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Palin's Travels

Дневник от Северна Корея

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През май 2018 г. неуморният пътешественик Майкъл Палин се отправя към една от най-потайните и изолирани страни на света – Северна Корея. Пътешествието му е изпълнено с ярки контрасти: от лъскавата и модерна столица с нейните триумфални арки и внушителни статуи до провинцията, където животът през последните десетилетия сякаш е спрял.

Майкъл Палин пътува до тежко укрепената демилитаризирана зона, до древна конфуцианска академия и до невероятно красивите планини и езера на Северна Корея. И въпреки че всяка негова стъпка се следи от властите, той успява да се отклони от начертания маршрут и да надзърне в самото сърце на тази страна, където се намира най-високата необитаема сграда в света, жителите на Пхенян всяка сутрин се будят от звуците на химна „Къде си ти, любими генерале?“ и има петнайсет одобрени прически за мъжете.

Изпълнена с характерните за Майкъл Палин сърдечност и ироничен хумор, книгата предлага рядката възможност да надникнете отвъд заглавията в пресата и да опознаете истинската Северна Корея.

260 pages, Paperback

First published September 19, 2019

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3709 people want to read

About the author

Michael Palin

136 books1,190 followers
Sir Michael Edward Palin, KCMG, CBE, FRGS is an English comedian, actor, writer and television presenter best known for being one of the members of the comedy group Monty Python and for his travel documentaries.

Palin wrote most of his material with Terry Jones. Before Monty Python, they had worked on other shows such as The Ken Dodd Show, The Frost Report and Do Not Adjust Your Set. Palin appeared in some of the most famous Python sketches, including "The Dead Parrot", "The Lumberjack Song", "The Spanish Inquisition" and "Spam". Palin continued to work with Jones, co-writing Ripping Yarns. He has also appeared in several films directed by fellow Python Terry Gilliam and made notable appearances in other films such as A Fish Called Wanda, for which he won the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. In a 2005 poll to find The Comedian's Comedian, he was voted the 30th favourite by fellow comedians and comedy insiders.

After Python, he began a new career as a travel writer. His journeys have taken him across the world, the North and South Poles, the Sahara desert, the Himalayas and most recently, Eastern Europe. In 2000 Palin became a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his services to television.

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5 stars
934 (22%)
4 stars
1,939 (46%)
3 stars
1,114 (26%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 444 reviews
Profile Image for Daren.
1,567 reviews4,571 followers
May 31, 2025
An ok read with out being great, or providing much in the way of insights. Everyone knows Michael Palin, no he isn't going to be very controversial, but yes he might ask a few awkward questions and make a few jokes that North Koreans won't have context to understand. This is, of course, a tv series tie-in book - ostensibly his 'journal' recording each days events for his 14 day visit to North Korea.

So much of this was predictable or already pretty commonly known - yes the minders were going to leverage some control over what you saw and what you photographed, no most people would not talk to you freely about the restrictions on their everyday life. Michael Palin is still in pretty good health for his age (82 now, this book was published 7 years ago, so circa 75 at the time of travel), and gets around well - surprising the Korean minders who seem to expect him to be geriatric.

On the plus side there are lots of photographs, covering a whole array of topics and people, most of them pretty good, although they are not captioned. They generally refer to the text on the same page though, so the context isn't too hard to pick up.

I would be lying if I thought this would be any different when I bought this (second hand for a few dollars) but I do like Michael Palin and his gentle travelogues.

2.5 stars rounded up.
Profile Image for Louise.
1,846 reviews384 followers
January 18, 2020
This is a gem of a book. In spare language and lots of color snapshots Michael Palin tells what it was like to film a travel series in North Korea.

Through the day by day journal format, you see how Palin adjusts to the country and his handlers adjust to him. Palin sees cities, the countryside, tourist attractions, hotels, coffee shops, and beautiful mountains. It takes some convincing but the crew gets the handlers to let them see a bar where “real” people go for a good night out. The book concludes with a piece by the director on how planning for the filming had to adapt to North Korea’s restrictions.

On just about every page there is a photo, the kind you might snap from your cell phone. They give you as good an idea of the people and places as any professional quality photo.

It does appear from this and other visitor narratives that life is getting materially better for some. Palin notes benefits of low tech living and the absence of advertising. The downside includes weeding farms by hand (NK handlers insisted a tractor - an old rusted one- appear in a farming photo) and the unpaved and untamed roads that take you from point A to point B.

Having just read The Testaments, I could not help but see the parallels. Some can live “quite” well in a system that issues extreme punishments for those who note the faulty premise on which the society is built.

This is a 5 star book for its unique content, the writer's honesty and the simplicity of its prose. I took it down a star for Palin’s self-confessed tendency to try to get the North Korean hosts to open up about deeper feelings about the regime under which they live. I also noticed this in the one episode of the TV series that I saw. It's disappointing that he pushed for this since Palin is aware of the consequences for the hosts if they misspeak for even a few filmed seconds.

The book is not for those looking for a deep appraisal of the country; that is not its intent. If you are interested in a tourist’s experience of North Korea, you will want to read this book.
Profile Image for W.
1,185 reviews4 followers
Want to read
September 8, 2020
I haven't found the book so far,but I did watch the TV documentary of Palin's North Korea trip on youtube sometime ago.

North Korea is a mysterious place and it has become almost a cliche to describe it as bad and terrible.

Palin's documentary does not make it look all that bad. It was to be expected that Palin's visit would be subject to restrictions and he would be accompanied by official minders.

But leaving aside the politics of North Korea,Pyong Yang looks like a modern city and Palin makes a good guide.His conversations with locals are interesting.The photography is beautiful.

The documentary was interesting,offbeat and enjoyable.
Profile Image for TraceyL.
990 reviews161 followers
November 9, 2019
This book is based on Michael Palin's two week trip to North Korea, where he filmed a mini-series. It's a good read. I've watched many North Korean documentaries because I find the country fascinating, so I didn't really get any new information by reading this book. However, I did like hearing about his conversations with the people who lived there, and how he would try and sneak questions in which he wasn't allowed to ask.

If you want a peek at life in North Korea, this is a good, quick read.
Profile Image for Jay.
215 reviews88 followers
May 31, 2023
Thoroughly enjoyable. I shouldn’t complain that Palin’s writing is too on the light side or that it lacks real depth, because these were two of the reasons I selected his book in the first place: I wanted something friendly and digestible to listen to while driving to and from work at all kinds of ungodly hours of the day and night, and Palin’s stylistic whimsy fulfilled that remit with ease. Michael is a layman, and his observations on North Korean life are simple and warmly relatable. He’s not grounded in a wealth of knowledge beyond that of your average educated citizen; however, I still think books like this little journal have value. A great expert will dissect a topic and try to reshape their reader’s mind towards something closer to their own, whereas writers like Palin or Bill Bryson will instead simply tell you what a place feels like while they, themselves, learn alongside you—discovering rather than reshaping. I’m not suggesting that expertise isn’t of value—of course I’m not (I’m not Michael Gove)—but sometimes it’s worthwhile getting multiple types of perspectives—views from the top and from the bottom, as it were. In any case, proper books on North Korean history are bare long and ain’t nobody got time for that.

I’ve sometimes wondered whether I would like to go on one of the guided trips North Korea offers, as Michael does here. I’m torn. I like going to sketchy places, but my reservations are basically that (1) you’d not really be seeing North Korea, you’d be seeing a pre-prepared and sanitised version; (2) I’d want to be certain I was going for the right reasons—some pilgrimages, like a visit to Auschwitz or The Killing Fields, are of sufficient moral weight that the idea I’d be using them for my own personal enjoyment while on my holidays seems a bit distasteful; so, before going, I’d want to be confident my main motivation was to learn and improve, because otherwise I’d be concerned I was merely undertaking the journey for its “sport”, just so I could say I went; and (3) I’d really rather my summer holiday not turn out like Otto Warmbier’s.
Profile Image for Tempo de Ler.
729 reviews101 followers
April 25, 2020
Este é mais um daqueles livros que compro online assim que vejo o pré-lançamento quando claramente devia ter esperado para vê-lo «ao vivo» na loja e ter a oportunidade de o desfolhar antes de comprar. Se o tivesse feito, certamente não o teria comprado…

Fiquei bastante desiludida com Diário da Coreia do Norte uma vez que não traz nada de novo: não há nenhuma revelação, não responde a qualquer questão. Este livro não é, de todo, o motivo pelo qual compramos um livro sobre a Coreia do Norte e com certeza o seu autor saberá disso. A prosa é demasiado leve tendo em conta o que sabemos esconder-se por detrás de toda a fachada do regime e o esforço da equipa para não «ofender» ninguém nem transgredir qualquer regra roubou o livro do seu potencial conteúdo.

Assim, para mim este livro equivale a ter uma enorme oportunidade em mãos… e não fazer nada com ela!
381 reviews3 followers
September 27, 2019
Five stars easily earned. This is Michael Palin on top form and doing what he does best on travel- bringing humour to a situation and focusing on the people of a place in order to make the place seem more real- with snippets of history and politics peppered throughout. With a country such as North Korea, neither is easy to avoid (even personal history. When visiting the DMZ Michael notes to one of his tour guides that it has been twenty two years since he last stood at the DMZ- on the south side, listening to the American and South Korean interpretation of history). I doubt there is a person around who doesn't have some idea about North Korea, especially given the historic handshake between the leaders of North and South which happened in 2018 (the American Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, makes a brief appearance, as MP gets up one morning to go to breakfast to find him in the lobby of his hotel. Mr. Pompeo was on his way to negoitate the release of American citizens been held in North Korea).

Overall, a great read. Shorter than his other books- but given the time frame which was given to stay in country, that is not surprising. Well worth the read.
2,827 reviews73 followers
October 31, 2019

2.5 Stars!

AN EASY READ ISN'T ALWAYS A GOOD READ...

I’ve read a fair number of books on North Korea and enjoyed them all. This is not one of the better ones. It is nicely presented and there are some really good quality photographs in here and it is fair to say that it hides some surprising pockets of beauty within its repressive capital city and beyond. Palin is a nice chap, but then you probably already knew that, and in keeping with that, this is very much a lightweight read written in a light hearted way.

This bares many of the hallmarks of a TV tie-in, if you have watched a similar TV programme or read a similar book on North Korea, like this before then there really isn’t anything in here that you will not have come across before. There are no great revelations, very little excitement and overall it is a pretty tame and pedestrian affair.

Comparing this to another recent book/TV tie-in by a fellow British septuagenarian comic entertainer, Billy Connolly, this falls way short of his high standard, which is as lively and engaging as his audio visual equivalent. There is simply nothing in here that is not already out there and I can’t really see the point in this as it has all been done before. It lacked charm, humour and felt flat, bland and didn’t present anything that would make it essential reading, and there are many more interesting books and stories on North Korea out there.
Profile Image for Piper Winchester.
947 reviews9 followers
August 11, 2021
The second I walked into the shop, one of the cashier came over to me and dragged me to this book "I have something you might like!" all happy.
Interesting little book with photos.
Seeing North Korea from a middle aged English man was a different experience.
I enjoyed it
Profile Image for DaViD´82.
792 reviews87 followers
December 3, 2020
Ještě jsem nezahlédl jedinou konzumní reklamu - v tomhle městě se prodávají jen ideje.

Pokud již máte tu čest s Palinovými cestopisy, tak víte že jdou vždy ruku v ruce s televizní verzí, kdy na sobě však kniha/seriál neparatizují, ale doplňují se. Jeden je více tradiční cestopis, druhý osobní zápisky o cestě, zemi, lidech a natáčení. A zároveň, že Palin zásadně cíle svých cest poznává skrze lidi, setkání s nimi, rozhovory apod. V těchto bodech je silný v kramflecích. Jenže jeho "humanitní přístup" k cestování je tentokrát neaplikovatelný. V KLDR prostě máte po boku doprovod, který pozorně sleduje na co zamíříte kameru, na co se ptáte a nedej bože se zeptat běžného občana na cokoli, tím byste akorát jemu a jeho rodině přivodili nejednu svízel. A tím trpí Severní Korea, Palin a v důsledku i tato kniha, která je kvůli tomu jednohubka na pár desítek minut z ranku kratičkého vtipně napsaného cestopisného blogu "kterak tam jel, bojoval se stranickými klacky pod nohama a zase odjel".

Co se týká postřehů a nikdy do popředí cpané, ovšem neustále přítomné, vtipnosti a nadhledu, tak je to stále "starý dobrý Palin". Jenže, ne jeho vinou, to tentokrát nestačí. Nedostal se k lidem a tím ani k zemi. Je si toho vědom, pracuje s tím, adresuje to, ale není to prostě ono. Jak to chodí na každodenní bázi v Severní Koreji, se tak dozvíte spíše v Delisleho Pchjongjangu než zde, byť samozřejmě těžko srovnávat dlouhodobý pobyt s pečlivě dozorovaným čtrnáctidenním nakouknutím "za oponu", kdy však na danou oponu nemáte dovoleno ani pohlédnout a natož se k ní přiblížit.

Upozorňující PS: Předchozí Palinovy knihy u nás vyšly jako nádherné velké publikace na křídovém papíře a s kvalitními fotkami. Čemuž odpovídala i cena. V tuzemském provedení je to tentokrát rozměrově cca třetinové nedochůdče na "jakože asi papíře" (bez nadsázky skrze něj prosvítají další dvě strany!) a s fotkami vytištěnými rastrem à la noviny v sedmdesátkách; o tom, že se nikdo nenamáhal jejich coloringem ani nemluvě čili jsou to takové výblitky jak z doby prvních nejlacinějších digitálních fotoaparátů (přitom v originále působí jak mají). O překladu nemluvě. Je totiž spíše volně na motivy původního textu, používá více slov než Palin v originále. Což jde mnohdy proti jeho úderné strohé vtipnosti. A jsou zde i vyloženě chybné překlady. Např. "spectacularly barren" jako "výjimečně pustou" (jde o poušť Gobi ne ženu); a to je příklad z prvního odstavce textu. A nejde, bohužel, o ojedinělou chybu. Chápu, že se musí najít kompromis mezi cena/výkon/náklady, ale vše má své meze. Tohle si stěží představit dát to někomu jako dárek. A ne kvůli (ne)kvalitám obsahu, ale kvůli trestuhodné odfláknutosti tuzemského nakladatele.
Profile Image for Matti Karjalainen.
3,217 reviews87 followers
March 23, 2020
Michael Palinin "Pohjois-Korean päiväkirjassa" (Minerva, 2020) Monty Pythonista tuttu brittinäyttelijä-toimittaja kertoilee muutaman viikon kestäneestä kuvausmatkastaan tuohon omalaatuiseen aasialaiseen valtioon.

Sympaattisen oloisen Palinin huomioita suljetusta maasta on ihan kiva lukea, ja ehkäpä samalla tuli opittua jotakin uutta Pohjois-Koreasta - kuten esimerkiksi se, että Pjongjanigissa sijaitseva kansalliskirjasto tunnetaan nimellä Ylväs Kansan Lukuhuone.*

Palinin näkökulma on yllättävän leppoisa, jopa siinä määrin, että olisin kaivannut hetkittäin vähän kriittisempää otetta. Ei sillä, kylläpä Pohjois-Koreaa käsitteleviä kauhukertomuksia piisaa muutenkin hyllymetreittäin!

Nopealukuinen matkakirja osoittautui ihan mukavaksi välipalaksi. Enemmän siitä olisi saanut varmaan irti, jos olisi sattunut katsomaan myös Palinin tv-dokumentin.

Suosittelen Pohjois-Koreasta kiinnostuneelle lukijalle myös kanadalaisen Guy Delislen erinomaista sarjakuvateosta Pjongjang.

* Paitsi että... Joko Palin tai kääntäjä Päivi Paju eivät ole tehneet kotiläksyjään kunnolla - kyseessä ei nimittäin ole kansalliskirjasto, ja useimmat verkkolähteet käyttävät siitä nimeä Suuri kansan opintopalatsi.
Profile Image for Chris.
623 reviews84 followers
February 9, 2020
When seeing the documentary I was disappointed by the fact it was so “directed” by the North-Korean minders; we only really saw what they wanted us to see. However, when reading this journal that was just what I found so interesting; Palin described how they were “pushed” in certain directions, but now also including his personal critics and side notes. Really enjoyed this book, full of beautiful and interesting pictures of North-Korea.
Profile Image for Isabelle Gillett.
74 reviews
February 9, 2024
3.5 stars

This short book is a tie-in for the TV Documentary film, but contains much more information so I found it to be an enjoyable read alongside watching the documentary.
I didn’t know there was a North Korean Eastenders, I can only imagine that the same amount of murder, cheating, and terrorism threats go on in their show as in ours.
It was interesting to read the recce piece at the end of this book (a recce is a pre-filming visit, with the purpose of planning where they would like to go and what equipment will be needed, etc.). As drinking is a big part of North Korean culture (they receive 5 coupons every month, each redeemable for a free litre of beer), there was a push from production to film a North Korean pub. There were rowdy and drunk Koreans there laughing and conversing with each other, “at odds with the stereotypical image of Pyongyang as a ‘weird’ city populated by repressed citizens”. However, the North Korean team wished for the production crew to film at a “much nicer” establishment, which was empty. The British production crew were allowed to look at the rowdier pub, not film or engage with it.
Inside a neon strip-lit room were hundreds of people crowded around trestle tables, chatting amongst themselves and handing over coupons to people pulling pints at the counter. The place was teeming with life and exactly the sort of thing Michael and I wanted to capture on screen, but looking was all I could do. There was no question of me being allowed to go inside, let alone film in there

However, after pushing their case to film everyday life in Pyongyang, the North Korean team “gave into [their] demands more often than you might imagine".
The next night they took me to a small Korean barbecue restaurant hidden down a back street, which was bustling with life - and customers.

I also really liked learning about one of the guides, Li So Hyang, who herself enjoys reading Jane Austen and Charles Dickens. This hasn’t really anything to do with the books quality, but she seemed like a very funny and intelligent woman and I hope she’s doing well.

Overall, I think I would fit in well in North Korea with how much they dislike Americans, I think we have a lot in common on that front xoxo
Profile Image for Ming Wei.
Author 20 books288 followers
October 17, 2020
A readable book, that covers the TV mini series when Michael Palin travelled to North Korea, it shines a light upon the life that people in Korea live, how important their leader and previous leaders are to them, the book includes many interesting theme within its pages, i enjoyed reading this book, a sort of adventure traveller, the book is very well presented throughout, the front cover is nice, well worth reading.
Profile Image for Mia.
268 reviews18 followers
October 29, 2019
An account of Michael Palin's visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, written in diary form. The intrepid author attempts to widen his understanding of the world (and ours as well) during his travels to the Hermit Kingdom. It's an eerie representation of a dictatorship in which the people whom Palin and his crew are allowed to meet are characterized by Stepford-level patriotism and faith in their fearless leaders. The "journal" is succinct, perhaps owing to the limitations placed upon him during his stay, but his accounts still reveal his open mind and heart and the kindness of the people he meets on his journey. In the end, his experience is heavily curated and controlled and we end up with more questions than with improved insight.
Profile Image for Becky Kelly.
417 reviews14 followers
October 6, 2019
Loved it. I love reading about this strange country, it's bizarre and interesting and not as awful as you first think. Michael Palin is the perfect person to write about this, kind and unjudgemental with wit and humour and many years of experience in travelling behind him. I suggest reading this to any Palin fans, anyone who finds North Korea interesting and anyone who likes travel writing of any sort. An easy 5 stars.
Profile Image for Stephen King.
341 reviews10 followers
March 30, 2020
I’ve always liked Michael Palin. He’s always on the list of people you’d most like to have dinner with and would be one of my chosen ones. This is however a classic ‘accompanying the major TV series’ rushed book. It’s a slim travel diary with lots of (admittedly) nice photos.
Profile Image for Ondřej Puczok.
804 reviews32 followers
January 8, 2022
Na Zápisky jsem byl opravdu zvědavý. Severní Korea je přes všechnu svou odpudivost fascinující bizarní zemí, kde by se člověk rozhodně nechtěl narodil. Jako stalinisticko-totalitní režim je svého druhu přežívající ukázkou toho, proč tento typ ideologií nekompromisně odmítat. A pak je tady samozřejmě autor Michael Palin, jehož uvolněný a trochu bláznivý styl mám rád, jen je úplným opakem obrazu formální dědičné diktatury... Výsledný mix je překvapivě soudržný, graficky hezky zpracovaný a doprovázený příjemným množstvím fotografií.

Ano, pokud chcete vědět o tom, co se v KLDR opravdu děje a jak se lidem žije, existuje velké množství zdrojů, kdy se přímo nabízí skvělá novinka Svědectví o životě v KLDR. Zápisky jsou naopak takovým čočíkem (kdo nezná, tak doporučuji jeho dříve převážně na Čínu zaměřený kanál), u kterého také očekáváte něco jiného, než od Etzlerovy knihy Novinářem v Číně.

Je to pohled na natáčení dokumentu v "poustevnickém režimu" plném paranoie. O hledání lidskosti i tam, kde zdánlivě není. Využít momentu politického tání a optimisticky přemýšlet o možném otevírání země. Snahou dozvědět se víc, pokoušet se o překračování stanovených linií (a nahlédnutí za kulisy Potěmkinových vesnic), samozřejmě v hranicích možného, jde o cestopis, nikoli politickou misi. A ukazování absurdit, specifik i krás této země mediálně zakrytých za hlasitou propagandou plnou armády i jaderných zbraní a odhalovaných totalitních zločinů. Drobné střípky, které odjinud neznám - ranní přízračná hudba, změna oblečení soch během let, cílené pastelové přebarvování paneláků, malba propagandy dodnes ručně...

...zároveň samozřejmě doporučuji i stejnojmenný dvoudílný seriál, který se s knížkou obrazově, tematicky i v detailech příjemně doplňuje. Seriál je více o cestování, kniha pak zabrušuje do zákulisí celé akce.
Profile Image for K..
4,719 reviews1,136 followers
September 27, 2025
Content warnings: governmental control, discussion of war

I took myself on a stupid lil walk for my stupid lil mental health before the Grand Final started and I listened to the entirety of this book because it's less than 3 hours long and I'm a monster who listens to audiobooks on 2.75x speed. It was definitely an interesting insight into the difficulties of making a documentary with the cooperation of the North Korean government and it definitely had Palin's signature style of humour. But I feel like I didn't get a whole lot out of it about life in North Korea. Which is fine - that wasn't the point of the book. But I *do* feel like I maybe should have left this book with more on life for North Korea's citizens and less on whether or not Palin's bed was comfortable at various hotels in North Korea.
Profile Image for Chrisl.
607 reviews85 followers
November 8, 2019
Recommend ... informative, entertaining, quick read. Definitely enhanced my perception of the county. (Without the pictures the text would have a significantly lower page count.)

The regional library has the book cataloged 951.9305. That puts it in the history section. I would have cataloged in 915 ..., putting on the 'Description and Travel' shelves.
Profile Image for Karen.
Author 41 books67 followers
November 6, 2019
A really interesting and informative read with lovely photos. 8 out of 10
100 reviews
November 10, 2019
NORTH KOREA JOURNAL by Michael Palin
It was a short trip. It’s a short book and, there’s lot of photos, so don’t expect a month’s reading. It’s also well presented with lots of colour but, at the end of the day, it is what it purports to be, a travel journal of a fortnight in North Korea. He has a film crew with him so there’s no shortage of quality images but, if you’re expecting some revelations about the political situation, you won’t be entirely disappointed but there’s no shocking disclosures. Music with messages about the supreme ruler and his ancestors are a constant, it seems wherever you are, but particularly in Pyongyang where there’s the world’s tallest unoccupied building, an amazing hotel called Ryugyong, completed in 1987. No explanation is offered.
The trip to the southern border where restrictions were only eased days before they arrived was informative. This trip co-incided with the thawing of relations between the west and North Korea so there’s a degree of uncertainty as to how this affects Michael’s trip. Some places might be open, maybe not.
An organised visit to a local school gives some insight. Michael trying to come out with a word or two of Korean and the students blurting back in clear English is one humorous moment. However, there are minders always present and all photography is checked at the end of the day. No shots of things that might make the regime look poorly; they will be eliminated. Thou shalt not take pictures of statues of the leaders from the rear.
They get to a town on the east coast where a massive building project is under way in order to attract the tourist dollar. It covers 400 square kilometres. You can’t help but wonder just what attitudes will change and what comfort levels will be introduced because hot water was unavailable and the pillows were rock hard at one establishment the crew stayed at, though that wasn’t always the case. At least you’re fairly safe with the local airline, one of the safest on the planet.
There are endless photos of Michael with his guides and other Korean staff, none of Michael with other tourists. In fact, they are notably in absentia, and that’s not only in the hotels. In one location they do come across two busloads though, notably Chinese.
A visit to Mount Paektu, Korea’s highest on the Chinese border, is interesting and scenic. The roads go past some labour-intensive communal farming and they actually stop at one for a photo shoot. It’s an interesting read about an interesting place that may leave you shaking your head in disbelief in some places, but you’ll be better informed.
Profile Image for Zornitsa Grozdeva.
121 reviews65 followers
February 10, 2024

Нашият живот се основава на свободата на словото - казвам аз. - Хората могат да говорят грубо и неуважително за лидерите си. В моята страна ние можем да критикуваме нашите лидери, ако те сгрешат или постъпят неправилно. А те са човешки същества като всички нас, затова често допускат грешки.
Со Хян излиза от ситуацията, без дори да се замисли.
- Именно това ни прави толкова различни - отвръща тя. - Нашите вождове са велики. Те не са отделни индивиди, а въплъщават народа, затова ние не можем да критикуваме самите себе си, нали?
Не знам какво да й отговоря.
- Да критикуваме нашите вождове, означава да критикуваме самите себе си - настоява тя.




Задаването на въпроси, оспорването на факти и намеците, че някои неща може би не са се случили точно по този начин, се смятат за опасни и вероломни. Подобни действия са в полза на врага.


Има книги, които ме карат искрено да се радвам, че съм се родила в България.
И все пак се надявам да доживея ден, в който няма да съществува държава, в която да изричаш мнението си и да отстояваш гражданската си позиция се счита за престъпление.
Profile Image for Katja.
1,163 reviews35 followers
March 21, 2020
3,5 stars. It's a short book with a lot of pictures (which are absolute plus) and meant to be companion piece for the documentary Palin and crew filmed in North Korea in 2018. I've seen the documentary and it's worth seeing. It and this book enrich each other nicely, documentary shows the places and the book reveals Palin's thoughts and impressions during the trip.

Like the name suggests, North Korea Journal is a travelogue, there are some basic facts dropped in the text when needed to give some context but it's not trying to tell the reader everything about North Korea, just what Palin saw there during two weeks of filming. It's still interesting, don't get me wrong! After reading and watching many books and programmes of NK, a slightly different look is welcome!
Profile Image for Brooke.
46 reviews
August 30, 2021
“ As the days went by, I realized my preconceptions were distorted. The North Koreans I have encountered are …locked in a system which demands unbending loyalty, but which in return offers security, and within narrow confines the chance for some to enjoy life and excel.” p.154
Fascinating, really. A glimpse inside North Korea, even though the author and his team (filming a documentary) were escorted and heavily monitored as to what they could see, let alone film. Seemed to be a lot of show and pageantry, instead of authentic day to day life for the average person, but that was by design, and still very interesting.
Profile Image for Anna Shelley.
Author 8 books1 follower
September 22, 2019
A great insight and tour of North Korea, showing its people in a pleasant light, doing their best to accomodate Michael Palin's film crew and meet the needs of the documentary. Was very interesting to see the freedoms that the people are permitted to enjoy within the high regimented country.

Engaging read, and interesting to see that it is a viable, albeit controlled, tourist destination.
Profile Image for Joao.
96 reviews
March 21, 2020
Nada de novo sobre a ausência da liberdade e o pleno absurdo. Algo escapa contudo neste livro que me deixou perplexo. Apenas a sensação de que viajar é divertido sobretudo quando se é turista e se pode voltar a casa.
Profile Image for Kinga (oazaksiazek).
1,436 reviews171 followers
June 11, 2021
2,75
Michael Palin to dla niektórych człowiek legenda, który był członkiem słynnej grupy Monty Pythona. Dla mnie była to jednak nieznana postać, dlatego podeszłam do jego książki jak do kolejnej pozycji podróżniczej. Z pewną dozą wyrozumiałości a zarazem ogromnej ciekowości, aby dowiedzieć się czegoś nowego.

Ta książka to zapiski z kraju, o którym wciąż tak naprawdę niewiele wiemy. Mam wrażenie, że dla części czytelników może być ona początkiem przygody z Koreą Północną. Mnie jednak czegoś w tym wszystkim zabrakło. Niby wyciągnęłam z niej coś dla siebie, ale ciekawostek wcale nie było tak wiele, jak oczekiwałam. Notatki były prowadzone dość pośpiesznie, przez co odniosłam wrażenie, że niektóre tematy mogłyby być opisane dokładniej.

O dziwo, podobały mi się zdjęcia i ich różnorodność. Prezentowały one nie tylko koreańskie miasta, ale również wsie czy ludzką codzienność. Oczywiście prezentowały to wszystko jedynie na tyle, na ile mogli sobie pozwolić Anglicy podróżujący po Korei Północnej. Mam nadzieję, że pomimo licznych obostrzeń obowiązujących wjeżdżających do tego specyficznego państwa, odwiedzający pokazali czytelnikom prawdziwość i unikalny charakter tych wszystkich miejsc, wydarzeń czy zachowań ludzkich.

Książka przeczytana w ramach akcji #azjalastminute .
Profile Image for Latające książki.
194 reviews20 followers
February 26, 2023
Michael Palin jest aktorem, komikiem znanym z grupy „Monty Python” oraz dziennikarzem, który wyruszył z ekipą filmową do Korei Północnej, czyli Koreańskiej Republiki Ludowo-Demokratycznej, aby zrealizować program dokumentalny o zwykłych ludziach, którzy żyją w tym zamkniętym kraju.

Mimo, że książkę tę znajdziemy na dziale reportaż, to jest ona dokładnie tym co mówi o niej tytuł. To typowy dziennik podróży prowadzony przez Michaela w niebieskim notesie, w którym każdy dzień to osobny rozdział. Autor opisuje swoje wrażenia z podróży i przemyślenia, moment porzucenia świata Internetu i smartfonu na rzecz zderzenia z biurokracją oraz stałym nadzorem panów w czarnych garniturach. Wyjaśnia kogo jego ekipa spotkała, gdzie i jak się przemieszczali oraz kto ich oprowadzał i pilnował.

Autor oczywiście wyjaśnia czym jest Korea Północna, ale jeśli chodzi o opisy historii jej powstania, czy głębsze pochylenie się nad jakimś problemem, to tutaj tego nie znajdziemy. Według mnie dobrze oglądnąć lub przeczytać coś więcej o KRLD przed sięgnięciem po tę książkę, bo w niej czasami brakuje szerszego kontekstu. Jest to bardzo przyjemna lektura napisana bardzo życzliwym tonem. Michael nakreśla nam problemy i niechlubne rzeczy w KRLD, ale bardzo dyplomatycznie omija on te kontrowersyjne tematy. Także zaznacza tylko, że dany problem istnieje, ale nie wprost. W całej tej książce najciekawsze były dla mnie liczne zdjęcia pojawiające się w tekście, a było ich całkiem dużo.

Dziennik ten jest ciekawy, ale zdecydowanie za krótki. Całość ma około 100 stron, więc jest to lektura na jeden dzień. Mimo wszystko zdecydowanie jest to pozycja warta uwagi.
277 reviews
January 18, 2020
"O regime não quer que as pessoas se 'estraguem' com a possibilidade de escolherem."
Um livro de flashes gravados em duas semanas de viagem supervisionada. Breve panorama de uma ditadura que se crê divina. É de um povo que vive no 'além'.
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