[dtool242]

Other random thoughts about my trip over there:

I got pretty good at playing badmitton. Almost where I could hold my own against the handlers. But really, there's not much to do overthere.
I think they only had one TV channel, though it is mainly used for propoganda. We did have a 65" plasma TV in our lounge that one of the IAEA people brought in from China during an earlier trip. And we had a DVD player (also aquired in China so it was tough figuring out how to use the remote) so we watched a lot of movies and TV shows brought in by various team members.

The power went out at the guest house several times a day, usually for only a few minutes and rarely more than half an hour.

The food was pretty good. Not a fan of Bi-bim-bop or kimchi. My favorites were these little mini-casserole type dishes that were seved in a jade pot.

Speaking of jade... dirt cheap over there. At the gift shop of the dear leader museum, they had these jade rings (and I don't mean a ring adorned with some jade, but the whole ring made out of jade) for 1 euro each. I bought all they had (a couple dozen) to make great souvenir presents.

Lots of military types everywhere, and they all seemed like they were 16 year old boys. Armed with AK-47's of course.

Everyone wore a Great Leader pin. A little pin with the picture of Kim Il-Sung on it. That was one souvenir I wasn't able to get my hands on.

Oh and at the end of the tour at the dear leader museum you come to a room that has wax statues of Kim Jong-Il and his pappy. The handlers tell you to stand near the back and not speak as it is a "holy place" then they go up and bow in front of the statues.