Post: #76

Mr.Ferris, seeing you do tours to NK, these are my interests to see in NK:

Ryugyong Hotel, in particualr see inside.

Supreme Leader, Kim Jong-un, yes i want to meet him in real.

Yodok, Kwan-li-so #15, labour camp.

Pyeonghwa Motors, in particular the FIAT manufacture division.

Room 39 [Bureau/Office 39] with a view of import/export N.Korean products.

Grave/tomb of ex Supreme Leader Kim Jong-il, to pay my respects.

Taedonggang Brewery, for tasting and plant inspection.

Kaesong Industrial Park, with a view of North Korean goods for export.

Some sort of organised bike ride around the capital of Pyongyang, with interaction with the local people.

Visits to food markets and shopping centres where the local population attend.

Whats your thoughts on that lot, very keen to see all that, can you arrange it?

NOT interested in a hold-my-hand minder tour

"Lifes about, shooting your load"

Post: #77

(02-04-2013 05:01 PM)jferris Wrote:  I just had an interview published today if anybody is interested in a deeper look at North Korea and the tourist experience there

http://www.deathandtaxesmag.com/193874/i...e-frisbee/

Great article. I am going to be booking through you soon, once I get to Seoul. I need to save up a bit of cash first but Im sure there is a waiting list anyway. Weed in NK?? The story keeps getting better and better!

Post: #78

Quote:Supreme Leader, Kim Jong-un, yes i want to meet him in real.

Good luck with that pal.

Post: #79

(02-07-2013 04:13 PM)sylo Wrote:  

(02-04-2013 05:01 PM)jferris Wrote:  I just had an interview published today if anybody is interested in a deeper look at North Korea and the tourist experience there

http://www.deathandtaxesmag.com/193874/i...e-frisbee/

Great article. I am going to be booking through you soon, once I get to Seoul. I need to save up a bit of cash first but Im sure there is a waiting list anyway. Weed in NK?? The story keeps getting better and better!

just make sure you hit me up at [email protected] - I can get you 5% off on our scheduled trips - which are already the best priced in the industry (for companies that specialize in taking in westerners)

Post: #80

(02-07-2013 04:11 PM)RASER Wrote:  Mr.Ferris, seeing you do tours to NK, these are my interests to see in NK:

Ryugyong Hotel, in particualr see inside.

Supreme Leader, Kim Jong-un, yes i want to meet him in real.

Yodok, Kwan-li-so #15, labour camp.

Pyeonghwa Motors, in particular the FIAT manufacture division.

Room 39 [Bureau/Office 39] with a view of import/export N.Korean products.

-

I don't like to think my trips are "hold your hand" but you cant escape the fact that you are required to have North Korean guide/minders along.

Grave/tomb of ex Supreme Leader Kim Jong-il, to pay my respects.

Taedonggang Brewery, for tasting and plant inspection.

Kaesong Industrial Park, with a view of North Korean goods for export.

Some sort of organised bike ride around the capital of Pyongyang, with interaction with the local people.

Visits to food markets and shopping centres where the local population attend.

Whats your thoughts on that lot, very keen to see all that, can you arrange it?

NOT interested in a hold-my-hand minder tour

"Lifes about, shooting your load"

Just real quick, some of this stuff is possible: In Rason you are allowed to shop in local markets and convert and use local currency.

The Taedonggang Brewery has a bar, not sure if you can get in to see the plant- a visit there is allowed but not on normal trip itineraries, I'm going there in March, will pass on my experience.

The mausoleum of Kim Il sung and Kim Jong Il is open again, I am also going there in March. I have been and seen Kim Il sung, the most bizarre experience in my life.

Some of my friends at Koryo Tours were brought into the Ryugyong Hotel, their pictures from the inside were the first to ever be published.

Koryo also offers North Korean bike trips - not sure if they do Pyongyang, but who knows.

-

I dont like to think of the private tours I lead as "hold my hand", but there is no escaping that you must have North Korean guides and minders.

Post: #81

Just real quick, some of this stuff is possible: In Rason you are allowed to shop in local markets and convert and use local currency.

The Taedonggang Brewery has a bar, not sure if you can get in to see the plant- a visit there is allowed but not on normal trip itineraries, I'm going there in March, will pass on my experience.

The mausoleum of Kim Il sung and Kim Jong Il is open again, I am also going there in March. I have been and seen Kim Il sung, the most bizarre experience in my life.

Some of my friends at Koryo Tours were brought into the Ryugyong Hotel, their pictures from the inside were the first to ever be published.

Koryo also offers North Korean bike trips - not sure if they do Pyongyang, but who knows.

-I dont like to think of the private tours I lead as "hold my hand", but there is no escaping that you must have North Korean guides and minders.
[/quote]

Thanks for reply!

Yeah, this would be TheParty reply:

Visit ROOM 39 "it does not exist"

Visit Gulag camp/prison "it does not exist"

Meeting The Great Leader "does exist, but he is not interested"

Bomb out on 3 me think?

"Lifes about, shooting your load"

Post: #82

I've just paid a deposit and will be going in November for a 5 day stay in North Korea.

I know there is a no fraternising with the locals rule but fuck that, I'm going all out to escape my guides and get a bang.

I hear there is a massage parlour in the basement of one of the hotels which offers extras so at the very least I'll get a 'happy massage' out of it.

Post: #83

(05-31-2013 08:25 AM)Vorkuta Wrote:  I've just paid a deposit and will be going in November for a 5 day stay in North Korea.

I know there is a no fraternising with the locals rule but fuck that, I'm going all out to escape my guides and get a bang.

I hear there is a massage parlour in the basement of one of the hotels which offers extras so at the very least I'll get a 'happy massage' out of it.

You should be proud if you get a legitimate NK flag... I assume cockblocking should be expected, and with guns pointed at your head! Good luck!

Post: #84

Apparently all the girls in the massage parlor are shipped in from China.

Post: #85

Here's a decent Reddit AMA from a frequent American visitor to North Korea. Probably won't help with flagging, but some interesting insights nonetheless.

Post: #86

(02-08-2013 04:57 PM)jferris Wrote:  The mausoleum of Kim Il sung and Kim Jong Il is open again, I am also going there in March. I have been and seen Kim Il sung, the most bizarre experience in my life.

Hey jferris, can you provide more details of this experience?

Post: #87

Three of my friends have visited. They enjoyed it. It's like going into the 1960s and time frozen.

I am in South Korea. Tourism is opening up there in the North.

Post: #88

My only issue with it is having to go on a tour. I hate tours. I know YPT do tours for people who don't like tours BUT it's still a tour and I'm told where to go, what to see, where to sleep, where to eat and to make it even worse because it's NK who I can speak to, where I can go to and and what I can take pictures of.

A totally surreal experience it might be but until I can travel freely I'm not sure I'm interested.

Post: #89

Traveling to North Korea alone is going to be a challenge due to the political situation, for westerners. Chinese businessmen already travel alone and ditto for exchange students in Pyongyang, so the "uniqueness" and "closeness" is somewhat diluted as some people are already interacting with foreigners. Pyongyang is really modern and clean, there's a picture of a Hummer H2, Mini, and plenty of VWs in many YouTube videos. It's not the West but not the hellhole often described.

There's a blog about a Russian dude who grew up in NK (parents were diplomats at the Russian Embassy in NK) and returned to study in North Korea. He was able to travel alone in Pyongyang, interact with regular people, and such. However, he took classes in special classrooms where he was partnered with selected NK nationals (who were trusted and from the elite), he could only enter his university through a special entry far apart from any NK natives, and he lived on a restricted dorm...the location was difficult to get into and he could only interact with certain people, again...from the elite. The guy talked about how he could not get lucky with any NK girls and was reminded by someone ( can't remember who) that foreigners and NK girls can't mix because NKs are pure.
Here's the link to his blog, http://ashen-rus.livejournal.com/ (it's in Russian)
Here's a description in English. http://www.nknews.org/2011/07/a-blogger-...ng-part-1/

Post: #90

I read an article a while back about various foreign students who in the past studied at universities in NK including Cambodians and various Africans. They were segregated and had little interaction with other NK students and were monitored at all times.

Post: #91

http://en.rocketnews24.com/2013/03/17/ou...rth-korea/

Post: #92

Maybe because I'm ethnic Korean and my folks are from South Korea, I would never visit NK on one of these foreigner tours. Every few years, they always grab some Korean American tourist and accuse him of spying for the imperialist West. I've had buddies get locked up in Seoul and Guangzhou, but I can imagine NK being significantly worse than that.

If they opened the country up on the other hand, I'd be one of the first in the country. I bet it would be reminiscent of post collapse Soviet Union where parents were desperately offering their daughters up to foreigners.

Post: #93

Actually there seems to be a way around it if you have the money:
http://www.pyongyangproject.org/

If you ever wanted to study korean now's your chance. Highest opportunity to get the notch I've ever seen.

Post: #94

(06-14-2013 07:05 AM)boo Wrote:  Actually there seems to be a way around it if you have the money:
http://www.pyongyangproject.org/

If you ever wanted to study korean now's your chance. Highest opportunity to get the notch I've ever seen.

Interesting website, never knew that could happen. However, since the website is Canadian....I think it's for Canadians only. North Koreans tend to be very strict when it comes to Americans.

Post: #95

(06-14-2013 07:05 AM)boo Wrote:  Actually there seems to be a way around it if you have the money:
http://www.pyongyangproject.org/

If you ever wanted to study korean now's your chance. Highest opportunity to get the notch I've ever seen.

Interesting website, never knew that could happen. However, since the website is Canadian....I think it's for Canadians only. North Koreans tend to be very strict when it comes to Americans.

Post: #96

I have a feeling North Korean girls are very hot and they will be perfect girls for any american who gets there

Post: #97

I posted a new thread with some of the most up to date videos from North Korea, showcasing the Dennis Rodman and Harlem Globetrotters visit set up through Vice.

Anyone who's thinking of travelling there in the future should check it out.

It's unreal, let me know what you think in that thread:

/thread-25954.html

Post: #98

One of the BEST videos yet on DPRK:

Who is that fugly *creature* @ 2.09 and whats with the comments @ 2.30? WTF!!





"Lifes about, shooting your load"

Post: #99

(05-31-2013 08:25 AM)Vorkuta Wrote:  I've just paid a deposit and will be going in November for a 5 day stay in North Korea.

I know there is a no fraternising with the locals rule but fuck that, I'm going all out to escape my guides and get a bang.

I hear there is a massage parlour in the basement of one of the hotels which offers extras so at the very least I'll get a 'happy massage' out of it.

Vorkuta,

Since November is just around the corner, it will be interesting to hear whether you are doing anything to prepare for your N. Korean trip, and also once you take the trip whether you are successful in escaping the guides - b/c if you really play your cards right, you may just be able to have success in escaping the guides.... but then possibly any N. Korean person you encounter may be scared to death to interact with you in helping you to get the bang (unless you know some Korean language, that may be helpful).

For example, if you did escape, what might be your target - some hotel receptionist or you could escape to the University campus somewhere and maybe some of those girls may speak English or whatever other languages that you speak.

It would be interesting to hear how any kind of escape attempt turns out.. and i would imagine in the real world, they would not really allow you to escaped for a very long period of time without shit hitting the fan.

Post: #100

Here are some pictures from someone who visited.
http://imgur.com/a/F04gj