• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
  • Advertising Disclosure
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
  • Advertising Disclosure
Home  >  Musings  >  Buddha Spoils My Trip to the DMZ!
Musings

Buddha Spoils My Trip to the DMZ!

Matthew Klint Posted onMay 10, 2011 9 Comments

Don’t you just hate it when plans go awry?

I arrived in Seoul last night and had set up a tour to visit the DMZ and Panmunjom (North/South Korea border) today, a relic of the Cold War and primary reason for my visit to South Korea.

Upon confirming my tour yesterday, I was told that today is Buddha’s birthday and no tours would be running. Thanks for the warning… I checked with a couple other companies and the hotel concierge here at the Westin Chosun and the story was the same: no tours today.

That puts me in a bit of a bind. There are tours tomorrow, but the timing asepct of the trip would be far from ideal. While I could join a morning tour and enter the no-man’s land between the two countries, I would have to skip out early and take a taxi to Incheon Airport, which would be quite costly. I also had a meeting scheduled tomorrow that I would have to cancel and would not be able to fully enjoy the Park Hyatt. And it is raining today and will be raining tomorrow.

The problem is that I know for a fact (because I know me) that if I do not go tomorrow, I will be making another trip in the near future, which will end up costing me a lot more money. I studied the Cold War and Korean conflict extensively while earning my political science degree and the DMZ is at the top of my sightseeing list.

I hate these impossible decisions.

Previous Article Guam was Great, Onward to Tokyo!
Next Article The Time to Visit Japan is Now

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

Related Posts

  • Amsterdam Airport Preacher

    Woman Preaches To Captive Audience At Amsterdam Schiphol Airport

    August 17, 2022
  • How Travel Nearly Bankrupted Vin Scully

    August 6, 2022
  • Economy Class enigma

    The Enigma Of Flying Economy Class

    July 26, 2022

9 Comments

  1. Kevincm Reply
    May 10, 2011 at 2:54 am

    Ouch. I’m sorry it’s all gong Pete Tong. Some time trips do go completely wrong alas, and everything conspires against you.

    Sometimes, you have to take a step back… and say to yourself “There’s always another trip”.

    I know when I did Seoul and the DMZ last year, it was one hell of an experience (and that includes Asiana F).

    Also bear in mind from Dorsan/Imjek back to ICN is one hell of a long way – there is metro link back to the city, but then you’ve got to get all the way out.

    Good luck in what you choose.

  2. Nick Reply
    May 10, 2011 at 5:21 pm

    Personally, I would wait for another time, simply because I would not want to cut my visit short, and feel rushed at the DMZ. As a Poli Sci grad myself, I would want to be able to spend the full day. If you did the rushed tour, you would probably want to come back anyway to get the full tour.

  3. Colonel G Reply
    May 10, 2011 at 8:18 pm

    Matt – How could you NOT know it was Buddha’s Birthday?!! Just kidding, but I can likewise see a Chinese guy arriving in the U.S. on Dec.25th and going WTF why is everything closed?

    Agree with other posters that the tour is not something to be rushed. Do it another time and enjoy it. Besides a taxi ride from there to ICN would cost you at least $200 and take up to four hours as there is no way to avoid going through Seoul. If you have no choice, take a taxi to Uijeongbu to catch the subway. Still plan on it taking a couple of hours minimum.

  4. Gene Reply
    May 10, 2011 at 8:54 pm

    I would wait. Just add a stopover on a future award ticket.

  5. Matthew Reply
    May 11, 2011 at 3:09 am

    @Gene: Bingo. Already researched–I need to add in a TG F segment so I can squeeze in another massage!

  6. NYBanker Reply
    May 11, 2011 at 4:05 pm

    This was the purpose of the trip – do it.

  7. Matthew Reply
    May 11, 2011 at 6:42 pm

    I skipped it. Had a tremendous breakfast and leisurely morning at the Park Hyatt instead.

    Now that I’ve fallen in love with Asiana, I will add in a stop at Seoul on my post-Christmas (tentative) Cambodia/Taiwan/Singapore trip.

  8. james cox Reply
    May 12, 2011 at 8:06 pm

    Sorry to hear. I’ve been to Korea four times (business trip) and been to the “Z” twice. Wouldn’t you know it? Every time I get to the Z, the actual Panmunjom part of it is closed! I’m thankful I at least got to see the “regular” tour stuff at the Zone, but darn it I’d like to have a pic of me at the meeting table someday before it goes away and fades into history. I feel your pain.

  9. Richard Fisher Reply
    January 29, 2012 at 12:05 pm

    Going to visit son at DMZ. What is the best airline for long flight and cost? What city should I fly into? Is vista required? – states under military- family/dependants vista required,do I need to obtain? What tour group to use for DMZ?
    Purchased; Frommer’s South Korea and Seoul day by day. Have any suggestion for trip -appreciated. Thank you, Richard

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Recent Posts

  • United Airlines Will Add Premium Economy To Remaining 767-300 Aircraft August 17, 2022
  • American Airlines First Class Versus Business Class
    American Airlines: No Difference Between First Class And Business Class August 17, 2022
  • Amsterdam Airport Preacher
    Woman Preaches To Captive Audience At Amsterdam Schiphol Airport August 17, 2022
  • Review: Hyatt Regency Chicago O’Hare August 17, 2022

Categories

Popular Posts

  • American Airlines stock
    Analyst: American Airlines Bankruptcy Increasingly Likely July 24, 2022
  • Avianca 787 Business Class
    Comically Bad: Avianca 787 Business Class July 21, 2022
  • New Orleans Debauchery
    The Debauchery Of New Orleans July 29, 2022
  • My Thirsty Seatmate With A Hollow Leg On United Airlines… July 20, 2022

Archives

August 2022
M T W T F S S
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031  
« Jul    

As seen on:

live_and_lets_fly

The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles is the most beautiful of all Polaris Lounges. Stay tuned for a detailed look and many more photos on the blog tomorrow. Well done @united.
@malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire i @malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire its A380 fleet. While not surprising, it is sad to see the growing list of carriers retiring this superjumbo jet. On Malaysia Airlines, I flew the #A380 once from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to London (LHR) and had the entire first class cabin to myself (full review on the blog). It was a beautiful flight that I will always remember.
Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited tha Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited that a new carrier, Avelo, has launched, especially from an airport just 12 minutes from my home!
I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxair I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxairport. Hopefully this summer it will return.

.
.
.
.
#Lufthansa #FirstClass #747 #747-8 #StarAlliance #Miles #Points
I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. This is not only a lovely, all-inclusive resort, but one of the best properties to use your @hyatt World of Hyatt points.
.
.
.
.
#Hyatt #BigSur #California #WorldofHyatt #CA-1 #Points #Hotels
In terms of a spacious first class product, the @E In terms of a spacious first class product, the @Emirates suite on a 777-300ER is hard to beat. My preference is Suite 2K.

.
.
.
.
#Emirates #777 #firstclass
Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from I Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from Instagram ahead of the birth of my first child. Goodness, how time flies. While I’ve enjoyed catching up on others over the years, now it is time for me to return to Instagram. In this first post, I highlight two joys in my life, my two children, whom I trust will grow up to be prolific travelers that circumnavigate the globe as ambassadors of love and respect.

.
.
.
.
.

#travel #airplanes #airlines #miles #points #familytravel #human #integrity #honor
United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improv United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improvement over UA's current business class seat. Check out my blog at liveandletsfly.com for 70+ photos of how @united is transforming its entire business class experience starting this December!
The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben! The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben!
Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen - Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen -- oh, and I love 40°F summer weather!
One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure of flying with in all my years of flying. Thank you @flysas SK940 on 11 Aug 2016
Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I a Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I assign a window seat months in advance, don't move me to a center seat "for my convenience" with no way to get my original seat back... 😞
Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be rac Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be racing the #Delta flight to JFK at the gate next to us, which also departs at 12:45p. With @onemileatatime
Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregenc Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregencycasablanca #cassablanca #hyatt
Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the i Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the inside of the @grandhyatt_shanghai ... It is 40°C outside! 😓
From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minut From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minutes flat. I ❤️ #bur #burbankairport
@malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in se @malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in service at #kul -- beautiful livery!
View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful bran View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful brand new @parkhyattguangzhou -- look for a full review coming soon on the blog #hyatt #parkhyatt #guangzhou #parkhyattguangzhou
Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, which closes tomorrow and the Queen of the Skies #747 which will be retired in 2018.
The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. If you're ever here, get up at 5am and have a walk around the city before it gets busy. You can hear the birds instead of honking horns.
Load More... Follow on Instagram
facebook twitter instagram rss

This site is for entertainment purposes only. The owner of this site is not an investment advisor, financial planner, nor legal or tax professional and articles here are of an opinion and general nature and should not be relied upon for individual circumstances.

 

Advertiser Disclosure: Some links to credit cards and other products on this website will earn an affiliate commission. Outside of banner ads published through the Boarding Area network, this compensation does not impact how and where products appear on this site. While we do try to list all the best miles and points deals, the site does not include all card companies or credit card offers available in the marketplace. Please view our advertising policy page for additional details about our partners.

 

Editorial Disclosure: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any entity mentioned herein. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.