What the Wednesday: DMZ edition

While the sister was in town we took a day trip to the DMZ. It was a pretty incredible experience and while I'm excited I did it, I wouldn't really say it was worth all the hype. Kind of like that year I went to Times Square for New Years...a bit overrated. Call me what you will, but don't go expecting amazingness.


That is UNTIL YOU GET TO THE JOINT SECURITY AREA.
That is where the awesomeness comes into play. Bypass the tunnel that goes into the ground (boring, backbreaking, claustrophobia-inducing, and exhausting); it's not worth it. The other stuff paled to the JSA. Words don't break the surface of how you feel in that place.
So here's a bunch of photos instead.

view NK from here

No Photo line

totally lame train station they've built that reaches Pyongyang for some ridiculous useless purpose

JSA

view of Propaganda village

Bridge of No Return

Of course the completely awkward, but necessary, picture with the soldier.

Small explanation about Propaganda Village and Bridge of No Return. Propaganda Village is a small and pretty much deserted village that used to have speakers that blasted North Korea Propaganda across to the South. Nobody lives there and it's purely for show. Awesome convincing skills there...

The Bridge of No Return was used at the cease fire of the Korean War when soldiers were given the choice to return to the south or stay in the north. Once they crossed the bridge they could never return.

We went with the USO on a day tour and I would highly suggest going with this company. Here's the website to make your reservation. The directions they give you are ridiculous. But once you leave Samgakji station, take exit 10 like it says and then walk...for a bit longer than the map tells you. It was a source of panic on the morning of our tour. 

Happy Reunification WTW!