On Saturday I was in Pyongyang, the capital city of North Korea. Don't believe me? Here's proof...
Despite the tourist hype it wasn't that good.
Accommodation was basic.
The dining experience was... aesthetically pleasing in presentation...
But was let down by where we actually ate...
But the architecture was something else...
Transportation was interesting....
The trains were punctual with Japanese precision, despite operating on ancient technology.
Thsi was made more interesting when I found out that most trains here are driver-less.
Road transport was more interesting.
Although a number of individuals owned flying cars...
Most still travel by bus. In fact, buses had to be modified for the high number of passengers.
The shops sold many interesting stuff...
But the wildlife was more interesting. I did see a unicorn, but it got away before I managed to get out my camera. But did manage to photograph some interesting wildlife
(in their natural history museum).
Okay, I was actually not in Pyongyang. I was actually in Milton Keynes.
Really, that photo was taken from my hotel window in Milton Keynes.
Don't believe me...
You have to admit, if you ignore the large propagandistic monuments and institution-like buildings, Pyongyang does look like any new-town development - like Milton Keynes.
Just look up images of the two places and compare.
The reason I was in Milton Keynes was to visit Francis Bacon's house in St Albans.
You would expect it to look like this...
But I found out that the original place was destroyed by Jacobites in 1715.
Okay, I was in St Albans ... for a bout an hour.
But it was a brief break on the trip back to the hotel in Milton Keynes from this place....
Both of us had a great time.
In the picture below is us in front of the model of Hogwarts used for the exterior shoots. Yes, they went practical with it (with some CG to enhance it). It's the last part of the tour for a very good reason... I won't say more, but seeing it overwhelming my mother so much she cried.
Although I am not exactly a fan (in the sense I can recite spells and the names of the creatures) I went because I love the process of making films. The number of people hired to make one fantasy-themed movie is huge. But this increases into the thousands if you consider that they were eight Harry Potter films. In fact, while we were there a spin-off film was in production on a lot a stone's throw away from where the tour is. It's only on a tour like this you'll get the idea of how much time and effort goes into making such movies.
There is the design of the sets.
The construction of such sets.
The lighting of such sets
The costuming of the actors
Making them up.
Accessioning them.
The design...
... and making of the props.
The special effects.
The animatronics.
And other things you might not have notices, such as the graphic design.
This point is hammered in more in this tribute.... The "corridor" between the Hogwarts model and the gift shop are lined by boxes of wands like Ollivanders shop. Each box has the name of someone who worked on the films labelled on it.
The image quality doesn't allow you to make out actual names on the boxes (sorry).
Even if your not a Harry Potter fan or someone who likes fantasy fiction, if you love film-making you must see this tour... or similar tours of film sets. Seeing it myself I gained more respect of the thousands of people who worked on these films. If you are going on this tour take the time to look at the names on those boxes and note that when constructing the set of the shop John hurt gave Daniel Radcliffe his wand each of the thousands of boxes that populate its shelves were individually handmade. Then remember that very set was destroyed by Death Eaters in The Half-Blood Prince.
Think about that....
