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| Exploring the axis of... Originally part of "Hamilton Island - who has been there?" 66 Replies: « back 1 2 3 4 next » |  Mell Mell Post Count: 15166 Msg: #41 13 weeks ago, September 28th 2009 | |  The Arch of Triumph in Pyongyang - North Korea from: "Bowing before the feet of the Heavenly Leader" By The Travel Camel Does anyone know if the N. Koreans are in the habit of copying monuments from around the world, or is this the only one? Mell Mell Post Count: 15166 Msg: #42 13 weeks ago, September 30th 2009 |  I had to describe the country in one word, I would say "surreal". Cynical more like. Being led around flanked by guards, on a tour of the 'Great Leader' at 150 US per day........ I think I will put N. Korea on the same list as Tibet, meaning I dont want to go where I cant talk with the regular people. Love your reports about it though. :) Mell Mell Post Count: 15166 Msg: #43 12 weeks ago, October 4th 2009 | Shanes next blog just hit the Front Page. | Eternal Vigilance Against Imperialist Aggressors [Edited: 07:54 - Mell ] Mell Mell Post Count: 15166 Msg: #44 12 weeks ago, October 4th 2009 | This term was so common that I would automatically say the words “imperialist aggressors” in the rare instances when our hosts forgot to add this sobriquet to any reference to the US. This always received a nod of approval from our Guide and Official.LOL - I have to admire your patience. :D Why does the aggression from certain countries towards ''Imperial Agressors'' so often exclude Australia. The US and Europe seem to receive the brunt of the critisism, without any recognisation that we have become more civilised over here than we used to be. [Edited: 09:22 - Mell ] Mell Mell Post Count: 15166 Msg: #45 12 weeks ago, October 5th 2009 | The idea of a united Korea was a recurring them throughout this journey - monuments to it were constructed in the streets in Pyongyang and even the weather maps on the television news broadcasts showed Korea as one nation. It is a pity they dont do more to achieve a united Korea than errect statues and make pretend maps. Mell Mell Post Count: 15166 Msg: #46 12 weeks ago, October 5th 2009 | ..... which included the highly improbable tale of villagers supporting a partially destroyed wooden bridge with their backs and hands to allow a full North Korean Army truck convoy loaded with men and machinery to pass overhead. which included the highly improbable tale of villagers supporting a partially destroyed wooden bridge with their backs and hands to allow a full North Korean Army truck convoy loaded with men and machinery to pass overhead.And they probably stuffed the holes in the road, with dead countrymen(and countrywomen too because of the equality).... [Edited: 12:59 - Mell ] Mell Mell Post Count: 15166 Msg: #47 10 weeks ago, October 17th 2009 | The Art of Isolation | Getting sleepy. Will have to wait until tomorrow to read this one. :) Mell Mell Post Count: 15166 Msg: #48 10 weeks ago, October 20th 2009 | Perhaps this can be attributed to the government practice of placing children in 24 hour government childcare institutions. Between the ages of one to four, children will spend approximately five days and nights per week away from their parents. It is during these formative years that they are taught the wonders of the Great Leader and the perils that foreigners can bring. This is another reason why I question the womens rights situation that gives an appearance of equality and therefore is supposedly a good thing for women. It is not a good thing for women when a government controls the parenting process to this extent. What bullsh*t this is. They take the kids away from the parents for most of the time during their earlier years and put the mother in the army. FFS! What happens with the kids, after 4 years old? Some more of my questions, and maybe you found the answers or not - Contraception, abortion - How readily available is family planning stuff in N. Korea? Also, what happens if a women chooses not to have children or not to get married even? Is this a choice they have? Also, is there any stigma attached to illigitmacy in N. Korea? I can imagine now wanting to have children, under the circumstances of N. Korea, if I wasnt too brainwashed that is. Mell Mell Post Count: 15166 Msg: #49 10 weeks ago, October 20th 2009 | It is during these formative years that they are taught the wonders of the Great Leader and the perils that foreigners can bring.With the universal abhorance of tyranny, the great leader has reason to believe foreigners are a threat. [Edited: 13:04 - Mell ] Mell Mell Post Count: 15166 Msg: #50 10 weeks ago, October 21st 2009 | So, where will your next trip be to, and when are you going, Shane? | Mell Mell Post Count: 15166 Msg: #51 9 weeks ago, October 26th 2009 | Anxious Times at the Border | Ah, cool! Another one. I thought the last one was the last one.  The Travel Camel Shane Dallas Post Count: 1065 Msg: #52 9 weeks ago, October 26th 2009 | For some reason, I dropped off the subscription to this blog and only saw all of these messages now! Wow, lots to comment on... | I was originally going to do only four, but there was so much to tell and people were asking me so many questions, that I opted for a fifth. I had enough material to write another one, but it will now stop at five. I think that other people may have thought the same - I have been averaging 10 comments per North Korean blog, but none so far, so many people may have missed it. Re Family Planning in post 48: I have absolutely no idea on this one - it was not even something I considered - but it is a very good question. Next travel: Back to the Middle East and eastern Africa - but the latter will be slightly dependent on whether the terrible drought there breaks during the rainy seasons that starts about now. Mell Mell Post Count: 15166 Msg: #53 9 weeks ago, October 27th 2009 | I have been averaging 10 comments per North Korean blog, but none so far, so many people may have missed it.I think a 6th blog would be great, if there is still more to say. People not commenting does not mean they are not looking and thinking about it. Some things are just too complicated to even know what to ask about them. Sometimes it takes me days to consider some aspect of politics or whatever, before I come up with either a question or an opinion on it. One thing I find particularly difficult to discuss is the womens rights around the world subject. Often, I know there is something to say about it, but I cant get the thought into words. It takes an awful lot of patience and time to get those sentences into something that just might make sense to some people. Other political stuff is difficult to talk about too, but at least there is the bonus of it not being as personal as the women thing. Next travel: Back to the Middle East and eastern Africa - but the latter will be slightly dependent on whether the terrible drought there breaks during the rainy seasons that starts about now.Well, maybe I will see you in Turkey or Syria then. :) Which countries in E. Africa would you visit? [Edited: 08:18 - Mell ] The Travel Camel Shane Dallas Post Count: 1065 Msg: #54 9 weeks ago, October 27th 2009 | I'm heading back to Ethiopia, Kenya and a first visit to Djibouti. The extra country (if it remains safe) will be northern Somalia - to a place called Somaliland. Stuart visited there last year and it seems an amazing experience. | Middle East will just be Israel and the West Bank - but that could change. Mell Mell Post Count: 15166 Msg: #55 9 weeks ago, October 27th 2009 | Maybe I will start thinking about another trip to Africa. I dont know where yet. Ethiopia has been on my mind for a while but no real plan yet. | I kinda fancy Tanzania too, partly becaue it seems a bit more stable and safer than many of the other African countries. I meant to go there last time I was in E. Africa, but got distracted(in a good way :) ) and ended up in Uganda instead. Mell Mell Post Count: 15166 Msg: #56 9 weeks ago, October 29th 2009 | At one site, I witnessed a remarkable event when Fi decided not to purchase a booklet of stamps after hearing the price; at which time the softly spoken attendant replied with a cheaper price. In a country where the cost of every item is fixed by the government, this genteel haggling was a slither of capitalism intruding upon a command economy. In a market economy, an oversupply of stamps and undersupply of tourists would mean a reduction in price - but to witness Beautiful scenery surrounds the Pohyon Temple complex - Mt Myhongyang, North Korea this practice in a command economy was astonishing to say the least. There has been plenty of capitalism in all communist countries I have visited, starting with the entry fee these countries almost always/always charge. Mell Mell Post Count: 15166 Msg: #57 9 weeks ago, October 29th 2009 | An acceptance of the North Korean music and culture will go a long way to soothing the antagonism that nation displays to other countries. So, if we all agree to listen to N. Korean music, the N. Korean government will stop war mongering and abusing the human rights of their citizens. If that would be the case, I would submit to that ludricous damand and listen to whatever amount of N. Korean music it would take and publicly declare my total respect for it. But, demands for respect are often used by certain governments to disrupt discussions about serious issues. [Edited: 16:33 - Mell ] The Travel Camel Shane Dallas Post Count: 1065 Msg: #58 8 weeks ago, October 29th 2009 | I am unsure (and doubt) whether the human rights abuses would halt if North Korean cultural acceptances and exchanges occurred, but do think it will reduce the antagonism. What I did not put in the blogs was that when we drove past the Opera House, our Guide told us about the New York Philharmonic Orchestra's visit to Pyongyang in 2008 - it was the only time I heard the US referred to with any warmth. In fact, the Guide became quite emotional when talking about it, and it appeared to me that any time cultural aspects of the nation were mentioned, it was an area of importance to the local people. | Remember that people subject to abuses are likely to be political outsiders (and there are a lot of them) as they are seen as destabilising and disloyal to the country. However, if the external threat is reduced, perhaps the internal dissension would not seem as threatening, as the stability of the nation is more assured through the easing of dangers emanating from the South and numerous imperialist aggressors. Whereas at the moment, anything that challenges the Juche ideal is something that must be stopped with great vigor. Mell Mell Post Count: 15166 Msg: #59 8 weeks ago, October 30th 2009 | It is difficult to take an interest in N. Korean music and culture when the country is so isolated. But, I think the antagonism is caused by a certain greed minority in N. Korea, who would have a lot to lose(or at least think they do) if they risk allowing an influence such as tourists into the country. That might put a question mark in the minds of many N. Koreans about the current status quo in N. Korea. | I think taking a mutual interest in our cultures around the world can build bridges and warm feelings, but if things such as music and opera are discussed at a UN meeting set up to discuss things such as people being tortured and starved to death in gulags in N. Korea it would be a bit much. Anyway, if the New York Philharmonic Orchestra visited Pyongyang, then the world is already sharing its culture with N. Korea and taking an interest in theirs. However, if the external threat is reduced, perhaps the internal dissension would not seem as threatening, as the stability of the nation is more assured When nobody is watching internal abuses do not become less, as is evident with N. Korea which is probably the most isolated country in the world. To turn a blind eye and put on a pretence of amiable trading with N. Korea would be a crime against humanity. As well as that, they are a security threat with their nuclear weapons, so have to be negotiated with, even if human rights were not an issue. And, I dont think the stability of the country will be ensured by lack of cooperation with other countries. They cant even produce enough food. Isolation is generally not a healthy situation for countries. N. Korea, Burma and DR Congo representatives were invited to a UN meeting a few weeks ago because they are the top 3 countries on the human rights abuse list. All 3 of them evaded the serious issues of starving people, torture.... by side tracking to the various insults to their cultures they claim happened during the meeting. This country or that did not call them their preferred name, somebody else issued some other insult..... Anyway, the European Union, the US etc would like nothing better than to establish healthy trading with more countries, but with countries like N. Korea, DR Congo, Burma this would not be possible. None but the most scummy industries from N. America, EU... would touch them with a barge pole. [Edited: 07:53 - Mell ] Mell Mell Post Count: 15166 Msg: #60 8 weeks ago, October 30th 2009 | Just goes to show what a touch of validation can do for people of an ostracised nation. It would feed their self rightousness, but it is certainly diplomatic. Worked for Bill Clinton. 66 Replies: « back 1 2 3 4 next » | Number of Users: 6 | Number of Posts: 66 66 Replies: « back 1 2 3 4 next » | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
