If you’re struggling to get into the swing of things this Monday just picture wee Kim Jong-un on a surfboard – see, there is hope.
Not content with North Korea’s foray into the glamorous world of ski resorts, he has turned his attentions to another popular pastime. It has emerged that he has given permission for a surfing camp to be held on North Korea’s east coast, the location to be scouted by a team of 20 surfers from around the world. The Mirror reports:
The camp will be led by Nicola Zanella, Italian surfer and Chinese national surfing team coach, and Andrea Lee, chief executive of US travel company Uri Tours.
The surf camp will study coastline in depth, analysing the beaches, the seabed and the weather to find the best conditions.
Zanella thinks the areas around Sijung [pictured above and below], a six-hour drive from the capital Pyongyang, might be perfect.
He said: “It looks like there are wild forests that lead to pink- or yellow-sand bays. It is promising for surfing, as the cliffs protect the bay from wind coming off the ocean, but at the same time leaves the bay completely exposed to coastal storms.”
Of course any surfing trip requires you take in a little of the local culture, these organised surf tours including a ride on the Pyongyang metro and a visit to the demilitarised zone that borders with South Korea. I would say that given recent events along that border I might skip the last excursion, although one isn’t given the choice when it comes to visiting (and bowing before) the statues of former leaders Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il.
It appears the North Korean tourism business could use a shot in the arm, visitors falling almost 40% from last year’s numbers. The much-touted Masik-ryong ski resort has failed to bring in the vast number of tourists the Supreme Leader promised, here’s hoping the surf camps take off or else he might get a little antsy and start offing more officials.
[source:mirror]
