Day 7. Leaving North Korea

Leaving North Korea
Well the only item left on the itinerary was to take the flight back to Beijing. A few scenes on the way to the airport.

The airport was not busy. Pyongyang airport almost never is busy. there was one flight in the schedule. Our flight bound for Beijing. going out of North Korea is easier than coming in 10 fold. Not long after I was had a boarding pass ready for my flight. They kept my visa. 

I did have a little hiccup. The North Korean Officials said I had already used my double entry chinese visa twice and could not be on the flight. Well you can imagine my state of mind at that time. After much conversation, we were able to convince them must have been an error,  they made me sign a statement saying I take full responsibility if anything goes wrong. A statement I happily signed. 
Flight out

Captured a North Korean  Passport while waiting for flight

Once in Beijing, It was time to eat and you guessed it back to where it all started. The same cheap authentic chinese restaurant and yep had the same thing, Lamb interior soup for usd $1.25. I am happy to be back in China but still no real internet, need a VPN. 
Back in China

Final Thoughts post North korea trip

Day 6: Mausoleum, Palace of the Sun, New Street tour, a wedding, amusement water park

Mausoleum
The last day would prove to be very different. Well we had to be dressed up. I had no formal clothes, A friend borrowed me a shirt (Thanks Otto). It was the day we would be going to visit the Mausoleum where the two great leaders lie in state. 

Yes the actual bodies of President Kim IL Sung and General Kim Jong IL, mummified bodies lay in state in a sealed glass coffin where Koreans go to pay their respects.  

No surprise they would not allow us to carry our cameras. It's a long process to get inside the palace where the leaders are. There are lots of security checks, spinning mats wiping our shoes, air blowing machines I suppose to clean us. There are lots of stairs and escalators. It's advisable no arms crossing, no funny poses, erratic laughs, an occasion to take very serious as there are countless guards at every turn watching your every move. 

We finally made it to the inside and I was astonished to see Kim IL Sung  body in front of me, then  kim Jong IL was a floor below. 


We surveyed the place and saw more of the awards given to the two men. Degrees, diploma and plaques lines the many rooms. 

After we were back outside, toured the gardens and then the Palace of the Sun. Picture seen below. Then tours outside the mausoleum a bit after going to the Kumsusan palace of the sun for a group photo.  

Traffic Lady

Finally I got the much sought after photo of a traffic lady. Traffic ladies are as korean as it gets. they have to be single, beautiful and can only work up to 25 years old. It is an amazing spectacle to see the display they put on but hard to capture on camera. It is said they are all personally chosen by Kim Jong Un  input.

Next we went to a very modern Part of pyongyang, call New street. I really enjoyed this part of the tour. It was a time to be outside walking the streets and be free to explore like I like to do when travelling, to see the locals close up. We moved in a group, there's never a point when you can wander away from the group. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed it.

We made a stop at another Stamp shop then had lunch in a nearby hotel. 

Propaganda Stamps, Postcards and Posters are attraction for most tourist

One member of the group got an original ever first issues stamp by the DPRK for $80 eur

Moran hill and invading a wedding

The next stop was a walk up to Moran hill to catch a view of the city from on top. On the way we saw a wedding and asked to take pictures with the couple. They said yes.

And another traffic lady

Water Park

Last stop was a water park. This is a very popular place in Pyongyang. I have seen this place on many youtube videos before. It is big and pretty decent. I forgot my gopro and hence many videos  that I could produce. I did do some of the slides and spent the rest of the day swimming, sleeping, in the gym, sauna,  and more swimming.

We were heading back to the hotel to eat. It was our last night in the DPRK. On the bus one of our korean guides decided to sing us a good bye song, it actually made my eyes watery. The fact that I met these good people and will never see them again. Tomorrow our lives go separate ways and that would be it. Only the memory remains.

After dinner we met at the revolving roof top restaurant at the hotel to enjoy ourselves, one last time to see our korean guides and even to be together as the Victory day  YPT tour group 2017. Later, some people entertained themselves with bowling, karaoke and good conversation

Good Night. Tomorrow we must part ways. Off to China 

Day 5: ICBM, Friendship Exhibition, Ryongmun Cave, Duck BBQ

ICBM
We woke to the news that last night an ICBM had been tested. I' ve always seen this on TV but I never thought I'd be in North Korea when something like this actually happens.

The morning news the day after the launch

The mood on the street was festive. It normally happens in North Korea after the launch of an ICBM. The nation celebrates with spontaneous mass dances. We were told there would be many celebrations throughout the day. So very different from what I've been exposed to. I was not worried about the timing. I wanted to see how the North Koreans talks about this.

The plan for the day was to head out to the Friendship Exhibition in MYohyangsan north of pyongyang. It was another long drive about 2 1/2 hours. A good time to catch some sleep on the bus.

The scenes on the way to the exhibition house. The picture with guys on the bike is one of my favorites. It's displaying the hotel, Yanggakdo where we were staying.

Mass dancers celebrating

Friendship Exhibition 
On the way to the Friendship Exhibition house I got a few pics as well. see below. The exhibition house is an enormous building housing all the awards, accomplishments of the two great, leaders. It houses diplomas, degrees, medals, gifts of all sorts,  all over the many  rooms too many to count. It goes on and on but sorry cameras were  not allowed. 
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The building: the Friendship Exhibition museum along with one of the new korean guides.

Ryongmun Cave
Ryongmiun cave  is a very amazing place, about two hours walking going deep into the earth, with temperature reaching as low as 12 degrees celsius. It affords the traveler a chance to see nature's artwork.

 Accompanied a by a very funny korean guide, it will prove to be one of the highlights of the tour.  After all that walking you get hungry and its already time for dinner. a lot of time was lost going to the Museum and walking the cave so not a lot got done today (not quantity but quality) but still a very meaningful day.

Entrance to the Cave

Dinner was duck BBQ. What was more interesting was the news that night. Most group members wanted to see the evening news to see how the launch of the ICBM would be reported. There was an excitement in the restaurant. People were offering toast to celebrate the success of the lunch. Songs were being sung and then news came on. I captured a good portion of it. I mean It really dawned on me during that period that I was in North Korea. 

The day was over and it was bed time, tomorrow would mark the last full day in North Korea, how time flies....It's the same everywhere, even in the DPRK...

I went to the hotel, packed my stuff and went as usual to 47th floor of the hotel to the revolving restaurant to meet the crew and spend the time together.