Photo by Joseph A Ferris III

Enjoy Ally Biring’s ‘tongue in cheek’ look at visiting North Korea.

It’s probably true to say that holidays are a necessary part of our lives. However with so many destinations around the world offering pleasurable life changing experiences, they often fail to provide for the needs of those who prefer a more disciplined approach to their foreign vacation.

You see, holidays shouldn’t have to be about fun, leisure and relaxation and should realistically cater for the type of traveller averse to the notion of freedom and choice. If you are such a person, then why not consider a wonderful excursion to North Korea. Contrary to what most of us think, foreigners can actually visit the country relatively unscathed. Of course you’ll have to enjoy a little company because for the entire duration of your stay; you will be escorted by paranoid government officials everywhere you go. In fact they’re such a helpful bunch, they will even do most of the talking for you as you won’t be allowed to talk to the locals.

Yes, leave the wind, rain and human rights of Britain behind and head to a place that is second to none. Pyongyang is a beautiful city and, if your guide permits, you might be able to see some of it.

You will not be short of amazing sights to see as the country has a generous amount of monuments and statues ready for your perusal. These of course provide the perfect backdrops for photo opportunities although you will have to get permission before to you take a single shot. Failure to abide might just see you receiving a single shot of another kind. During your visit the friendly guides will direct you to these monuments which are all lovingly dedicated to the former deceased leader ‘Kim Il-sung’.  Here you will be affectionately immersed into the culture as you are formally pressured into buying and laying a wreath at the foot of the monument. You will also be expected to doff your hat in respect of this revered saint, further enhancing your experience of warmth and understanding. Altruism, clearly a key theme in this overtly democratic nation.

Any vacationer to North Korea will surely be guaranteed pure tranquillity on an evening as due to the uniquely oppressive nature of the place, revellers are nonexistent. Besides, they wouldn’t be able to see where they were going anyway as after dark all electricity is shut down. This then, is a country fully committed to the preservation of the environment. In fact it’s so quiet in the night that you could hear a pin drop a mile away from your hotel room…or a gunshot, depending on whether a villager has disrespected the former leader of the country.

This really is a far flung destination where you can truly forget about life back home which is easy to do since no reference of the outside world is permitted!

With all these provisions in place for the discerning vacationer, it’s easy to become complacent. Therefore it’s important to adhere to all the local rules and regulations. Most importantlyyou should never ever disrespect the military leaders. If you do, you might find the powers of the British Embassy some what limited in saving you from a date with a prison cell.

So how do you get there I hear you ask. Well, flights are readily available from most countries as long as that country isn’t South Korea. It’s an experience not to be missed since upon your return to the UK, you will surely appreciate just how lucky you are!

If this holiday is a little extreme for you why not take a look at First Choice’s late deal holiday’s for something a little less extreme.