On the road in North Korea

Written by Bradt Travel Guides

Founder Hilary Bradt recently joined Regent Holidays on an 18-day tour of North Korea, and took over our Instagram to show us her highlights:

Hello there! Hilary Bradt here, taking over for the day. Although I’m officially founder of @BradtGuides and all that, sometimes I just want to see a new place as an ordinary holidaymaker — and that was the case with my recent trip to #NorthKorea with @regent_holidays. What really attracted me to their 18-day itinerary was the chance to see the natural world as well as the conventional sights of Pyongyang. Today I want to share my highlights and stories, from bowing to statues to finding the world’s most kitsch clock! Here I am on Mt Paektu, the highest point in the #DPRK, with some spectacular views. #bradt #taketheroadlesstravelled

A photo posted by Bradt Guides (@bradtguides) onNov 23, 2016 at 1:14am PST

#NorthKorea is normally described as ‘The World’s Most Secretive Nation’. True, but it’s also the only remaining communist country — though our @regent_holidays guide, Carl, described it as ‘socialist aspiring to communist’ — and that’s what makes it so fascinating. In a nutshell, there’s free housing, healthcare, education, everyone has a job and there’s no income tax. The downside to this arrangement is well known, but I must say I saw no obvious poverty, or no worse than I see in the developing world, and the people waved and smiled at us as cheerily as in any other country I’ve been to. #bradt #taketheroadlesstravelled

A photo posted by Bradt Guides (@bradtguides) onNov 23, 2016 at 2:12am PST

Unique to #NorthKorea is the idea of #Juche, which translates as ‘master of oneself’. Juche was developed by the first leader, Kim Il Sung, and embraced by his son and grandson, Kim Jong Il and Kim Jong Un. It’s a complex concept, but it infuses daily life and gives absolute power to the leader. The symbol of Juche, and by extension, North Korea, is the Marxist hammer and sickle, with the addition of a calligraphy brush to represent intellectual achievement. #bradt #taketheroadlesstravelled

A photo posted by Bradt Guides (@bradtguides) onNov 23, 2016 at 3:01am PST

#Pyongyang has an extraordinarily beautiful #Metro, reminiscent of that in Moscow. High ceilings, chandeliers, and mosaics of smiling peasants greeting the Great Leaders. #bradt #taketheroadlesstravelled

A photo posted by Bradt Guides (@bradtguides) onNov 23, 2016 at 4:19am PST

I expected the food to be dreary and scarce. Instead, it was plentiful, and often very tasty. The best meals consisted of a whole range of little dishes, usually spicy, followed by soup then sticky rice. Surprisingly, we were allowed to go to a local outdoor bar where I could indulge in the very good local beer. I was less excited about the ‘snake drink’ — an adder, happily pickled in alcohol: North Korea’a answer to Viagra. #Bradt #taketheroadlesstravelled

A photo posted by Bradt Guides (@bradtguides) onNov 23, 2016 at 5:16am PST

I knew that we had to pay our respects to the statues of the two leaders, but I had no idea that our respects would amount to 22 bows! We became very practised, buying flowers (or rather, Carl bought the flowers, sometimes real, sometimes plastic) and we would take it in turn to lay the flowers before the statues, or waxworks, or mosaics, look up respectfully, then line up to bow. Initially I just dipped my head but by the end I was doing a deep bow from the waist; it went some way towards relieving my aching back from so much standing around listening to explanations. @regentholidays #Bradt #taketheroadlesstravelled #myregentmoment

A photo posted by Bradt Guides (@bradtguides) onNov 23, 2016 at 6:16am PST

You don’t expect to find one of the most beautiful beaches in the world in #NorthKorea. I would put #MajonBeach in my top ten. First it’s a beautiful beach backed by dramatic cliffs, but also deserted. Or was when we were there. Just a stroll from a very nice hotel, with recliners and parasols, an island to swim to and perfect sea temperature. The daisy-like Cosmos flowers were a feature of every road and track in #NorthKorea, giving the deserted highways colours and interest. #bradt #taketheroadlesstravelled

A photo posted by Bradt Guides (@bradtguides) onNov 23, 2016 at 7:14am PST

The chance to interact with children is a highlight of any trip. We met and talked to some language students (carefully supervised, but rewarding nevertheless) but the most delightful experiences were the talents of the often tiny children who sang and danced for us. #bradt #taketheroadlesstraveled @regentholidays #myregentmoment

A photo posted by Bradt Guides (@bradtguides) onNov 23, 2016 at 8:02am PST

The hotels in #NorthKorea were surprisingly comfortable, enlivened by the North Korean love of kitsch. There was no way of turning off this amazing clock when I wanted to go to sleep; I had to unplug it! #bradt #taketheroadlesstraveled

A photo posted by Bradt Guides (@bradtguides) onNov 23, 2016 at 9:06am PST

And this loo was also a mystery! I sat on it gingerly and tried the different buttons but somewhat disappointingly, nothing happened! But it made a change from public loos – in restaurants and so on – which were generally squat loos, with no lock on the door and no paper, so one had to hold the door closed while fumbling for a tissue and trying to ignore the pain in one’s knees. #bradt #taketheroadlesstravelled #NorthKorea

A photo posted by Bradt Guides (@bradtguides) onNov 23, 2016 at 9:07am PST

Perhaps the biggest surprise about this country which is full of surprises, is that Buddhism is still practised. Or at least the historic Buddhist temples have been preserved and restored. We were shown many, but my favourite was this one, #Songbul at #Sariwon, because of the lovely group of the Buddha’s followers. #NorthKorea #Bradt #taketheroadlesstravelled

A photo posted by Bradt Guides (@bradtguides) onNov 23, 2016 at 10:05am PST

For the average North Korea, life goes on pretty much as it would anywhere. They spend time with their children, they catch fish and enjoy a family picnic, and they wear their beautiful dresses with pride. I’ve really enjoyed sharing stories of my @regentholidays #NorthKorea trip with you and I hope I’ve inspired some of you to visit the world’s most secretive nation! #bradt #taketheroadlesstravelled

A photo posted by Bradt Guides (@bradtguides) onNov 23, 2016 at 1:05pm PST

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