Wednesday

Wednesday, June 20, 2007 – The DMZ
We got up this morning and met our mini-van for a trip to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North Korea and South Korea. We didn’t pay the extra $75 per person to go to the village between the two and actually get to step into North Korea and feet from North Korean soldiers, but it was great nonetheless.

We were shuttled from the mini-van to a bus for about 30 people for the 1 hour bus trip to the DMZ. We had a couple people from Japan as well as to Swedes, two people from Indonesia, a guy from Mexico, a couple from Australia, a guy from New Zealand, and a couple other Americans. We got to a stop where we could see the “Freedom” bridge between South Korea and the 4 km wide demilitarized zone.

We then got on a bus and went to the 3rd Tunnel of Infiltration. It was a tunnel dug by the North Koreans 73 meters (~240 feet) deep under the granite terrain of the DMZ. There were a total of four tunnels dug by the North Koreans to infiltrate South Korea. The 2nd tunnel allowed 30,000 troops to travel the length in 1 hour. The 3rd tunnel wasn’t that wide and since the average height of a North Korean is 5’2” the tunnel was built for them. We all had to wear a hard hat, but mine got some actual use. It was very interesting to trudge the 500 meters down to the tunnel.

We then went to the Dora Observation Center to actually see over the DMZ and into North Korea. The largest flag pole in the world is there because the South Koreans have an actual village there where people live (and want to since there is no income tax) and they put up a flag. Then the North Koreans would put up a taller one and back and forth. There is an old story about the Bulgarians and Greeks about Mount Olympus and Mount Vitosha and how the Greeks kept stacking rocks on top of Mt. Olympus to try and make it taller. So I guess this isn’t much different. We could also see the fake village that the North Koreans built to show how great it is to live there, but they don’t let anyone live there because they don’t want North Koreans see how nice it is in South Korea. The lights in the village actually go on and off at the same time. The couple pictures here are by me holding my camera over my head because you couldn’t take any pictures past a certain line. One short man asked me to take a picture with his camera actually. Off topic, I haven’t seen anyone taller than me here yet. Three guys were about the same height, but that has been it.

We then went to Dorasan train station. In 2000 the North and South Koreans signed their first agreement to allow some transportation back and forth. Some trucks do go back and forth from South to North. The South Koreans are building a beautiful train station and business complex and hotels right on the border to be ready for the day when a train can travel to North Korea. It is a beautiful station that doesn’t get used right now. Much of the money to build this was donated by South Koreans who want to see the two countries unified and see many of their family members. The South Koreans definitely have a belief that their country will be united and that North Korea is moving towards that right now. I never really thought that the two would do so, but they definitely have that feeling. One strange thing that has happened because of the 50 years of the DMZ is that it has become an untouched wildlife habitat with beautiful birds and almost extinct plant life has come back.
We then went back to our bus and traveled back to Seoul. They take the threat of North Korea very seriously as all along the route home and every water way the shoreline is surrounded by barbed wire and gun towers. They do let locals farm this land in between for ginseng and rice. We then were taken to a Korean amethyst factory. Korea has the finest amethyst in the world – a very dark purple much darker than the normal stone. We didn’t buy anything as there wasn’t much for less than $500. I did see a nice raw amethyst stone for $264,000 though. They also took us to a ginseng plant and store where we were saw how it was grown and produced. Korea is where the best ginseng in the world comes from and all other areas get their seeds. On a side note, across the street was Eastern Social Welfare Society; that is the agency that we used when we adopted Liam! It was quite a coincidence.

We had the opportunity to purchase lunch with the tour and we weren’t sure if we were going to. We did decide to at the end and are we glad we did. Our tour guide took us upstairs to a traditional Korean restaurant where we had to take our shoes off and sit on the floor. Let me again reiterate that things in Korea are not built for someone 6’4” and 200ish pounds (although I think I’ve lost about 15 pounds this week so I might be pretty close). I had the beef stew with kimchi, peppered radish, chives, mushrooms, and rice and I did use my chopsticks the whole time. Cathy had the seafood and sides. Hers had some big noodles and legs of squid, shrimp, and clams in it. It was great and I’m glad we went. One of the Japanese tourists and two men from Indonesia were with us. I don’t think we could have found such a good place as the two recommended restaurants have been upstairs and off the main street.

We then went shopping in the antique market and bough a couple gifts for people. We then took the subway back to our hotel. It was a really fun day. Tomorrow we go to Owen’s last doctor’s appointment at 3 PM and then on Friday we pick him up at 3 PM. I’m a little nervous that he going to do a lot of crying as he seemed pretty attached to his foster family, but who knows. We will see how it goes. I hope to post again tomorrow night and that will be it until we return on Saturday. It is $20 for a days worth of internet access so when I post this tonight I have 24 hours until my time runs out. Sorry, that was a long post.