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People who have traveled to North Korea, what was your biggest shock of the trip?
Main Post: People who have traveled to North Korea, what was your biggest shock of the trip?
Top Comment:
A literal shock was in one of the hotels we stayed at where we had to wear rubber slippers if you used any of the taps because there was a good chance you got an electric shock from them.
Pyongyang, North Korea
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The view of Pyongyang from atop the Yangakkdo Hotel. While the city looks vibrant and well built, most of these buildings are empty, crumbling, or full of impoverished people.
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Lowest emissions major city in the world.
Because no one is allowed to use or do anything.
How risky is DPRK tourism truly?
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I'm fascinated by the DPRK and would honestly love to visit. Ironically as a Canadian citizen I'm more nervous about having to enter China than I am at the prospect of being in North Korea, but with that aside, is it worth the risks?
I'd like to do a short 3-day tour of Pyongyang to get a taste of what it's like and whether I'd like to go back for a longer tour later on. My understanding is the authorities are generally more lenient with tourists than they are with locals as long as you respect the country and respect the leaders, and obviously I'd follow all the rules/laws while I'm there.
Has anyone here ever done it? Have you ever had issues travelling to other countries after travelling to North Korea? I've heard the border guards will stamp your passport if you ask them to and as much as I'd love to be able to show off a North Korean passport stamp, I don't want to inhibit my ability to travel elsewhere after the fact.
Top Comment:
Plenty of tourists go and aren’t abducted like Otto Warmbier was and don’t do shit that gets someone in trouble, like leaving a Bible behind or something like that. So if your head is on straight, you’re probably fine.
That said, it’s important to remember that whatever you spend on the trip goes right into supporting their military and other harmful programs, and your visit has propaganda value to the North Korean government. The image of foreigners paying tribute to the Kims is very powerful and very convincing.
You will only see what the regime wants you to see, a carefully curated image and not the real DPRK.
Exactly 10 years ago I went to North Korea. You can't go there now, but it looked like this.
Main Post: Exactly 10 years ago I went to North Korea. You can't go there now, but it looked like this.
Top Comment:
Not gonna lie, it looks basically how countries in Soviet bloc looked like back in 70s and 80s. Like, it's almost uncanny, literally the only difference is language.
Here's a real GoPro on the streets of Pyongyang
Main Post: Here's a real GoPro on the streets of Pyongyang
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Funny how the roads don’t even have enough traffic to warrant painting centre lines.
NGL though, it’s kind of nice not to see adverts and litter everywhere.
Pyongyang, North Korea
Main Post: Pyongyang, North Korea
Top Comment:
For the Mother... board
Pyongyang feels like what Boston could be...
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I just got back from a week visiting the glorious leaders revolutionary capital, Pyongyang.
I have lived in Boston nearly all my life, but this trip was truly eye opening.
There were literally zero homeless people, the streets are clean and the trains ACTUALLY ran on time. There's barely any traffic, which is so peaceful.
The modern architecture is such a breath of fresh air coming from Boston's crusty colonial past, and there's some really inspiring murals around the city to boost morale.
I feel like a sardine everytime I get on the T for work and in North Korea there was maybe 2-3 people in my entire train car! This is what a civilized city looks like. Public transport the way it should be.
The food was incredible and super cheap. You wouldn't believe how welcoming and friendly the different canteens were we visited. For some reason we could only go to a few approved locations according to our tour guide, but they were all well staffed and the workers generally seemed to be happy there. And speaking of food, everyone is skinny in N.K, I thought I was in Malibu for a moment!
I asked about local rent and real estate prices...and you won't believe this, housing is FREE from the government. Yes that's right, not a typo...NADA! Now I feel like the biggest sucker in the world paying 2k in rent every month.
And I might offend some people here, but it was so refreshing to see a city with zero (insert professional industry) bros. Boston likes to pretend it's a diverse city, this is what ACTUAL diversity looks like. I can't tell you how refreshing it is to walk through the city and not see a single white man wearing a Patagonia vest on his way to work (minus the occasional mural).
Anyhow we ended the week watching a state volleyball game and I couldn't believe how passionate and dedicated the fans were. They make a trip to Fenway feel like watching a little league game. I could really see myself becoming a big fan of the revolutionary red guard volleyball squad, tickets are free too, you just have to take a few weeks of training apparently.
Enough ranting and raving from this globe trotter, though I am considering subletting my room in Brookline come September for a fresh start in N.K if anyone might be interested. 2k/month, private room in a 8 bedroom, 1 bath right near Coolidge.
Top Comment:
Thank you for this post comrade. For your service to glorious North Korea Massachusetts, we will release one family member of yours from reeducation summer camp. Please let your nearest political officer Dunkin Donuts know which family member you wished freed.
I am in Pyongyang, North Korea AMA!
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I'm General Manager of Koryo Tours, running tours to North Korea for 20 years. this is the 128th time I have been here and I'm doing an AMA for a couple of hours live from Pyongyang (a first for Reddit?) Also I did this AMA previously http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/18g7z1/i_have_been_to_north_korea_over_100_times_ama/ it was quite popular
My Proof: http://instagram.com/simonkoryo#
Top Comment:
What kind of locations are you not allowed to visit while giving a tour?