A travel diary
Wed Sept 29th, 2010 - Thurs Oct 7th, 2010
Written by Robin unruly
for www.rebellogblog.com / dev
(朝鲜民主主义人民共和国)
Reiseabschnitt Nordkorea im Rahmen einer vierjährigen Weltreise.
North Korea - Day 2 - Part 1
If you So travel as we have life such a high density of events that one must keep records to forget anything. To North Korea we did not have a laptop taken away, nor anything that might incriminate. All was in Beijing. So I am forced to save the events in mind is not easy. And prompt me, is a Error has been committed. Yesterday, the first in my report Day, 2nd Part. Well, that one has photos. Based on the EXIF data can be reconstructed sequences. So we are not gone to the War Victory Monument to the hotel. At least not in this. We had, yesterday I had completely forgotten, so all our baggage taken into the bus and are under the monument, s drove two and a half hours on the highway through the countryside to Mt Myohyang and will have in another hotel ü ; bern respects. That night we Bieber but our rooms available at the hotel in Pyongyang. Brilliant service.
So now the beautiful afternoon light on this mountain. On the way I see people on the Fields of work, children and adults sweep the highway. The children are very numerous, and they sweep with great commitment. Never before have I seen that a highway will be swept by hand. There are dust and autumn leaves are removed. The sweepers are fagots or branches with leaves. As long as the children are used to them, enhancing the experience of community and the general procedure utilizing tasks they do not get silly ideas, or so our leaders. For the first time I experience a highway of this void, the only cars that we all look back and government cars and also a tourist bus. I guess I over the entire route a total of not more than 12-15 cars - have seen - in both directions. Now I am beginning to suspect why Luise Rinser, here, as we shall see, was so excited. Yes, of course, this highway is a dream for motorists, perhaps not always from the surface or the surface here, if you want to drive 200 km / h, but the traffic density. 95% of all cars are already government cars. By the way we see these days, some times Mercedes, older models, but also 2 new S 350
The people we see on the fields or on the edge of the highway are usually deeply tanned by the sun, a sign of their long stay and their diligent work in the fields or in the open. They work exclusively by hand, I have no real idea of rice, but I have never heard that there are Mähdrecher in rice fields. The cut rice is piled in bundles and fields left to dry. Occasionally we see a means of transport, usually an ox with a cart, sometimes even a tractor or a truck. Especially the truck with wood burning excite our interest that we had in Germany already. Every few kilometers there is a policeman at the roadside, his bike or motorcycle is standing by. Sometimes people eat sitting directly on the highway, or heat in iron vats tar and stamp it with rams into holes in the highway. A job-assurance measure, certainly in Germany would be overwhelmed resin IV receiver with it. Sitting on a chair and watch soap operas is holding less stressful. Occasionally, we are pedestrians or cyclists, and later in the dark without light, contrary to our side of the highway. They go either left or right past our bus, which is run consistently at 80 mph. 100 km / h would be allowed a maximum.
Our tour guides, meanwhile, relaxed chat with us and we with them. Questions are answered immediately. Also, questions about their marital status. I take pictures, think of the conditions and only a few times shaking Mr. Ri, when I look at him, his head. Then I make a photograph. This works so well.
The more golden rice fields shimmer in the evening light, the scenery looks really romantic. It's all and do nothing wrong, that a people to its agricultural potential senses and is on the way to self-sufficiency. Insofar as the eternal president has shown in his hand position on the monuments and advance in life, the right way. But Then suddenly, just before the finish, a storage of 5 cars and minibus. A police officer locks the access road to our hotel, which is still 10 minutes away. The stop takes about 30 minutes, the cause is a delegation that has just departed from the hotel and meet us on our road. It should not be hindered. Well, that we understand, even in our delegation's visit is preferable, and our government limousines even ignore any parking restrictions and holding in the capital.
then, now it's dark, we can go. The closer we get to the hotel is so full of the street. Several hundred people walk or cycle to Home. They come from the fields of work and so my impression is, larger distances have to lay back. Here one must still be good to walk. Although the hotel itself is older, but renovated, in the entrance hall is a huge mural, the two Kims amicably in a garden get us back two rooms, there is hot water on demand for the morning, man what you want more. In the restaurant we will again use zuvorkommendst. Slowly she is in us a feeling of delegation, which will improve in the next TSGEN yet. Finally, we call it "Putin feel" for who knows a little white in Russia that Putin just rushes through the province and everything always perfectly prepared and voted for him finds. Nice feeling.
Then we go to the hotel. Breathe deeply. It is pitch dark, no unnecessary lamps consume energy and then we go in Chongchon Hotel, at Mt Myohyang to bed. Now would be the paragraph about the TV from my last post here, then we are back in the correct order.
Next Morning, after breakfast we go first to a Budhist temple. Another group is also there. We see a well-kept temples and gardens and a monk. The guide shows us a treasure: first editions of the teachings of Buddha, 800 folios (the Buddhist teachings were given orally and was not recorded much later.) This collection is unique. Today you can be a Buddhist again. The Communist Party has since opened a little. We have seen but not believers.
Now it goes to the International Friendship Exhibiton. That sounds terse, but it is an absolute highlight. Other tourists may see things differently, but we are back and away. In beautiful countryside, rolling hills, quaint walks, picturesque waterfalls and lush vegetation that includes a museum is for all the gifts that Kim Il-sung and Kim Yong-il have ever received. The bus stops at a respectful distance in a well-maintained facility that consists of two approximately 300 m aueinanderliegenden buildings. Other coaches have come to them enströmen Korean workers and women workers. The women move quickly into the bushes beyond their traditional clothes. The buildings are huge, I think that's dedicated to Kim Il-sung building has 500 rooms. The architecture is already outside aesthetic and conforms with the curved roofs of typical well in the landscape. The best, most enthusiastic leader is measured steps with us to the building's Kim Il-sung. Two soldiers guarding the entrance, my little daughter will open the honor given to the 4-ton bronze doors. Then, inside, we get soft overcoat for the shoes and have to give the cameras. All floors are Marble, they are endless and one has to be in good shape to run here everything. But we do not, on demand, we say that we are interested in the gifts especially Germany and Russia.
Kim Il-sung scored a total of 329 000 well gifts, from 183 countries in the world. Sowa was impressed and it shows how much this communist leaders recognized but appreciated all over the world. The leader, you realize at every word, her enthusiasm and love for the eternal president, proudly shows them a gift after another. One should not enter this permanent exhibition as an art critic, the gifts are not assessed under these criteria. If a gift also reveals something about the giver then this is the case here. You learn very quickly here, the different tastes know that the president of a football club from Upper Volta, as well as the leader of the Communist Party of Benin or Fidel Castro and Erich Honecker. Honecker ... yes, I should measure the value of individual gifts seen, he would probably at the top, or near the top. Anyway, I'm zeimlich of the socks, as I see a huge dinner service from Meissen. When I inquired I hear that there are many more parts than that exhibited in the showcase. Person who can not be stingy and Kim Il-sung really shows how much he appreciates him. You for head of state that they have to pay anything out of pocket. But a tasteful glass block with an embedded clock is visible. Schenker, a "citizen of the USSR". Or pictures that show how the American aggressor falls from the world. Or trinkets for your desk, a Mercedes 600, a railroad car of Mao, or a grinning, standing on its hind legs with Krodkodil tray in the front legs by the Sandinistas. When I think back, I think parents, especially had given a very young age so this was also sometimes, well, we say, look critically under strictly artistic evaluation and, from today's perspective. So one can not approach such a collection. One must take into account already, that we wanted to honor Kim Il-sung really. All great Schenker's lifetime Kim Il-sung's are represented, but also very unknown. No matter. It has taken the trouble and sort the gifts by country and housed in the country areas. One notices at each Showcase the love of the Koran and the giver of the world to Kim Il-sung.
We slide on our soft-coated shoes endlessly from room to room, occasionally come across large groups of Nordkoranern toward us, in the endless corridors, soldiers, working men and women, dressed up for this great visit. They stare at our mini delegation and they're gone. This is all a bit unreal, but then comes the really big moment. In a very large and high room is at the end of it: Kim Il-sung! He stands there, seconds you think really, but it is a life-size wax statue, a gift from the Chinese, so deceptively really, you do not believe it. Well-dressed, he is in a rural idyll, between eternal blüheden Azaleebüschen, gentle Spärenmusik in the background. We, the family, our leaders and the leader, come before and, as we stand in a row, bow down before us this great man, the inventor of Jucheideologie, the great fighter and eternal president. All of us, my entire family, including the children, but especially me, so impressed that I still days later in a trance and I'm thinking back to that taken Augenbklick. In particular, our leader and leaders are taken, the thing that I now, at this moment, it became clear how much Kim Il-sung but lives in the hearts of his people.
Finally, we see a giant blackboard, where we are shown with blue LED strip the railroads of Europe, Asia and North Africa where the great leader traveled. 309,000 km, I think, red lines show the routes, if I mistake not 500,000 km. The most beautiful moment for me is the one where we head to the terrace of the building. Herrlich, in super comfortable chairs you can enjoy the scenery. We are all alone and our leaders withdraw. I myself am like a head of state. If God is looking for a place it would be here.
Then it goes through the landscaped gardens and driveway to the building of the juniors, so Kim Yong-il's. Again 2 soldiers with shiny machine guns but this time a super oversized sliding door. Like this, like Ali Baba's Mountain, where there had he hidden his treasures and you 3 times "Open Sesame" had to call. Here, however, enough to press a button inside of the leader and we are. Again, the Overcoat, and then something like that all again. Kim Yong-il has so far received only 160 000 gifts, but it is growing every day. When I asked, "if I, or we can give him and what" I get a resounding "YES" and it will also promised me that it is issued. Then, also like to skip the digital display and add my gift. (So a digital display I've ever seen in the Coca Cola Museum in Atlanta. It showed that sold drinks.) Only, unfortunately, I will not be able to present the gift in person, an officer will entgegegn take it. Well, we'll think about it. It need not be equal.
the gifts to Kim Yong-il is not only for heads of state, Communist parties, football clubs and socialist publishing houses like his father. Now capitalists are tough to train, leaders of major companies from around the world and politicians that we know yet. Jimmy Carter's signature is shown to us, and something small from Mrs. Albright. A Südkoraner, head of a large company, has donated 33 chairs, Baroque, had very beautifully, they also probably like Louis XIV. But we also see all the batteries of TV sets, Tape recorders and hi-fi systems, computers and electronics. And Kim Yong-il we can admire, even as a statue can be seen: A friendly man, permanently youthful and yet authoritative.
As part of this place eventually, say thank you very uncommon in our dedicated guide, waving her long departing from the minibus and ... to proceed to the next target.
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