Day 94 - Day 95 ( Seoul Trip for DMZ / Day 3 & 4 )

On the 22nd Nov 2008 ( which is also Huilin's birthday ), we get a chance to go to the Demilitarized zone ( DMZ )!! Went to Lotte hotel at about 8.30am and confirm our tour with our passport~

Boarded the bus without eating breakfast! Hungry..

On the way to the DMZ!

Finally i've reached around the vicinity of DMZ.. :)

The Dorasan Station.

The northernmost station in South Korea, waiting and longing for reunification.

This is the station that drew world attention when U.S. President Bush visited this place in Feb 20, 2002. Located at Gunnaemyeon, Paju City and 30m from the Southern Boundary Line within the Civilian Passage Restriction Zone, it is the northernmost station in South Korea. In future, it will play an important tole in realizing the Iron Silk Road that will connect through to the main continent via Gaeseong, Pyeongyang anf Sinuiju.

Restricted photo: ( we cannot take a single picture on the bus ) Can u see 2 soldiers carefully guarding the place?

Don't be deceive by the barren trees.. the land is filled with landmines.. only the road is safe to be travelled on!

Finally we've reached the Dora Observatory.

The northernmost observatory where North can be seen through the naked eyes.

Located within the DMZ and as the northernmost observatory of the South, visitors can oversee civilian life of the North through naked eyes such as North Korea's farm lands and the Propaganda Village. The streets of Gaeseong-si and Kim Ilseong's Bronze Stature can also be observed through the telescopes.

They only allowed us to take photos behind the yellow lines.. and we have to zoom our camara and stretched our hands up the sky to capture a few images!

Dora Observatory: NTU exchange students!

Singapore Exchange students from NTU and SMU!

Our next destination is the third tunnel.

The largest among all tunnel, the vivid scene of the cold war.

Discovered in June 10, 1978 at Jeomwon-ri, Gunnae-myeon, Paju City, the 3rd tunnel was dug by the North Koreans for invading the South. The tunnel is 2m in width, 2m in height, and 1635m in length, only 435m away from the southern demarcation lines of the DMZ. Fully armed soldiers can cross the tunnel within an hour. It is located only 12km from Munsan and 52km from Seoul.

Once again, i cannot take photos! and the following 2 photos are taken secretly:

Entrance to the tunnel ( by walking )

Memorial Alter:

Even as Koreans were still rejoicing over the country's liberation from the oppressive Japanese rule of 36 years on Auguest 15, 1845, another tragedy befell them when Korea, a country that had been unified for thousands of years, was divided, much against their will, into two by an arbitrary decision of the super powers. Fleeing from the oppression and brutality of the North Korean Cummunists and the occupation army of the U.S.S.R., 5 million North Koreans soon left their beloved ancestral homes to seek freedom in the South.

Every Chusok Day these northerners used to set up a temporary alter at Imjingak to hold memorial services for their parents and ancestors left behind or buried in the North. Understanding their fervent desire for a permanent alter, ROK government authorities arranged for this altar to be built here at Imjingak to overlook the land to the north.

The construction, which cost a total of 500 million won ( US $568000 ), was completes on Sep 26, 1985 by the country government of Paju-gun, Kyonggi-do Province under the supervision of the Office of the Five Northern Provinces.

Built at the center of a 400 meter square area, the memorial alter has an incense burner and a monument symbolizing the ardent wish of the northerners for the unification of the fatherland and a prayer for the souls of their ancestors buried in the North. The seven granite screens behind the monument and the altar represent the 5 northern provinces and the parts of Kyonggi-do and Kangwon-do provinces that lie in North Korea. Historic and scenic sites and produce of the provinces are carved on each of the screens.

Jayuuidari

Monument of Gyeonggi-do No. 162

This bridge is called Bridge of Freedom since this is the bridge through which 12773 captives returned home on the first occasion of exchange of war prisoners upon the truce of the Korean War in 1953. Although it does not possess architectural value, but it is a valuable remains of the Korean War since it is symbolically significant.

This is the Imjingak Tourist Resort

A place engraved witih pain from the Korean War and national conflict.

They're having Bean Festival.. haha..

John and me!

The place where we had our lunch before proceeding to the Panmunjeom!

After we finished our lunch, we entered the DMZ and had briefing before proceeding to the Panmunjeom. We are told not to point at anything, and were asked to sign a form of indemnity because the visit to the Joint Security Area at Panmunjeom will entail entry into a hostile area and possibility of injury or death as a direct result of enemy action.

The kind US military personnel taking a photo with the pretty girls!

The Joint Security Area is a neutral but divided area guarded by United Nations Command millitary personnel on the one side ( South ), and Korean People's Army personnel on the other ( North ).

A scene of pain and hope where conflict and dialogues between South and North coexist

Panmunjeom lies 50 km north of Seoul along the Tongilro. It is the place where the Armistice Agreement was signed on July 27, 1953. Presently, Panmunjeom is the location where South and North dialogues take place. Visitors can feel the tragedy of the divided land and the unhealed scar of internecine war.

A North Korean soldier

Trying to take a 360 degree shot! ( from Right to Left )

Can u see the microphone line? Yes.. this is the exact line that separates the North and the South.

Standing at the exact center:

Standing at the North Korean land and taking pictures with the South Korean soldiers! Soldiers in the Joint Security Area need to have at least a black belt in Teakwondo!

We find him handsome.. :P

We as guest of the UN command are not permitted to cross the Military Demarcation Line into the portion of the Joint Security area under control of the Korean People's Army.. other than this blue box we're in now.. See! I'm taking this picture in North Korean land!

The Military Demarcation Line ( MDL ) is an invisible line formed at the conclusion of the Korean War with the ceasefire Agreement on July 27, 1953. The DMZ is a buffer zone ceasing all military and hostile actions.

Throughout the world, attention is drawn to the symbol of the DMZ. Especially since this area has been "out-of-the-way" for the last 50 years, it has also become known as a practical Ecosystem.This is a video right smack in front of the Military Demarcation Line of the DMZ guarded by the South Korean soldiers. They are really in alert position:

Tactical guarding position by the South Korean soldiers:

Finally we've reached the next checkpoint to see the Bridge of No Return

North Korean flag. The largest flag in the world. A 300-pound ( 136 kg ) North Korean National flag flies from the world's largest flagpole, which is located at Kijong-dong, on the North Korean side of the Military Demarcation Line within the Korean Demilitarized Zone. The flag-pole is 160m tall.

Taking a photo with the handsome soldier driver.. haha!

This is the monument dedicated to the victims of the axe murder incident. Seriously, i think you should read up more about this.. very sad and interesting. I think if i did not come to DMZ, i'm like a frog in the well.. not knowing about the Koreans..

Taking a closer look at the Bridge of No Return:

And this is the South Korean flag in the Freedom Village ( Daeseong-dong )! Btw, the freedom village is the northernmost village in South Korea, and is situated 400m from the military demarcation line and 1km from Panmunjeom. The village residents are under strict control by the UN. At present 250 people of 45 families reside in the area. They are not obligated to pay taxes or serve in the military.As the night falls, we've reached back Lotte Hotel! Saw these beautiful christmas decorations!!

Blur photo??? HUILIN!!!!!

Haha.. our next destination for our last night in Seoul is to Ewha Womens University vicinity for a walk!

A Baskin Robbin treat for Huilin for her 22nd Birthday.. :)

I'm lovin' it..

The North and the South looking at one another:

The next day, we've decided to go Itaewon before going back Busan in the evening! Transfer the train at a funny place named "medicinal water" in chinese.. :P

There's Subway in Itaewon! It shall be our lunch!

When we've reached Insa-dong, we asked an old man to help us take a picture.. this is how he took it.. with his finger visible.. -____________- "

Seoul Station!

All in all, this trip was truly enjoyable.. especially our experience in the DMZ. Although it cost us 110 000 won for the DMZ tour, it's definitely worth it. I truly experience a lot and learned a lot about the Korean's history. I would recommend all of you to go for the DMZ tour if u're in South Korea.. :) I love and enjoy every moment here in Seoul..