THIS IS NORTH KOREA? (not what I expected)

Want to see how I got into North Korea and how much it cost me? Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoFT3DzR4Mg

I imagine this would be like if someone from the outside came to tour the Hunger Games universe, they' take you on a tour of the Capital and maybe like District 1 and be like see, things are great here they're not so bad

"Honestly i felt controlled this whole trip and this place kinda sucks..." Gets sniped

This is all very interesting to me. The tour guides are clearly taking you to the places they want you to see. Nothing wrong with that. You definitely looked nervous the whole time. That's pretty messed up. I had the chance to be surrounded with NK people last year. I was part of the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games as an NOC Assistant (National Olympic Committee). I was assigned to the North Korean delegation, which included representatives, manager, trainers and athletes (No representatives came). The kids were extremely quiet and only the manager spoke English, so I had no way of communicating with them other than with signs. I got along especially well with the girl in weightlifting, she was really sweet and smiley. The manager told me "don't talk to them". I think he then realized how harsh it sounded and corrected himself with "They won't understand you". He was a nice guy, very centered and polite. Never lost his temper (even when we ran into problems). The trainers didn't speak English so I couldn't really understand them. We just sort of understood each other with signs, pointing, and nodding. They didn't go sightseeing at all while they were here, they went out only once to buy a pair of sneakers and protein powder. They didn't have credit cards nor cellphones. They eventually purchased three to keep in touch because everyone kept getting lost. There were several activities going around the Olympic Village but they never participated. The most shocking thing to me was that my co-assistant (who speaks some Korean) asked one of the girls if her parents were happy about her being here competing. I assume she must have misunderstood the question because she answered "my parents are happy because we live in a happy country". That really stuck with me.

this gives me the same energy as showing a house tour where they only show you the pretty renovated main floor but the rest of the house is closed off and restricted

i bet the food is good because your tourists and they want to appear like a good country when locals don't have much for food

He keeps sayinh how "nicely stocked the stores are" . Take a closer look, that is obviously not stocked to be sold, that is obviously not merchandise that is being sold all the time, i work in retail, you will never stock 3 pieces of chocolate so nicely , if you are selling them. Its very obvious that those stores are there for the tourists to see , and think how well north korean stores are "stocked" , when in reality there is shortage of food and people dont have a choice of what they buy.

"Good afternoon, good evening and good night" lol definitely a very relevant Truman Show reference.

Am partially disabled but thrilled to be traveling with you from my armchair. Brilliant series, enjoying tremendously.

The contrast between the two Koreas is crazy considering the fact that the citizens of both countries have the same ethnicity.

Indigo Tourist: some kids playing over here Kids: what? No. No playing happening here...

Yeap, we understand your tone of voice showed that you were scared of getting into trouble, I am glad you got of that place alive with full body functioning parts.

I'm shocked how much of the countryside you were able to see AND that they allowed you film so much.

Spent 4.5 years as a war planner in Korea and a infantry company commander on the DMZ. I know extremely well the well rehearsed process you were apart of and very predicable. Lots of folks went hungry in the countryside while you were there...not to mention the brutality of this government on their own people. You did not see the REAL North Korea frankly. You saw only what the government set you up to see and you did exactly what their government hoped you would do. These are the folks that beat and tortured a college kid senseless and sent him home to the states to die. Meanwhile to the south is a modern society that is light years ahead of this despot of a nation. Keeping it real.

for some reason I feel like they are hiding a whole lot of things. just the vibes and all, it's wierd

Everything looks post-apocalyptic once you get out of Pyongyang.

the fact that he said "wow its like you can't even tell the factory apart from a 1940's film and the 21st century" is scary

North Korea now is like what Eastern Europe was in the 50's. Fascinating

I’ve watched a lot of documentaries and vlogs on North Korea as its intriguing country, and wasn’t expecting to see anything new considering how controlled the Pyongyang tours are. Pleasantly surprised to find you have shot lots of footage of places I haven’t seen and love being also given more information (thanks to your attention to detail). The editing and music is really great too.

9:06 "So fascinating I absolutely loved it" Voice is super monotone