Visas are a tricky thing – not just here in Korea, but around the world. If you’re traveling around the world and don’t want to do hours of research, fellow expat traveler Christine Gilbert of almostfearless.com has put together a $10 e-book explaining visa procedures around the world. Better yet, she’s compiled the links to the official sources – the US State Department and the local consulate, along with links to Wikipedia and the Lonely Planet. While yearly updates are planned, the links lead to the most up-to-date official pages.

This reference isn’t for everyone – in fact, you can completely pass if you’re not from the USA or not traveling significantly. It’s also doesn’t get into work visas, education visas or resident visas – something like that would make War and Peace look like a 1st grade reader. If you’re planning to come to Korea and teach, check out two other e-books I recently reviewed.

The Visa Book is invaluable as a way of quickly checking entry requirements – do you need a yellow fever vaccination? Is this country part of the Schengen agreement? – while traveling.

While it’s intended as a reference guide, not a travel guide, the list of countries is a reminder of how big the world is – and how many places there are to travel. The information isn’t classified, and you could put it all together given enough time.

Check it out for yourself – The Visa Book, by Christine Gilbert. Recommended, if appropriate.

Standard disclaimer: Chris in South Korea received a review copy of the e-book, and affiliate links in this post might buy me a beer. I only add these on products or services I think are genuinely valuable and worth the price.

© Chris Backe – 2011
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

This post was originally published on my blog, Chris in South Korea. If you are reading this on another website and there is no linkback or credit given, you are reading an UNAUTHORIZED FEED.

North Korea’s 12th SPA’s 4th Session has convened and gone.

The 4th session (plenum) of the 12th Supreme People’s Assembly [SPA] convened Thursday [7 April] at the Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang. Neither Kim Cho’ng-il nor Kim Cho’ng-u’n attended the meeting. Defying the speculative pronouncements of numerous observers, Cho’ng-u’n was not elected to the National Defense Commission.

Michael Madden, Nightwatch, and Curtis Melvin run down the “electoral” results.

Warning: What follows is speculative.

Opinion 1 (Nightwatch): “South Korean media noted that the Assembly announcements made no mention of leadership succession issues. Kim Chong-il’s designated heir received no promotion or public mention. The elder Kim must be healthy enough to hold his own for now.”

Michael Madden Two-Fer: The Dear Leader hates large meetings! Don’t we all! Or, the “Take It Easy” explanation:

Kim Yong-hyun, a North Korea expert at Dongguk University in Seoul, said that Kim Jong-un not being promoted doesn’t mean there is any problem in the power transfer, but it could be aimed at paving the way for stable power transition.

“The North appears to moderate its pace in handing over the power,” Kim said, noting leader Kim Jong-il is still in charge.

Kushibo:

What’s probably going on is that Kim Jong-il wants his son to be his successor — family dynasty and all — but there’s palpable opposition to (a) continuing what is becoming increasingly clear is a failed regime and (b) putting the country in the hands of an inexperienced dictator.

Jupiter’s Dilemma:

We should perhaps not, then, be particularly stunned by the fact that even Kim Jong Eun’s name itself went unsaid yesterday. Kim Jong Il is the National Defense Commission, and when he dies, the National Defense Commission may well die with him. Kim Jong Eun, meanwhile, needs to find a different road…

John Delury and Chung-in Moon, with other “luminaries” of the “kimchi press” assisting, have a very helpful essay on analyzing North Korea. Speculation is the lifeblood of the blogosphere, and the “kimchi press” is no different. I have my bias – I’m a former soldier and MI analyst. The entire world is a security problem, as far as I’m concered. So, the fact I like this conclusion should come as no surprise, particularly after one reads the pretty way Delury and Moon reach it.

The primary analytical failure consists in a fundamental misreading of North Korea’s intentions. The DPRK’s objectives are regime survival, national security, and economic strength, in that order. Nuclear deterrence, military confrontation, and diplomatic negotiation are means to those ends. In the absence of a negotiated process that guarantees the North’s security, normalizes its diplomatic status, and provides it with energy and economic assistance, nuclear development and military conflict are bound to continue. But the U.S. and ROK do not take North Korea’s security concerns seriously, nor are the two governments exhausting diplomatic means to address those in concerns in a way that advances their own interests. Instead, the North’s actions are interpreted as “provocation” and official talks are held back as “punishment” for “bad behavior.” The November crises over uranium enrichment in Yongbyon and artillery fire on Yeonpyeong Island are classic illustrations of this misguided thinking and counterproductive policy.

Misreading North Korea’s intentions and capabilities can take the form of a self-fulfilling prophecy. Hard-line thinking about policies toward the North gained currency starting with the new administration in Seoul three years ago, and were met with hard-line responses from Pyongyang. The combination inspired hard-line conventional wisdom in Washington. The news media has, for the most part, been content to play up the storyline about the illness, insanity, or imminent collapse of the North Korean leadership. Moderate voices in favor of dogged engagement—including many Clinton Administration officials who have actual negotiating experience with North Korea—have been drowned out. Messages sent directly by Pyongyang are being ignored. Washington has failed to listen to what North Korea really wants, and instead projects its own fears and interests onto the “black box” of the DPRK. North Korea’s demonstrated capabilities are being ignored in favor of imagining the day when its government no longer exists.

(…)Today, there is an increasing danger that wishful thinking has become embedded in the intelligence process—a problem the U.S. should be particularly sensitive to in light of missteps in the lead-up to the invasion of Iraq. Key decision makers in Seoul seem to have anchored their North Korean policy on the imminent collapse of the North. Washington has slipped into de facto endorsement of this approach. The push to transform Concept Plan 5029 into an Operational Plan, through which joint U.S.-ROK forces would intervene militarily in the case of “contingency” in North Korea, underscores this point. When political leadership demonstrates wishful thinking, intelligence agencies’ collection and analysis are at risk of being politically tailored to satisfy those preferences.

Feeding this confusion are serious problems with information collection about the domestic situation in North Korea. Policymakers in Seoul and Washington rely heavily (whether they know it or not) on testimony or information provided by North Korean defectors. Defectors and networks of informants who move across the China-North Korea border, are key sources for a new constellation of media organizations like Daily NK, Open North Korea Radio, Free North Korea Radio, Good Neighbors, Radio Free Asia (U.S.), Asia Press (Japan), and other internet media. To be sure, people coming out of the DPRK can be important sources of information—for example, these networks brought out information about the 2009 currency reform. However, the new “media” organizations are not staffed by independent, professional journalists. To the contrary, they are propaganda organs and advocacy organizations designed to undermine regime stability in the North. Their reports frequently lack verification, yet regularly appear in Yonhap News, the leading South Korean government news agency, without any filtering. Major conservative newspapers, such as Chosun Ilbo, Joongang Ilbo, and Donga Ilbo, quote them as is. International news media, including the wire services and leading American newspapers, in turn, reprint them as world news. Unverified reports and politically motivated characterizations of North Korean instability are transmuted into truth. There are even cases of defectors reportedly being pressured to tow the official line. For example, Yonhap News was pressured to remove a senior reporter, herself a defector, from its North Korea desk when she discounted exaggerated reports by defector organizations of instability around the Kim family succession and currency reform failures.

Today, the arteries of engagement with North Korea are clogged. U.S. diplomats, lacking direct contact with North Korean counterparts, are in the dark about North Korea’s strategic intentions and negotiating positions. Even North Korea’s public statements are summarily dismissed as “empty words” or “blackmail”—even though North Korean behavior over the long term tends to conform to its high-level pronouncements. Instead of an engaged, empirical approach, policy decisions are being made on the basis of defector reports and disinformation, of preconceived ideas and wishful thinking. The response to the unsettling revelations at Yongbyon and tragic shelling of Yeonpyeong are case in point.

Ultimately, both Seoul and Washington will need to overhaul their policy approach on North Korea. We do not see signs of that happening anytime soon. In the meantime, analysts, academics, journalists, and other members of civil society have a critical role to play in correcting the analytical framework for understanding North Korea, so that when a policy review comes, it can be based on a pragmatic and empirical basis.

I’d add, it’s convenient for the US and South Korea, as well as many expat pundits, to give economic issues greaater heft than security since democratization and liberalization is the western agenda. Beijing simply puts security above economics, and I don’t think it’s that great of a stretch to assume, North korea thinks similarly. But, Delury and Moon are right” te more we put our own goals in rivals’ heads, the more often we will be disappointed by reality and and our own analytical limitations.

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This is a continuation (trip) from SE Asia: Part 1

Vietnam: Ok. Here is the agenda for Vietnam: 3 nights in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh). See as much as possible, then take a bus to Cambodia. My first adventure in Vietnam went like this: I get out to the taxi stand and give my address to the cabby. He tells me it’ll be $17 US. I quickly take my paper back and walk away. The hostel I booked posted that it would cost $7-8 US. I go to the second cabby. He agrees to take me for $8 (US) and I must pay the toll to get out of the parking lot (as also indicated on signs outside and inside the taxi). Not having change, nor knowing how much it would cost, I give the driver a 100,000 dong ($10 US) note. It was the smallest I had. I watched as he (started talking and trying to distract me) exchanged my bill to an orange-ish bill (I later discover it was a 10,000 note– about $1 US) and tried to cover it with his hand. The toll booth operator gave the cabby back a 5,000 dong coin (about 50 cents). He gave me my change– as if the toll cost 190,000 dong! REALLY, joker!?! [Thanks, once again, Corrections, for the sleuth investigation skills!] I begin arguing with the guy, he acts all shocked and even “busts a reverse” in the middle of the road, as if he will go back and deal with the guy for cheating me. I told him that I watched him switch the money. He denies. I repeat and then say, “No- TAKE ME TO MY HOSTEL! and I am NOT paying you any more money!” Now, admittedly, that probably wasn’t the smartest move for a woman traveling alone, in a country she had never stepped foot in before, who doesn’t speak the language…. I realize that he could’ve taken me to the middle of nowhere, dropped me off and said “good luck,” or a million other horrible things, but–yes, that’s me– I have nerve!

I take out my camera, start taking photos of his car and ID badge. He starts apologizing and takes me to my hostel. When we arrive, he apologizes, I pay him a TOTAL of $8 US (yes, he returned my original note) and I am on my way. Great hostel and amazing host! I made a new friend and I HIGHLY recommend this place! The rooms are cheap, clean, have air conditioning and privacy. More than that, though, She exchanges money for you, books tours and is just an all-around super convenient place. Now, it’s in a side alley, with lots of great street photography ops. I was only around the hostel at night (tours all day) so I wasn’t able to get too many shots, but there were a few. 

On to the tours!

I went on a tour of the a Cao Daoist prayer ceremony and the CuChi Tunnels. Cao Daoist is a religion specific to Vietnam. Basically, it is a “mix” of  worshipping Jesus, Confusious, Buddha, and a Chinese revered prophet. Everyday, worshippers come to pray for an hour, twice a day.

They wear different colored robes to represent different religions. White: Cao Daoist;Blue: Hindu; Red: Catholic; Yellow: Buddhist…. interesting….

The CuChi Tunnels are tunnels used by the Vietnamese to hide from and protect themselves against the American bombs during the Vietnam War. Obviously, it was quite an anti-American place, but it was a very interesting place to visit. The tunnels were VERY small, yet intricate. The people had different bunkers for various activities such as eating, cooking, meetings for planning, etc. One set of tunnels were doubled in size so that Westerners could fit in them and experience the tunnels. We were even allowed to crawl 100 meters through some of the tunnels. They were quite small! I couldn’t stand at all and many places, they only way to get through was to crawl. 100 meters seemed like a half marathon in dark, damp, close quarters like that!

After the first tour, I walked down to the night market about half a mile away, and shopped. You know I love to haggle so I shopped just for the sake of haggling! What a hoot! I needed to get a good night’s rest, though, for the next day, I was off on yet another tour!

The Mekong Delta runs through several countries in SE Asia, ending in Vietnam. This tour was a mix of boat rides, bus rides and tour stops. I got to eat freshly made honey and try various honey candy, went to a coconut farm and watch coconut candy being made,  held a 50 lb python, wait– what!? Yes, random! Here’s another random: a water buffalo chillin in the lake!

I also met a cool American lady who was around my age, happened to be in Vietnam on business and was leaving to go back to India (her current work location) the next day. Unfortunately, we didn’t exchange contact info and the tour group was suddenly split (due to another boat breaking down). We didn’t see one another again. I guess it wasn’t our destiny to remain friends. It was cool meeting her, nonetheless.

Cambodia: I took a long 12 hr bus ride to Siem Reap, Cambodia (from Vietnam) next to a young guy who decided that he wanted ALL his stuff in his lap for the entire 12 hr ride. WOW! This is what adventures are made of! I stayed at a great hostel in Siem Reap.  I booked all my activities/tuk tuk drivers from the hostel so it was super convenient to see the city without a lot of hassle.

One of the “must see” spots in Cambodia is Ankor Wat. If you are not familiar with this wonderous place, they are basically a bunch of ancient temples with intricate carvings in the walls, pilars and structures. It’s estimated that a tourist should take 3 days to explore all that Ankor Wat has to offer. Since I didn’t have that kind of time, I hit as much as I could (with an English speaking guide) in one day. I woke up early to watch the sunrise, but it was too foggy, so no sunrise could be taken in. Oh well, I needed an early start to that day. There was SO much to see.  Sadly, due to the heat, my lack of appreciation for super historical things, and the pressure of finishing the spot, I became bored with Ankor Wat. Don’t get me wrong, as you can see from the photos, it’s a gorgeous and awe-inspiring place. I was just over it after about 5 hrs. What I did see, though, was amazing. I also got to have a great (albeit disturbing, however) conversation with my guide about women, their roles in Cambodia and the marriage dowries. I can’t go into all that here, but as you know, anti-human trafficking is one of my passions…. it was an eye-opening conversation. We’ll leave it at that.

I took in a traditional Cambodian dance (show) and buffet, which was quite interesting and relaxing. Nice food and fun to watch all the foreigners in this restaurant. (Since it was a tourist attraction, logically 95% of the people in there were foreigners.) Afterwards, I got to meet up with a newly wed couple I met on my last trip abroad (to Taiwan). They were honeymooning and it was such a great thing to be able to sit and chat with them for an hour or so. “Small world”

In Cambodia, you can get a massage super cheap! I had a massage (or two) every day I was there.  There was a bit of an “odd” experience though. To keep this family friendly, I will just say that you should refer to the paragraph above (about trafficking). Since I am a trained massage therapist, I wondered if some of the massage workers (I can hardly call them therapists) were doing other things on the side. Sad, sad reality of a desperately poor, southeast Asian country. Anyway, on to happier memories…..

I took an overnight/sleeper bus into Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh. Another adventure in that it was one of those (6 hr) moments when I wondered where the hidden cameras were and when they were going to pop out and tell me I was being punked. My bed/seat was above the “Piss Only Please” toilet with no running water and no toilet paper. Yea. To add to the hilarity, there were random wires hanging from the ceiling, just inches from my head– so that when I sat up, I was sure to avoid them– not sure if they were live or not, but didn’t want to experiment to find out.  We made one pit stop in the middle of nowhere. When I say middle of nowhere, I mean: pitch black fields, one shack/building poorly lit with one vendor selling some random food, holes in the ground– they called a toilet area– with NO lighting— hoping not to fall in/ slip in. I couldn’t help but think about the trafficked girls, describing some of the locations they stop at, not knowing WHERE to run if they even had the nerve to do so. Crazy!!

Next day, I meet up with an acquaintance whom I met in Korea just before he and his girlfriend moved to Cambodia to work with anti-human trafficking agencies there. We had breakfast, talked shop and then after an hour or so, I got on with my tours for the day– had no clue I was in for such a heavy day. I visited the genocide/killing fields and  the former prison. 

THE FOLLOWING PHOTOS COULD BE CONSIDERED GRAPHIC.

I will not attempt to explain these places… Rather, I will let the photos speak for me…..just tragic.

Each person who died in these prisons and killing fields had a name. Visiting these locations sparked a renewed appreciation for life. I vowed to live each day, being grateful. I am usually a “glass half full” kinda gal, but this place made me want to live out loud even more… if nothing else, but to honor those who didn’t get that choice/freedom.

Go and see for yourself… and let your life be changed!

On a lighter note: I did also get some other great snapshots while out and about in Phnom Penh. Here are some photos around the temples in Phmom Penh.

 I headed back home the next day. My flight was from Phnom Penh back to KL, Malaysia. I had a 9 hr layover in that airport. So, I found a waterfall, got a massage, and watched a lot of the community TV.

I was sad to see snow on the ground when I arrived in Seoul, (but happy to watch this sunrise from the plane). Especially because I was in a thin T-shirt and capri beach pants. Nothing a little costume change couldn’t resolve, though! It was good to be back home!

It’s been a while since I wrote my last entry. So what have I been doing since then? Well, I’ve been living and enjoying my life! Here is a condensed version of the things I’ve done since my last entry:

1.  I celebrated the New Year in a new country with friends at the Wolfhound Pub in Haeundae, Busan. It was a crazy night! Heineken was being served all night long and my friends and I shared a bottle of Maker’s Mark. It was debauchery indeed.

2.  I went to Thailand for two weeks for my winter vacation. I met up with my cousin Joy in Bangkok and we hung out till my very last day there. I was supposed to train at a Muay Thai camp there for two weeks before I sprained my ankle a week my departure, which was really upsetting.

3.  The new school year started about a month ago. I have a new co-teacher with better English skills. However, she is also the head music teacher and in charge of the school’s curriculum. Basically, it means that I’ve been preparing and teaching classes by myself, for now - I hope.

4.  For photography lovers - I started using RAW for my pictures now and I definitely made the right decision. I cannot believe I’ve been using JPEGs all this time! Importantly, I decided to stop taking pictures at parties now. I felt that it was time to take my photography skills to another level.

5.  I have cable in my room now! The downside is that 95% of the channels are Korean, but the upside is that I get the History Channel, international news and free UFC events! (..and K-Pop channels)

6.  I play basketball every Saturday when it’s warm. I play basketball with a bunch of ex-pats and Koreans. Koreans play basketball differently because they lean forward whenever they shoot, which makes blocking a little easier and it makes my game look like I was black.

7.  A couple of friends from Toronto came to visit me. Two of them are still here, but they’re leaving on Monday (April 11, 2011). I try to entertain them as much as I can, but usually they do their own thing. I took them to a couple of tourist spots and good Korean restaurants in my area and in Busan. I also took them to a soccer and baseball game.

8.  I’ve been to a soccer, baseball and basketball game in South Korea! Words cannot describe how amazing the atmosphere was at these games, except for the soccer game because it was pre-season game, I think. The atmosphere at the baseball game was intense! The fans here are just as hardcore as the fans in New York. What’s cool is that you can bring your own food and booze (except soju)! I saw people eating everything from pizza to liver! Some people were carrying boxes of instant noodles to feed their families! Intense!

Well that’s it for now. I’ll try to make it a weekly goal to update my blog.