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NORTH KOREA
Location - North East Asia; Capital - Pyongyang; Population - 24 million; Currency - North Korean Won MORE NORTH KOREA
After Chonsangri the tour rolled on to Ryonggang Hot Spa Hotel, our base to explore Nampo, then head back to Pyongyang - September 2009.
5 North Korean Won
Pedal power on the road from Nampo to Ryonggang Hot Spa Hotel
Our bus parked outside the Ryonggang Hot Spa Hotel
Bert, Johan, Christian, Frank and Kristian play pool and get very drunk at Ryonggang Hot Spa Hotel
Pyongyang vodka - aargh! But far better than Chinese vodka, which has to be the foulest tasting alcohol ever - Ryonggang Hot Spa Hotel
What Ryonggang Hot Spa Hotel is known for. Not me but the spa. Relax and bathe in naturally hot mineral water.
Crossing the calm waters of the West Sea via the West Sea Barrage, Nampo
The US$4 billion West Sea Barrage was designed to harness water via a huge manmade reservoir - Nampo
Kim Jong Il takes centre stage at the West Sea Barrage exhibition centre, Nampo
The army take a look at the West Sea Barrage, Nampo
Our West Sea Barrage guide, Nampo
The West Sea Barrage comprises a dam, sluice gates and 3 locks - Nampo
Fishing boats in the West Sea Barrage reservoir, Nampo
There's a lot of salt fields around the Taedong River estuary, Nampo
Driving through the port city of Nampo
Well worth doing for the best views of a distant Pyongyang is Ryongak Hill, Pyongyang
The trail to the top of Ryongak Hill, Pyongyang
A pair of the welcoming creatures on the way - Pyongyang
The city starts to become visible - Ryongak Hill, Pyongyang
Ryongak Hill, Pyongyang
Marie, me, a pig on a motorbike, and Korea Konsult's Julia close to the top of Ryongak Hill, Pyongyang
A fantastic view from the top of Ryongak Hill, Pyongyang
And what else but the Ryugyong Hotel would dominate? Pyongyang
The scenery looking away from the capital is very picturesque - Ryongak Hill, Pyongyang
The city of Pyongyang from Ryongak Hill - Pyongyang
Mads, Christina, me and Delphine provide some confusing 'on-the-spot guidance' to anyone who cared to look - Ryongak Hill, Pyongyang
Picnic time at Ryongak Hill, Pyongyang
With no time to lose in a packed itinerary, it was straight to the Pyongyang circus
I wasn't bothered about going to this but I was pleasantly surprised by how good it was - Pyongyang
My YouTube circus videos here and here
A three-legged man, presumably there's another guy in there somewhere - Pyongyang
We stopped enjoying it here. From what I read people are treated in a similar way. Check out the book below - Pyongyang
The river fountains were working on 9th September, National Day, celebrating the 61st anniversary of the founding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea - Pyongyang
North Korean flags out for National Day - Pyongyang
National and red flags next to the Taedong River, Pyongyang
As mentioned before, the Tower of the Juche Idea is 170 metres tall - Pyongyang
One of the sculptures next to the Tower of the Juche Idea, Pyongyang
'Juche' is the official ideology of North Korea. It loosely translates to, and advocates a spirit of, self-reliance - Pyongyang
This statue represents the worker, peasant and intellectual - Tower of the Juche Idea, Pyongyang
The 20-metre high torch on top of the tower - Pyongyang
The tower was built to celebrate Kim Il Sung's 70th birthday in 1982. It is made from 25,550 blocks of granite (70 years x 365 days = 25,550) Pyongyang
And again the views from the top of the tower are superb - the Yanggakdo Hotel on Yanggak Island is clearly visible - Pyongyang
The rowing boats are out in force on National Day - Pyongyang
Kim Il Sung Square and the Grand People's Study House, Pyongyang
And of course the Ryugyong Hotel, Pyongyang
The Okryu bridge and, further back, Rungna Island and bridge, with the May Day stadium further back again - Pyongyang
From the Tower of the Juche Idea, Pyongyang
One of my favourites, overlooking the Taedong River, Pyongyang
Locals dressed up on National Day, Pyongyang
Looking skywards from the viewing platform to the torch, Pyongyang
Long-life Liquor, with ingredients including 'penis of fur-seal' - Pyongyang
Website and content Copyright © 2008-2012 Mark Wilkinson. All rights reserved.
LINKS
www.koreakonsult.com - Korea Konsult is a Swedish based company that I booked my tour with. For me it offered the best itinerary and was flexible enough to cater for travelling by train to Pyongyang. The group size, at 23, was rather large however (but a great bunch of people!)
www.koryogroup.com - Koryo Tours is the market leader
www.nkeconwatch.com - plenty of independent news stories and analysis of North Korea
www.kcckp.net - news portal on behalf of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (ie. North Korea)
www.kcna.co.jp - news from the 'Korean Central News Agency'
www.nk-news.net/extras/insult_generator.php - definitely not an official DPRK site - the Random Insult Generator
Other tour agencies -
www.explorenorthkorea.com - USA/Dandong, China
www.geoex.com - USA
http://koningaap.nl - Netherlands
www.nordkoreareisen.de - Germany
www.northkorea1on1.com - USA
www.north-korea-travel.com - Hong Kong
www.regent-holidays.co.uk - UK
www.universaltravel.com.sg - Singapore
www.vnc.nl - Netherlands
www.youngpioneertours.com - China
I am not responsible for the content of external websites.
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