Oh, Herro Hans!

I have to admit that for the past couple of days I’ve really been thinking about possibly going to North Korea for a short trip.  Since we have no diplomatic ties with Lil’ Kim’s regime you can’t get an entry visa within the United States.  There is, however, a North Korean embassy here in Beijing, and one can be obtained there.  Of course, just like most things in this part of the world, the best way to do it is to hire someone to do it for you, and there are companies here which can arrange tour packages and handle the visas. 

You’re followed by a minder who tells you what you are and are not permitted to see, who you are and are not permitted to talk to, what you are and are not permitted to ask, and so on.  Regardless, I can honestly say that if I could visit anywhere on the planet right now it would be Pyongyang.  North Korea is the last true Stalinist dictatorship on earth, and I think it would be a fascinating experience to see that firsthand, to see the Kims worshipped like gods.  Eventually, like China and Cuba and Vietnam and the USSR, the totalitarian dictatorships will give way to some form of “friendly” communism.  To me, that’s boring.  I want to go when it’s not friendly, when doing so would be something significant.  Going to the USSR during the height of the Cold War would have been significant.  Going to Russia today is about as edgy as going to Hawaii. 

Honestly, I’d be really surprised if in 2008 I didn’t take a trip to visit Pyongyang.  What an adventure that would be.

And you know damn well I’d have Team America on my iPod.

“Beijing, preparing to host the 2008 Olympics, has ordered hotels to provide condoms in all bedrooms in a bid to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS after cases of infection soared 54 percent in the first 10 months of this year.

Announcing the move, the official Xinhua news agency made no direct reference to the Games, saying only that all the Chinese capital’s 700 hotels must comply by the end of 2008.”

http://tinyurl.com/2tt4u7

Have you heard anything about this Lee?

No, I hadn’t heard that, but it wouldn’t surprise me.  Prostitution is widespread here.  It’s completely illegal, but it’s tolerated.  The government is more interested in the appearance of order than in actual order itself.  So, if allowing a few brothels to operate, or letting bars full of hookers peddle their wares keeps the public happy then it’s one less thing for the government to concern itself with.  (There’s that “oddly libertarian” thing again.)

The vast majority of China’s wealth is located in its three or four big cities.  The rest of the country, roughly a billion people, are sirt poor peasants.  So girls come in from the countryside to act as prostitutes, knowing they can make enough money to support their entire family back home.  Because of this AIDS is a growing problem here.

So it wouldn’t surprise me at all if the Olympic committee did something like this.  Actually I think it’s quite a good idea, and should be mandatory for all hotels at all times.  You get drunk, you bring some chick back to your hotel, and oops, you forgot to pack your rubbers before you left, so you bang her anyway.  Then, two days later, your dick rots off and falls in the toilet while you’re taking a shit.

If the hotel had a condom in the bathroom along with the soaps and shampoos, and you didn’t have one of your own, wouldn’t you use it?  I know I sure as hell would.

There ain’t no pussy worth dying over.

well said!

I wonder if the Norks do a background check on anyone that applies for a Visa....?
Im sure that your sites woudl raise a few eyebrows in Pyongyang.
hmm
would they let a running dog capitalist lie you in?

There ain’t no pussy worth dying over.

well some on convinced the Greeks that is was ....once..

Lee, I just posted that, lol!

Could you get an iPod into Dear Leaderland? It’s my understanding they have pretty much banned things like cell phones and other gadgets that could communicate with the outside world, at least for their own people.

WVR: Actually that was the US government who banned the sale of those products by US companies.  In NK the senior party officials have access to all the goods that the people are denied, so the Bush administration placed a trade embargo on these tyoe of luxury and consumer items.

As far as bringing you own in, sure, I don’t see why they wouldn’t let you.

Do you mean to imply that you don’t have Team America on your iPod already? For SHAME!

At least tell me you have America, Fuck Yeah! on there!

When I was a teenager in the early 70’s I went on a school trip to Europe, and we spent two days and one night in Prague.

It was awful, there was nothing to do but see old buildings. We were required to spend the equivalent of $5 per day, so we each had to spend $10. But there was NOTHING to buy, except groceries and plain ugly clothes. We started to get desperate. Finally we found a travel agency that was willing to sell us the posters off their windows.

It was kind of cool crossing the border though, because an officer boarded the bus and walked up and down, looking at us teenagers like we were the CIA or something. A few of the girls made endearing faces at a couple of privates at the gate, and they smiled and waved back. The officer saw it, and left the bus to ream the soldier’s arse. Great times.