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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.

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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.

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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

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