I knew almost nothing about North Korea when I saw a fascinating documentary called
"A State of Mind." The film focused on an event called the Mass Games, which features singing, dancing, and acrobatics
by more than 100,000 performers. I vowed that if I ever had the chance, I would go
to see the games in person.
A few weeks later, I got an email from a friend directing me to a
Beijing travel agency arranging tours of North Korea for Americans
wishing to see the Mass Games. The DPRK was opening its doors to
Americans for only three weeks and the last group was leaving from
Beijing in 10 days. This tour had my name written all over it.
I worked frantically for a week, collecting and completing forms,
applying for an expedited visa to China, arranging accommodations in
Beijing, exchanging dollars for euros and RMB, and wiring money to
whoever needed it.
In the end, it was a fantastic and unforgettable trip. From this page,
you can find a long-ish essay that I wrote after returning and
reflecting on the event, as well as two pages of photographs.
