Mansudae Water Fountain and Grand Monument
I got up to my first full day in North Korea. I looked out my window to catch a glimpse of Pyongyang. The 26th floor offered a great view of the city.
Day 2 was going to be a packed day. I made sure I ate a stomach full at breakfast. The breakfast each day was simply amazing. Among the best buffet breakfast I have had. The room was very clean and helpers everywhere to help us. Breakfast started at 7 am to 9 am.
Our guide whom we affectionately called Miss Lee did an awesome job each day explaining to us the history of the city and things we were seeing.
Mansudae Grand Monument
Next stop was Mansaudae Grand Monument not to far from the Water Fountain Park. It is the iconic bronze statues of the two great leader President Kim IL Sung and General Kim Jong IL. It was a day before victory day. The day the Koreans celebrate their victory over the Japanese. People bought flowers and gathered to present them at the monuments where the two great leaders are. There are lots of protocol and formalities associated with this event.
No hats, no hands crossing, no smiling, no peace sign when taking photos, no photos blocking any part of the leaders and no cropping of the pictures of the leaders among many other things. For me too much to remember so I just did what the person in front of me did. So if they got into trouble, well you guessed it. Some of the group members bought flowers at the nearby flower shops as we were heading to the bus. Flowers cost 5 euro.
There were many people in line to honor the great leaders. Qe filed in and waited our turn. Those with flower were in the front and went closer to lay it down while the rest of us looked on and did some ceremonial gestures. After we were allowed to take pictures in a short window of time. Most working people use the day before victory day to honor the great leaders to avoid the bigger crowds mon Victory day which would be next day.
Book Shop and Koryo Museum
Next stop was a book store where we could buy a few souvenirs. I bought some stamps and postcard. Most of these shops sell propaganda posters which is a really big selling items in the DPRK. Basically propaganda posters are posters hat seeks to ridicule the U.S. I did not buy any such poster. Some cost as much as 50 euro for a poster especially the ones the DMZ.
Then we walked around the city to the bus, again a special moment for me to be outside downtown Pyongyang walking and feeling a part of my surroundings.
Later we went to see a museum. A Koryo museum. Here a few pictures from the museum.
People's study house
It has as its foundation the three symbols: a sickle, hammer and brush (pen) representing what the leaders call the foundation to building a nation. To build a nation you need three classes the sickle representing farmers, the hammer representing the builders and the brush representing the intellectuals.
Day 2 was not done, next on the schedule was Juche tower. Built to commemorate Kim Il Sung 70th birthday. The Political philosophy known as Juche became the official autocratic state ideology in 1972. Although scholars often described Juche as "self-reliance: The true meaning of the term is much more nuanced. The DPRK claims Juche is Kim Il Sung 's contribution to international thought. Juche societies all over the world donated stones
At the top of the Juche tower, we got a clear aerial view of the entire city. A 360 degree angel view of Pyongyang. It was a spectacular view. I was able to also spot some familiar buildings without my guide. The best was the view of my hotel, situated on an "island" it stands out against the competing background, the Yanggakdo hotel has hosted many tourists including many heads of state.
Next stop was the science tech building followed by the children's palace. A place of learning, books,computers and many other forms of education items to engage in. it's a brand new state of the art building that the north koreans are very proud of. So quick joke. On the fist floor, there is a beautiful flower like a hologram, it's a flower named after the dear leader and on the many seats there but right at the center is a set reserved for Kim Jong un I was told, the current leader. Myself and some other group members almost sat in it. There is a small red card with the words I suppose that it is reserved for him but it is al written in korean. To think I almost sat there, oh boy.
Korea has two children's palace at least in pyongyang. It will leave you speechless on many levels. There you will see children performing. Masters of their craft. the grand finale was a performance about an hour put on by the children, I only recorded a few snippets.
We were hungry and left to eat dinner. It was quite yummy. korean bibimbap, try that some time will you.
It was a long day but we still made it to the roof top that night to the revolving restaurant to chill and become acquainted. Tomorrow is Victory day.
I got up to my first full day in North Korea. I looked out my window to catch a glimpse of Pyongyang. The 26th floor offered a great view of the city.
The first stop was Mansudae Water Fountain. A beautiful area surrounded by ancient buildings and water fountains. I loved this area because I get excited whenever I am outside walking, breathing the fresh air and seeing the people. It is the people not things that excites me.
Our guide whom we affectionately called Miss Lee did an awesome job each day explaining to us the history of the city and things we were seeing.
Next stop was Mansaudae Grand Monument not to far from the Water Fountain Park. It is the iconic bronze statues of the two great leader President Kim IL Sung and General Kim Jong IL. It was a day before victory day. The day the Koreans celebrate their victory over the Japanese. People bought flowers and gathered to present them at the monuments where the two great leaders are. There are lots of protocol and formalities associated with this event.
No hats, no hands crossing, no smiling, no peace sign when taking photos, no photos blocking any part of the leaders and no cropping of the pictures of the leaders among many other things. For me too much to remember so I just did what the person in front of me did. So if they got into trouble, well you guessed it. Some of the group members bought flowers at the nearby flower shops as we were heading to the bus. Flowers cost 5 euro.
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| Flower Shops |
Next stop was a book store where we could buy a few souvenirs. I bought some stamps and postcard. Most of these shops sell propaganda posters which is a really big selling items in the DPRK. Basically propaganda posters are posters hat seeks to ridicule the U.S. I did not buy any such poster. Some cost as much as 50 euro for a poster especially the ones the DMZ.
Then we walked around the city to the bus, again a special moment for me to be outside downtown Pyongyang walking and feeling a part of my surroundings.
Next we visited the people's study house. There are two of them in Pyongyang. This is the old one. The new one the Sci Tech building we saw later that day. The People's study house technically classifies as a library.
Inside are also learning centers where people learn principally Chinese and English. The first video is koreans learning Chinese and the second is English.
Then my favorite part of the day was here, lunch time , hot pot style.
Party Foundation Monument and Juche Tower
The next stop was the party's foundation monument. Built in 1995 . A 50 m high monument in the heart of Pyongyang. An image known to anyone with familiar with North Korea. The image represents the forming of the socialist party of North Korea. It has as its foundation the three symbols: a sickle, hammer and brush (pen) representing what the leaders call the foundation to building a nation. To build a nation you need three classes the sickle representing farmers, the hammer representing the builders and the brush representing the intellectuals.
There are three belts to the tower. pictured below are only two belts representing artwork of korean history through the ages.
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| Yanggadok Hotel |
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