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ajgeddes
Joined: 28 Apr 2004
Location: Yongsan
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 Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 8:56 pm Post subject: |
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Book for this weekend = go this weekend
Book it this weekend = make my booking this weekend. |
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SeoulShakin
Joined: 05 Jan 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 9:18 pm Post subject: |
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| ajgeddes wrote: |
Book for this weekend = go this weekend
Book it this weekend = make my booking this weekend. |
I suppose you are right about that.
Damn. 
That's one for the record books right there. Where did that thread go.... quotable quotes from Dave's posters I believe it was called? |
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Smee
Joined: 24 Dec 2004
Location: Jeollanam-do
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| Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 9:31 pm Post subject: |
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| I have a pretty low tolerance for foreigners who visit North Korea and give money to that regime. I'm sure all the photos of statues, empty buses, and smog will jazz up your flickr page, but I don't think that balances up the suffering of millions of people. |
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ajgeddes
Joined: 28 Apr 2004
Location: Yongsan
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| Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 9:41 pm Post subject: |
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| Smee wrote: |
| I have a pretty low tolerance for foreigners who visit North Korea and give money to that regime. I'm sure all the photos of statues, empty buses, and smog will jazz up your flickr page, but I don't think that balances up the suffering of millions of people. |
Do you also look at every product you buy in Korea making sure it wasn't produced in the Gaesong Industrial Complex? |
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Smee
Joined: 24 Dec 2004
Location: Jeollanam-do
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| Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 9:46 pm Post subject: |
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| ajgeddes wrote: |
| Smee wrote: |
| I have a pretty low tolerance for foreigners who visit North Korea and give money to that regime. I'm sure all the photos of statues, empty buses, and smog will jazz up your flickr page, but I don't think that balances up the suffering of millions of people. |
Do you also look at every product you buy in Korea making sure it wasn't produced in the Gaesong Industrial Complex? |
No, and nor do I boycott the Simpsons because Nelson Shin collaborated with North Koreans to make his animated movie. But I find many foreigners visit North Korea because of the kitsch factor. |
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The_Eyeball_Kid
Joined: 20 Jun 2007
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| Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 9:47 pm Post subject: |
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| Smee wrote: |
| I have a pretty low tolerance for foreigners who visit North Korea and give money to that regime. I'm sure all the photos of statues, empty buses, and smog will jazz up your flickr page, but I don't think that balances up the suffering of millions of people. |
Use Hyundai products much? |
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Smee
Joined: 24 Dec 2004
Location: Jeollanam-do
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| Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 9:52 pm Post subject: |
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Oh, what a fun game! Let's name as many Korean products as we can!!! 
My point is that it's a bit morbid to visit that sham of a country and throw money at the most expensive guided tour in the world. I'm curious to know why people want to visit North Korea. I can't imagine any pleasure they'd derive from it beyond the time-capsule effect. I know that's not the purpose of the thread, but this thread was derailed from the start. |
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indytrucks
Joined: 09 Apr 2003
Location: The Shelf
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| Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 9:54 pm Post subject: |
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| Smee wrote: |
| I have a pretty low tolerance for foreigners who visit North Korea and give money to that regime. |
Meh. Your indignation is duly noted. People can go wherever they want. They don't need your, or anyone else's permission. The moral obligations behind travelling to anywhere are the sole responsibility of the traveller, nobody else's. Reminds me of the time once in Bangkok when this braided haired pyjama panted henna tattoo gap year Lonely Planet clutching English gippo gave me an ear bashing because I mentioned I might like to visit Burma one day. I wanted to stab her in the eye with my chopstick. |
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The_Eyeball_Kid
Joined: 20 Jun 2007
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| Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 10:04 pm Post subject: |
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| Smee wrote: |
Oh, what a fun game! Let's name as many Korean products as we can!!!
My point is that it's a bit morbid to visit that sham of a country and throw money at the most expensive guided tour in the world. I'm curious to know why people want to visit North Korea. I can't imagine any pleasure they'd derive from it beyond the time-capsule effect. I know that's not the purpose of the thread, but this thread was derailed from the start. |
Well, it's just that Hyundai have been responsible for funneling at least US$500 million to North Korea. I was just wondering if your righteous fury against anyone wanting to see Pyongyang and the effects of unchecked governmental power firsthand extends in Hyundai's direction too. |
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smurfetta
Joined: 03 Oct 2007
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| Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 10:10 pm Post subject: |
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Xanadu Travel lists package tours to Mt.Geumgang in North Korea on their website. Here is a link to their website:
http://www.xanadu.co.kr/eng/index.asp
Maybe they have a tour to Pyongyang too. Give them a call. |
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Mosley
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 10:42 pm Post subject: |
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Sure, people can decide for themselves where to visit but it's surely to God indisputable that there are only 2 reasons why the North Korean government, evil & totalitarian to the core, offers guided tours to carefully selected foreigners:
1. To earn hard currency for the regime. Labour camps and the Dear Leader's porn and cognac collections cost money, don't you know?
2. Propaganda value for the regime.
Now, as far as the OP goes, if he transmits the same aura of naivete on his visa application that he does here at Dave's, I'm sure his application will be fast tracked!  He'll come back full of Kim fever!
For a guy who complained of his debt load it seems that a trip to the Workers' Paradise is a funny way of dealing w/it. From what I understand, you have to drop a shyteload of cash for only a week. |
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maeil
Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Location: Haebangchon
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| Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 12:09 am Post subject: |
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OP, here's your link.
http://www.koryogroup.com/tours/index.html
Be prepared to spend 1000 - 1500 euros on a 3-day trip. This does not include the plane ticket to China. There is no travel between North and South Korea... unless you explore some of the options other posters mentioned. 
To be fair, some of the comments were warranted. I typed "tour north korea" into google and that was one of the first links to pop up. Would have saved you a bunch of trouble and criticism. |
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maeil
Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Location: Haebangchon
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| Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 12:12 am Post subject: |
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| Oops - just because got to it before I did. Cheers. |
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skindleshanks
Joined: 10 May 2004
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| Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 6:53 am Post subject: |
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If you just want to see NK, or say you've been there, Geumgang is the way to go. My brother-in-law works up there, and they have one day tours (leave from near Sokcho at 5:30 am and return late) for under 200k. There are also 1 night 2 day and 2 night 3 day options. My BIL says the one-night stay is the way to go, and the mountains are more spectacular than anything he's seen in South Korea. Also, he says you have to be really careful that your passport and paperwork is done properly--they fine even minute spelling errors up there. Americans are free to go, and there are no marks left in your passport from your trip.
(If you go, tip the guides nicely--both the NK and SK workers work very, very hard in the fall, and aren't recompensed that well, considering.) |
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IncognitoHFX
Joined: 06 May 2007
Location: Yeongtong, Suwon
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| Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 7:31 am Post subject: |
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| skindleshanks wrote: |
If you just want to see NK, or say you've been there, Geumgang is the way to go. My brother-in-law works up there, and they have one day tours (leave from near Sokcho at 5:30 am and return late) for under 200k. There are also 1 night 2 day and 2 night 3 day options. My BIL says the one-night stay is the way to go, and the mountains are more spectacular than anything he's seen in South Korea. Also, he says you have to be really careful that your passport and paperwork is done properly--they fine even minute spelling errors up there. Americans are free to go, and there are no marks left in your passport from your trip.
(If you go, tip the guides nicely--both the NK and SK workers work very, very hard in the fall, and aren't recompensed that well, considering.) |
I'm Canadian, is that alright?
What is there to see exactly? |
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