You know, Just Your Typical Weekend Getaway...to North Korea?!: Photos 0 to 21

This past weekend, I had an opportunity to go to North Korea. The only way anyone is allowed across the boarder is through the Hyundai Tour to Kumgangsan. Kumgangsan is a mountain (san=mountain) that is said to be one of the most beautiful places in all of Korea. The trip was originally designed for students who were in the North and South Korean Conflict class, but it was opened up to all international students. It was a pretty pricy tour, as it lasted for 3 days and 2 nights in five star hotel. As an American Citizen, who is not permitted into the country under any other circumstances, I found this an experience I could not turn down. Not very many people I know back home can say, “Oh yeah, North Korea, I’ve been there.”

We left at 7 am on Friday, all 44 of us. We took a 5 hour bus ride to the northern part of South Korea where we picked up our handy little tourist IDs that had to be worn around our necks at all times. We also had to drop off all cell phones, internet connection devices, cameras whose lenses exceed 150mm zoom, and all

Full Text Entry: You know, Just Your Typical Weekend Getaway...to North Korea?!

Bekah, Thanks so much for including me in your memorable moments. It was wonderful to share in this experience of a lifetime. I send my best. Have a safe and wonderful trip full of such moments. Burt

Your blog is amazing. I was going to write on your last blog and tell you that you were a slacker because you hadn't posted in a while, but I guess you made up for it with today's book. You keep partying with the diplomats. See ya soon, lover. Christin

i just read your entry... and im jealous. but what can i do? You always get to do all the fun and interesting stuff. I cant wait for you to call me.. and i love you and am glad you are experiencing so much. So did you get away with any of that sand? love jen

rebekah--it's amazing that you are able to document everything in such great detail. i can tell you are growing as a person. keep up the good work! i'm proud of you... peace, jason

REBEKAH!!!! you're a wild woman...my favorite part is the korean soldier hitting on you...:) luv srh

Hey there! ya know I just now checked my xanga site?! two months later. oh well. I'm so glad you are having a good time! I miss you bunches my dear. one of these days you'll have to "weekend gettaway" up to nor-cal and see me and mine. call me sometime if you can so I can feel special. Love and hugs, Hav

what an amazing experience. that is defintally a story to remember. I always enjoy reading your adventures and living vicariously through your stories. keep it up

it's crazy thinking you are around the world at this very moment....i love you and hope you're storing up piles of memorable moments to share when you get back. i want to hear every one of them! ;) loveyou, kid!!!! ~Lydia

Rebekah, pretty sure you have captured moments that very very few people in the world will ever have the privilege to experience. Thank you so much for sharing. I have been continually impressed and excited to see where your journey in Korea leads you next.

I was taking a look at your blog after I posted mine and realized we have a lot of the same pictures..kind of interesting I thought. I think the hotel you had your party in was where we stayed. I didn't see the giant mural that you took a picture of. Kudos to being American and having been to the DPKR!!!!!

wow, that's such an amazing experience. It would be so interesting to actually go to North Korea, since we hear about it in the news so much but we don't really know a lot about it because it's so secretive. My guess is, however, that the North Koreans you were with weren't really your average North Koreans-- most things I've read have said they have people extensively trained under extremely strict rules to show tourists North Korea is a happy and prosperous country, and of course they can't talk about politics except to say they love their dear leader.

You didn't see the real North Korea. The North Korea where the Dictator decides who eats and who starves. Why could you not take pictures from the bus? Why were there guards with guns every 20 meters? Why was this 5 star hotel empty? Why could you not talk to the North Korean people? These people do not have freedom, and so many of them are starving. You met a few of the people of North Korea but you did not see the true picture. Freedom is for all, and is what our Creator intended. "Well they don't know what freedom means so they don't miss it". And you are ok with this. You say: "I am not saying that I support this particular system; I am simply putting forth an idea that could possibly lead to the better understanding of their perspective and condition. " Don't be naive. These people don't deserve to live under this cruel Dictator. I saw a documentary, where a man from South Korea smuggled in a camera and hid it in his coat and filmed what really goes on there. Look into the truth.

where the fk is it?? srh

I throroughly enjoyed you account of your trip to North Korea. It was beautifully descriptive. I was googling North Korea today after I heard about N. Korea's recent satellite rocket launch when I happened to come upon your piece. It is very interesting !

Bekah, Thanks so much for including me in your memorable moments. It was wonderful to share in this experience of a lifetime. I send my best. Have a safe and wonderful trip full of such moments. Burt

Your blog is amazing. I was going to write on your last blog and tell you that you were a slacker because you hadn't posted in a while, but I guess you made up for it with today's book. You keep partying with the diplomats. See ya soon, lover. Christin

i just read your entry... and im jealous. but what can i do? You always get to do all the fun and interesting stuff. I cant wait for you to call me.. and i love you and am glad you are experiencing so much. So did you get away with any of that sand? love jen

rebekah--it's amazing that you are able to document everything in such great detail. i can tell you are growing as a person. keep up the good work! i'm proud of you... peace, jason

REBEKAH!!!! you're a wild woman...my favorite part is the korean soldier hitting on you...:) luv srh

Hey there! ya know I just now checked my xanga site?! two months later. oh well. I'm so glad you are having a good time! I miss you bunches my dear. one of these days you'll have to "weekend gettaway" up to nor-cal and see me and mine. call me sometime if you can so I can feel special. Love and hugs, Hav

what an amazing experience. that is defintally a story to remember. I always enjoy reading your adventures and living vicariously through your stories. keep it up

it's crazy thinking you are around the world at this very moment....i love you and hope you're storing up piles of memorable moments to share when you get back. i want to hear every one of them! ;) loveyou, kid!!!! ~Lydia

Rebekah, pretty sure you have captured moments that very very few people in the world will ever have the privilege to experience. Thank you so much for sharing. I have been continually impressed and excited to see where your journey in Korea leads you next.

I was taking a look at your blog after I posted mine and realized we have a lot of the same pictures..kind of interesting I thought. I think the hotel you had your party in was where we stayed. I didn't see the giant mural that you took a picture of. Kudos to being American and having been to the DPKR!!!!!

wow, that's such an amazing experience. It would be so interesting to actually go to North Korea, since we hear about it in the news so much but we don't really know a lot about it because it's so secretive. My guess is, however, that the North Koreans you were with weren't really your average North Koreans-- most things I've read have said they have people extensively trained under extremely strict rules to show tourists North Korea is a happy and prosperous country, and of course they can't talk about politics except to say they love their dear leader.

You didn't see the real North Korea. The North Korea where the Dictator decides who eats and who starves. Why could you not take pictures from the bus? Why were there guards with guns every 20 meters? Why was this 5 star hotel empty? Why could you not talk to the North Korean people? These people do not have freedom, and so many of them are starving. You met a few of the people of North Korea but you did not see the true picture. Freedom is for all, and is what our Creator intended. "Well they don't know what freedom means so they don't miss it". And you are ok with this. You say: "I am not saying that I support this particular system; I am simply putting forth an idea that could possibly lead to the better understanding of their perspective and condition. " Don't be naive. These people don't deserve to live under this cruel Dictator. I saw a documentary, where a man from South Korea smuggled in a camera and hid it in his coat and filmed what really goes on there. Look into the truth.

where the fk is it?? srh

I throroughly enjoyed you account of your trip to North Korea. It was beautifully descriptive. I was googling North Korea today after I heard about N. Korea's recent satellite rocket launch when I happened to come upon your piece. It is very interesting !