South Korea 2011 Day 11 – DMZ tour – world’s most heavily fortified border.
We took a full day tour to the DMZ of the Korean peninsula with TOURDMZ. It was a combined tour package exploring the 3rd tunnel and the Joint Security Area. Not a typical tour, there were various restrictions to adhere to in terms of what to wear and age limit but it’s definitely something worth experiencing while in Seoul.
Many streamers placed here by people that were separated by the war and the DMZ, in the hope of seeing reunifications with their family in the North at the Imjingak Park.
The Iron Horse wants to run again. A rusting locomotive on display that used to connect the North and the South.
The Freedom Bridge that POWs took to return to freedom.
DMZ
There’s also a huge Liberty Bell here under the Pavillon.
Our next location was to the 3rd tunnel where the North had dug to launch a surprise attack on Seoul but it was never completed.
We had to wear a helmet to protect our head when going through the tunnel, which was actually quite small, some sections require us to bend to walk through. No photos of the tunnel was it dark and everyone was moving.
This is the Dora Observatory where we could look across into North Korea.
Parked nearby were lots army jeeps.
This was the view from the observatory, where people could take turns to look through the telescope or look at the view.
Dorasan Station was the last railway station at the border.
Everything seemed to be ready for use
While there is a railway that continued to the north, there weren’t any passenger trains that goes there but a goods train that travel on it infrequently.
A train arrived from South Korea side.
Sign on the train showing the service stations.
A lunch break before the second half of the tour
There was a farm here, typical work around the DMZ.
Then we visited the JSA where the building straddle across the imaginary line that cuts the Korean Peninsula into two. Here is where negotiation meetings take place between the 2 nations.
Here was one of the North Korean soldiers standing guard at the North Korean side.
Within the middle blue building there was a table where the center of the table was where the imaginary line cuts across and the leaders from both sides would sit facing each other. Here is where we could step into North Korea, technically.
I had to take a photo with the solder standing guard.
JSA visitor center was where the tour started and ended. This was where the serviceman would briefed the tourists on what and what not to do during the tour to avoid any confrontations.
The site where 2 US officers were murdered by North Korean Soldiers during a plant trimming activity. This was a very intriguing story of how volatile this place could be.
Our day tour to the DMZ
Started the night activity with a visit Lotte Star Avenue and saw a handprint of good looking Korean star that my wife liked after too much Korean dramas
Had more Krispy Kreme donuts since these weren’t available in Singapore.
There’s was a live band street performance, the whole place was so lively.
Korean BBQ for dinner.
The street food was so yummy!
We had to have Tteok-bokki on a cold night.
The street stall at the shopping street.
ziyi
A travel addict from the little red dot otherwise known as Singapore. Started blogging during travel to help the aging forgetful mind remember the experience of each destination.