(posted from Beijing)
Our train arrived to the Chineese border station Dangdong at 8.30 am. Immigration control was very simple, no customs at all… Then we crossed the river: two carriages from Beijing and two from Moscow. Almost empty – few tourists only. North Korea… Different landscape… Different people… We spent more then two hours at the border station. All our baggage were searched, cameras and money registered in the customs declarations… Metal detectors used… What are they looking for? Then rice fields… Poor villages… Train goes slowly… A lot of soldiers on the station platforms… Every station witha picture of the Great Leader. It took us more then 5 hours to reach Phongyang. Huge station building. Guides waiting for every arriving foreigner. They will take care of us day and night. Passports collected on arrival – you will see them on departure… Why? Transfer to the luxury hotel on the river island – well separated from the rest of the capital… Welcome to North Korea!
