Dan & Sherry Come to Asia!!! - The DMZ

Day 1 in South Korea, after a late first night, we had Andrew's parents up early for an all day DMZ tour...

The view from the bus window. We were just outside of Seoul, heading toward North Korea on the "Freedom Highway." The banks of the river that flows from North Korea to South Korea are bordered by this barbwire fence and many guard posts like this, to protect against North Korean spies swimming into South Korea.

Tour buses in South Korea are immaculately decorated...

More of the Freedom Highway.
The mountains in the distance are North Korean.

At the entrance to the 3rd Tunnel.

So far, the South Koreans have discovered 4 tunnels dug by the North Koreans, each different lengths and depths, but all aiming at Seoul.

A tour group heading down into the tunnel.

Sorry, we have no photos from inside the tunnel. Photography is prohibited in most locations on the tour. So, if you'd like to see more, you'll have to come visit.

Looking sweet in our hard-hats.

It was really bright and our sunglasses were still
in the locker, so our smiles are pretty awful.

Judy and friends pushing for unification.

This lady liked the way Judy was thinking.

Doing what it takes to get the shot.

Diagram of the 3rd Tunnel

3-D souvenirs in the gift/snack shop.

refueling

The Camera Man

Looking for our bus (that is not Dan!)

After the 3rd Tunnel, we got back on the bus and headed to Dora Observatory, to get a better view of North Korea.

Couple Tees!



No photographs allowed beyond this line.

The 3rd largest city in North Korea.


A soldier told Andrew to delete this photo.

(Yes, Andrew is badass)

Just checking things out in North Korea...

This says, Dora Observatory


Our tour guide

From Dora Observatory, our next stop was Dorasan Station, the northernmost train station in South Korea.

According to this map, you could travel by train
from South Korea all the way to Spain,
if it wasn't for North Korea...

The train ran ONCE from Dorasan Station to Pyungyang, North Korea, carrying George Bush and the South Korean President at the time. That was for the start of the World Cup in 2002. After that, North Korea said, "No more," and Dorasan Station has been dormant ever since.

Now it is just a stop on DMZ tours and a gallery space

Seoul 56km - Pyungyang 205km


Sweet pose

And another good one




Lunchtime!

We were a little worried when the bus pulled into this restaurant's parking lot. It's not nice looking by any means, and this was going to be Andrew's parent's first meal in Korea. We were a little nervous.

The tent in the chicken coop in the parking
lot did nothing to settle our nerves.

Their first Korean dining experience!

불고기 - Bulgogi

A stewed beef and vegetable dish

Chopstick master Sherry!


We were nervous for no reason.
As you can see, we had no trouble cleaning the table of food.

Our tour guide at Freedom Bridge

Freedom Bridge, so named because it was the bridge to freedom for prisoners captured by the North, was the major link between the truce site of Panmunjeom and South Korea during the Korean War. Today, it's only use is to serve as a reminder of the (ongoing) conflict between North and South and a memorial to the fallen soldiers.

Many visitors have written their memories, prayers
and wishes on these ribbons that cover the fence.

The ladies

Visitors to Imjingak Park are allowed to walk halfway across the bridge.


At the halfway point

True Love

A reference to the hit movie of 1984, we hope...



The gate at the middle of the bridge


Razor wire everywhere


A Buddhist pagoda with a bell, a statement of peace.



Hey-O!

The plan here was to fake a picture to make it look like Andrew was taking the picture himself, only it ended up looking like Andrew was pretending to ride a chopper.

I'm...Imjingak?


North Korean Soju

Why wouldn't there be a Popeye's Chicken here?

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After Imjingak Park, we were finally headed into the DMZ! Everyone is welcome to tour the 3rd Tunnel and Imjingak Park, but entrance into the DMZ is only open to passport carrying residents of select countries. Only South Korean soldiers stationed there and special tour guides are allowed to pass through the checkpoints. All other South Koreans are denied access. There were very few opportunities to take photographs, so there aren't many. Again, you'll have to come visit if you'd like to see more!

A brief history for those that need it:

The DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) is the strip of land, running roughly along the 38th parallel, that serves as the buffer zone between North and South Korea. It is about 2.5 miles wide and is the most heavily guarded boarder in the world. It was created July 27th, 1953 by the Armistice(ceasefire) Agreement at the end of the Korean War. Since then, the North Koreans have broken the agreement numerous times, so the South Koreans refer to it as the Armistice Disagreement. Within the DMZ is the 'city' of Panmunjeom, formerly the site of the JSA (Joint Security Area). While still referred to as the JSA, soldiers are no longer allowed to cross the MDL. The MDL is the Military Demarcation Line, which runs along the center of the DMZ and is the de facto border between the two countries. Panmunjeom is cut in half by the MDL, and each country has their own opposing barracks, guard posts, welcome centers, etc. Along the MDL are a series of buildings where all communications between the North and South take place.

This is inside one of the buildings that straddle the MDL. The line that the microphones make across the table is actually the line.

Judy in North Korea

Andrew next to a South Korean Soldier in North Korea

Judy with the soldier

Notice the government issued Ray-Bans!

Concerned

This was taken from the bus. Above the guy's left shoulder is a North Korean guard. The blue building in the front is the meeting building we had just come from.

Since we weren't allowed to take very many photos, when we were given permission, it got really scary.

This is the southern side of the Bridge of No Return. It's name comes from the South Korean's policy when they released their POWs. The prisoners were given the choice to remain in South Korea and live free citizens or cross back into North Korea, but once they crossed the bridge, they were never allowed return. (This is also the site where, in the film Die Another Day, Pierce Brosnan and the evil North Korean Zao are swapped.)

Getting off the bus, headed to the Panmunjeom gift shop!

We survived!