Nobby goes to North Korea!

[nobby]

Hello everybody,

To those who know/remember me, I started doing "Nobby's travels" threads ever since my first trip to Japan by myself at age 16, now nearing 24, I am nearly done with uni and still travelling around like a crazy nobby.

The next place on my list is North Korea. Ever since the World Cup with it's "supposed" North Korean spectators cheering, (turning out to be random Chinese people) I got very interested in the history of North Korean and in a sense... obsessed.
I originally had planned to go to the DPRK in may of 2012 however the death of Kim Jong Il sadly put my plans on hold, especially with myself going on a year abroad to study in Nagasaki a few months later, it could have been disastrous having North Korea on my Passport.

In less than three weeks, I will be embarking on a government tour (Disney ride of propaganda one could say) named "the Kim Il Sung Birthday Long Tour," during this trip, I will be guided across the socialist paradise that is Pyongyang and many other wonderful sights. I will get the chance to even see Kim Jong Il and Kim Il Sung laying in state, buried in their glass coffins in their palace. I will also be entering the North Korean marathon (I will only run 10K, I don't want to kill myself by running 26 miles)

There will be so much to see so you can bet on me getting some good snaps on my lovely little camera

I will be spending two days in the Special Economic Zone between China and North Korea, so you can count on me bringing a few beers back for everyone on the next NC meet !

I hope I will not be kidnapped/killed during my 16 days there

However if I don't go now, I never will...

[nEo-1664]

Will await North Korean treats..... om nom nom nom nom :P

[Dropout]

Sounds exciting!
Good luck with it.. Hope things have changed since this was shot https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfq2BYB8K54

After North Korea, the next fucked up place to go has got to be Colombia? :P

[Drachenpaladin]

After North Korea, the next fucked up place to go has got to be Colombia? :P

Thing is, as a tourist you have a likely chance to get back from North Korea... from Colombia... not...

[William Antrim]

I would go check in with the FCO before you go.

[nobby]

I would go check in with the FCO before you go.

FCO is all fine on that front actually yet the Canadian one says "DO NOT TRAVEL"


ahhhh i'm looking forward to it, that vice documentary was quite good actually, looking forward to seeing that poor lonely tea lady

[SilentEye]

Nice to see your passion for travel, good luck!

[zii]

I'd feel safer in Columbia than N.Korea, and I would visit both. At least in Columbia I could buy my way out of problems. In N.Korea I cannot buy myself out of ideology and blood thirsty crazy rulers and their cronies.

"the Kim Il Sung Birthday Long Tour" means you get to spend really really long time on a really long tour

[Drachenpaladin]

At least in Columbia I could buy my way out of problems. In N.Korea I cannot buy myself out of ideology and blood thirsty crazy rulers and their cronies.

I doubt that. In both instances.

[Dropout]

I'd feel safer in Columbia than N.Korea, and I would visit both. At least in Columbia I could buy my way out of problems. In N.Korea I cannot buy myself out of ideology and blood thirsty crazy rulers and their cronies.

"the Kim Il Sung Birthday Long Tour" means you get to spend really really long time on a really long tour

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToQ8PWYnu04
Yeah.... Maybe after you've been completely ripped off and probably beaten (or killed)..
Colombia is scary in SO many ways..

[Britney]

On our way to the hotel we will visit the Arch of Triumph - similar to the French version but bigger.

You'd almost mistake it for Las Vegas!

[StevenJ]

I've just had a Skype conversation with The Nobby from the China/North Korea border. He tried to post, but couldn't, so asked me to thank chaps for this fun and promises he won't re-enact any "Weekend At Bernies" style japes*, particularly with dead dictators: that'd prevent him from returning here with photos. But for those who know The Noblet, who knows.

So I posted this.

Guy's fucking nuts, if you ask me. But in a damned good way!

*Exact wording may be mine.

[Xeno LARD]

Pyongyang's official beer is made in a plant which was taken from there town where I currently live.

The ushers factory was taken apart, shipped to Korea and reassembled.

[Britney]

http://www.newsweek.com/american-tou...h-korea-248623

Hope Nobby's careful.

[Drachenpaladin]

I think he is smart enough to not tear his tourist visa and spout nonsense...