A holiday in Cambodia

[davywavy]

Or, almost, anyway...

The more I think about it, the more I'm tempted by a holiday in North Korea. Apparently yhey have lovely, unspoiled, beaches there (they're owned by the people, you see, so only senior governmental and military figures are allowed to use them), and also the North Korean Clang (what do they call their currency? The Boing? The Bleep? Oh, yes, the Dong.*) is pretty worthless at the moment so if there happened to be anything in the shops whilst I was there, then I could buy it. Assuming I wasn't shot for trying to own something. And that kim_jong_il__ sounds a jolly nice chap.

Seriously, however, the thought of actually going to see this crackpot nation before it implodes really intrigues me. It is possible to get Visas and go there on holiday (Fielding Guides, aren't they great?) and it is, apparently, a completely surreal place.
The other side of my interest is the thought that I'd be giving money to one of the worlds very worst regimes, and treating the suffering of millions in a totalitarian regime as something of a sideshow.
I can't deny the fascination; but would going there just be an updated version of the travelling freakshows of the American West? "Roll up and see the ultimate expression of totalitarian Marxism! Only a dollar!"? The idea certainly leads me questioning my own motivations.

Perhaps next year, then. I hear Zimbabwe is lovely these days.

^{* If they didn't want me mocking their currency, then they shouldn't have named it after a clown noise.}

Comments

Zim

[sue-b.livejournal.com]

Is nice this of the year....

Malcolm would agree with you there, although he would reccommned Zambia...

Re: Zim

[davywavy.livejournal.com]

The ironic undercurrent was that I'm as likely to give Mugabe my hard earned as I am the Dear Leader....vermin, the pair of them.
Shame, because I hear that the countries are really picturesque and I like such places. In reality, if I get a holiday this year, it's probably gonna be Greece or Mexico again.

Re: Zim

[puddingcat.livejournal.com]

If you go to Greece, I'll tag along.

If you go to Mexico, you get a Free Week Pass*.

(*standard terms & conditions apply)

Re: Zim

[davywavy.livejournal.com]

Wouldn't you want to go to Mexico? It's great.

Re: Zim

[puddingcat.livejournal.com]

It's the old bullfighting thing again, sadly. Unless there are any county / state equivalents which have had the sense & decency to ban it, that is.

Being rather impoverished myself, I don't mind which you pick :)

On ethical dilemmas...

[applez.livejournal.com]

Well, if you are willing to overcome the dillemma of giving money to horrible human-brutalising dictatorships, I would recommend Burma over North Korea.

From what I've seen of travel shows on North Korea, you'll have to do all the requisite gesticulating and offerings to the 'Dear Leader' - even as a mere tourist. Oh, and there's no leaving the regulated hotel at night. The TV programming is fairly limited too, since that is then the only alternative. And those nice beaches you like? Don't forget the mines.

By comparison - Burma has very lovely unspoilt beaches too, a people who have a far greater latitude in free trade, and if you choose to escape the controlled tour groups (done easily enough), you'll have considerable freedom of movement - compared with Zimbabwe or North Korea.

'Sides all that, you'll find the Burmese considerably more friendly - has a lot to do with the climate I think.

Re: On ethical dilemmas...

[davywavy.livejournal.com]

Ah, but can't you see the ironic, postmodern joy that the grovelling to Dear Leader would be? The fact that it would be utter satire? That part of the process would be one of my principal reasons for going.

Plus, when I got back, I would be able to fix my lefty chums with the flinty gaze of the seasoned world traveller and say: "You know this great idea you have about taking people's property off them and giving the administration of them to a centralised authority run by a fat rapist with a distressing haircut? Well, it's a good idea in principle, but the execution seems to be lacking something."

Re: On ethical dilemmas...

[applez.livejournal.com]

Ah, but can't you see the ironic, postmodern joy that the grovelling to Dear Leader would be? The fact that it would be utter satire? That part of the process would be one of my principal reasons for going.

Maybe so, but I feel such satire withers under the brandishment of kalashnikovs...

[adventink.livejournal.com]

I still say Hati is the place to be. No Government!