North Korea 2012
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. 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.
North Korea map 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - at Arch of Triumph - our North Korean guides 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - Arch of Triumph 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - TV Tower - view from Arch of Triumph 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - view from Arch of Triumph 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - Kim Il Sung Stadium 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - Kim Il Sung Stadium - a detail 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - in front of Kim Il Sung Stadium 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - Yanggakdo Hotel 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - Kim Il Sung Square - Grand Peoples Study House (Library) 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - Kim Il Sung Square - Library (left) and Korean Central History Museum (right) 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - north of Kim Il Sung Square - Sungri Street - traffic cap 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - Kim Il Sung Square - Kim Il Sung & Kim Jong Il portraits on Grand Peoples Study House 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - view from Grand Peoples Study House 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - inside Grand Peoples Study House 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - inside Grand Peoples Study House 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - view from Grand Peoples Study House 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - Kim Il Sung Square - view from Grand Peoples Study House 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - in Grand Peoples Study Houseour Library guide 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - north of Grand Peoples Study House - Mansudae Arts Theatre 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - north of Grand Peoples Study House - Mansudae fountains 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - Flower lady - north of Grand Peoples Study House 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - Equestrian statues of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - near Equestrian statues of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - art gallery 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - art gallery building 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - Soldier with a child statue 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - sales room with art articles 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - our bus 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - a store 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - underground 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - underground - Berlin old subway cars 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - underground - Berlin old subway cars 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - underground - Berlin old subway cars 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - Arch of Triumph 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - view from the top of Juche Tower - unfinished Ryugyong Hotel 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - view from the top of Juche Tower - Taedong River - May Day Stadium (for Arirang Festival) 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - view from the top of Juche Tower 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - view from the top of Juche Tower - Taedong River - Yanggakdo Hotel 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - on the top of Juche Tower - local guide 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - on the top of Juche Tower 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - inside Juche Tower 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - Juche Tower 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - view from the bottom of Juche Tower 2012
North Korea - southwest Pyongyang - Mangyongdae Revolutionary Site (Kim Il Sung birthplace) - local tourists 2012
North Korea - southwest Pyongyang - Mangyongdae Revolutionary Site (Kim Il Sung birthplace) - local guide 2012
North Korea - southwest Pyongyang - Mangyongdae Revolutionary Site (Kim Il Sung birthplace) 2012
North Korea - southwest Pyongyang - Mangyongdae Revolutionary Site (Kim Il Sung birthplace) 2012
North Korea - southwest Pyongyang - Mangyongdae Revolutionary Site (Kim Il Sung birthplace) 2012
North Korea - north of Nampo 2012
North Korea - north of Nampo 2012
North Korea - near Nampo - West Sea Barrage 2012
North Korea - between West Sea and Sariwon 2012
North Korea - between West Sea and Sariwon 2012
North Korea - between West Sea and Sariwon - a cooperative 2012
North Korea - between West Sea and Sariwon - a cooperative 2012
North Korea - between West Sea and Sariwon - a cooperative - our guide and the local guide 2012
North Korea - between West Sea and Sariwon - a cooperative 2012
North Korea - between West Sea and Sariwon - a cooperative 2012
North Korea - between West Sea and Sariwon - a cooperative 2012
North Korea - Sariwon - hotel where we have lunch 2012
North Korea - Sariwon - Folk Customs Street 2012
North Korea - Sariwon - Folk Customs Street 2012
North Korea - Sariwon - Folk Customs Street 2012
North Korea - Sariwon - Folk Customs Street 2012
North Korea - Sariwon - Folk Customs Street 2012
North Korea - Sariwon - Folk Customs Street 2012
North Korea - Sariwon - Folk Customs Street - obelisk and a astronomical instrument 2012
North Korea - Sariwon - Folk Customs Street - wedding 2012
North Korea - Kaesong 2012
North Korea - near Kaesong - King Kongmin (31 king of Koryo dynasty) and his Wife Tombs 2012
North Korea - near Kaesong - King Kongmins Wife Tomb 2012
North Korea - near Kaesong - King Kongmin (31 king of Koryo dynasty) and his Wife Tombs 2012
North Korea - near Kaesong - view from the King Kongmin and his Wife Tombs 2012
North Korea - near Kaesong - King Kongmin and his Wife Tombs - Celebration Hall 2012
North Korea - Kaesong - Kwandok Pavilion 2012
North Korea - Kaesong 2012
North Korea - Kaesong - Kwandok Pavilion 2012
North Korea - Kaesong - Kwandok Pavilion 2012
North Korea - Kaesong - Kwandok Pavilion 2012
North Korea - Kaesong 2012
North Korea - Panmunjom 2012
North Korea - Panmunjom 2012
North Korea - Panmunjom - UN building in the backround 2012
North Korea - Kaesong - Kim Il Sung statue 2012
North Korea - near Pyongyang - Three Charters for National Re-unification Monument 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - Children Palace 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - Children Palace
North Korea - Pyongyang - in Children Palace 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - in Children Palace 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - in Children Palace 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - in Children Palace 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - inside the May Day Stadium - Arirang Festival 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - inside the May Day Stadium - Arirang Festival 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - inside the May Day Stadium - Arirang Festival 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - inside the May Day Stadium - Arirang Festival 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - inside the May Day Stadium - Arirang Festival 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - inside the May Day Stadium - Arirang Festival 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - inside the May Day Stadium - Arirang Festival 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - inside the May Day Stadium - Arirang Festival 2012
North Korea - between Pyongyang and Wonsan - King Tongmyong Tomb (he installed Koryo Dynasty) 2012
North Korea - between Pyongyang and Wonsan - King Tongmyong Tomb (he installed Koryo Dynasty) 2012
North Korea - between Pyongyang and Wonsan - King Tongmyong Tomb (he installed Koryo Dynasty) 2012
North Korea - between Pyongyang and Wonsan - King Tongmyong Tomb (he installed Koryo Dynasty) 2012
North Korea - near Wonsan - cooperative - kindergarten 2012
North Korea - near Wonsan - cooperative - kindergarten 2012
North Korea - near Wonsan - cooperative - kindergarten 2012
North Korea - near Wonsan - cooperative - kindergarten 2012
North Korea - near Wonsan - cooperative 2012
North Korea - near Wonsan - cooperative 2012
North Korea - near Wonsan - cooperative 2012
North Korea - near Wonsan - East Korean Sea 2012
North Korea - near Wonsan - East Korean Sea - local people 2012
North Korea - Wonsan - Tongmyong Hotel - view from my room 2012
North Korea - Wonsan - Songdowen International Childrens Camp 2012
North Korea - Wonsan 2012
North Korea - Wonsan - harbor 2012
North Korea - Wonsan - harbor 2012
North Korea - Wonsan - at harbor 2012
North Korea - between Wonsan and Pyongyang - waterfall 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - USS Pueblo 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - view from USS Pueblo 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - USS Pueblo - Pueblo guide 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - Kim Il Sung Square - at night 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - our train 2012
North Korea - Pyongyang - car licence plate 2012