Meeting the Crew
I was up by 5:30 am. Not much sleep the night before. I was hungry,I went searching for breakfast walking all around the airport . The options were not desirable. Either the food was not my liking or the prices were too high.
I decided to check the basement floor and it was there I found the one. An authentic chinese restaurant filled with only locals, no tourist just chinese, my kind of thing. Not to mention they were selling cheap chinese food. I could not believe I was finding such a kool place in the airport. The price was right, the product was right.
I settled for a mixed lamb parts (intestine, liver, kidney, gut, stomach) soup. That stuff was so goood. It hit all the right spot. My day was off to a good start.
I bought a bowl of hot soup and some chinese desert costing me only 12 yuan or less than 2 dollars. It tasted really good. I made sure I went back for another bowl once I was back in beijing (see day 7 blog) one week later after the trip :). You get something good, do not turn your back from it.
I made my way to find the crew. At the air koryo counter (North Korean plane) there were some foreigners. I reckon some would be from my group. Once I found the group and received my visa, had a quick briefing from Amanda our lovely guide, I was ready. I stood in like to be checked in. The feeling was surreal.
Checking onto air koryo is interesting. They did not not pay much attention to luggages being overweight but any questionable items such as books, literature or religious relics will not be permitted.
My friend had a 40 cm hunting knife she travelled with from Mongolia and it was taken away from her. It also delayed her considerable to be be checked in. So in other words to make the process fast and simple, have the things you are allowed to have and discard those that you are not allowed to have. Look into it beforehand.
Once I was checked in I found myself having my first north korean interaction with a group of girls from North korea. They were members of the synchronizing swimming group backed from competition from Beijing. I engaged them in conversation and we talked about everything the time allowed us. They took selfies with me, asked me dozens of questions about my life and laughed at the fact that I didn't know how to swim. For a while it all seemed so normal, people enjoying the company of each other having simple fun.
With my boarding pass in hand I made my way through security heading to gate number 7 to await my flight.
The plane is an old russian plane. There is only 1 flight to North Korea on a given days. One flight from Beijing to pyongyang and back.
As I waited for the flight I had a chance to meet the other group members. It was a bigger group than anticipated. People from all over the world mostly australians and New Zealanders. It looked like a good bunch, I had a good feel about the group and looked forward to hanging out with the guys and the gals.
to which I answered "yes ma'am" delete....
Our flight was being held back on the tarmac, delayed by an hour we were being told
Flight to DPRK
The AC was not working well on the air koryo flight and it got hot, we started to sweat. The hour came and we took off. Finally off to the DPRK.
On the flight there are some formalities different from other flights. Once we were airborne, many people wanted to use the restroom. They were all escorted back to their seats being told only to get up when the ones in the restrooms have exited.
Soon it was time to be served. We were served the famous North Korea flight burger. I have heard so much about it. Finally I was about to sample it. No one really knows what the meat is. All I know it tasted really good. and opted to have my friends own who did not want his. A drink (unknown nature) was soon to follow. I was full and ready to relax. 30 000 feet above the Chines highlands, not a care in the world.
The flight was pretty smooth. We were entertained my North korean music and singing on tv screens. I had a copy of the famous much prized Pyongyang Times in front of me. Interesting fact about the Pyongyang Times is you will mostly see the old editions but unlike regular newspapers you cannot take them for free, they are sold about 10 chinese yuan to tourist.
Chines currency is widely acceptable in North Korean, USD and euro as well but I would highly recommend getting chinese currency especially in small units of 5 10, 20.
Not long after we landed at PyongYang. This is it. I was in North Korea. wow. I could not believe it.
My first glance from the plane can be seen from the landing video. The airport came into view, Pyongyang airport is not that big. but it is very new. The facilities are all modern. Three jet bridges but few planes. A few North Korean airplanes occupied the airport. The traffic there is not too busy.
We headed to immigration and the immigration officer was very kind. It was fast getting through immigration . What would prove very time consuming was customs. North korean take great interest to what one brings into their country and so be prepared for everything to be search, by everything I mean cellphones, laptop, wallets and all money out etc, books and magazine get special attention. it s not that bad,. it is just time consuming, after almost 2 hours I finally made it through customs. The group gathered and we met our local korean guides and headed to the bus waiting on us.
As we drove, I peeped out the window like a child from the country visiting a major city, over excited by all that I saw. I found every aspect of PyongYang to be fascinating since it was very different from what I am used to.
Lots of people always working, especially on the farm and roads nearby. Lots of people waking and many bikers.
We drove to the train station to wait for the group that travelled by train. YPT and most tour companies gives you an option to either fly in one way or return trip or go by train from beijing. The train from Beijing to Pyongyang takes 24 hours. I knew I was not up too. so i got the round trip ticket package.
After we picked up the train crew who all seemed very excited haha. I wonder what they must have drunk. We headed to the restaurant for dinner.
The restaurant was elegant. The tables well decked and the meals looked delicious. I was very hungry by then and ready to feast.
It is very customary in North korea at least almost every time we dined to have some form of entertainment at the end. singing and dancing is the norm after meals were served.
I was up by 5:30 am. Not much sleep the night before. I was hungry,I went searching for breakfast walking all around the airport . The options were not desirable. Either the food was not my liking or the prices were too high.
I decided to check the basement floor and it was there I found the one. An authentic chinese restaurant filled with only locals, no tourist just chinese, my kind of thing. Not to mention they were selling cheap chinese food. I could not believe I was finding such a kool place in the airport. The price was right, the product was right.
I settled for a mixed lamb parts (intestine, liver, kidney, gut, stomach) soup. That stuff was so goood. It hit all the right spot. My day was off to a good start.
I made my way to find the crew. At the air koryo counter (North Korean plane) there were some foreigners. I reckon some would be from my group. Once I found the group and received my visa, had a quick briefing from Amanda our lovely guide, I was ready. I stood in like to be checked in. The feeling was surreal.
My friend had a 40 cm hunting knife she travelled with from Mongolia and it was taken away from her. It also delayed her considerable to be be checked in. So in other words to make the process fast and simple, have the things you are allowed to have and discard those that you are not allowed to have. Look into it beforehand.
Once on the plane in my excitement I immediate took a selfie only to have one of the north korean flight attendants in my face within seconds and simple said
"excuse me sir, will you delete this picture immediately"to which I answered "yes ma'am" delete....
Our flight was being held back on the tarmac, delayed by an hour we were being told
Flight to DPRK
Soon it was time to be served. We were served the famous North Korea flight burger. I have heard so much about it. Finally I was about to sample it. No one really knows what the meat is. All I know it tasted really good. and opted to have my friends own who did not want his. A drink (unknown nature) was soon to follow. I was full and ready to relax. 30 000 feet above the Chines highlands, not a care in the world.
The flight was pretty smooth. We were entertained my North korean music and singing on tv screens. I had a copy of the famous much prized Pyongyang Times in front of me. Interesting fact about the Pyongyang Times is you will mostly see the old editions but unlike regular newspapers you cannot take them for free, they are sold about 10 chinese yuan to tourist.
Chines currency is widely acceptable in North Korean, USD and euro as well but I would highly recommend getting chinese currency especially in small units of 5 10, 20.
We headed to immigration and the immigration officer was very kind. It was fast getting through immigration . What would prove very time consuming was customs. North korean take great interest to what one brings into their country and so be prepared for everything to be search, by everything I mean cellphones, laptop, wallets and all money out etc, books and magazine get special attention. it s not that bad,. it is just time consuming, after almost 2 hours I finally made it through customs. The group gathered and we met our local korean guides and headed to the bus waiting on us.
We drove to the train station to wait for the group that travelled by train. YPT and most tour companies gives you an option to either fly in one way or return trip or go by train from beijing. The train from Beijing to Pyongyang takes 24 hours. I knew I was not up too. so i got the round trip ticket package.
After we picked up the train crew who all seemed very excited haha. I wonder what they must have drunk. We headed to the restaurant for dinner.
 |
| PyongYang Train Station |
By then we were tired, we headed to the hotel. The iconic Yanggakdo hotel located on an islet in Pyongyang. 47 stories, it can host a 1000 guest and is equipped with billiards room, bowling, ping pong, swimming pool, karaoke, many restaurants and bars including a revolving restaurant at the 47 floor. The place we would spend most nights in chatter.
Yangakdo Hotel
It was along day, an eventful one. I was in the hotel in room 26. I shared with with Philip a good friend and great room mate. We would have many good conversation before bed although we had doubts about each other when they first paired us up. We ended up becoming good friends.
So one can choose his or her own room but will have to pay more or the cheaper option would be to share.
day 1 in the books, well good night, I cannot wait for tomorrow.
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