As some of you may know, I have been up in arms over these millimeter wave scan machines. My main concern (aside from the incredible invasion of privacy) is that children would be subjected to this disgusting technology. The key component that is supposed to shield a passenger’s modesty was that the monitors would be in a remote location…
David :: Aug.31.2008 :: liberty, power trippin' :: No Comments »
August 28 (Written on August 29th)
Yesterday was my birthday. It was a very busy day.
Our morning’s first stop was the mausoleum of Kim Il Sung. I didn’t have the proper attire so I had to borrow a tie and shoes from Simon. What a sight – tie, polo, track pants, and weird euro shoes and socks.
The place was a monstrosity. About the size of the White House and all marble. It takes forever to get through the place. You’re supposed to bow at the body – I gave a cursory nod so I didn’t piss off the guides. We saw his bullshit medals and awards and that was that.
Afterwards, we went to the Revolutionary Martyrs cemetery. Oh, I forgot…As we were leaving the hotel, we had to buy flowers which were conveniently for sale in the parking lot. I put my flowers at the base of the cemetery before we climbed to the top. What a fucking place. Sort of an Arlington for vets who freed Korea from Japan. They hate the Japanese as much as us round eyes.
After this we went to another monument to Kim Il Sung and then to the stamp shop which was pretty cool. I bought a bunch of propaganda nonsense which I’ll try to mail home.
After lunch we went to a book store and took a one-stop ride on the metro. It was very impressive – chandeliers, mosaics, heavy cold stone, etc. Must be similar to the USSR. This led us to a bus ride to Mt. Myohyang, which is two hours north of Pyongyang.
I had a feeling something was up at dinner, and I was right. Nancy and Simon had gotten a cake in Pyongyang and carried it all the way. Everybody sang Happy Birthday and right after, I went to sleep.
Another year in the books.
David :: Aug.31.2008 :: journal entry :: No Comments »
August 27
Jolted awake at 6:45 and on the road at 8 to the DMZ. It was a very busy day. First, we drove to Kaesong which is the North Korea border town at the DMZ.
We toured the Joint Security Area (JSA) and had a Major General leading our group (he spoke Korean and our guides translated…while another guide was translating in Chinese to another group…it was like the United Fucking Nations). I got on well with him – he liked me taking his photo – so much so that when we got to the US-maintained negotiating building, he put me in the seat of honor which straddles the border between North and South Korea – yes, I was in North and South Korea at the same time. Pretty cool.
We had lunch on the way back and I had a very nice conversation with the guy from Italy who has taken an interest in my work.
We then headed to the USS Pueblo where they tried to brainwash us. We had to watch a video that explicitly called for the annihilation of the imperialist Americans. They’ve caught three “trophies” of ours and they think they’re tough shit. Fuck ‘em.
We then went to the Juche Tower and another monument to Kim Il Sung. They were both very brooding.
At the second tower there was a stop at an art shop. I had a very nice 20 minute (or so) conversation with Nancy. We talked life and seemed to have connected. I’m finding the company to be quit pleasant. For the most part.
After dinner was the main event for me – Arirang. It was terribly impressive. I enjoyed it more than yesterday’s show. Afterwards I was looking at canvas propaganda posters (not enough prop. in the show, though – disappointed) and was going to buy one when I was bowled over by a tour mate – violently. I let it go – expensive, went to talk to Nancy and she convenced me to just get it. Seriously, how many times will I get here? I was shoved and pushed by my tour mates – very off putting.
Long day tomorrow – we’re heading out of Pyongyang, and to Kim Il Sung’s mausoleum. I don’t have proper attire, but Simon (the Koryo Tour rep who I had arranged the trip with – took months to get him to let me on the tour) is giving me his shoes and Kurt is loaning me a tie. With my track pants and polo, I’m sure it will be a sight to see.
It’s also going to be my 25th.
David :: Aug.30.2008 :: journal entry :: No Comments »
Alright, here we go. I’m going to be posting journal entries from my trip and here is the first one. Please note that they will be a few days behind since I’m already on day five and am just getting started (see the previous post as to why this is the case).
August 26th
Had to leave my laptop, etc. at the hotel back in Beijing to go to the DPRK (that’s what I have to call it here in North Korea, err, DPRK lest the glorious leader et. al. hunt me down like the Jewdog I am).
Got up early to arrive at the airport at 9am. Felt nervous – very nervous. I hate not being able to talk with back home. Being cut off/off the grid is one of my biggest fears.
I met my group at the airport. One of our group leaders, Nancy, turned out to be from Smithtown (for the uninitiated, I grew up out on Long Island [exit 39] and Smithtown is out in Suffolk County – when you’re in Pyongyang, a few miles down the LIE isn’t so far away), though she has lived in Beijing for 8 years. Kinda cool.
I met others from my group. I need to rein myself in. I’m too forward, too quickly. But, I think I made two friends: Kurt and Igor. I don’t know much about them, but I seem to like them.
We flew to Pyongyang on a shitty Russian jet with the North Korean Olympic team. They were warmly greeted on the ground. I saw a gold and bronze medal. Pretty cool. Not too many people can say they flew on a plane with the North Korean Olympic team.
Right from the airport we met our guides and went to a Mass Games at the Mayday Stadium. They say it can hold 150,000 people. Kurt and I settled on 75,000 people. We asked our guide about it while we were there and he blankly said 150,000. Bullshit.
I should have been impressed – thousands of kids in sync, performing with the cards. I was underwhelmed. Others on the tour were impressed. Maybe I’m just jaded.
Afterward we took the bus back to the hotel. Dinner was gross, but there was good conversation.
I’m more settled. Not as nervous despite the restrictions, of which there are many. But, I like being busy and being with people. Four more nights, three more days.
I think I’ll live.
Maybe.
David :: Aug.30.2008 :: journal entry :: No Comments »
Ok, there’s a reason I haven’t been posting…I’m behind the Great Firewall of China.
In China, there are heavy blocks in place to avoid the free transfer of ideas via the net. In a country as free as China, this is shocking. Absolutely shocking. But, I haven’t been in China the entire time. In fact, I was in a far freer land than China – North Korea.
That’s right, children – North Fucking Korea.
I’ve kept a written diary of my days in North Korea the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and will try to transcribe it fairly quickly. I tried to be brief, yet comprehensive.
Anyway, back to the title topic – I did a bit of research about getting around the GFoC and found that you can use a proxy server or a VPN – neither of which I’m incredibly familiar with. Anyway, I signed up for a service called WiTopia (which I found from an article by an ex-CNN staffer) and it was pretty damn easy to set up and get online, so far, free of restrictions.
Freedom baby!
David :: Aug.30.2008 :: assholes, liberty, power trippin', technology, travel :: No Comments »
David :: Aug.22.2008 :: liberty :: No Comments »
As if this is a surprise…
David :: Aug.20.2008 :: liberty, power trippin', travel :: No Comments »
After a week of crap from Time Warner, we’re finally back online.
Up next – planning for my trip back into China and to North Korea. Tentatively I’ll be visiting Beijing, North Korea, Inner Mongolia, Sichuan, and the Silk Road. Working on the flights now with CITS with whom I do all of my domestic Chinese flight arrangements.
I’ve also found some new services I’ll be trying out this trip for hotels/flights:
So far, I’ve seen wonderful prices on gta but the customer support is a bit mechanical (they have failed to define what a ‘single’ room is on three separate occassions). sinohotels has some hotels in the most remote parts of China and kayak/vayama have a much sleeker interface than expedia with way more international destinations. So far, so good.
David :: Aug.18.2008 :: Uncategorized, technology, travel :: No Comments »