A few weeks ago my friends Sam, Ryan, Samarra and I went on an Adventure Korea tour trip to the DMZ. Adventure Korea plans day and weekend trips around Korea. They do everything from the DMZ to hiking, to festivals to temple stays.
They provide the transportation and often times the meals as well. It makes planning things around Seoul and Korea much easier. Definitely check them out.
Korea is the last remaining divided country in the world, not counting the whole Red State Blue State debacle back home, and the DMZ is in the center of all the commotion. Our first stop was Imjingak, the place of the new millennium, where hopefully peaceful integration between north and south will happen.
Sam is standing next to the Worship Group where millions of displaced people who left behind relatives in North Korea come to commemorate their ancestors.
The Peace Bell was struck in the year 2000 to bring in the new millennium with wishes for peace and harmony. It weighs 21 tons, stands atop 21 steps, and its platform is 21 pyeong.
The Imjingak railroad bridge.
Developed after the Inter-Korean Declaration of 1971 Imjingak pool exhibits remains from the Korean War.
The Bridge of Freedom was the site where over 12 thousand prisoners of the Korean War returned to freedom in 1953.
The Bridge of Freedom was the site where over 12 thousand prisoners of the Korean War returned to freedom in 1953.
At the end of the bridge are the collected mementos and offerings and signs for peace and unification.
Yes, even the DMZ sells souvenirs.
Aw, little cartoon characters can even make Joint Security, land mines, and barb wire fences cute.
Here is a map depicting the DMZ area. I call it the map of Purposeful Direction to Peace.
And the Compass of Hope is there in case the map was too confusing.
Next Time, more barb wire, secret tunnels, empty towns, and DMZ rice!
I expected North Korea to look all gloomy and barren like Moldor in the Lord or the Rings, but really it looks quite charming. That plot of green land and rolling hills is begging for a B&B.
Man, from the way they set it up they sure have you thinking that you’re smack on the DMZ. Oh well, it was a great trip. How did you like being out there? There must not be anything to do at all.
I WAS IN HQ & HQ CO NORTH OF THE INJIMGAR RAILROAD BRIDGE 59 TO 60 IT DID NOT LOOK ANYTHING LIKE THAT WHEN I WAS THEIR IT HAD BOB WIRE DIVIDING NORTH AND SOUTH AND MINE FIELDS AND THE WAY WE GOT TO ORE UNIT WAS THE RAILROAD BRIDGE
Do you mean 1959 to 1960? What did it look like? Do you have any pictures? I\’m curious to know how the area has changed.
PS I worked 5 miles up the road from that bridge and can assure you that you were well short of the DMZ.
Hate to tell you but that picture is SO far south of the Z, by at least 5 or 6 klicks!