Our Life in the Islands of Micronesia: May 30th....DMZ tour

Our trip to the DMZ was an eye opening, interesting trip on many levels. It was just a few weeks before our DMZ tour when the tensions between N. Korea & the USA/S.Korea were on very high alert. So they resumed the tours shortly before we arrived in Korea and so this is why we were able to take a tour to the DMZ. It was an upfront view into man's failed attempts to bring about peace. The general feelings among the S. Koreans toward the N. Koreans is distrust and a bit of fear. We're confident that the feelings are the same in the other direction as well. The tour guides were very informative about the formation of the DMZ, what it really means and the other areas, tunnels and barriers separating the North from the South. From various points of the tour we were only a few yards away from the North border. In certain areas we were not allowed to use cameras of any kind. We were told when we could use our cameras. No waving, no gestures and no loud speech. The pictures below are from the areas where we were specifically told that we can use our cameras. It is interesting to see how the S. Koreans are much less aware of the inflammatory talk of the N. Korean leader than others are especially in the US. It was a fascinating trip into areas that seemed as if time stood still.

The bus that we took to the DMZ and the officer is validating our passports with the list of names on the roster.

A briefing about the DMZ and reminders about do's and don'ts

The infamous JSA area that we often see in the news clip

This is one of the moments when we sensed both the seriousness and silliness of the situation. The South & North Korean soldiers just stand there staring at each other. The S. Korean soldiers are in the 1st stance of Taekwondo to show their readiness for battle (this is what we were told by the guide). This is also the area where our soldier guide got very serious about us not taking out our cameras unless instructed and he also was very adamant about the tourist not making any gestures towards the N. Korean soldiers who would often take out their binoculars to watch our group.

Notice the line midway in-between the blue buildings...that is the border!

Notice the closed fist stance

North Korean soldier staring towards the South and watching our tour group

Why do I have such a big smile while only steps away from the N. Korean border? I guess knowing the real solution to mankind's problems kind of gives you the peace of mind excels all thought...plus I kinda felt like smiling :)

Finally in an area where we can take some pics

More North Korean soldiers observing us on top of this building....like I said...we were pretty close to North Korea

Big grey building is N. Korea

N. Korean soldiers

If you stood closer than an arms length to the soldier we were told that the soldier would show us the 2nd stance of taekwondo and we didn't want that! So we happily stood outside of the arms length range. Its also a more closeup look at the 1st stance of taekwondo that the soldiers were in because of the increased tensions between the two countries. This soldier is standing there to make sure that a N. Korean soldier doesn't go thru the door behind us and grab people. This has happened before and once you are grabbed well then I guess you become a N. Korean citizen whether you want to or not.

This is the table where "peace" talks are supposed to occur...the left side is S. Korea and the right side is N. Korea

There were a couple of lookout points and this is one of them. The beginning of the trees and beyond is N. Korea.

The famous bridge of no return

One of the worlds largest flags..its the North Korean flag
The Panmunjeom flagpole, the world's third-tallest, 160 m (525 ft) in height, flying a 270 kg (595 lb) flag of North Korea over Kijŏng-dong, near Panmunjom.

You can hear the propaganda music from these overlooks. At one point the tour guide had everyone stay quiet so that we can hear the loud speaker coming from the village/city.

stakes marking the border

another view of the bridge of no return

We are now visiting the last station on the train station line. This station was built with the thought of connecting the two countries once peaceful relations are established. For now the station is basically a museum and tourist attraction.

Stefany has identified which way is North :)

After a long bus ride it is important to stretch

Since we didn't hear of any news reports of friendlier relations between the North and South we figured it would be ok to take a nap on the train tracks between these two countries

Again no news reports of friendly relations...so why not workout on the train tracks between these two countries

At this location we were able to walk thru the under ground tunnels that were dug by the N. Koreans to have a surprise attack on the South...the tunnels were later discovered and so it was no longer a surprise. Cameras were not allowed inside the tunnels.

More lookouts into N. Korea

organized lunch for the tour group...rice noodles

This was the last part of the tour where we could use cameras. All in all it was an interesting tour that was very educational about the DMZ, the issues between the two countries and the fear & distrust between both countries.

After the tour we went to Seoul and did more sightseeing and enjoying some local foods and some universal foods.