyang” →

TheRamblingWombat Myohyang-san

Eternal Life Monument – Yeong Saeng

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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” →

TheRamblingWombat Myohyang-san

Treasures in the Mountains

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From the beautiful to the bizarre

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” →

TheRamblingWombat Riga - Introduction & General

Long Distance Bus services, including to Tallinn

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Riga’s International bus station, which also services domestic locations outside the Riga area, is very conveniently situated at the southern end of the Old City and a few hundred metres from the train station. Local trams, trolleybuses and buses pass within a very short distance of the station as well.

While the station is small and services are limited it is clean, well laid out and has everything necessary for your trip into or out of the city, including a tourist information office (Live Riga) for those arriving. Continue reading “Long Distance Bus services, including to Tallinn” →

TheRamblingWombat Riga - Introduction & General

Getting around in Riga

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Most visitors with just a day or two in Riga will generally not have time to venture beyond the Old City area and what they want to/ have time to see can easily be reached on foot. There is no doubt that walking is the best way to get around the Old City area and, indeed, slightly beyond.

In planning my trip I knew I wanted to spend a bit of time exploring the Moscow District. I also wanted to visit the massive Soviet Victory Monument across the Daugava River and the former KGB building. The latter I ended up walking to and it’s really not that far from the Old City centre anyway. Continue reading “Getting around in Riga” →