Grüßgott, ya'll: A guide to life in Germany
North Korea: Three Weeks to Launch
posted 06/12/06
Well, my status as an American prohibits me from visiting Pyongyang, running into Kim Jong-Il and single-handedly solving the North Korean nuclear weapons issue, but at least I'll get in some good hiking when I head to Geumgang Mountains in North Korea June 30th - July 1st. Go to this site to see how gorgeous the place is: click here.
It looks like we're going to shielded from seeing anything outside of the paragon of modern socialism that the North would like to portray itself as being, but I do get to cross the DMZ, meet North Korean people and stay in a room without a TV. (The word for TV in North Korea literally translates to "stupid box.") However, I've been told that I won't be allowed to touch or lean on the red propaganda chiseled into the rocks along the trails I'll be hiking. Bummer.
Here is a list of the restrictions for the trip. I especially like number 10:
1. Mobile phones and other communications devices are not permitted.
2. Cameras with telephoto lenses of more than160mm and binoculars with zooming capabilities of 10 times or more are banned. All electronic equipment must be checked at the Guemgang Condo before departing for North Korea. This includes all cameras, battery chargers, PDAs, video cameras, notebook computers, calculators & CDP, and MP3 players.
3. Newspapers and magazines from South Korea aren’t permitted. You are allowed to bring personal reading material but please take the subject matter into consideration.
4. You must ALWAYS wear your ID around your neck. You will be fined if it lost or damaged. You will get this before you arrive in North Korea.
5. Must carry your passport and ID with you at all times.
6. You are not permitted to bring alcohol or other food items into North Korea.
7. Washing hands and/or feet is not allowed in the fresh water springs. The fine is $15.
8. Also, please be aware of the No Smoking areas and do not leave cigarette butts on ground.
9. Do not take any natural objects, such as rocks.
10. Only US dollars and credit cards are accepted.
11. There are many large rocks with engraving done by the government. Do not touch or lean on these rocks.
12. You may speak with the North Korean people that you meet, but you may not take random pictures of them, including pictures from inside the bus. In addition, please be careful of the conversation topics when speaking with North Koreans. DO NOT talk about politics, diplomatic relations, economics and other such sensitive issues.
It looks like we're going to shielded from seeing anything outside of the paragon of modern socialism that the North would like to portray itself as being, but I do get to cross the DMZ, meet North Korean people and stay in a room without a TV. (The word for TV in North Korea literally translates to "stupid box.") However, I've been told that I won't be allowed to touch or lean on the red propaganda chiseled into the rocks along the trails I'll be hiking. Bummer.
Here is a list of the restrictions for the trip. I especially like number 10:
1. Mobile phones and other communications devices are not permitted.
2. Cameras with telephoto lenses of more than160mm and binoculars with zooming capabilities of 10 times or more are banned. All electronic equipment must be checked at the Guemgang Condo before departing for North Korea. This includes all cameras, battery chargers, PDAs, video cameras, notebook computers, calculators & CDP, and MP3 players.
3. Newspapers and magazines from South Korea aren’t permitted. You are allowed to bring personal reading material but please take the subject matter into consideration.
4. You must ALWAYS wear your ID around your neck. You will be fined if it lost or damaged. You will get this before you arrive in North Korea.
5. Must carry your passport and ID with you at all times.
6. You are not permitted to bring alcohol or other food items into North Korea.
7. Washing hands and/or feet is not allowed in the fresh water springs. The fine is $15.
8. Also, please be aware of the No Smoking areas and do not leave cigarette butts on ground.
9. Do not take any natural objects, such as rocks.
10. Only US dollars and credit cards are accepted.
11. There are many large rocks with engraving done by the government. Do not touch or lean on these rocks.
12. You may speak with the North Korean people that you meet, but you may not take random pictures of them, including pictures from inside the bus. In addition, please be careful of the conversation topics when speaking with North Koreans. DO NOT talk about politics, diplomatic relations, economics and other such sensitive issues.
comments (1)
1. jess left...
06/13/06 9:16 pm
Oh, my gosh! Ashley, you had better be careful. I swear to god! Do your
parents know?? I am assuming they do. Just don't lose your passport.
Wait, am I freaking out a little too much? Is it the same guidelines
(basically) they give trekkers going into Tibet? Man, I don't know Ashley.
You are going to do what you want to do, no matter what, but please
understand your friend's anxiety over the issue.