So right now I am en route to a town called Dandong (at the time of writing, at the time of posting I'm physically in Dandong). The reason why I'm going to Dandong is essentially because it's as close to North Korea as you can get without actually going to North Korea. While it's possible for an American to go to North Korea these days it's not a regime I want to support with tourism dollars. Truth be told, knowing that some of the money spent on this excursion will find it's way into the DPRK leaves me with not such a great feeling. All that aside the question remains, why?
One of my motivations is the simple, why not? I've already traveled to the opposite side of the planet and was within a stone's throw of one of America's few remaining bone fida enemies. Thanks to my experiences here, when reading about China it gives me perspective on things. And at times in lieu of perspective it has provided me with actual images for the place in question. So at the very least there will now be a handful of actual images to go along with North Korea. What will be available to see isn't exactly clear just yet, but there are definitely vantage points in Dandong from which to view the hermit kingdom. Sadly I didn't do the DMZ tour in South Korea to match. That opportunity will probably come again though.
The real impetus here however is that the current plains entail leaving mainland China if not in short order then in reasonably short order. Mainland China isn't as straightforward as the press would make it seem. It's very much a place in transition, and it's ideological roots still factor into society here in a major way. Remember, a handful of development zones aside, China has only been opening to the world since the 1990s. It's going to be immensely interesting watching over the next twenty years, but I don't particularly like being a de facto part of a non-democratic society and I don't like being a part of a country that (from what I'm told) sees my own as it's enemy. When in a strange land the bond between you and your own countrymen becomes a great deal stronger which in turn is a multiplier for the outsider effect. It's a strange feeling. So despite the fact that there's something big playing out here and though I hope the best for these people my being in this place just doesn't feel right. As a result this could very well be my last chance to catch a glimpse at this side of North Korea.
There's also something about proximity I think is cool. DC is one of my favorite places in the world (Colorado Rockies FTW). Virginia/Maryland is beautiful, the historic sites are cool and the vibe is up my alley, but being where decisions are made absolutely blows my mind. I honestly got a huge kick just walking by the Federal Reserve. So this is the same thing but on kind of the opposite level I suppose.
Another important factor is the traveler's bragging rites. Talk to expats and you start hearing about the hunger for stamps. It's a group of people that want to fill up their passport just to say they did it. Traveling is an end in and of itself. DPRK is knockout stamp but one I don't want. That being said, having gotten as close as you can get without actually crossing in is worth probably worth like a quarter stamp in bragging rights. Before leaving China I also plan on scoping Urumqi, which also has to be worth like half a stamp.
Lastly, I thought the venture was going to be much easier. It was a brutal train ride. Barring an exceedingly cool next few days and remarkably easy bus ride back I would have opted for a different trip.
One of my motivations is the simple, why not? I've already traveled to the opposite side of the planet and was within a stone's throw of one of America's few remaining bone fida enemies. Thanks to my experiences here, when reading about China it gives me perspective on things. And at times in lieu of perspective it has provided me with actual images for the place in question. So at the very least there will now be a handful of actual images to go along with North Korea. What will be available to see isn't exactly clear just yet, but there are definitely vantage points in Dandong from which to view the hermit kingdom. Sadly I didn't do the DMZ tour in South Korea to match. That opportunity will probably come again though.
The real impetus here however is that the current plains entail leaving mainland China if not in short order then in reasonably short order. Mainland China isn't as straightforward as the press would make it seem. It's very much a place in transition, and it's ideological roots still factor into society here in a major way. Remember, a handful of development zones aside, China has only been opening to the world since the 1990s. It's going to be immensely interesting watching over the next twenty years, but I don't particularly like being a de facto part of a non-democratic society and I don't like being a part of a country that (from what I'm told) sees my own as it's enemy. When in a strange land the bond between you and your own countrymen becomes a great deal stronger which in turn is a multiplier for the outsider effect. It's a strange feeling. So despite the fact that there's something big playing out here and though I hope the best for these people my being in this place just doesn't feel right. As a result this could very well be my last chance to catch a glimpse at this side of North Korea.
There's also something about proximity I think is cool. DC is one of my favorite places in the world (Colorado Rockies FTW). Virginia/Maryland is beautiful, the historic sites are cool and the vibe is up my alley, but being where decisions are made absolutely blows my mind. I honestly got a huge kick just walking by the Federal Reserve. So this is the same thing but on kind of the opposite level I suppose.
Another important factor is the traveler's bragging rites. Talk to expats and you start hearing about the hunger for stamps. It's a group of people that want to fill up their passport just to say they did it. Traveling is an end in and of itself. DPRK is knockout stamp but one I don't want. That being said, having gotten as close as you can get without actually crossing in is worth probably worth like a quarter stamp in bragging rights. Before leaving China I also plan on scoping Urumqi, which also has to be worth like half a stamp.
Lastly, I thought the venture was going to be much easier. It was a brutal train ride. Barring an exceedingly cool next few days and remarkably easy bus ride back I would have opted for a different trip.
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