Gay Guy Goes North Korea - what's gay about DPRK?

Gay Korea

North Korea is not an open country and it is impossible to fully interact with the locals, however what is interesting is that there are many gay tourists who visit the country. When I was there in my group alone there were 3 (at least :-) among 20. Tour groups often meet one another at different tourist sites and there is only 2 hotels therefore its easy to interact with other travellers. Certainly in the few days I was there I met at least 7 other gay travellers. 

So if you're looking for that unique experience in a country that seems off limits to gay, especially internally, you will be glad to know that there are ways to meet gay people easily and safely.

North Korea’s position on homosexuality is unknown, Wikipedia states:

Due to tradition in Korean culture, it is not customary for individuals of any sexual orientation to engage in public displays of affection. As a country that has embraced science and rationalism, the DPRK recognizes that many individuals are born with homosexuality as a genetic trait and treats them with due respect. Homosexuals in the DPRK have never been subject to repression, as in many capitalist regimes around the world. However, North Koreans also place a lot of emphasis on social harmony and morals. Therefore, the DPRK rejects many characteristics of the popular gay culture in the West, which many perceive to embrace consumerism, classism and promiscuity.^[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_North_Korea

GlobalGayz officials said, 'The concept of same-sex attraction hardly exists in the minds of people. Even with people who feel this attraction, there is ignorance about what it means or how it can be expressed in behavior.'  http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews39_51/page1.cfm

It's not recommended you get too close to the Korean/DPRK locals however if they choose to get close to you, that will be their choice that you will need to wait for. They are urged not to interact on that level. Certainly on two occasions homosexuality in North Korea was apparent, once when I was dancing in the park and met one guy who was incredibly enthusiastic - as my gaydar set ringing. The second was watching a close intimate bond between an American tourist and a Korean guide...

HOSPA - mobile change in hotels

I’m a mobile man…are you? (sorry “person”)

Well we all know the trials and tribulations as we try to hook up to the Wi-Fi at hotels around the globe. The best places I found for catering to travelers needs are the South Americans, they know how to deliver free Wi-Fi. Hostels also recognize the value of Wi-Fi for guests, but why do hotels still struggle with this concept? Why can I go to the pub on the corner and surf, but not in my hotel room…and we wonder why hotels are struggling?

I attended the HOSPAWorkshop event to look at mobile technologies in hotels, beyond Wi-Fi it’s the strategy that hotels, on the whole, really need to catch up. While their retailing counterparts are outdoing them with online purchases and the buying experience, the hotel industry is still using archaic systems to manage their properties, their people and their guests.

Social media is in full swing as we blog, Tweet and Facebook / G+…and hotels are keen to commercialise this instead of jumping straight into the action.

Software companies at this event talked about the ‘cloud’, you know that place where we store our photos and documents from our mobiles?! And they talk about SaaS (software as a service), like our Gmail accounts, Flickr etc…

See. Several steps behind us right?

Well just imagine what their Reservation management system looks like? You wonder why it is so difficult to book a hotel direct, or a hotel has the right reservation details for you…well wonder no more…!

We are changing the way we book our hotels, where we find where we want to stay, yet we’re continually forced to use the big brands or TripAdvisor, Expedia or booking to research and make these decisions. We want a new experience to our hotel stay, and as the mobile youth generation begin to afford to travel their decisions are going to be on how well a hotel can service them…through our mobile.

And the impact? A big change in the way that the middle hotels 2 – 4* will survive to deliver guests these expectations.

Everyone talks so highly of CitizenM…the concept of community, loyalty and being part of the club, a hotel brand utilizing new technologies like Apple Passbook (you know how frustrating it is to have to find an internet café to print off your boarding pass or hotel reservation receipt).

Speaking to Mike Murray of Tripcraft, an enterprise solution for hotels, has the guest experience and loyalty at the centre of the system to help hotels improve that customer service. Facilitating multilingual conversation between the guest and the hotel staff…and incorporating all existing technologies in the hotel, so that OUR guest data is centralized so we don’t have to repeat ourselves time and time again.

Mobile technology is developing at such a rate, the question is will hotels be able to tap into it and keep up. iRiS Mobile Concierge is another one that is placing all hotel services within an App to help customers search for information, and order services and products themselves, from their room or when they are on their way to the hotel.

Speaking to Paul Lingard-Kay of Old English Inns, technology is moving in a hotel but adoption is not easy. At local property level, expecting staff to handle these technologies consistently is a challenge, and therefore centralizing this management of digital, marketing, content and communications with guests is the trend.

It helps to understand why some communications is more generic than we would expect from unique properties.

What we also have to understand, as travelers, is that on the whole, the industry has “forgotten” that it’s in the ‘people business’. Salaries have changed little, and you will often be confronted by the lowest qualified staff in the most important positions. As a guest this cannot excuse misgivings in the level of service or quality of experience at the hotel.

It is as though the level of trust in staff has diminished in favour of cutting basic operational costs, that include salaries, rather than trying to maintain a higher quality level of service.

We can put this down to one thing – hotels are looking for the quick fix.

Everything is being bolted in, hotels are trying to evolve rather than take a leap of faith and do something different. And travelers are only going to suffer.

Fort Lauderdale: Billie Swamp Safari

Get to Florida and it’s not just the phenomenally long clear golden beaches, but there’s an abundant of wildlife that needs to be experienced. Take a tour or hire a car and drive out to the Everglades, this 1.5 hour journey takes you into the depths of the swamps where Fauna and Flora thrive.

Billiie Swamp Safari is an Everglades adventure that takes you into the wild on large water buggies taking you into the forest and grasslands to see the array of animals living in the southern state of the USA.

Florida was originally owned by Spain and sold to the United States for $5million – now worth substantially more than that – the Spanish brought new wildlife to the state including horses and pigs. Billie Swamp Safari covers over 2,000 acres of land preserving the local habitat and the animals within it.

During a 1 hour driving tour you will see Alligators, Turtles, Water Buffalo, Horses, Bulls, Cows, Pigs and more while also exploring the diversity of the vegetation, from stranglers and climbers, moss and poison ivy, medicinal herbs and plants as well as fruit and berry trees. This area, during the summer hurricane season June – September, is often flooded 2 – 3 feet of water with signs in the markings at the foot of every tree. This is when the crocodiles, turtles and alligators take over the swamp.

 

If you get chance take the Airboat Trail that takes you along the deeper rivers and swamp areas to get to the nesting parts of the water creatures.

Billie Swamp Safari: www.billieswampsafari.travel 800-Go-Safari, call for prices and reservations.

Berlin - a fresh new European capital

Third time in Berlin and the experience gets richer and easier, while traveling on business the leisure opportunities are immense when immersing yourself with the locals. Berliners are certainly a mixed bunch more often than not comfortable speaking English and keen to interact with visitors (or tourists)!

The city is incredibly cheap for an international and capital city; it's also incredibly simple to navigate and is still small enough not to be at the mercy of a stampede of people on every walk way like that of London or Paris.

Steeped in a rich yet morbid 20th century history this ancient yet incredibly young city is still growing up and out. Rebuilding and restoring architectural artefacts affected by the war while constructing monumental pieces in memory of the dead and classy artistic structures that make Berlin a fascinating fusion of new architectural concepts. The sheer determination and commitment of Berliners whether german or otherwise demonstrates their courage to raise from the ashes a confident and proud diverse community that the rest of the world can look towards.

Berlin proudly exploits it's diversity and individuality - committed to supporting and caring for all it's people as citizens or visitors. Unlike the impersonal touch of London and Paris germany's capital feels like a close knit community little different to a small seaside town or country village.

Perhaps the most striking aspect is the cost, Berlin is cheap. Here you can leave behind preconceptions of expensive European cities - instead here there's no overt exploitation of visitors wallets. There are a few areas - like by Check Point Charlie where you'll be minimally ripped off - but most bars and restaurants will charge you a reasonable price for it's meals making it a pleasant funding experience.

Zoologischer Garten is a fantastic and lively shopping district with simple eateries, Nollendorfplatz has a vibrant and exciting gay scene, Alexandrplatz is the perfect entrance to the sightseeing experience here in Berlin. Explore further out beyond U2 and you'll gain similar experience of inclusion.

Take time in Berlin to speak to locals; treat yourself to local cuisine and breathe the past of world wars. This city is like no other - and with so much development there is much to look forward to here!