North Korea for a holiday. Have you? Would you?

[Shake&Bake]

I've always been intrigued by the photography which comes out of the country.
It shows a lot of what we'd expect, but also a lot that I've seen which contrasts the conventional thought of the place.

The art and architecture in Pyonyang at times is astounding - the scale of it all.
Those massive bronze statues of the fallen Kim's for one.

Came across the following site where they told of their experiences and also have great photos showing daily life and also the highlight (which really intrigues me) The Mass Games.

http://www.classetouriste.be/travel-to-north-korea/

There's a tour operator that works out of Beijing, details in the link.

If I were by the means, I think I'd really like to chance it and go and see for myself.

What about you?
Or have you been?

 

[poffle]

Wow looks really interesting, especially the mass games. Really really cool write up about it.
I think I would go, but i would sh#t myself a little bit regardless.... its flippen north korea

 

[saguran]

I wouldn't go

 

[Shake&Bake]

Couple of us were discussing it at the office.
2 out of the 3 of us would go.

Only thing is - stick to the rules and only take photos of what the guides approve :erm:

The experience would be like nothing else I'd imagine. Ok that's a broad statement...

 

[saguran]

I wouldn't go

That would of course be my first reaction, but man those photos! Stunning.

 

[werfie]

Definitely not! It's long, but read this. I did the other day...

http://wikitravel.org/en/North_Korea

Even if you can stay within those rules and regulations, I don't think I would want to spend a cr@phouse full of money to travel abroad just to be limited in every way and spend all the time worrying if I accidentally smile for the wrong thing and getting someone killed.

 

[Bona Botse]

No ways. I don't support countries that oppress their people's basic rights. Why would anyone do that? Saudi Arabia as well.

 

[saguran]

No ways. I don't support countries that oppress their people's basic rights. Why would anyone do that? Saudi Arabia as well.

I'm going to Saudi for the first time for business this weekend, I wonder what it's going to be like .

 

[Mephisto_Helix]

No ways. I don't support countries that oppress their people's basic rights. Why would anyone do that? Saudi Arabia as well.

Exactly, why would anyone want to give money to such ******s.

 

[Bona Botse]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...egun-for-appearing-in-porn-films-8789322.html

She was first identified as Kim Jong-un’s old flame 13 months ago, in July 2012. The poised, coiffed and elegantly dressed companion of the North Korean dictator of Kim Jong-un was filmed sitting next to him at a concert in Pyongyang, then ascending the stage with him to applaud the performers. One month later, however, she vanished from the scene as abruptly as she had arrived. And today came the shocking news that Hyon Song-wol, one of the reclusive state’s most popular singers, had been executed by machine gun.
Eleven other members of her pop group were reportedly executed with her earlier this month, accused of filming themselves having sex with each other then selling the videos.

“There is a political reason behind this,” he said. “Or, as Kim’s wife once belonged to the same group, it is possible that these executions are more about Kim’s wife.”

Disgusting. Please think vewy, vewy carefully before you go to North Korea. You will be supporting Kim's ill treatment of his [-]victims[/-] people.

 

[Ninja'd]

No way in hell would I visit Best Korea. I have no respect for countries that treat their pornstars like criminals.

 

[Bona Botse]

I'm going to Saudi for the first time for business this weekend, I wonder what it's going to be like .

Apparently it isn't bad for tourists, the problem is that the natives, women in particular, have it really bad.

Dubai is the same. All the smoke and mirrors ain't fooling no one. OK so they're fooling a lot of people, but certainly not me.

 

[saguran]

Apparently it isn't bad for tourists, the problem is that the natives, women in particular, have it really bad.

Dubai is the same. All the smoke and mirrors ain't fooling no one. OK so they're fooling a lot of people, but certainly not me.

1) Yeah

2) Not really though.

 

[Chicken Boo]

I also find it intriguing but I don't think I'd like to visit. Have you seen any documentaries of it? I've seen one of a journalist team who (illicitly) filmed their visit, it's so bizarre. Everywhere they went it was a little show put on just for them, trying to show how normal and civilized everything is when it's so not. They couldn't hide things like highways barren except for occasional military or govt vehicles, city blocks empty...
If you do go, obey your guide to the letter...

 

[Bona Botse]

2) Not really though.

Women that get raped in Dubai and report it, get sent to jail. Is that the definition of "not really"?

 

[Compton_effect]

I recently read testimony by a dissident that had escaped a North Korean camp. One of his eyewitness accounts was of a guard forcing a prisoner to drown her newborn son in a bucket of water.

No.

The only way I would visit North Korea would be as part of a military invasion. In fact - I'd volunteer to support such a event.

 

[saguran]

Women that get raped in Dubai and report it, get sent to jail. Is that the definition of "not really"?

I'm just saying it's not exactly the same here. But I don't want to derail the thread.

 

[BobsLawnService]

From the wikitravel site:

"The one remaining amusement park contains some rides which are actually quite modern and non-lethal, at least by North Korean standards..."

Sounds like a barrel of fun.

 

[Shake&Bake]

Yes, we all know about the Human Rights autrocities and I've even been reading about the gulags.

Even so, I'd like to see it even more for myself.
They're a people that have been living under the thumb of dicatators.

I wanna see just how crazy it is.
Perhaps even sneak in a conversation with someone that'd care to speak out in confidence.
Though that could be a trap to get me in a gulag :/

Either way - the place intrigues me.
One couldn't treat it as a genuine vacation - more of a "scratch that itch" kinda thing.

 

[saguran]

Yes, we all know about the Human Rights autrocities and I've even been reading about the gulags.

Even so, I'd like to see it even more for myself.
They're a people that have been living under the thumb of dicatators.

I wanna see just how crazy it is.
Perhaps even sneak in a conversation with someone that'd care to speak out in confidence.
Though that could be a trap to get me in a gulag :/

Either way - the place intrigues me.
One couldn't treat it as a genuine vacation - more of a "scratch that itch" kinda thing.

Man I wouldn't do that. I read that they monitor everything and anyone can be an informant for the government .