Our first stop was a little town/village near the DMZ. We had lunch, which was KOREAN food. Can you believe it? We were with about 80 other foreigners. The people at my table would only eat the rice. I'm not sure how they survive here. I like the food...most days. I think I would hate my life if I only ate white rice everyday.
The pots are for the fermenting process of ....KIMCHI!! Woop, woop! People where eating right out of the pot that is shown. Kids were crowding around the pot to get a taste. Gross. It looks like vomit. Blehhh
On our way to the DMZ, we were able to see more of the village. The population is near 200 - all farmers who produce soybean and ginseng. They pay no taxes and are making the big bucks. I think our guide said they make around 100,000 US dollars a year. There is an United States military base in the village, but it is currently vacant. Almost everyone at that base is now serving in Iraq. :(
Well, just in case you were dying to go to a small crappy "amusement park", there is one right next to the DMZ. Who needs history, when you can ride on the Viking! haha.
This is the memorial for the United States- thanking the US for their efforts in the war and honoring those who were lost.
This is the "Freedom Bridge". This bridge is where NK brought POWS to their camps. It is also where they were released after they signed the armistice in 1953. The bridge is blocked off, because it leads to NK. The memorial is located where the bridge is blocked off. It is covered with posters, pictures, and writings.
The group of people next the statue were singing songs. I am guessing they were mourning the losses of loved ones during the war or the continued separation of family members.
The fence along the path to the bridge was lined with ribbon. All of the ribbons were written with messages- possibly of encouragement, hope, or of loss. It's interesting that almost everything is in another language. I am so nosey- I wish I knew. I wonder what I would want to say if it were my country? I can't imagine how frustrating it would be- to border an enemy that took someone you loved or still has someone you love. To know they are so close, yet you can't do anything.
The border fences are barbed wire. Be careful if you are planning on climbing over them.
I took the picture of the military dude (SK) in the watching post from fairly far away. Thank you zoom lens. Then, I read the sign when I was looking at my pictures. OPPS! Glad I didn't get shot! :)
The other picture is the walkway to the 3rd tunnel that SK found in 1978. I believe there are 5 total that they have been found? NK built them to attack Seoul, but they never did. This tunnel had the potential of sending 30,000 troops through within an hour. We couldn't take photos in the tunnel. The tunnel was very wet and we had to crouch down to walk through. Everyone was complaining that they had to wear helmets, but I'm pretty sure I heard people's helmets hit the rock ceiling at least a dozen times. haha. I can't imagine what the conditions were like as they built the tunnel. They must have been soggy, wet, and cold for months. blehhh.
The statue is supposed to symbolize the two parts of Korea coming together as one. I was trying to give them a hand, but it is harder than it looks- literally.
Before we went into the tunnel, we watched a short video on the DMZ and went in their small museum. The video was completely ridiculous. They made the DMZ look like it was now one big park full of flowers, animals, trees, and benches. Like we were going to take our families there to frolick with the flowers and hangout ...they forgot to mention the occasional bullets that be flying at your head. Sure, it is full of trees and nature, but there is no peace in sight. I'm not sure what they were trying to show, but they are delusional. For those who aren't sure what the DMZ is, it stands for Demilitarized Zone. It is along the 38th parallel and cuts Korea in half. It is a buffer zone along the border and is very heavily secured. There is no "border line", but the zone is 2.5 miles wide. The DMZ is controlled by many barbed wire fences, soldiers,cameras, and super sweet spies (I'm guessing).
NORTH KOREA! Woop, woop! Well, they were very strict about taking photos, so I had to literally stand on my tippy-toes and hope that I was aiming towards land and not the sky (see pic of other people looking ridiculous). The soldier dude was watching our every move, so I thought I should maybe follow directions. :) The pictures were disappointing, but I feel like you can tell what it is like over there- the land anyways. As I looked in the binoculars, the houses looked like they fairly new or in good condition and they were all the same. Like right out of a suburban development. I saw no people or any movement over there. I have read, that it is more like a " mock town" for only the outside observer to see. I'm sure the other side of the mountain, out of everyone's view, is full of shacks and poverty- little to no running water. North Korea is facing a near famine, thus they are placing stricter laws on the people. If they try to escape, the punishments are a lot harsher and they face more jail time. It's hard to know what is truth and what are lies, but either way, North Korean people are suffering even more.
The last stop on the tour was Dorasan Station. South Korea built this train station for the future. Seriously. They are hoping to have this train run through NK, China, Europe, and eventually Great Britain. They are putting all their marbles in one basket and assuming the other countries will be SUPER EXCITED for this new line of transportation. As for right now, the train goes to the Unification village- when it was open. They (SK) are waiting until a certain president (I'm sure you can guess which one..) changes his mind or dies... The tour guide said they thought four years. Hmm... I wonder where they got that number from? Do they know something we don't? Personally, I think he is dead already. The papers here seem to think so, as well.
I was so surprised to see Mr. President Bushy at the train station. I guess he was there during the grand opening and signed those materials- railroad stuff. If you look closely at the picture, he is signing with the marker upside down. Even South Koreans can get a good laugh at our brilliant president. I mean that with the utmost respect. wink. :)
First of all, I am writing this in South Korea. I decided that Communism wasn't for me, so I came home to my fabulous apartment. The DMZ tour was very cool, but I was a little disappointed that I didn't get closer to the border of North Korea. The tour usually goes to Panmunjom (Unification Village), which is the site where North Korea and South Korea signed the armistice in 1953. An armistice is a contact to stop fighting during war and negotiate peace. It does not mean the end of the war, as we can see with the two sides relationship today. There has been more tensions between the two sides in a recent months. A Korean women was shot on the North Korean border. She was on a tour on the NK side and walked too far away from her designated area. According to the NK side, they told her stop and turn around. She did not listen, so they shot her. Most people say that it was the women's fault, but she still didn't deserve to die. Also, there has been issues with some SK protesters. They have been launching gas balloons over the border that contain propaganda leaflets. Thus, this has led to stricter border restrictions, so little tourists like me, can't soak up some history in NK. SO SAD. Geeez. Don't they know how important I am? Apparently, not.
Christmas is next week! Yeah! Can't wait! Have a fabulous week getting ready and baking massive amounts of food! Safe travels to all who are getting in a car and venturing out in the snow. I will be thinking of you. I will leave you with my "Christmas photo". I went to a professional establishment called Miller Time. They were really great. They even offer you a beverage..or two. :)
oh...here is a new friend of mine. Her name is Angelina. She says, "hello."
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