A Glimpse of North Korea

by Regin Reyno

In December of 2015, I was in North Korea. It was winter. It has been a great desire-a longing to be able to set foot on this hermit kingdom. It is one of the least visited countries in the world; and to be able to visit and tour some parts of the country, I felt so accomplished. 

Due to its government's policies, and the media's vilification of this country, not a lot of people have been to this socialist state, or are even willing to go visit; which makes it fascinating, enigmatic, and mysterious. (I was the only Filipino tourist who was there during the time of visit). 

So I am sharing some of my shots from my 5-day visit to North Korea, so you'll have a little glimpse of this country. I didn't have a DSLR, so iPhone and GoPro cameras were used. Nevertheless, photography is about the eye, so here we go.

Locals using their public transpo to go to work (or so I assumed). This was taken at Kim Il Sung Square. This is the place where we usually see photos and videos of the North Korean military parade.

My 2018 Travels

by Regin Reyno 

2018 just ended. It’s another year. Happy new year! We are given once again, a new sheet of paper to write on. I thank God for this new year.  A chance to start over again. It’s like pushing that reset button on a computer game. Let’s fill it with experiences.

But before I embark on 2019’s adventures, let me look back and reminisce the travels I did in 2018. That year, I become more focused on eliminating things that I don’t need or don't add value to my life. I spent less on material things; purposely decluttered and continued spending time for meaningful experiences, like traveling. 

"The great thing about experiences is not only are they fun at the time, but you also get to think about them beforehand, and after."--James Wallman, Stuffocation

My 2017 Travels

by Regin Reyno

2017 has been a great year, especially in terms of travel. I was able to visit for the 1st time, 5 countries in total and lots of domestic travels. Since I started this yearly travel summary on my blog in 2011, I think this year is my most traveled year. I thought I traveled a lot in 2012, but this year surpassed it. 

The Lord has been gracious and faithful. Despite the tragedy that happened to our family this year-which was the death of our grandma and cousin-overall, I still experienced His grace, love, mercy, and Him being true to His promise that He will never leave us nor forsake us.

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5

So I praise and thank God for all these wonderful travel opportunities.   

I am also intentionally living with less material things. Acquiring less and giving more importance and focus on things that matter; relationships, spiritual life, experiences, and memories.  

1. January 2017: Russia

Transportation from/to Beijing: Aeroflot Russian Airlines 

The Hermitage Museum
Saint Petersburg, Russia

Simples Things I Enjoy When Traveling

by Regin Reyno

We travel to be happy. In whatever we do in our travels, at the end of the day, the reason we do those things, is to achieve happiness and/or meaningfulness. Whether that be hiking on the Great Wall of China, witnessing Rembrandt’s The Return of the Prodigal Son at The Hermitage Museum, scaling Mt. Kilimanjaro, swimming with whalesharks in the Philippines, riding Tatsu at Six Flags Magic Mountain, or simply enjoying an over water villa in Bora Bora, French Polynesia. We go great lengths to achieve happiness and meaningfulness. 

But in traveling, I also find happiness in simple things. They’re simple. In fact, some people take them for granted. But these simple things or activities make me happy. It allows me to have positive emotions. To have feelings of joy, contentment, and comfort. 

Every time I travel, every time I book that ticket, I feel excited not just for the major sites and activities that I’m going to do in a particular destination, but also for these simple things and activities when traveling. I’m a person who finds happiness in simple pleasures. 

1. Meal time on planes

Underground River sa Palawan

ni Regin Reyno

Dahil ngayon ay Linggo ng Wika, napagdesisyon ako na mag-blog gamit ang wikang Filipino.

Maaga kaming nagising nong araw na yon kasi madaming activities ang nakaplano. Naka-plano kaming puntahan ang Underground River sa Puerto Princesa, Palawan. Excited kami dahil di lang namin mararanasan ang napaka-pambihirang spelunking activity, kundi dahil ito ay tinaguriang isa sa 7 Wonders of Nature. Isang malaking accomplishment at pribilehiyo na mapuntahan ‘to.

Train from North Korea to China

by Regin Reyno

I woke up early on that freezing day. Looked through my window on the 25^th floor and saw the frozen Taedonggang river and some other buildings in that beautiful city. It was the 2^nd day of January 2016. Yes, winter. I just finished days of touring Pyongyang and Kaesong in the secluded country, North Korea, where locals don’t have access to the internet and cannot just travel outside of their country, unless sponsored by the state. It was my last day in that country. A country where a lot of people are scared to visit. 

After a good breakfast at our luxurious, Yanggakdo Hotel-a hotel built during the soviet era, located on an islet in the middle of Taedong river-I hopped on our bus taking us to Pyongyang train station.  

The train station was quite packed that time. Buses arrived. Tour buses that carried foreigners. Foreigners like me, who are curious what North Korea is like. Mostly Europeans and Australians, as Americans are not allowed to take the train. The Americans headed to Kim Il Sung Airport, also that same day. There were some Chinese, too. I think I was the only Filipino in North Korea that time.

26th

by Regin Reyno

Today, I arrived in Qufu, Shandong, China-hometown of Confucius, founder of Confucianism-via an 8.5-hour sleeper train ride. Comfortably slept in my cabin. Visited the Temple of Confucius, Qufu; the largest and most renowned Confucian Temple in the world. It was built in 478 BC and rebuilt in 1499. Confucius’ teachings are the foundation of China’s traditional cultural values.