It was an early morning in April.

I stepped out of an Air Koryo plane and went through customs in Pyongyang Sunan International airport, DPRK, the country we refer to as North Korea. I came here to join the 10km race in Pyongyang Marathon*, the “baby-level” race in this competition according to the Pyongyang Times. [*Officially known as Mangyongdae Prize Marathon]

Before I came, everybody told me so many things about this country, mainly the rumours they read and heard, as well as their opinion on top of that. Yet, none of them has ever been there.

Upon my return, everyone asks “I heard everything was staged up and they only show you what they want you to see.” On some parts, I have had my reservation. But there are also things that can never be staged, even if they are the organiser of the biggest live performance on earth. Not likely anyone would go all this way to please one random Chinese tourist anyway.

I finished my run. It was very pleasant, better than my 10 kilometres experience in the Hong Kong Marathon. It was a strange feeling breathing in fresh air and running alongside pedestrians in this taboo city. Half and full marathons runners were still running on the street in the Capital, enjoying the high-fiving with young and old proud Pyongyang residents.

I walked out from the Kim Il-Sung Stadium myself heading to our coach outside. I spotted a vintage Mercedes parked there, and a bunch of local kids chatting next to it. I approached and said hi. They were, as expected, very shy. I wish I speak some Korean. Lucky enough, there wasn’t any surveillance on this Chinese guy at that moment, nor anybody care about what I was doing.

With a mixture of Mandarin and English, we took a selfie video together. They said hi to the world through the lens, and introduce themselves individually, to my surprise, in English.

That Eugene Ng, is me.

Thanks for reading and watching. I am hoping to share a less seen and reported side of the people there. I hope you enjoy seeing this part of my journey.