So on Friday I met up with my room mate from orientation (Loren) and as we didn't have school, decided to go on a tour to the DMZ/North Korea....there were 5 of us all together and the jouney there was quite tense, mainly due to the fact that the tour guide gave us the protocal in such a way, it made me nervous!
Most places were off limits for taking pictures, but I got a few pics of North Korea from the observation deck.
The 3rd Tunnel (ok so those that don't know the 3rd tunnel was the biggest and most advanced of the 4 made.....capable of transporting 30,000 north korean troops with weapons to seoul within an hour-for a suprise attack!), it was a very educational tour, and once down in the tunnel itself, discovered the disadvantages to being tall in a country full of tiny people! The JSA has an office. that has a line across the room that literally divides north and south korea (like the Niagra Canada/USA or Greenwich line)...the line goes through the room, across the table and up the window and if that wasn't tense, you are surrounded by heavily armed north korean and south korean guards facing each other meters apart with the most fierce looks you will ever see!!!
Dorsan station was built by the south korean government in preparation for the unification of the 2 koreas...these guys are pretty certain it WILL happen. The train line goes from south to north but its bizarre being in an brand new unused station, with everything in full operation. I got myself a stamp to say that i'd been to North Korea, but was forbidden to put it in my passport, as many countries would not allow you in after seeing that you have visited a communist state such as North Korea. Freedom bridge is made out of wood and many koreans visited to pay respect.
I had made some new friends on the return journey with an american couple living in Busan, I decided to spend the afternoon with them to see some nice sights in Seoul. First stop, Insadong Market. The second stop was Gyeongbokgung Palace. This place is pretty immense - can you tell that it was founded in 1395!
It cost 3K to go inside and unfortunately my camera died halfway around, so look out for part 2 in the coming months....maybe i'll do a Winter edition, haha!
The weather was great and the were many traditional koreans in preperation for Chuseok.
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