---
product_id: 27337794
title: "My Holiday in North Korea: The Funniest/Worst Place on Earth"
brand: "wendy e. simmons"
price: "123 Lei"
currency: RON
in_stock: false
reviews_count: 7
url: https://www.desertcart.ro/products/27337794-my-holiday-in-north-korea-the-funniest-worst-place-on
store_origin: RO
region: Romania
---

# My Holiday in North Korea: The Funniest/Worst Place on Earth

**Brand:** wendy e. simmons
**Price:** 123 Lei
**Availability:** ❌ Out of Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** My Holiday in North Korea: The Funniest/Worst Place on Earth by wendy e. simmons
- **How much does it cost?** 123 Lei with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Currently out of stock
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.ro](https://www.desertcart.ro/products/27337794-my-holiday-in-north-korea-the-funniest-worst-place-on)

## Best For

- wendy e. simmons enthusiasts

## Why This Product

- Trusted wendy e. simmons brand quality
- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Description

My Holiday in North Korea: The Funniest/Worst Place on Earth

## Images

![My Holiday in North Korea: The Funniest/Worst Place on Earth - Image 1](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51mm8wxUbDL.jpg)
![My Holiday in North Korea: The Funniest/Worst Place on Earth - Image 2](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51x52kpZSLL.jpg)
![My Holiday in North Korea: The Funniest/Worst Place on Earth - Image 3](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51sa3kCQ10L.jpg)
![My Holiday in North Korea: The Funniest/Worst Place on Earth - Image 4](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41vMTyBcZ2L.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    Conflicted Feelings, But Easy Reading
  

*by S***S on Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 8, 2016*

I chose this book because, after reading "Aquariums of Pyongyang," "Nothing to Envy," "Escape from Camp 14," "The Reluctant Communist" and others, I was yearning for a bit of a different perspective on North Korea. However, this book leaves me a bit conflicted. I wanted to like the author and I wanted to like it (Hell, I think if she and I sat down for coffee, I think we could be friends), but there were many instances were I think the author needed to take the "when in Rome..." approach. Yes, this is a communist police state, yes this is a high-context culture, yes concentration camps still exist in this country - do you really want to piss your handlers off by arguing with them about bugs or elephant tusks? Just smile and nod, please!!! That said, there is a bit of a culture clash showcased in the book beyond the normal "North Korea is Insane" type stuff. Yes, North Korea is very different to say the least. Did you really expect that they would let you roam off-leash? Out of sight of their dear heavenly leader? No...God no. Considering it's illegal for American citizens to go there (it's illegal, but you are not unable...), I'm wondering how much the author actually read about North Korea before going there. For example, I once spent 30 days in South Korea on a student study abroad experience. Given South Korea is much, much different from North Korea. I was on day about 27 before I hit the goofy "OMG another english speaker!!!" phase while she was on about day 7 of a 10 day trip. Yes, she wrote this book on a 10-day holiday and managed to piss one of her handlers off on day 1. *Facepalm* She justifies the experience of writing the book by saying that most people don't stay in North Korea for 10 days to visit. Well, I will say this. When I was in college, I lived in South Korea for 30 days, I don't think it was enough to judge South Korea by. In fact, I had to write a thesis on it and was even docked because 30 days isn't that long (I think writing a book about 10 would be even worse...). After I read her justification for writing a book on a 10-day experience, I thought to myself "Well, I once spent 14 days on Oahu, could I write a book?" I may be able to write about my experiences, but my experiences would not give justice to the people or a greater social situation. When you are around the same few people over the course of a week or two, your experiences and perspective is limited - of course, this is the point of being on North Korea's guided tours - but understand that this book is about personal interactions, NOT in-depth analysis of the country itself  - socially, culturally, or economically. The writing style is a bit disjointed - not unreadable - if you have read "I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell," it's more like that. Details about certain situations are lacking. If you are looking for some really light reading, it's okay. I finished it in about 2 days. On another note, towards the end the author mentions she has been managing people "her entire career" and that comment struck me as odd. Okay, did the author get hired from college into a management role? Never had to work retail your entire life? Never worked as support staff in an office? Never. Ever. Once? Jeezus. Then she mentions she (paraphrases) feels she needs to be an ambassador to people who have never seen a white single woman or a Jew. Really? But she will go out of her way to make a scene to shoo a bug out of a car in a country where people have to use their own waste as manure. Hmm. When you go to a foreign country - especially North Korean - you can't take your New York State of mind with you. Please leave that at the baggage claim along with your human rights.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    it was pretty glaring to me
  

*by L***N on Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 27, 2016*

Wendy Simmons has traveled the world but has never made it to the closed country of North Korea, until now. Being a foreigner in North Korea is strange enough, but being an "American Imperialist" is a whole different story. As she tours the country with an array of "handlers" that both guide her around the sights and translate for her, she is subjected to the same anti-American propaganda that the North Koreans themselves are subjected to, lied to at every turn, and paraded around from empty amusement park to empty soccer stadium to empty food factory to empty hospital with little to no electricity, no running water, and no idea what's going on. Packed with loads of pictures from the suppressed country, humor, and insight, My Holiday in North Korea offers a rare glimpse into a country that few tourists will ever experience.Most complaints from other reviewers focus on Wendy Simmons' attitude during her travels, and I have to admit, it was pretty glaring to me, too, as I was reading: Wendy is kind of a bitch. Then again, as another "American Imperialist," I have to say that I get it. I mean, this is a country that brainwashes their citizens from birth to hate everything about us. They're incessantly lied to, suppressed, and left to starve while their failed political system is touted as "the greatest country on earth." Wendy steps into this country and while her guides are telling her how awful the Americans are and force-feeding her the same false propaganda they've heard all their lives, she's standing there questioning, "Why aren't there patients at this hospital? Why do you confiscate all the twins and triplets born in this country and hide them away in state-run orphanages? Why are the schoolchildren so miserable? Why isn't there running water? Where are the books in this library? Where are the stores? How do people buy groceries? " While most have criticized her attitude towards the North Koreans as being insensitive and rude, and I agree, I have to say that given the favorable way she describes the rest of her world travels and the unique situation of North Korea being pretty damn crazy, her unfavorable attitude towards the North Koreans is probably a one-off thing. I tried to not get bogged down by it and actually found a lot of her commentary funny, given the ludicrosity of her circumstances. Even in my own experiences, where I was taking classes in the Middle East and the professor told me that a woman is worth 1/4 of a man, I couldn't help my American attitude escaping and shutting that argument down.Lately I've been super interested in North Korea and have read a lot of fascinating books about the harrowing escapes of some of their citizens, but this book brought a new look at the country from a tourist's perspective, and I found myself highly entertained. There were many, many pictures included in the book, too, that I found absolutely fascinating. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a funny travel memoir (maybe along the lines of Chelsea Handler's Uganda Be Kidding Me) and isn't easily offended.

### ⭐⭐ 







  
  
    A bitter book...
  

*by A***R on Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on October 8, 2016*

I read this book before my own visit to North Korea, and waited until my return to write my review.The book reminds me of that old adage that, wherever you go, you take yourself with you. The writer didn't have a great time, but I believe that's down to her attitude to the guides with whom she travelled. I did go with a group, fourteen of us, which probably helped, but all of us were respectful with the guides. In return, we were given quite a bit of freedom with our photography (express permission was given to take photos from bus windows) and flexibility was shown when we asked for changes in our itinerary.[...]Although North Korea is a challenging country to visit, I'm glad I went. I had some wonderful interactions with locals and moments of real breakthrough which I'll always treasure.

---

## Why Shop on Desertcart?

- 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016
- 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories
- 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price
- 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members)
- 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection
- ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews

**Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.ro/products/27337794-my-holiday-in-north-korea-the-funniest-worst-place-on](https://www.desertcart.ro/products/27337794-my-holiday-in-north-korea-the-funniest-worst-place-on)

---

*Product available on Desertcart Romania*
*Store origin: RO*
*Last updated: 2026-01-30*