My trip to the DMZ!

So a few weekends back I went with a group to the DMZ (De-Militarized zone) which is the 2kms south and 2kms north stretch from the N-S Korean border. We arrived at the Dora observation deck and came across heavily guarded fences, watch towers and command posts.

 So I went closer and took pictures :) Only I am now noticing the troop int he command post looking at me through binoculars :s

 These are ribbons with messages written on them by S. Koreans who have family in the north.

 We went to a local grocer who provided North Koran products!! So I picked up a few N. Korean beers and a bottle of vodka. Interesting point the guide was telling us: look at the vodka label and it looks so different to the ones we buy in S.K. or anywhere else. The label is very simple with a name, alcohol percentage, ml amount and a bar code. There is no need for flashy labels or advertisements as there is no competing brand to sell to consumers!

 On the was back from the DMZ we learned that this 'Christmas tree' was lit during the holiday season and is so heavily lit with thousands of lights for a point. What would be on the right side of this picture was the river and then North Korea. It was intentionally deliberate for the North Korean villagers and command posts to see this Christmas tree, as it was intended as a sort of bragging right from the South that: 'we have electricity and you don't.' Petty politics.

 This was taken at the small museum at the DMZ. We learned that these were N.Korean secret spies that tied flippers to their legs and attempted to swim past the border down the river approaching Seoul. The died en route as you can see in the photo. We also learned from the guide that every summer when its warm enough there are usually about 2-3 bodies every summer that are fished out of the river that have floated past the border into the South. These are due to floodings, intentional defactors, or apparently even assassinations.

At the Dora observatory we could only take pictures behind this 'photo line.' Past that the photos are prohibited and you can only look through the binoculars and see North Korea from there. That is where we  saw the N. Korean 'propaganda village.' Where soldiers disguise as civilians and wander about amongst fake, hollowed out buildings and houses to give the illusion of a good life. Not to be outdone, S. Korea has their own rival propaganda village facing it on the other side of the border.