North Korean - Behind the curtain #2 Part

[sheecko]

We arrived at Pyongyang around 18:00, as it was in November - late Autumn, it was already night. There we met our local englishspoken guides, that joined the australian guide who took care of us up to now. We stayed at Sosan Hotel and our first meal included the traditional korean cold noodles and after we enjoyed the pool table.

As you are going to notice, the amount of food is always massive! Take a look at our first breakfast (they handle a portion of each different food to each person on the table... sometimes it was difficult to find an empty spot for another plate).

The following day, the second of the trip is really busy, and the first stop was to the Great Monuments of Mansudae Hill, but firstly our western guide told as about rules at this place:

• People are expect to bow in front of the statues of the former learders - Kim Il Suk and Kim Jong Il, if you don't want to bow, stay in the bus (and it's not possible to see the monuments from the parking lot);
• Flowers are sold to honour the leaders (optional, really optional);
• After bowing, photos are allowed, but at this place, as a sign of respect, it is not allowed to imitate the statues, make jokes or any kind of disrispectful behaivour.

The second point was Kim Il Suk Square, the largest of the country and the "stage" for the DPRK's military parades. Curiosity: we saw many buses in the square and one of the guide told us that eahc red star in the side of a bus representes 50.000 km ran without and accident (this one have 89 stars, if i'm not mistaken!!!!!!).

After that we took a ride in the subway, which serves also as a bunker in case of a war, with it's avarage depth below 100 meters.

Having lunched we approached the tallest Arch of Triumph of the world (as they say proudly), in the row we got to Juche Tower (that represents the strength of juche ideology created by Kim Il Suk) and to close the sightseeing day, the Workers Party Monument.

At last to close the day with a golden key, we went to a local pub to take some local beers (yes, they have good beers too!).