Due to the hurricane and southern California fires, my NBC World News episode did not make it to air.

They said, “It could be recycled if Dateline wanted to pick it up.”

So, yeah, no 15 seconds of fame, but that is the way life goes sometimes.

However, I was quoted in a CNN news article: Postcards from the Hermit Kingdom: What Americans will miss in North Korea

Now, on to the near conclusion of my trip to the D.P.R.K (a.k.a. North Korea, Best Korea):

August 16, 2017

We had to get on the bus early, as we were driving south to the DMZ.

I should have brought my backpack down to breakfast with me because almost everyone on the bus was waiting for me – it takes forever to get an elevator in that hotel sometimes.

Simon had to figure out who was missing and go get her – too much partying from last night.

We managed to leave only a few minutes late, but our experienced driver made up for it.

The DPRK loves their leaders – there are murals and paintings everywhere of them.

What I had noticed is that no matter which tour company you go with, when you get to North Korea, you end up with Korea International Tour Company, going on their buses and using their tour guides and going to the same places.

I kept running across the “other tour company” with the person who threw me off the SCUBA diving trip.

I saw her at the half way stop to the DMZ and she was standing alone.

I went up and introduced myself.

Whether she recognized my name, or ever remembered who I was or that she and the tour company committed egregious acts of national discrimination by throwing me off their SCUBA diving trip is unclear.

However, I think she remembered my name.

I said, “Well, too bad the SCUBA diving trip didn’t work out for Americans, but at least I made it here.”

“Well, this is my last trip here, too,” she said.

Yep, she is an American, and thanks to the US State Department and their travel ban to the DPRK, she can no longer do guided tours here.

I thought Trump was suppose to be a job creator?

It was at this rest stop that I handed the driver four packs of Camel filter cigarettes and Mr. Li six packs, as a tip.

The drive to the DMZ took two and a half hours along the “Reunification Highway” – a pothole filled road of various widths that can give a bumpy ride if you’re sitting in the back of the bus.

I saw some pretty skinny people along the way, but there was a mix of wealth.

It sort of reminds me of Albania, you can see a car passing an ox drawn cart; however, none of them are Mercedes.

When we finally reached the DMZ, we were let off the bus and lead in to a gift store to wait our turn to go on the tour.

Our tour guides and Mr. Li had to leave their IDs with the military to proceed further.

There were some North Korea soldiers walking around and laughing; they were saying in English, “Where are the Americans? Who’s American here?”

Unfortunately, by the time I could respond, they already left.

We were given a brief synopsis of the DMZ and how for the first time in the history of the United States we were defeated by a nation, by the Korean People under the wise leadership of Kim Il Sung.

We got to see the signing room, where the Americans begged the DPRK for a ceasefire.

Dear Leader Kim Jung Un spies on South Korea.

We were told, “Since this is the most intense place on the Korean peninsula, an Army man will accompany us for our safety.”

There it is – The DMZ from the North Korean side.

We were lucky enough to go to the blue negotiation building, the only place where you can freely cross from North to South Korea.

Border of North and South Korea at the DMZ.

Inside the blue building at the DMZ.

I was able to cross over to South Korea for a few minutes.

I was expecting the North and South Koreans to mad-dog each other at the border, but nobody was seen on the South Korean side.

I asked why and was told, “The South Koreans are afraid of us, they are all hiding.”

Apparently, the North and South agreed to share the DMZ by alternating turns.

The North gets the DMZ in the morning and the South gets it in the afternoon – at noon, the North Koreans were to retreat and hide.

Me with a North Korean army guy.

The tour company made a quite interesting video of our DMZ tour, set to classic DPRK propaganda music and verbage…

DMZ Video from the Tour Company, August 16, 2017

We then went to Kaesong to visit a former Buddhist monastery, now museum.

Officially, it is called the “Kaesong Koryo Museum” which displays artifacts from the Koryo Dynasty – the dynasty that united the Korean people until the US Imperialists split the country.

The price of various slaves compared to the price of an ox; young female slaves were worth more because they could produce more slaves.

Diorama of an old Korean village.

Me with a hot North Korean chick.

The gift shop where I scored a bottle of Ginseng wine, made in the DPRK.

The University of Light Industry.

Restaurant in Keasong – 13 brass bowl meals with dog meat soup.

Yes, I paid $6 extra to eat dog – it tasted sort of like venison but a little sweeter; they put so much spice in the dog meat soup, it was hard to tell what dog tasted like.

Here’s a video of the lunch.

We then left to visit King Kongmin’s tomb that was raided by the Japanese Imperialists, I think during the 1930’s.

Driving from Kaesong to King Kongmin’s tomb.

The Tomb Of King Kongmin.

On the way back to Pyongyang, we stopped at the Reunification Monument.
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The Reunification monument.

The Ryugyong Hotel from a distance.

Stopping for beer in Pyongyang – “Cheers to friendship towards the DPRK.”

The last meal in Pyongyang for half of the group.

The previous lunch was boiling in my colon, and there were no western toilets – just squat toilets.

I grabbed a napkin and did the best to take care of business.

I didn’t hit my pants – that was the key thing.

I didn’t hit my pants!

The last meal in the DPRK.

We partied at the hotel when we got back – DPRK Trip – The last Night – Part 30

My journey home and thoughts on the trip will be coming soon!