North Korea – My Brother Traveler

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NK-12 North Korea and China (Beijing) trip
Date of travel: Sep 19 – Oct 1, 2012

ITINERARY:
In the morning on Sep 19 I take a taxi from the house of my sister and her husband to the Prague airport. The whole traveling group meets there. Then with Austrian Airlines via Vienna to Beijing, CHINA, where early in the morning on Sep 20 local time. After leaving our luggage in our hotel we go to Tiananmen Square on foot and individually into the Forbidden City. In mid afternoon the sightseeing continue by bus. There is a stop at Drum and Bell Towers, where I have never been before.
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In the afternoon on Sep 21 a flight from Beijing to Pyongyang, the capital of NORTH KOREA. On our way by bus from the airport there is a stop at “Victory Gate.” The following day is sightseeing of Pyongyang. First stop is on the Kim Il Sung Square formed by important buildings. Later on we visit one of the most visible building, the “Library.” During following sightseeing we see the equestrian statues of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jung Il, then a gallery with paintings. In the afternoon we take 4 station ride in metro and visit the “Juche Tower,” from which is 360 degree view of the city. Then, outside the city, is a stop at the birth place of Kim Il Sung with a small museum. For a night we are in a Spa Hotel in a forest.

On Sep 23 we leave the Spa Hotel and drive to the “West Sea Barrage” built to stop floods on Taedong River. At noon there is a stop at a farm cooperative. Later on we are in the town Sariwon to visit an old palace. Overnight we are in Kaesong near the De-militarised Zone in a rather poor hotel. Next morning is a visit to a tomb of one king from the 14th century near Kaesong. Then in Kaesong we see a Kwandok Pavilion. Before noon we are in Panmunjom. There is an explanation about the history and geography of the place. Then we visit the buildings were the talks were held and the results signed. Back in Kaesong we stop under a gigantic statue of Kim Il Sung. From here to Pyongyang with a stop at the “Unification memorial.” In Pyongyang a visit to the “Children Palace,” where we see a very good show by little kids. In the evening we go to see so called “Arirang” in a large open air amphitheatre. It is great show lasting 1.5 hours.

On Sep 25 we leave Pyongyang by bus going east across the peninsula to the port of Wonsan. After a half an hour driving we stop at the tomb of king Tongmyong, who founded Koryo Kingdom. From the world Koryo evolved the name of Korea. Early in the afternoon we come to Wonsan. Later on we visit a kindergarten outside the city and a house of one family. We also spend some time at a sandy beach. Overnight in a hotel in the city. Next morning we visit an International Children’s Camp. Then we see a railway station in Wonsan. It is a museum now. The last stop is in the harbor with only one freighter there. During our drive back to Pyongyang a stop is made at a waterfall. When in Pyongyang we go on board of American spy ship Pueblo, which was detain by North Korea in 1968. At night we go to the Kim Il Sung Square to make night pictures of the city.

We leave the North Korean capital by train in sleeping cars in the morning on Sep 27. In the mid afternoon there is very thorough inspection of our luggage by North Korean border guards. They are checking even photos in our cameras. The Yalu River forms the border between North Korea and China here. The train crosses the river over a high bridge.

The city of Dandong is on the Chinese side of the river. The Chinese border guards want to see only our passports. Next morning we come to Beijing. After rest in our hotel there is a visit of a store in the afternoon. Later on we see a very good Kong-fu show. On Sep 29 there is a trip to Great Wall to the place called Badaling. On our drive there a stop is made at jade company. Badaling is a place which I visited during my first visit of China in 1985. On our drive back we see the tombs of emperors from Ming Dynasty. Back in Beijing we take a walk through the 2008 Olympic area. In the morning of the next day we visit a market with antiques, then we go to a large store selling copies of famous brands. After that we take a ride in metro. We go only 3 stops.

On Oct 1 morning flight with the Austrian Airlines from Beijing to Vienna, where at noon the same day, then a 30 minutes flight from Vienna to Prague. Mirka and Karel take me to their house.

Travel office: ESO Travel – Czech travel company

Who took part: There were 10 Czech travelers (including me) and a Czech guide speaking English. In North Korea we have 4 Korean guides. In Beijing we had always one guide. Occasionally I helped with translation from English to Czech.