Where's Waldo??

This is the required protection when I go to North Korea in a couple of weeks. Okay mama, don't freak out, it is only a paintball game!! Can you pick me out??

DMZ

The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) is the boader that seperates North and South Korea. It is 4 km wide (2km to the North and 2 km to the South) surrounded by guards, barbed wire, elecric fences and even mines. On Sunday, I got the experience to visit this inconceivable divison.




The first stop was Imjingak which is as far North as civilians can go by themselves without permission. Here the Freedom Bridge was used in exchanging prisioners after the Korean War. It is filled with messages wishing for peace and unification between the two Koreas. The second picture depicts the freedom that is wished for and the conflict that is in existance.


The Freedom Bridge

The Contrast of the two Koreas

Throughout the 1970's and 1980's tunnels were built under the DMZ to overtake South Korea by the North. The 3rd tunnel was discovered in 1978 and is 2m wide, 2m high and 1635m in length. At a descent of 300m and a 15 degree angle, it is a workout to get back up! No pictures were allowed to be taken in the tunnel. The floor of the tunnel is covered with rubber mats and and the walls with charcoal to give the impression that the tunnel was part of an abandoned mine. IT was easy to see that the tunnel was dug by North Koreans as you could see the direction of the yellow paint used in marking the explosives was pointed towards the South.

The Dora Observatory allows a view of the DMZ and into north Korea. Binoculars can be used to observe North Korea, but no pictures are allowed! There is a yellow line that is called the photo line and no pictures can be taken beyond this line. This is a strict policy and the guards are on the look out! Inside the DMZ, there are two small villages, one belonging to the South and one belonging to the North. The people who live here are few and want to be here, as it is thier way of life. And such are paid compensation for living in such a dangerous area. North Korean and South Korea flags are flown in each village respectively. The village of North Korea is an empty one and is known as a propaganda village. It is designed to give outsiders the impression that North Korea is a prosperous nation.

The Photo Line

The Only Photo ever allowed of North Korea!!

Seoul Grand Park Zoo

Richard and Dan

Dan and I

If only I were so tall.......

Who fell out??

Pacing Tiger

Bored Bear

Entertaining Dolphins

The view from Beomeosa Temple



My Garlic Bathroom




Popular Haeundae Beach

Busan Tower in Yongdusan Park

Sunny Daze!!

Holidays! Sweet sweet holidays! I finally got a few days off from school and so I escaped to Busan, the second biggest city (next to Seoul) in Korea (3.8 million).

The yeogwan (small motel) was recommended to me by the Lonely Planet Guide (this book kicks @$$!). I got there and the old man so nice. He spoke not a word of English but he and I undersood one another just fine. The ondol (your basic blanket on the floor) was shall we say "cozy." The bathroom had a bag of garlic hanging on the wall as a mosquito deterrant! The next night I got upgraded to a better room, this one actually having a matress. Although I did have to share it. It was the first time I had seen a cockroach. I slept with the light on, so it would hide away in the darkness and wouldn't climb over my sleeping self.

I travelled via subway to Gupo market, which has a wide selection of clothes and korean food, especially fishy things. Amoung the stalls that I stumbled upon were some butchers shops. I had known what was here but finding it was accidental. There were dogs caged up, far too many for each crate, each one just lying there. And carcesses were laying in freezers and even on the ground for viewing. Now I know this practice happens in Korea, and I am a little intrigued about it, but it was actually a little more than I wanted to see. And the worst of it was that I was approached to buy a whole dog to eat! I politely declined saying that it was too big for just myself.

Busan is famous for it beaches. And beach it up did I go. Haeundae beach is the most popular beach, fun for you and about 500 000 of your closest friends! You couldn't see the sand for the beach umbrellas, which were highly needed for shade from the hot sun. Although I spent much of the day under an umbrella with my book (what a geek!), I did develop a nice glow to my skin!

Beomeosa is a Buddhist Temple founded in 678 AD. Even though most of its orginal buildings have been destroyed and rebult, it is still famous amoungst Koreans, especially for prayer and worship. And it has a great view of the mountains!

So I know I am no Goddess. And I know I am not butt ugly. So why were the people of Busan continually staring at me!? There are enough foreigners there to know what they look like. I am no different. I was used to staring when I was in China, but now I am not so used to it anymore. I find it rude and ignorant. There is a difference between looking and blanant staring. The least they can do is be a more subtle!

But all and all, my trip to Busan was enjoyable and relaxing. A great way to spend a few days before heading back to my wonderful students!