It seems that not many people are aware of what a treasure Sudan is for the field of archaeology. The only reason it doesn’t get more attention is because it is, well, Sudan. The pyramids at Nuri are just one example… Built at the peak of Nubian power after their heroic march north to not … Continue reading
Pyongyang is home and playground to the elite of North Korean society. As such, one will find the best and the most of anything in Pyongyang. That also means that one will find things in Pyongyang that are frequently not seen in the rest of the country. One such manifestation of this can be found … Continue reading
This extraordinary palace is home to the embalmed bodies of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, which are on full display nestled inside glass sarcophagi: Now, photography or recording of any kind is strictly forbidden inside and if there is one place in North Korea where you don’t want to fuck around, this is it. So, … Continue reading
On the North Korean side of the Demilitarized Zone: Former US President Bill Clinton famously described the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) as “the scariest place on earth” during a 2003 visit. Others have described it as the most dangerous spot on the planet… With descriptions like that, a visit is pretty much compulsory, no? The … Continue reading
Our glider being towed into the sky from Truckee Tahoe Airport… The pilot of the glider is Greg Peairs – a former Top Gun pilot and instructor: * * A tow plane pulls the glider aloft and carries it up several thousand feet before, with a loud “thunk”, the tow rope is dropped from the … Continue reading
An armed guard at the entrance to Pyongyang Film Studios, the state-run film production facility of North Korea: The studio is a sprawling complex that is located on the outskirts of Pyongyang: Kim Jong-il was a huge film fan and is rumored to have had one of the largest movie collections in the world. Of … Continue reading
Listen, forget about all of those grim, depressing pictures one sees coming out of North Korea for a minute… It’s not always like that. No place is grim and depressing all of the time. Keep reading this post if you need to be convinced… Having been under the close supervision of our North Korean minders … Continue reading
The Velvet Rocket 