Yesterday I called into the tourist information office in C0huna only to find out that my planned drive for today – the Gunbower Island Forest Drive – was closed as the track was flooded in various places. Following some discussion with the very helpful lady in the tourist office we opted for a shorter drive less deep into the forest area, to the north of the regular drive and along roads which were, by this stage, officially open. In normal drier times there would be no water anywhere near the roads we took today at this time of year. As it was, we would still be driving along the edge of the wetlands which had come out to meet us as opposed to us having to drive further into the 26,400 hectare flood plain to encounter the wetlands!
Continue reading “Gunbower Island – Not the drive we had planned – Day 314”
En Route to Mt Kumgang
Leaving Wonsan, unlike most visitors who return west to Pyongyang or head north to Hamhung, we took the coastal road south to the Mt Kumgang region. This mountainous region borders with South Korea along the infamous demilitarised zone (DMZ) which is ironically one of, if not, the most militarised areas in the world. Tourist access to the DMZ on this side of the country is not possible.
Continue reading “En Route to Mt Kumgang”
Overland from Pyongyang to Hamhung via the Ullim Falls
With the military and other celebrations to mark the 70th anniversary of North Korea’s foundation, on the 9th of September, over it was time for us to head east for the first of two forays which would let us see a large part of this, much less frequently visited and scenically beautiful, side of the country. For this trip we started with a bus ride, 300 kms across the country giving us a wonderful introduction to this beautiful scenery and an insight into country life more generally. This review is a photo journal of my trip from Pyongyang to Hamhung, on the east coast of North Korea. Continue reading “Overland from Pyongyang to Hamhung via the Ullim Falls”
Gudvangen to Voss via Stalheimskleiv Road
Given the slight hassle we had getting our boat from Flåm to Gudvangen, notwithstanding that we had a ticket, purchased well in advance, we didn’t want to take any chances with the bus from Gudvangen to Voss, especially as I had always felt this to be the least clear and thus most uncertain component of our trip between Oslo and Bergen.
Accordingly, as soon as our boat docked at Gudvangen we headed straight for the bus – no dilly dallying or looking around the Viking village of Gudvangen. Continue reading “Gudvangen to Voss via Stalheimskleiv Road”
Lough Melvin
Returning to Enniskillen from a visit to Bundoran we decided to take a less travelled route back along the R281 to Belcoo and from there to Enniskillen.
While the whole journey was a lovely drive, the most scenic part was driving along the south western shore of Lough Melvin. Continue reading “Lough Melvin”
The Rambling Wombat 