Mac 'n Cheese & Egg Rolls: The DMZ

Patrick and I went on a trip to the De-Militarized Zone a couple of weeks ago with our friends, the Taylor's. It's put on through the base and it's really cool because you go up to the Army Post that's on the border there. We had a really good time and it was a very interesting trip. It made me realize how dangerous the mission is here. There is truly no telling what the North is going to do next. The Kim family is definitely not right in the head.

First Stop on the tour was the re-unification park. Where the North and South will come together again someday....we're curious to see if it will be in our lifetime. And of course they have giant vats of ginseng roots...gotta love Korea!

At the re-unification park a soldier looking North.

This train was destroyed during the Korean war. Aren't Patrick and Kaycie great models?!

Us at the re-unification point.

A freedom bell. These will ring when the North and South come together again.

The next stop was Tunnel 3. Unfortunately there were no cameras allowed in the tunnel, but it was pretty interesting. The North dug the tunnels to attack the South, then the South discovered them.

Pushing the countries back together....their statue people looked awfully American to us.

Proof that we were there.

That red sign says MINE. And I don't mean coal mine. The DMZ is the most heavily mined region in the world. We were really hoping our bus didn't veer off the road. We thought this was an interesting fact he said the animals can sense the mines.

The third stop was kind of a look out point where we could see North Korea's fake town, Propaganda Village-that's America's name for it.

Another freedom bell. You can barely make out a Christmas tree in the background.

Just thought this was funny. In case you don't know how to sit on a toilet here are the instructions!

The last stop before North Korea. So, on the other side of that toll way is North Korea.

Fourth stop was a bus station built for when the North and South reunite (are you noticing a theme?) The nicest train station that goes nowhere.

Patrick getting our passports stamped with a North Korea stamp...how many people can say they have done that? There have to be some perks to living here, right?

Anyone up for a quick jaunt up to Pyeongyang?

Finally...the main event....Camp Bonifas and the Joint Security Area. It was awesome. If you come visit us we can get you in here. The only way in though is to come to us...hint hint!

Looking into North Korea. The blue buildings are where meetings between the North and South take place. The large white building behind is in North Korea. If you click on the pic, you can see the North Korean soldier staring at us through his binoculars. It was intimidating to be there.

Taking a pic with a South Korean guard in the building where all the big meetings with the North take place. Do we look nervous? We are. If you get too close they will push you away. Also notice his stance. It's a Tae Kwon Do stance used to intimidate. Also, the soldiers all have to be over 6 feet tall to intimidate the North Korean soldiers. They are so malnurished that there soldiers are all very tiny.

We are officially in North Korea in this pic...that's right...we've been there and done that!

A shot of Propaganda Village. That flag is the 3rd largest in the world. It weighs 600 pounds. It was funny. Our guide (soldier) kept telling us to take as many pics of the North as we wanted, but could take none of the South for security reasons.

We were surrounded by North Korea on 3 sides in this shot.

The bridge of no return. When they re-patriated the POW's they could choose stay or go and they could only choose once and they could NOT look back. I'm guessing NONE of them wanted to stay.