I'm Still Alive, and Dry...

I know it's been awhile, but I've been really busy with work which results in me being too tired to mess with this Blog after work. I have two excursions to get on this blog, upon which I took over 400 pictures, but I've been too lazy to get 'em on here. I'll get to it, but not tonight. Maybe tomorrow, or maybe the next day, or maybe I'll teach my butt-hole to chew bubblegum. Maybe is a loser word, so how about I just say I'll get to it when I get to it. Thanks to those who have checked back here for some updates, and my apologies for none being here for such a long time.

By the way, here's a shout out to all the idiots who tried to "ride out" Katrina. You rock, thanks for tying up CNN, you jerks. I have no idea what else is going on in the world because "This just in... the shit's still underwater" dominated the news. Here in Korea, you couldn't walk 10 feet without hearing "there's a huge hurricane coming towards New Orleans!" If I got the word to evacuate, the people of New Orleans got the word to evacuate. If people didn't leave, they got what they deserved.

That should generate some comments...

Wrapping Up the DMZ Tour

Ok, so I got my sleep. Here’s the rest of the tour. After lunch, we high-tailed it to Panmunjom. In Panmunjom is the Joint Security Area (JSA) which straddles the Military Demarcation Line (MDL). The MDL passes through the center of the negotiating table in T2, the Military Armistice Commission Building.

Here’s the table:













The three microphones split the table in half. I took this uneven picture from North Korea.

Here's a ROK soldier.



















Here's another one. This guy was so tensed up he farted. Just kidding, it was me.













Here's my feet, standing in North Korea. Yes, I did iron my pants. Thanks for noticing.




















And here's me with my back to Lil' Kim's. (Technically, it's accurate, Kim Jong Il is only 5'2" or 157 cm tall.)














In this next picture, on the steps of the big building, you can barely see a North Korean Soldier. I gave him the bird, but my hand was in my pocket when I did it. I'm not a total idiot... No, the South Korean soldier is not in a time out, they stand guard like that to minimize their exposure to the North. They get all up on the wall like that and stand guard.













On to how Camp Bonifas got its name. A tree was blocking the South Korean side view of the checkpoint at the Bridge of No Return, so a work party went out to trim back the branches. Here's the monument that was put up after the attack by the North Koreans on the work party:















Here's what the monument says:

“On this spot was located the Yellow Poplar tree which was the focal point of the Ax Murders of two United Nations Command Officers, Captain Arthur Bonifas and 1st Lieutenant Mark Barrett, who were attacked and killed by North Korean Guards, while supervising a work party trimming the tree on 18 August, 1976.”

And finally, here's the "Bridge of No Return." It's the spot where all Prisoners of War were repatriated after the end of the Korean War. This bridge is the only ground link between Seoul and Pyongyang.

Slim's Theory on Kim Jong Il's Bad Hair

So I've figured out why this chick magnet:




















Has really crappy hair. It's North Korea. Being in North Korea turns your hair to crap. “Prove it” you say? Ok, here's a picture of me on the North Korean half of T2; the building where the armistice to end the Korean War was signed:














Voila, crappy hair. I rest my case.

Well, I had a really good weekend, despite leaving my return bus ticket in my room at Kunsan. As stated in the brochure, my two night stay at Club Matay was very comfortable. We left early Saturday morning for Osan, grabbed a quick bite and jumped on the Bus headed for Tunnel 3.

Tunnel 3 was the third North Korean tunnel discovered beneath the DMZ since November 1974. It runs through bedrock at a depth of 73 meters. The 1.6 kilometer-long tunnel is 1.95 meters tall and 2.1 meters wide, penetrates 435 meters south of the Military Demarcation Line, capable of moving a full division per hour plus their weapons. It’s one hell of a hike down and back! The jerks won’t let you take pictures down there, but here are some pics from topside.













As a result of the division of the two Koreas, families were also divided, and the world they had known. The two Koreas working together to bring their world together again.













Below are some South Korean soldiers. Two of them are ordered to remain completely motionless, can you guess which ones they are?











A glimpse of North Korea, across the DMZ.










Then we moved on to Dorasan Station. It’s the Northernmost Train Station in South Korea. Ironically, it doesn’t go north. They say it will one day connect North and South Korea, after the Unification. I think they smoke huge amounts of crack. Big Kim’s got the North so locked down, he’ll never let the Unification happen; Just my opinion.

All aboard for Pyeongyang, the capital of North Korea. Buy your ticket and have a seat; the train will be along in 50 years.














Dorasan Station is also the northern-most place to buy popcorn, as demonstrated by my man Matay, snacking his way north to Communism:




















Break for lunch, a bowl of Bi Bim Bap:














Some pictures after lunch:












































I'm not sure what this says, but I thought it was cool.



















The rest of the DMZ is coming tomorrow, gotta get some sleep.

As North as You Can Get in the South

So, after work on Friday, I'm headed North. Matay secured me another room, and then we're off to the DMZ on Saturday. I'm looking forward to it. It'll be good to get out of the "Kun" for a couple of days again; this week has been another ball-buster. I've been working a lot of overtime the last few nights. I'm slowly getting caught up on stuff, maybe all the way by next August. It's all about motivation.

















So, expect a crap load of pictures in a couple of days, until then, enjoy Labor Day Weekend.