North Korea

          Generally speaking, any place that still uses anything but Democracy is going to be a pretty crazy place, North Korea (the Democratic People's Republic of Korea) is no exception. Over the Summer I read the Orphan Master's Son, which got me interested in learning about North Korea. As it turns out, the place is just as bonkers as the book makes it seem. A prime example is the loudspeakers, I thought the book made them up to make North Korea sound even crazier, but no, they're real. In everyone's home, in every apartment, in every hotel room, you name it, there is a loudspeaker affixed to the wall. All day, every day propaganda blares out of it. Not even stuff like "North Korea is the best!", more like "The Dear Leader scored 18 holes in one this morning after playing for only 20 minutes!". Absolutely absurd stuff. On top of the loud speakers, the book talks about how Kim Jong Il set up this massive show type thing to impress the American visitors that were going to be there for only a few minutes. That actually happens. There is this massive play called the Arirang Games (Grand Mass Gymnastics and Artistic Performance Arirang) where thousands of performers put on a show about Korea's past. Basically, this exists because Kim Jong Il really really likes musical theatre. Here is part one of six that show the Arirang Games of 2013. The only reason I know about this is because of a VICE documentary titled Inside North Korea (part one of three). Also, North Koreans apparently love karaoke. Like, a lot. That is also shown in the documentary. Overall, the Orphan Master's Son easily made it onto my list of favorite books. If you haven't read it, go read it. It's really good. Here's some pictures of the dear leaders:

Kim Jong-Un, current leader.

Kim Jong-Il, late leader.

Kim Il-Sung, original leader.

Fun Fact! North Korea no longer recognizes itself as a communist/socialist nation and now as a "Juche" nation, run only by the Kim bloodline.