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Communist Travel
Dictatorship Travel: Eating Like Kim Jong Il
October 20, 2008 at 10:00 AM | 0 Comments
After North Korea agreed to turn off its biggest nuclear reactor last week, it officially fell off the United States' list of countries that sponsor terrorism. So we figured, why not indulge in some Communist cuisine to celebrate?
In Cambodia, along with about 200 other countries, state sanctioned and supported North Korean restaurants serve as unofficial embassies of the country's creepy culture.
Turns out Pyongyang Restaurant in Phnom Penh is a microcosm of North Korea's Arirang Festival, in which tens of thousands of children create moving mosaics at Pyongyang's May Day Stadium.
North Korea Travel
Dictatorship Travel: Pyongyang and Kim Jong Il's Arteries Both Doing Splendidly
September 30, 2008 at 9:45 AM | 1 Comment
Despite what the South Park guys identified as chronic "roneriness", Kim Jong Il's health is just fine, thankyouverymuch. At least that's what the Dear Leader's propaganda machine is insisting. Stroke? Don't even suggest it. Seriously. They'll arrest you.
This past week, an envoy of journalists were given a controlled, guided tour illustrating the country's booming economy and happy populace, of course. This is how an Asia Times reporter recounted his trip to Pyongyang:
North Korea Travel
Communist Choreography in North Korea
February 25, 2008 at 11:05 AM | 1 Comment
You might've thought that when Bush called North Korea a member of the "Axis of Evil" that he killed your chances to ever visit the world's most reclusive country. But every year between August and October the so-called Democratic People's Republic of Korea will grant visas to US citizens so they can attend the Mass Games--a colorful, tightly choreographed gymnastics display involving almost 100,000 performers.
Unfortunately, tours of the DPRK are just about as choreographed. Regime-approved guides keep a close eye on what travelers do, say and take photos of, and they certainly won't break from the party line if asked questions about the quality of life in the country.
That doesn't mean it won't be a fascinating experience, just don't plan on heading off willy-nilly with your point-and-shoot. Tourists supposedly have to yield their passport and plane ticket out of the country to the police during their trip.
