another flight - another body search! this is the 3rd time i have been fully search at the airport - i am not bothered about it - its just funny! i must be looking suspicious...

i am now in Incheon - 70 miles from Seoul. I found myself a nice hotel in a strange area (please check the photos) - the whole centre of town is 3 blocks by 3! and it s just so different than what i was expecting.

i even took pictures of the hotel room... sleepers at the entrance / open shower in the bathroom / sterilizer cabinet in the bedroom / vending machine with everything in it / and toilets that clean your butt at a push of a button!! how cool is that - but strange! you can even control the jet and its warm water... i tried...LOL

for diner i went to this local restaurant, and its the first time i didnt know how to eat my food - i tried to ask, but the staff wasnt speaking english so i had to look at other tables to find out - they must have thought i was retarded. most of their food is pickled and i experienced some strange flavours but it had to be done. had stomach ache all night though!

early wake up call on saturday morning as i have organised myself a trip to the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone - at the North / South Korean border) - had to make my way to Seoul to join a group at 8am! so left hotel around 5.30am and got myself breakfast in Seoul - what a nice surprise that was to find a Starbucks with normal sandwiches and coffee!

i couldnt take too many photos of the DMZ as it is forbidden but manage to get few - I would recommend that unusual tour to anyone - it s pretty different than an other tourist tour i ve done!

we started by the Imjingak Park where you can see the Freedom Bridge - the only path that connects between South and North around Imjin river. We then went on through Military check point to the the 3rd Invasion Tunnel.

this was the third tunnel burrowed by the North to invade South Korea and was only 44km north of Seoul - if succesful it would have allowed 30,000 troops to move with their weapons in an hour! 73m deep, 1.6km long and nearly 2m diameter, it penetrated 435 metres south of the Military Demarcation line. it was found in 1978 - A total of 4 tunnels have so far been find, the last one in March 1990 - but experts think that a total of well over 20 may have been dug! what a chilling thought!

we also saw, the Dora observatory built in 1986 where you can view the part of North Korea and their lines - you can notice 2 flags flying high in the sky in front of each other! for years North and South were competing at who would have the highest flag - South korea then decided to stop this competition!

Following inprovement in relation between South and North, it was agreed to reopen the Dorasan Station with once connected both side. while the South got ready on time, the North is still dragging their feet - this would mean that South Korea would be linked to the European continent via the Siberian Railway!

the whole experience was pretty awesome, despite being surreal. the whole border is so militarised, even to the border or the river going to Seoul - in order to stop any infiltrations - there are guardposts every 200 metres!

On my return to Seoul, i then went to visit Deok Su Gung Palace - one of the oldest royal palace in Korea. Nothing too in your face but some pretty architecture where i witnessed the Ceremony of the tea, with people in traditional costumes.

South Korea was an eye opener in lots of points, but strange feeling to be there and experience the DMZ - feels surreal when you are used to hear about it on the news and you find yourself suddenly on site!

well, I have to say good bye to South Korea for now as in the morning i am flying to the Philippines to meet John again! cant wait! he has been keeping daily contact with me and it has been great moral support!