A travel diary
Wed Sept 29th, 2010 - Thurs Oct 7th, 2010
Written by Robin Renitent
for www.rebellogblog.com / dev
(朝鲜民主主义人民共和国)
Travel Section North Korea as part of a four-year world tour.
After lunch we will meet again at 14 clock in the lobby. By minibus it goes through the city to the subway station of the Pyongyang Metro: In the entrance hall is a light board the stations. Then it goes together in the depths. The escalator is about as long as one in the Moscow metro, the station is located 80m below ground.
Wikipedia Encyclopedia tells us this: On 6 September 1973 the first section of the subway opened in Pyongyang. Today there are two lines with a length of 22.5 kilometers. The subway in Pyongyang was the first subway on the Korean peninsula. The construction of the network began in 1968. A fatal accident occurred during construction in a tunnel under the River Taesong. Some sources that more than 100 workers have come to death. This part of the section was never completed and the entire underground network is now located on the western side of river. The network runs completely underground and the lines were along the lines of metro networks in other communist countries, especially the Moscow Metro. Both routes have many similarities, including the course in great depth and the large distances between stops. In particular, the real socialist art can be found in these stations. In times of war, the U-Bahn stops are used as shelters. For this Purpose are installed large steel gates. There is speculation that large military installations are connected to the bus stops. is evidence of this, it is not. According to other speculation should exist besides the two official lines and an unknown number of lines of secret military and government purposes.
Whether this speculation can have a real basis to say I do not. We at least wait for the subway, which, to my great surprise, a bit is the aging (West) Berlin U-Bahn, (they have been green-vice injected red, the inside is unchanged) was that of the DPRK, according to our guide paid. When I left Germany 11 years ago, these cars were still in operation, during my last visit 2 years I have not seen her. We drive a station. There was always speculation that only these two stations work at all. But we shall see, occur in other races around town, even people from other stations. In this respect, to assume that this is an untenable conspiracy theory. As I drive through the tunnel, I feel transported back to Berlin for a moment. Our two guides in any case are very proud to introduce these attractions with their own enthusiasm.
we see on the streets way too many trams, white and red, and they do not look as bad as that is described on some blogs. The buses, however, are sometimes a bit long in the tooth, and many of the flexible rubber boots on the transitions to the trailer would have to be replaced. But many public transport companies are suffering even among financial shortage. All buses have in common is that, as we see them, always completely overcrowded. A situation that we know also from China, Egypt or London in the rush hour. However, I am grateful, now, with plenty of space for me to be able to sit in our minibus.
Now it goes to the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum. A pretty woman soldier in the officer rank already waiting for us and takes us through endless corridors in different rooms. Here, we get compared to more detailed information about the greatest enemy of the DPRK, the U.S. imperial state, their aggressive policy of the country and as benefit is paid the DPRK under the wise leadership of Kim Il-sung's won. The price was a totally destroyed country, and especially the capital city suffered severely, and their destruction was extensive. Well, there are other versions of history, for example, as we have learned, but it's never wrong to listen to the party whose guest you are. What is now inspires everyone who enjoy dioramas or similar re-enactments has. We are led into a panorama that is 15 m high, totaling 120 m, and measuring 42m in diameter. In very realistically recreated battle scenes here are of the Korean War, some with real objects, part in a fascinating wall paintings. The last we saw was the panoramic view of Racławice in Wroclaw, formerly Breslau, in the previous year. It is obvious that here in Pyongyang to celebrate victory over the American aggressor and so we see even a painted-injured North Koreans. Slowly turn the interior past the panorama, so that, after about 10 minutes, again at the beginning of the story arrives. is
Something like that in the statement now, a further presentation in a theater-like space: Here we see, after a red curtain was opened, also a diorama, a 19th Century by Daguerre invented darkened theater with semitransparent, both sides painted different prospectus. By changing illumination of the front and back able to put motions and times can be simulated effectively. This allied with the panoramic technique is still used on theater stages. (Wikipedia)
Here is also an acoustic battle, gunfire, explosions, through the night moving small trucks and other military vehicles make impressive victory of the Korean unit, to a mountain pass through which Americans The dar. takes about 20 minutes and then we are convinced that the Americans really deserve to have one on the cap. Our charming officer finds it and shows us proud in the basement of the museum downed wreckage of American machinery, military vehicles and a model of "Pueblo". (I will come to) Although we have visited in recent years a number of military museums in different countries, for example, in Dayton, USA or Moscow, we are also deeply impressed by the destructive power of Korean defense weapons .
A walk by the War Victory Monument is closed. The sun is once again wrong, but I manage to take photos. Impressive what you have put up here in monuments. I like stuff, and especially the ability of artists to increased human proportions right can be cast in bronze I admire. In this respect I also respect the artistic expression of Arno Breker's aesthetic and his portraits. Someday I will so order a piece of me, but in a less martial pose and the Rettungsringwabbelbauch has also gone before. If I do not succeed, let I prefer to stay. Wikipedia says to the theme park:
the west of the city, the memorial is for the Fatherland Liberation struggle, which until 1993 for the 40th Anniversary of that was built. The 150,000 square feet of space is entered through a monumental gate with various bronze reliefs that handle different variations in the theme of "victory." On the site you see more than ten thematic sculptures, representations of individual soldiers in heroic poses and carved writings of Kim Il Sung.
Beautiful end of this Visit: A bride comes through the entrance monument and I manage to take a picture. Where brides but I so love. To the husband I have no recollection ...
Later, after dinner, I turn on the television: there are, but only in the hotel, one state channel, 3 Russian channels, BBC and CCTV. At home, you can only receive the state channel. That makes sense, then the population is not insecure and is exempt from the west decadent influences. In the state of channel is just a great meeting, in Parliament, there is much talk and applauds. Kim Yong-il is also there, he reads, has a red Booklet in the air and makes a quiet, well-balanced impression. Loquacious as our politicians he's not.
lamp. Sleep! Tomorrow is the 2nd Day.
Photos: © Copyright www.rebellogblog.com / Robin renitent 2010
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