Day 9 - e) Diplomatic Club, final night dinner and karaoke

Sunday September 12, 2010

Just before dinner both groups visited the Taedonggang Diplomatic Club. This is an entertainment and leisure facility where foreign diplomats and the very privileged members of the Korean Workers' Party come to have fun.

Segregated bathrooms! (Photo courtesy of Tim)

Even at a place like this careful segregation of locals from potential outside influence was apparent. Some of the tour members brought swimming gear to have a dip in the indoor pool, but upon arrival they were rejected as it was a "Koreans only" day at the pool. And there were separate bathrooms for foreigners and locals, as Justin liked to point out - see picture.

As we enjoyed a drink at the bar the "official" tour DVD was shown to us. A cameraman had followed both groups for the entire tour recording us and yes, it is remarkable that the final edited product would be available for viewing on the last evening. Although the preview at the Diplomatic Club suggested the footage was squeezed onto a very rigid template - complete with corny music and stock footage of the places of interest. Purchase of the DVD was optional.

Our final dinner in North Korea was at a specialist duck BBQ restaurant. Sadly it started to sink in for all the tourists that the trip of a lifetime was drawing to an end, and Hannah thanked the Korean guides on our behalf. A combined group photo was taken at the restaurant, with the Americans missing (as they were forced to depart the country two days earlier):

Both groups on the final night at the duck restaurant. (Photo courtesy of Amanda)

Hannah, Amanda and Maria at final night karaoke. (Photo courtesy of Tim)

Upon our return to the Yanggakdo Hotel all the tourists and the western guides headed to the basement karaoke bar for end-of-trip celebrations. Our local guides had worked restlessly for ten consecutive days, and we asked them to come down and socialise with us. However by 11pm none had shown up so we conceded that they needed their rest after what is, after all, work for them.

Peter and karaoke attendants. (Photo courtesy of Tim)

Michael and Brian singing in German. (Photo courtesy of Tim)

But our mood turned around at 11:30pm when Mr Lee and Miss Jong presented themselves at the karaoke bar! They entered to applause and cheers, and we were glad that they would let down their hair with us.

The karaoke facility itself was not automatic as we know it in the outside world but rather we had to tell an attendant which song we wanted and she entered the selection into a computer. And amusingly the English song book only contained tracks beginning with A to I... so if your favourite song was in the second half of the alphabet it was tough luck!

Michael and Mr Lee smoking cigars. (Photo courtesy of Tim)

Michael shared cigars with Mr Lee, who was used to enjoying such fine things having spent time overseas and guiding foreigners in Korea for many years. I managed to have a lengthy chat with Miss Jong - she told me about her family, her aspirations, and her dreams.

Before the trip most of the tourists would have seen the the local guides as a burden placed on us by a paranoid government, and while that is functionally true they're still people, not robots. As such we warmed to them over the days as the North Koreans we had the most exposure to.

Justin, Miss Jong and me at final night karaoke. (Photo courtesy of Tim)