North Korea - Part 4

DPRK Visa

Many people it turns out didn't quite believe me when I told them I was going to North Korea. Frankly, I didn't quite believe it myself either. To this day I still am coming to grips with the journey, all that I saw and experienced, and what, if any, clues might point to North Korea's future. 

Since leaving, the tension on the Korean Peninsula has escalated to "frightening" levels. Everyday in the news, North Korea has done 'x' and the United States and South Korean have done 'y'.

North Korea - Part 3

Poyhon Buddhist Temple

We headed two hours northeast of Pyongyang to Mt. Myohyang located in the idyllic mountain areas that remain virtually untouched. North Korea easily could be a nature lover's paradise with infinite possibilities for hiking, skiing, climbing, etc. Perhaps in the future this could be a lucrative venture that would help build a stable and growing economy (of a new government, no less).

The hotel was freezing yet again, but only in the public areas. The rooms were toasty warm and the hot water was turned on in anticipation of our arrival (though only for one hour that night and one hour in the morning). The shower was in a raised bathtub that one must be pretty limber to get up into and was quite impossible to stand up straight in. There was a handheld shower nozzle because one must sit down in the bath, being careful to prevent water from soaking the tile floor below since there was no shower curtain. Dinner was satisfying as we sat close to the heaters, drinking our way into the evening and chatting about what had been seen so far and what was to come. It was a most delightful evening since there was nothing else to do and no other guests in the hotel. 

North Korea - Kumsusan Memorial Palace

Empty Roads to Kumsusan 

Beautiful snow. Clean lines. The architecture was utopian. We marched from the waiting hall to the main entrance, where we checked out coats, cameras, and bags before setting off on the mile-long escalator ride for personal reflection. It's one of those airport ones that cover a long distance; however, this one moves about 2 miles per hour, and we were not allowed to walk or talk. We had to stand still in order to reflect and prepare ourselves to see the dear leaders. There were a few photographs on the walls that show the Kim's looking at various things. What a joy. 

North Korea - Part 2

GOOD MORNINNNNGGG, PYONGYANG!!!

Courtesy Beyongmedioonline.com

The phone rang at 7:01.

I broke a glass trying to find the phone on the bedside table, and nearly fell out of bed trying to figure out how to answer it. The sun had not yet risen, but the faint light exposed a bleak and foggy winter wonderland. The river below was frozen solid and I could barely make out any lights twinkling in the quiet city. I only saw one car in the distance. Upstairs we were served quite a feast for breakfast: 1 egg over easy, 3 pieces of plain white toast, 1 small bottle of water, 2 stale pieces of sweet bread, and a sliver of jam. Coffee optional at an extra cost. Everything was served cold.

North Korea - Part 1

Praise be to Dear Leader, Kim Il Sung, President of the DPRK, and to Generals Kim Jong Il and Kim Jong Un…

It all began on the eve of Chinese New Year; Beijing was empty - no one walking down the sidewalks, no bicyclists speeding the opposite way down the street, no taxis deliberately not picking up foreigners, hell, not even buses could be found. The air was still polluted, go figure, but 20 brave adventurers embarked on a life-changing journey to one of the most isolated places on earth - Terminal 2, Beijing Capital Airport. Here is where the story begins.

Diving Sipidan

Inside the Jackfish "Tornado"

Leave it to Alex to find the best scuba diving sites on earth… Ranked the #1 dive site on the planet, Sipidan truly is the best the world has to offer. Thousands of different marine life and coral specimens call the waters round this small island home. The only improvement would be to sink a big ship nearby for an awesome wreck dive. Six days of diving ahead of us, there was no time to waste. After arriving late in the evening from Tawau (a 2hr drive west) it was straight to bed. Like children dreaming of sugar plums on Christmas Eve, excitement was hard to overcome. Before I knew it, the morning light crept through our window. 

Sipidan Island, from the boat.

Day 1: Enriched Air Nitrox. Three dives to get us certified and prepped for the real challenge - Cavern Diver Certification. One of the ultimate courses in recreational diving, Cavern Diving has no textbook, no proper course. Only a professional cave diver can instruct it, and it is simply pass with flying colors, or fail. There are no mistakes allowed. Our instructor, Gerhardt, had lived at Sipidan for 20 years and was beyond a doubt the most senior diver for hundreds of miles. As impressive as his credentials were, the news that week of 5 divers dying in a cave in Italy had us a bit shaken. But hey, we only live once, right? 

Sri Lanka

"We are fa-mi-ly…" 

I loved Sri Lanka. It was one of the most fascinating places I have visited, given the vibrant colors of my surroundings, the tastiness of the food, and friendliness of its people. No one wonder the Portuguese thought it was the Garden of Eden.

The entire country has just a bit fewer people than the city of Beijing. So nice and spread out. We arrived early in the morning from Kuala Lumpur, and hired a car at the airport to take us around Colombo for the day. Colombo was far from developed in terms of infrastructure. Our two-hour drive down a two way road towards the city was bumpy yet lined with a bustling assortment of people, overcrowded busses, bicycles, and merchants. 

Bangkok's Sex Industry

Most people think Vegas or New Orleans as hubs of perpetual indulgence. Well, friends, think again...

Thailand is well-known for its sex industry, from sex tourism to sex shows and massage parlors ten to a block. Of course I had to experience this, so I went to three sex shows while in Bangkok which basically followed a similar routine.

Singapore

Outside the Raffles Hotel

The Garden City. My dear cousin Nonnie Dillehay and her husband Barry have lived here the past 12 years, and know the city inside and out. My stopover in Singapore was to be a short one, but Nonnie saw to it that I took in the most important sights around town. We started with a Bumboat cruise down the Boat Quay, Clark Quay, and around Marina Bay. It was a pleasant little cruise passing by the old Boat Quay where fisherman and merchants would dock to sell and trade merchandise. The road was lined with original turn-of-the-century buildings that today are filled with bars and restaurants, each with a patio overlooking the water. Beyond the quay and under two bridges, we emerged at the Merlion, a giant fountain with the body of a mermaid and the head of a lion. Across the bay was the famous Marina Bay Sands Resort, a three building hotel connected by a large "boat" resting on top with the world's highest outdoor pool (over 600ft above ground-level). It was a sight to behold. The remainder of our cruise was spent admiring the modern skyscrapers while sipping our Tiger beers and doing our best to beat the immense heat. 

The Kingdom of Thailand

Children, Beware!

Bangkok is not for everyone, and therefore, was perfect for me. It was chaos from the beginning. My godfather hadn't planned on coming here, but I was set to rendezvous with a friend from Beijing, and believe me when I say our accommodations would be exponentially contrasted from the ones in Bali and Lombok. There was plenty to do and see, so why waste money on a fancier place to sleep? My godfather has been to Bangkok many times, so he took it upon himself to give me a beginners guide while for him enjoying the city one last time. 

Hello, Bali! (move over, Dolly)

Lunch at Four Seasons Ubud

I departed a frigid Beijing at 2:50 am and landed in Singapore six hours later, greeted by my dear cousin, her husband, and a splendid 94°F. It turns out that Singapore is probably the most beautiful city in the world. My hosts informed me on the drive home from the airport that over $30 million was spent lining the airport expressway with lush vegetation and massive pots overflowing with sensational tropical flowers to give visitors a mind blowing first impression of the small city-state. Rain trees, fan palms, mahogany trees, fruit trees, vines, bougainvillea, and much, much more. There was not a speck of trash anywhere.  It was absolutely unreal. I can only compare it to a video game or a movie in the sense that it seemed just too good to be true…but it was real. 

Call me Abraham

And the Lord said unto Ried,
"Go forth to Harbin in the east, and give food to the tigers, for they are hungry."
And so he did...

Apart from the ice festival, there was another must-see in Harbin. You guessed it - the tiger park. This reserve is home to over 800 siberian tigers, the largest of the big cats weighing in at a whopping 500 lbs. on average. It is estimated that there are fewer than 20 left in the wild. I know that my grandfather, Bill Peace, was an avid hunter and a truly brave man, but even an encounter with these tigers would give him reason to change his underpants. 

Harbin, China - The Ice City

Now, I've heard of 'shrinkage', but this is ridiculous. 

Due to a continued outbreak of chicken pox at the public school, and semester exams at the private, I have been afforded a wonderful extended break (without pay no less). Five weeks of missed classes at the public school and only nine days left for makeups will undoubtedly prove interesting. Therefore, on a whim - yes, I know, I have never been one to make impulsive decisions - I decided late New Year's Day night that I would make a quick trip north to Haerbin, a 9-hour train ride from Beijing…and that's on the high speed train!