panmunjom
Recently, there's been a lot of talk about North Korea in the news, and rightly so. But this weekend we decided to find out for ourselves whether or not things were worth worrying about.
Along with our friends, sam and becky (who are also teaching in korea) we partook in a Panmunjom Tour. On July 27, 1953, at Panmunjom, the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), an armistice agreement was reached, sacrificing the unification of Korea.
One of our pictures shows Trent and I pretending to push together the two sides of this beloved, bleeding country. On our tour we entered the four-kilometre wide DMZ zone, where we were led on tour by an American soldier. At one point, we were surrounded on three sides by North Korea. Trent caught a picture of a North Korean soldier standing guard (it's very faint, but you can see it below). While standing in the DMZ conference room (the same room where the treaty was originally signed), listening to our tour guide, Trent and I crossed the boundary and were standing in "North Korea" ...
We also passed by the "bridge of no return", where prisoners of war were given a one-time chance to choose between either North or South Korea as their homeland. We entered the Third Tunnel, one of many tours dug by North Korea in an attempt to invade South Korea in the 1970s.
Following our day-long tour, Becky and Sam joined us at the Shalom 'jimjimbang' in Seoul where we spent the night. For ten dollars a person, we enjoyed a public bath house, saunas, an entertainment floor, a fitness room, and massage chairs, as well as night's rest. The building consists of five levels in total; upon entry, we were given warm clothes to wear and a towel. The girls and boys then parted ways, and joined many Koreans in a 'public' bath experience. The various baths included a waterfall, a mugwort soak, a jade tub, a charcoal soak, a yellow soil bath, a massage tub as well as body buffs. We also slept in separate rooms, lined with bunk beds. It was a delightful, albeit 'exposing' experience.
And, in answer to people's worries over North Korea's recent attack, the soldiers at the DMZ weren't phazed in the least. It was truly a successful failure, another desperate attempt by the madman who rules over his father's nation, to prove that he is indeed worth something. Please pray for the people of North Korea. They are in desperate need of a miracle.
Along with our friends, sam and becky (who are also teaching in korea) we partook in a Panmunjom Tour. On July 27, 1953, at Panmunjom, the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), an armistice agreement was reached, sacrificing the unification of Korea.
One of our pictures shows Trent and I pretending to push together the two sides of this beloved, bleeding country. On our tour we entered the four-kilometre wide DMZ zone, where we were led on tour by an American soldier. At one point, we were surrounded on three sides by North Korea. Trent caught a picture of a North Korean soldier standing guard (it's very faint, but you can see it below). While standing in the DMZ conference room (the same room where the treaty was originally signed), listening to our tour guide, Trent and I crossed the boundary and were standing in "North Korea" ...We also passed by the "bridge of no return", where prisoners of war were given a one-time chance to choose between either North or South Korea as their homeland. We entered the Third Tunnel, one of many tours dug by North Korea in an attempt to invade South Korea in the 1970s.
Following our day-long tour, Becky and Sam joined us at the Shalom 'jimjimbang' in Seoul where we spent the night. For ten dollars a person, we enjoyed a public bath house, saunas, an entertainment floor, a fitness room, and massage chairs, as well as night's rest. The building consists of five levels in total; upon entry, we were given warm clothes to wear and a towel. The girls and boys then parted ways, and joined many Koreans in a 'public' bath experience. The various baths included a waterfall, a mugwort soak, a jade tub, a charcoal soak, a yellow soil bath, a massage tub as well as body buffs. We also slept in separate rooms, lined with bunk beds. It was a delightful, albeit 'exposing' experience.
And, in answer to people's worries over North Korea's recent attack, the soldiers at the DMZ weren't phazed in the least. It was truly a successful failure, another desperate attempt by the madman who rules over his father's nation, to prove that he is indeed worth something. Please pray for the people of North Korea. They are in desperate need of a miracle.
posted by kanadians in korea at 12:33 AM
5 Comments:
I have a friend who lived in Korea, teaching, for two years. He has a few funny stories about the bathing rituals of Koreans. Quite the adventure, eh?!
And the world shrinks yet again...I know Sam and Becky from TWU; Becky was one of the roommates of my now sister-in-law Heidi. Heidi married my brother Reuben following their graduation from TWU - say hi to Becky and see if she remembers Reuben Koole's little sister. :)
Enjoyed hearing of your adventure. Are those massage chairs like the ones in West Ed Mall where those hard balls protrude and give you the wierdest contortions to your body that you can imagine? I did not find those chairs too relaxing, I tell ya! Almost a bit painful, to say the least. ;o(
As for the mud soaks and massage stuff, wow! I bet it felt great.
Thanks agan for sharing your lives with us. I look so forward to the wonderful things you do. The pictures are great! We just love you guys to peices.
Auntie D. and family
wow, neat story and great pictures. thanks for the effort you go to in keeping us updated. it's exciting to hear what you're up to!
That sounds like an adventure and a half. I have heard of these "public" washing areas. Sounds rather frightening to me, but I don't think we realise how common it is in so many cultures. It seems wrong to us, but totally normal to so many others. Still scares the bejeebees out of me. I always enjoy your pictures. I can't beleive that Mom is going to be there in a week. I wish I could see you guys. We'll have to see what happens I guess. And Trent, I finally got a webcam, so we can talk! Hopefully I'll catch you on there soon! Love you both.
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