DMZ Train (part 10): On Our Way to Seoul

One of the best features of the train is that we can see the upfront view of the locomotive. This was the view of the bridge over Imjingang River. It used to be inaccessible for public until March...before this DMZ train was launched. 

On both sides of the screens, we could see real-time how the journey is unfolding right in front of our eyes. 

One more picture of the Imjingang river. 

The looks from inside the train.

The whole pack of kids we traveled with.^^ Eyra, Freya, Sofyan, and Biruni. The last two were Pak Nugroho's sons. 

Eyra tried to get wacky on board the train. Actually there's a contest during the trip for everyone to participate in. Be the wackiest on the train and share the picture to all passengers.  

This is what the kids did.^^ The pictures were then shared live via TV screens on each compartments for all of us to enjoy. 

The last message from the stewardess of the DMZ Train.

Yes, they pretty much organized the whole trip from A to Z.

Salute. 

The ticket for bus-trip within the DMZ zone: Dorasan Observatory + The 3rd Tunnel.

adult  8,700 won.

kid 6,700 won.

It run for 2 hours.

DMZ Train (part 9): Returning to Dorasan Station

A view from the bus window where I was sitting. The other two buses that took us for the 2-hour tour @ DMZ were ahead of our bus, all were heading towards the Dorasan station where we'd take the 17.30 DMZ train back to Seoul. 

Along the way, I noticed and learned that this whole vast area was the very spot where all goods were transported back and forth between the two countries, especially to connect the South and the North's Gaesong industrial complex.  

Almost getting there...*gosh..the blistering sun* 

But..the nicely trimmed green lawn along the way...seen from the comfort of air-conditioned bus....was enough to cast away the heat. 

Passing by the Dorasan Peace Park.... 

before finally came to a complete stop right in front of Dorasan Station that marked the end of our 2-hour trip to DMZ. 

Show us your ID card, Mama.  

Getting off the bus and...entering Dorasan Station again. 

Time for some souvenirs hunting....

Then I bumped into (again and again)..The ONLY one chocolate in DMZ. I wonder if this marketing gimmick indeed enticed customers/tourists to buy them, though. 

A facade of DMZ souvenir shop @ Dorasan Station.  

The very place where we booked our bus tour that day. 

and..the kids seemed to have extra energy to run around the station....

DMZ Train (part 8): The 3rd Tunnel

In front of the 3rd tunnel entrance. There were these two 헌병 or police officers mostly found around the DMZ area. But...these ones were...well, statues. Oh, well.. 

Let's get back to the bus... 

but..not just yet..since we got to take a must-do pose @ the site. Photographing ourselves in/on/at/over this DMZ signage. 

Why not? D for Mama, M for Eyra, and Z for me. 

For any one visiting this site...it looks to be a not-to-be-missed pose. 

What about this one? 

Though not necessarily, but for the kids..it intrigued them to get a better understanding as to why such a place does exist in the first place. By looking at the symbolic meaning of this statue.....they learn what the whole thing was all about. 

Eyra, at least, came to understand more about the present state of North-South relation.

And..that's what the tour was all about.

DMZ TRAIN (part 4)

Security Check-Point @ Imjingang Station. This is what I mean by 'scorching+exposing ourselves both to the security and the SUN.^^ Yes, we got to get out of the train and got ourselves standing in queue under the blistering summer heat^^ It was 33 degrees Celsius!! No Kidding. 

Each of us (even babies were ordered to do this)^^must bring our ID card and the completed forms. 

Then...another queue inside the building where two officers would check and match the forms and the ID we brought. It took only a minute or less. 

Then...we were ready to embark on the train again...continuing our trip to Dorasan station--our last destination. 

While waiting for other passengers to finish being checked, we might as well use the opportunity to take some pics in front of the 임진강 Imjingang Station signboard as an 인증썃.  

Notice the green name tag hanging on our necks? Yes, that's the ID card we must bring during the whole tour within the Demilitarized Zone. 

It looked so fun, well it was FUN....but ....HEat HeAT...HEAT....^^ 

The good side: we did not need any flash to take any pics. 

Imjingang station is the station prior entering the Dorasan station (station within the DMZ!!). 

One more look into the train before departing. Some passengers were seen still..taking some AHA moment in front of the train. It's be just an ordinary-looking situation at any train station in Korea had I not added any information that I did take it @ Imjingang. 

Tadah....Eyra and Freya now got their 'passport' to take the tour within the DMZ.

DMZ TRAIN (part 3)

One more special feature of the DMZ Train trip is that apart from having to bring our ID card (passport/alien card), we also have to fill out two forms of our identity as a visitor. Both the forms and the ID card must be presented at the Imjingak Station immigration/security check point. 

The left part is to be presented when we booked the trip after arriving at Dorasan Station.

The right part is to be presented to the officer in charge of the bus* we take for the tour. 

Yes...the bus...since we'd take the bus tour starting from Dorasan station.

Even Freya was so excited of signing her own autograph...Yes...it's in Hangeul, of course. 

She seemed to be so seriously immersed in filling out the form, though. 

Passing some sort of factory I was not sure where..but surely on our way to Dorasan. 

Another look into the train interior. Ooops...I thought I was in Love compartment, it turned out that we're at Harmony compartment or 화합실.
The fun part of the train was that the TV kept on displaying informative news about our trip, also occasionally, the camera (via CCTV) deliberately took the shots of our activities on the train and broadcasting them live to all compartments for us to enjoy. 

The one-hour-and-a-half-trip was truly a memorable one since the kids could do lots of things...there were also tables and snack-corner to cater the needs of its customer's appetite for in-between snacks. 

Practically...Dorasan Station..the place we're heading to.....is a station WITHIN the demilitarized zone..which means that we have to be alert or aware of where we were along the way. 

Oh..in one section of the train, I noticed lots of people posting or hanging the postcards ...wishing the good future of South-North relation. 

Then..you could also put a stamp on it to prove that you HAVE been to Dorasan via DMZ Train or 평화열차.

It's definitely another experience to root for.

DMZ TRAIN (part 2)

DMZ Train or Demilitarized Train or 평화열차 (literally "Peace Train") in Korean. Prior to embarking on the train, Freya took a pose in front of the train. Judging from the exterior of the train..it surely is a tourist train that caters the need of everyone's imagination of what it'd be like to take 1.5 hour ride to the border of South-North Korea. 

Group picture. We're travelling with Mr. Nugroho and his family who happens to be in Seoul for a 3-week visit. This is our treat to take them to the trip into one-and-only place on earth where one nation divided into two. 

Since our family has not been to the DMZ as well, I think it'd be a good chance for the kids to learn one or two about Korean history as well. So...that's why we booked 8 tickets!!! Oh, it turned out that the train was full of kids with parents...or parents with the kids...with the same intention as I did have I suppose? 

There are three compartments with different themes: Love, Peace, and Harmony.

This is Love-themed compartment where we had our seats. 

The television above displays real-time view of the upfront view of the locomotive so as to give its passengers the live-show of where the train was heading. 

The interior of the train was really packed with everything: photos of mostly historical events related to the South-North Civil War, current development of Korea, the Korail itself, or...sentences with the same message: Peace Loving Harmony??? in various language...of course Indonesian language is included. But...I found Javanese, too. 

Just look at the floor!!! Isn't it cool?

I mean..we would be pampered with bright and colorful displays of interior dexterity(?) that would be likable or distasteful for some. Well, it depends. But as for me..

it's wickedly designed to keep the passengers guessing and keep on talking about it.