North Korea

North Korea was incomparable to anything I've ever seen or experienced, including South Korea. Most of the land is completely untouched and 90% mountains. Because of the this its absolutely beautiful. However the people there are poor beyond any measure we have in the states and completely sheltered. Actually, let's go with controlled over sheltered. Everywhere you look there is a military presence making sure everyone is where they should be.

We got a very "vanilla" tour of an area about 2 hours past the border. Even with the controlled itinerary we were able to see through the cracks and it was saddening at times. Farmers farming land that was not theirs with armed soldiers watching on was a regular sight in between the stops we made.

You won't see any of this on the pictures of course. What we could photo was very outlined for us. Basically we were allowed to shoot the land and a few statues. Citizens, soldiers, and houses were strictly forbidden.

The entire trip was mostly a journey up a mountain and then down to the village area and temple at its base. To get to the top of the mountain was an hour and a half bus ride along a "road" that was straight out of a movie. It was just as wide as the bus wheels, and no wider. If you looked out the window, you could look straight down the mountain, no cliff, just a long free fall. Our driver seemed content to go up this almost vertical road at what seemed like 100mph. Needless to say going down was only thing that topped going up! I'd have loved to snap some pics of the mountain range and tops but no pictures were allowed from the bus.

At the top of the mountain was an amazing (you're going to read that word a lot.) waterfall which supplied the village below with all of its water.





Hand carved etchings


The water was brough doun th entire mountain by canals that were shovel and pick-dug. Simply...amazing.





Here is a shot of the end of a canal in the village.


Going up to enter the village.


Coming down into the village




Spine of hand-made roofs.


One of the few roads in the village.




Tribute to Soldier of the last Emperor of the region. He was killed on the bridge pictured below. The bridge is still stained with his blood.


Bridge where the soldier was killed.


Blood stain from his murder.




Side Note: I heard a soldier say touching this statue meant a curse of sure death...sucks for that poor bastard!








After touring the village for a few hours we left for a more modern park area.





Here we had a traditional meal complete with gold bowls. It was here, while everyone stuffed there faces, I began my plan for taking over the country.



First I declared myself supreme overlord & had a gold statue erected in my honor. (We just took an old one of Kim Jonng Il & replaced the head with mine.)



And then I began to build a new capitol city in my honor.



After I built my capitol city I left the children in charge and declared candy the official currency of my new nation. I could tell I had left it in good hands so it was time to get back to my original journey, South Korea!