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 10): Going Back to Seoul

It's 17.20 and in ten minute-time, the Seoul-bound DMZ Train would depart. Everyone's queuing to enter the platform. No need to purchase the ticket since everyone ON DMZ Train tour MUST have bought return-ticket as one of the requirements. 

We just needed to return the name tags we got when we arrived at the Imjingang station security check-point three hours earlier.  

Now...the train was ready. As always we got to find our seats. Here came my 'happy' frustration since 8 of us were separated in 3 different compartments!!!!!!!! 

I love this picture. The kids were in queue embarking onto the train. What a cute little thing to cherish. 

Oops ...Mama also wanted me to take a picture of her embarking on the train.

Bon Voyage, Mama.^^ 

Now..let's enjoy the interior design especially the so many languages posted with the same message. I found Javanese language....^^ 

My first mother tongue: tentrem tresna harmoni^^ ㅋㅋㅋ

Though I know its individual words...still it doesn't make any sense at all..

even the Indonesian language translation is jumbled. that's too bad.

I wish the management had contacted someone who knows Indonesian language or Javanese.

I don't know about any other languages.

I looks like they translated the language using online dictionary:) so..it's all mixed up. 

Well...all in all..that 'minor'(?????really minor??) ^^ 'cough' did not ruin my holiday on DMZ train. In fact it sort of 'alleviated' the heat of summer...by looking into all of the posted words and pictures. 

Yes..it could be soothing at the same time. Walking from compartment to compartment ...admiring the pictures hung and posted on the ceilings and walls of the train. Most of them are surely about ecosystem found unobstructed within the DMZ. 

so..bye bye..Dorasan Station.

This picture was taken by Freya. ^^ Thank you, Freya.

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 7): The 3rd Tunnel Tour

The 2nd spot we visited was the 3rd tunnel or 제3땅굴. It's believed to be North Korea-made tunnel though others believed it used to be the abandoned coal mining tunnel. (hmm..which one's correct?) Anyhow...the tour gave us a grim look into what-used-to-be a grim sight of the civil war in the Peninsula.  

After walking down and up the tunnel (around 350 meters deep down below), we finally made it to the entrance again. Time to return the yellow safety helmet we put on during the tour. Eyra and Freya seemed relieved to have finally reached the surface (again).^^

But..it was worth-it, right, Dear? 

Gee...we're not supposed to take any pictures on the whole sites..but thankfully..we could see the whole tunnel via this CCTV..so...not to waste any time..I just snapped the picture to give a whole view of the movement inside the tunnel from varied angles.  

Time to the souvenir shop just around the corner. And found this intriguing rice. It's called 통일촌 특미 (the special grain of unification zone).

DMZ 통일촌 농산물 ( The agricultural product of DMZ Unification Zone).

Right..I don't see this product at any general stores across Seoul...so I guess this IS special in itself. I wish they had 1 kg of rice to bring home as souvenirs. 

How in the world would I be able to bring the 20 kg rice as souvenir?????? 

so...let's just take one more picture in front of the 3rd tunnel entrance. 

With Pak Nugroho's family. 

and ...wait....I thought I had two daughters:-) 

DMZ Train Trip (part 6): Dora Observatory

The first spot we visited was Dorasan Observatory where we could use binoculars to take a peep into North Korea. With just 500 Won (coins), we could use the tool to see North Korea. Too bad, the weather was so hot that we barely saw a thing. And we're not allowed to take pictures too close....with the tools. I didn't know why...though..

But...at least I could use my 15-minute visit to take some other shots of the observatory.

The typical army color and pattern like the ones are on the next list of wish list.

People were seen looking into North Korea to satisfy their curiosty.

Then..more pictures...

and more...

End of separation....

Beginning of Unification.

Now..the group picture minus me, ya.

빨리 빨리 get on the bus, quick..quick....I felt the heat ...as well as...my sore feet:)

"Freya...are you okay?"

DMZ TRAIN (part 5)

Now we're approaching the Dorasan Station and I took some snaps of the pictures while crossing the river. It's so green and peaceful. The blue sky and some clouds hovering above...with the vast green field...that encapsulate the scenery..really soothed the eyes.

Then we also witnessed what-used-to-be a bridge left untouched in the post-war Korea.

I couldn't take any more pics since it turned out that we're not allowed to take some pics...oops.  

Anyway...we safely arrived at the last station we're heading to: Dorasan station.

It's modern, chic, and yet..it would've been dead eerie had there been no tourists coming into it on a daily basis. So...had it not been stated that it's open for everyone, and..the pic like this was posted on a web, it would've been easily mistaken for any modern station across Korea...or in any other country. 

Yet...this is Dorasan Station: the very station that South Korea would gladly use to INITIATE its long-lost-dream of uniting the peninsula and connecting it with the rest of the world via trans-Siberia railroad.  

"Welcome to Dorasan"

Freya, as always, was the one who'd be more than willing to step up...

and be 'in' the picture.