Today was the DMZ tour that I’ve so looked forward to…and it was great!
Mr Han picked us up at 7This observation tower looks into North KoreaLots of checkpoints, I showed my passport five times todayUN flags at the baseYes, there’s a gift shopWe all signed waivers saying we know the risksFairly informative and entertaining slide show of a short history of the DMZWe couldn’t take any more pictures until this part of the tourI’m on the far side of the concrete slab, so here I’m technically in North KoreaNorth Korean soldiers dont enter this room anymore, so here’s a ROK soldier keeping us out of the DPRKAlso, DPRK soldiers dont face off with the UN soldiers in front of the tourists anymore. There’s only one North Korean soldier in this picture that you can see. I get the impression that there’s lots of firepower close at hand though, hidden.Here’s the best I could get of the DPRK soldier on dutyOur time at the JSA was kinda short, there’s a lot I couldn’t take photos of. Im sure you can see more onlineA small display in the museum upstairs depicts The Axe Murder Incident. No joke, it sounds straight up awful.
The last two scheduled points on the tour of the JSA were cancelled for safety reasons. we were told later it was because of landmine clearing activities?
On to the DMZ…
The South Koreans built this train station in hopes that someday people can go to NK as friendsTbh, I dont know if these doors will ever open. Things are tense right now.There were several interesting arts to seeIt was way too hazy to see much at the observatory
Lots of active landmine fields here still.Last stop was the 3rd infiltration tunnel.
There’s this terrible movie you are made to watch. I wish I had recorded it. Its like Michael Bay and that infomercial Shamwow guy had a movie baby together.
The tunnel is pretty far undergroundI had to steal this one off the internet bc they took our cameras, but that’s what it looks likeThere is literally an amusement park 1 km from the controlled zones, with an attached memorial area. Many koreans had written prayers on ribbons and tied them to this fenceThis is the closest South Koreans are allowed to get to the border. More prayersAn old locomotive from the warI was lucky enough to sit next to Anita on the tour bus, we had a lovely dinner and walk-around after the tour ended.Walking back to the metro stationHey, it’s another demonstration!Dongdaemun Gate at night. It’s one of only two parts of the original city walls remaining
So thats my day. We were lucky the trip happened at all. All tours were cancelled for several days this week!
It was great. Struck gold with my seatmate Anita, and the weather was ok too.
I’m so lucky to be here doing all this stuff😊😊😊😊😊😊😊
Travels with Froggy and Other Stuff 