Taiwan and Korea 2024

1. Important part of Korea's history - Korean war. Tour to the DMZ (demilitarised zone) between North and South Korea.
- Imjingak is the ticket booth place. There's also a few things to view here - giant bell that symbolises peace and unification, train tracks/damaged train that used to connect north & south across imjingak River, bridge (this is where the very last remaining ppl ran across north/south before it was destroyed in the war), memorial for the fallen, bunker from the war where we get to see a live mine covered with cap.
- crossed the unification bridge/ bridge of no return. This was used to exchange prisoners between north/south Korea.
- passport check point. Before entering the dmz, SK soldiers came onboard bus to check our passports against the manifest. This is to ensure everyone goes in, comes out.
- 3rd tunnel was found running underground between north/south Korea border. NK dug it to infiltrate and attack south. This was the 3rd tunnel found but Intel says there maybe 20+ hidden tunnels. NK denied but eventually claimed it was coal tunnel. Long walk down to reach small gap with plants 🪴 . SK built a steep walkway to connect the tunnel and land for visitors.
- observatory where there are binoculars to spy into NK. We saw civilians, watch guards, villages, abandoned/phantom buildings. The land seems harsh and empty. A lot of trees cleared to use for fire/heat. Stark difference between NK/SK.
- we also met a defector on the bus and got a lot of stories from the tour guide.

2. Facial at muse.
3. Cable car up Mt Namsan. Beautiful view of the tower and the city lights below.
4. Dinner and drinks at Itaewon. Some street food fried 🍗, corn 🧀 and suntory whiskey. Then went on to tapas place for 🍸 🍹 and mini 🍕. The place seems happening and prices quite reasonable. A lot of foreigners.Leia mais