DMZ: Demilitarized Zone

Today was my last full day in this blessed country.  I really wanted to make sure I did the DMZ tour, so why not plan it on the last day?  This was an absolutely amazing experience.  I signed up for the all day tour because I really wanted to get the full experience.

I woke up, quickly grabbed some breakfast and hit the subway to my meeting point.  They checked my passport and signed me off and boarded the bus that would take us north.  We had a fabulous, mom-like your guide and she made the trip quite memorable.  These old lady tour guides are sure hilarious.  I think I might want to be them when I retire.  She explained that we would first be stopping at the Korean War Memorial.  The US has an army base in Seoul, so there are several foreigners in the area.  This place was pretty neat and attracts several school groups of all ages. 

Beginning of the Korean War Memorial.  Look at my cute tour guide.

Some type of tanker that was used.  I didn't really read anything, I just took pictures.

How would ya like to ride in this get up?

A monument listing all those who were killed in action.

Indiana soldiers

We didn't get a whole lot of time here.  Our tour guide was very adamant about being punctual.  She said, "Every minute you late, you sing song on microphone." Needless to say, most of us made sure to be on time.  We headed north for about 45 minutes and stopped at a very Korean restaurant for lunch.  Her was the typical sit-on-the-floor type restaurant. 

Our awesome restaurant we ate lunch at.

 I had a traditional Korean dish called bibimbap.  It has rice on the bottom, a variety if vegetables, and a fried egg on top.  It was great with a little hot sauce!

My bibimbap meal...that bowl full of nonsense.

Our next stop was to Imjingak Park.  This park was built to console families from both sides who fell victim during the Korean War.  This park had an observation deck to look over the Imjin River.  

The Worship Alter at Imjin Park.

A view of the bridge of the last railway that was used.

Freedom Bridge

A memorial at the end of the bridge.

The last locomotive that went through the border.

This park had several cool monuments.  The picture with the bridge crossing the river was actually an old railway road that prisoners of war used to use to get back from the north.  The Bridge of Freedom is also pictured where they we're let off to walk across.  The last locomotive is pictured and kept as a reminder of how hostile this separation is.  It used to run across the peninsula, but got attacked by the northern army and endured over 1,000 bullet holes in the entire train.

Then we were finally off to the place is been waiting to see. There is actually a village in the DMZ where people live.  They are mostly farmers that tend the rice fields...which is what a majority of the area was.  The military visit the village every night to ensure their safety. 

We had to go through 2 different check points where army officers checked our passports both times.  Then we made our way to Camp Bonifas where these troops train.  Our guide said many of them are college students. We stopped at the visitors center where we had a briefing of the history of this country's division.  I don't have many pictures because they were absolutely prohibited.  These were very, very strict rules on this tour. We also had to sign a paper stating that we would not point, make obscene gestures, or scoff towards the other side during this visit.  It also stated that we were entering a very hostile area and they were not responsible for anything that might happen.  Now I don't feel so safe!!  Once we had our briefing, we loaded on buses that were driven by military men.  One was driving and one was standing at the doors.  There was no standing or taking pictures at this point.  We shortly arrived at the Joint Security Area.  Here we had to file out of the bus 2-by-2.  There are only 2 buses allowed in the JSA at a time, so we had to wait our turn.  We had military personnel with us at all times.

When we walked out into the platform, it was like no other feeling I've ever felt before. This is where the North and South basically stand face-to-face. It was quite eerie seeing the South Korean guards at a ready stance all the time.  They must stand in this position so their hands are ready to grab their weaponry whenever the time might be necessary.  We were also given plastic visited tags that had to be worn on our upper left collar.  The North Korean guard from across the way would check us through his binoculars.  Creepy!!

Standing face-to-face.

Here you can see the fine divide between North and South Korea.  Our travel guide said the North Korean soldiers don't stand down by the buildings for nothing.  She was hilarious I tell you!  We were on a VERY strict time limit when we were in this area.  Just about 5 minutes were allowed here.  Then we were led into the MAC (Military Armistice Commission) conference building.  This is where any conferences are held between the north and south. 

The MAC conference area.

As you can see, the microphones are set up down the middle divide.  The South and North sit in their respective sides.  Notice even inside the building, soldiers take the Tae Kwon Do stance.  We were only allowed about 3 minutes in this building.  Then we were led out 2-by-2 again to the bus.

This is the closest I could stand to the soldier. We are on the North Korean side.

We were the driven around to other parts of the JSA and we got to see the Bridge of No Return.  This is where soldiers were separated after the war whether they decided to go back to the north or south. 

The Bridge of No Return

This was quite an eye opening experience and shows how much these two divides still struggle.  They are two completely different worlds that are only separated by a few miles of nothing. 

That was it...I'm so glad I did this.  If you ever get the chance to vacation to Korea, you've gotta do this experience!  It was so awesome. 

Once I got back to Seoul, I wanted to visit Insadong one more time.  I did some serious damage here, but have successfully managed to fit it in my suitcase without throwin anything else out.  

...and now it's the end of my journey.  It has been an absolute blessing to be able to have this experience.  So many people to thank for allowing me to come on this trip.  Really, did you think I did all this on my teaching salary?! Ha!  I hope you enjoyed my adventures as much as I did. If you ever get the opportunity, go visit Korea!  You will not be disappointed.