Travel North Korea: Powerful and Prosperous Nation Day 4: A full tour day in North Korea starting with the Korea DMZ, the ancient capital Kaesong, watching a student play, and ending with a visit to the Monument to the Founding of the Korean Workers’ Party and the Juche Tower. We were on time for breakfast … Continue reading On the Wrong Side of the Korea DMZ
Travel North Korea: Powerful and Prosperous Nation Day 3: A packed day on the North Korea tour to Mansudae Fountain Park, Mansudae Grand Monument with the bronze Kim statues, the mountainous Myohyangsan, the laughable International Friendship Exhibition, Pohyonsa the Buddhist temple, Kim Il Sung’s Birthplace, the Pyongyang Metro, the Friendship Tower, and watching the Arirang … Continue reading Obligatory Bow to Supreme Leaders on North Korea Tour
Travel North Korea: Powerful and Prosperous Nation Day 2: Joining our Chinese tour and entering North Korea (DPRK) by train. Going through terrifying North Korean border control, taking a half day train ride to Pyongyang, meeting our North Korean tour guides, and arriving at the Yanggakdo International Hotel. Tour Group We met with our tour … Continue reading No Turning Back. Entering North Korea.
Travel North Korea: Powerful and Prosperous Nation Planning and Day 1: How we planned our travel to North Korea (DPRK), country 51, and the arduous start of our journey from Beijing to Dandong in the middle of a torrential downpour. Planning to go to North Korea Many people were shocked that Christina and I were … Continue reading Travel North Korea: Powerful and Prosperous Nation
Following the Footsteps of Genghis Khan – Mongolia Day 7: Our last day in Mongolia! Highlights, statistics, and thoughts on our travel to Mongolia! Our Mongolia adventure was concluded with our trip back to Ulan Bator and to the airport. Besides taking on another passenger back (the granddaughter of the host family) and having a … Continue reading What I Learned from my Travel to Mongolia
Following the Footsteps of Genghis Khan – Mongolia Day 6: Visiting the ancient capital, Karakorum, trekking in the semi-gobi desert and a smelly camel ride! Sleeping in a ger was not as comfortable as I had originally hoped. As the structure is simply set up on the ground there is no seal to the outside … Continue reading Karakorum Day Trip and a Camel Ride
Following the Footsteps of Genghis Khan – Mongolia Day 5: Start of a three day tour to the Semi-Gobi desert, with a stop at the Naadam Horse Race Event. Experiencing a Mongolian’s life in a ger and taking a horse ride to round up cattle! Up around 7 a.m. we quickly got ready and met … Continue reading Ger Life of a Mongolian Nomad
Following the Footsteps of Genghis Khan – Mongolia Day 4: Experiencing the Naadam Festival first hand and seeing the Opening Ceremony, Wrestling, Archery, and Shagai. Also stopping by the National Museum and ending the day with clubbing and fireworks in Sukhbaatar Square. Naadam Festival Today we were going to witness the famed Naadam Festival, listed … Continue reading Naadam Festival: An Authentic Mongolian Experience
Following the Footsteps of Genghis Khan – Mongolia Day 3: Attending Mongolia’s President, Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj’s inauguration then touring the Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue and Gorkhi-Terelj National Park. Up around 9 a.m. we quickly ate some breakfast provided by the hostel consisting of buttered toast with jam and coffee or tea. The hot water pipe was … Continue reading Genghis Everywhere! The President’s Inauguration, Gorkhi-Terelj National Park and the Genghis Khan Statue
Following the Footsteps of Genghis Khan – Mongolia Day 2: Arriving in Ulan Bator by the Trans-Siberian train from Beijing then finding a place to stay and making an impromptu trip to the black market. At 4 a.m. the sun shining directly into my eyes rudely woke me up. I turned over and try to … Continue reading A First Impression of Ulan Bator and the Black Market