Category: North Korea

Sunday, 23 April 2017 Beijing, China Leisurely day trip to the Great Wall of China at Mutianyu. When I worked here in 1996, managed to grab a day trip to the wall at Badaling. Back then hired a car and driver for the day for about 2p. Substantially more now. Capitalist lot. Back then the… Read more

Saturday, 22 April 2017 Beijing, China 0500hrs alarm for an early check out for the airport run. Hotel needs to check our rooms to ensure we haven’t stolen anything. Two in our group have twice been accused of stealing towels in two hotels when in actual fact the hotel hadn’t put towels there in the… Read more

Friday, 21 April 2017 Pyongyang, North Korea Quick waltz around the ski resort after breakfast. Patches of snow on the ski slopes still and chairs move slowly on the chair lift. Not sure why. We appear to be the only guests in the hotel. Hotel workers outside are wearing white fur hats to channel that… Read more

Thursday, 20 April 2017 Masikyrong, North Korea Guide checks all our rooms before we depart to ensure we haven’t left anything incriminating. Only seems to be doing it here. Suspect it’s because of our location close to the border with South Korea. Ten miles away. It’s to be a 3hr morning walk up the valley… Read more

Wednesday, 19 April 2017 Mount Kumgang, North Korea Breakfast in the garish banqueting room. A long table is laid out with a breakfast buffet and a hot water urn and tea/coffee etc. Naturally, I go and make my own tea. As soon as I do the others shout, “Nooo….” Stopped in my tracks from making… Read more

Tuesday, 18 April 2017 Hamhung, North Korea   Knock. Knock. Who’s there? “It’s me.” It’s late at night though not fast asleep. Thankfully, for the girl next door knocking on my door. Again. You’ll remember, dear reader, that we have the same adjoining rooms off a little lobby. The scene of a rumpus in the… Read more

Monday, 17 April 2017 Pyongyang, DPRK Think we can safely say that the Chongchon Hotel could be described as shabby chic but without the chic. Unable to turn off the underfloor heating the room is stifling and opening the window is a no no because of all the midges that swarm in. Need to take… Read more

Sunday, 16 April 2017 Mount Myohyang, DPRK At last. A night’s sleep without someone banging on my door in the middle of the night! Bliss. My ration of one fried egg for breakfast and one coffee. Although there is plenty of other food available. Today’s highlight is to see the preserved bodies of Kim Il-Sung… Read more

Saturday, 15 April 2017 Pyongyang, North Korea Knock. Knock. Knock. Knock. Knock. Knock. CHUFFING NORA. WHAT THE FLIP. Knock. Knock. Knock. Knock. Knock. Knock. Disturbed from a deep sleep. Again. Second night in a row now. I need a bit of peace and quiet. Assume it’s my wake up call. Look at watch. Er no.… Read more

Friday, 14 April 2017 Pyongyang, North Korea   ALMIGHTY BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG. WHAT THE… ALMIGHTY BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG. VERY LOUD AND VERY CLOSE. Disturbed from a deep sleep. You can imagine how grumpy I am. Jetlagged, dazed and confused I come to. At… Read more