I think this small detail is telling in its implications.

The saleswomen are obviously different from those in the foreign currency stores (where girls are clearly selected by age, height, and attractiveness). Though, rudeness is apparently not acceptable in Korea, regardless of the status of the store.
The shoppers are common people - both workers and engineers and technical workers. They don’t buy very much, mostly look and compare prices before their holiday shopping. In the musical instruments department, someone was playing a piano, put out for sale.

Needless to say, the people in this store were looking at us not even with astonishment and curiosity (like on the streets), but as if we were a hallucination

So it is a little funny when he goes on about “the girls” trying to climb a mountain in high heels(!)

Can’t remember if I already posted this here. Did a search, but found nothing, although I am not so confident about the search machine.

Anyway, the English translation of yet another Russian expedition.

From the report, it seems that the Norks are more tolerant of Russians going for walks at six AM than we might think. And are also happy to be paid in US dollars. Also, the commentary clearly comes from someone who sees North Korea as being a little odd, that is, it is not the observations of a westerner expecting to be landed on another planet.

Humourous remarks in parts (click the forward arrows):

http://www.enlight.ru/camera/d.....ual_e.html