The Seoulite

A love like this... how romantic.

There are specials listed... but many don't change. If you go for lunch... get the green chicken curry. It's what the servers are always eating too. There are real bay leaves in the dish.

From certain angles, it looks like you tripped into a friend's apartment in the Czech Republic. The art here changes every monthly and it's for sale as well.

Sturdy furniture for lots of reading, writing and people watching.

In the afternoons, you may even be able to meet the artists and share a cup of tea while you see them work.

Hungry? Have a four-cheese pizza. The food here has the homey taste of a bed and breakfast.

Here is an assortment of sausages, carrots and broccoli.

Shin Seung Hun filmed music jams over at OPP. This is definitely a celebrity dive type of place. The espresso here is quite amazing.

We chose the night shuttle. Pack some sweet potatoes. It picks you up at 10PM. You ski from Midnight to 5AM. Get back to Seoul by 6AM or 7AM! Much better than spending all night drinking and stumbling over girls in some smoky bar!

Vivaldi Park is excellent in every regard except for the skiing. The slopes are almost flat and non-existent. The Seoulite where the rest of the mountain was... but sadly there is none because this place has extensive condos, hotels, restaurants, water park, sauna, karaoke bar, and other activities besides skiing to keep people amused. But speed, convenience, service and everything related to running a good business is top-notch here. Gotta respect them for working what they got!

You can almost ski into the hotel.

'I've never snowboarded before.' 'That's okay honey, I'll teach you.'

Equipment at Vivaldi Park is very decent. And not too expensive to rent. If you do night skiing... renting equipment, even jackets and the lift ticket was all together 40,000 won. Ye-ah and a free ride from Seoul too.

Half-yawn. Half-yell. Full Self-Ca. Who skis at this hour? Koreans of course!

Here's a shot of the top of the mountain. Even after all these years... the boarders seem here to stay. The Seoulite is old school and he'll stick to skis and scotch. Kids these days. There's K-pop pumping out of speakers as you ski down the hill and as you ride up along the lift.

Take a break with seafood stew. So warm and delicious on a cold, freezing night.

Karen is giving me the ATL finger. Why so shy about taking photos?

Fortunately, The Seoulite is always down for a picture!

Exactly how cold was it? Over minus 16 degrees... without any wind chill. Seriously, it was one of the coldest nights in Korea... and the coldest I've ever skiied in. So cold that I started to worry about frostbite... but needed to get these photos!

After riding the lift to the top, it's too cold to ski right away. Warm up your body in the lodge and heat up your gloves first!

So that's what I look like when trying to keep warm...

Drink a latte at the top of the mountain. At 3AM. It feels so wicked. How do they get electricity and food up here?

Back at base camp... the weary rest their heads. At about the same hour... many Seoulites are in a similar position on a club table from alcohol debauchery.

Back home on the coldest night this year. No need to stay at the hotel... sleep on the bus. Didn't get to see the view on the way there or back but what does it matter. Seoul is the best!

The best way to impress diners is to display rows upon rows of empty wine bottles. Don't they know it's bad feng shui!

There is so much room and interesting interior decor inside.

Seoulites love to sit under trees in fine dining environments.

This is the highlight of a seafood buffet for Korean parents... and people of the Seoulite's generation getting to their 30s... crab legs!

Do you miss mozzerella tomato drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette?

Or oysters on the half shell?

Amazing bionic mushroom plate.

This is going to be a long entry. Light on commentary... Long on pictures to make you hungry.

Make your own shabu shabu.

Roasted garlic done to perfection. Pizza actually good too. There were nachos as well. Thanks but no thanks to that bridge to Taco Bell.

Spicy salmon rolls - very good.

Sundried tomato. How I missed thee.

Amazing spice fig pound cake.

Lychees. I saw a woman shove these into her purse... not here... but at a wedding... won't name whose... but she wasn't a Seoulite I could tell you that. The lychees were still wet yet she wanted them so baaad it wouldn't matter if she ruined her purse.

Yummy pears.

Happy ice cream eater.

Ice cream eater's reaction to a comment that it looked a little fruity. Don't mess with a man and his ice cream.

This is a great place to go with large groups. We were seated next to a wedding... and we even made the wedding video!

Merry Christmas!

Here to greet you is a replica of a Greek or Roman ruin complete with fountain and classical music.

When it is time for a crazy sale, they will put merchandise right out in the foyer. Korean ladies are notoriously aggressive when it comes to sales. Don't be alarmed if you feel a lot of elbows.

I almost died taking this picture. Do not occupy someone's space in front of sale merchandise if all you're going to do is act like a tourist! For your safety!

Here's the secret to efficient shopping... particularly for male Seoulites who don't like to spend a lot of time shopping. Since department stores are so accessible, periodically go in and take the escalator to the men's clothing floor. There are usually special sales racks like this one with heavy discounts. Be sure to check both floors - there are usually two - and both the up and down escalator platforms. If it's perfect, get it. If not, then just ride back down. It's the best ten minutes you can spend if shopping pains you. You'll end up with a really nice wardrobe that doesn't take a lot of time and money if you do this consistently over time. It's so awesome. For girls who like that whole hunting and discovering part of shopping... carry on. I will never accompany you though.

Here are shirts on sale. By the way, Seoulites refer dress shirts as a white shirt... it doesn't matter if it's blue, checkered or pink. If it is a dress shirt that's what it is... a white shirt. So if a sales clerk asks if you're looking for a white shirt, don't say no... I'm looking for a green one. Just say yes.

And these are the best white shirts in the world... Brooks Brothers no iron slim fit. You will never have to go to a dry cleaners again. Currently 30% off... price is still mucho inflated than the US... the Seoulite admits he wandered from the escalator. They got perturbed that I took this picture though. Yes, 'perturbed' because it was a prissy type of mad. Don't they know I will be sending thousands of people to their store now? Who knew Brooks Brothers was at Lotte Department Store in Jamsil?

Relax looking at this pretty fixture upstairs in the food court... which is really a bunch of restaurants. A true food court in a US mall type of fashion is usually found in the basement level of a department store right next to its grocery section.

Women's floor. I will only look at it from a distance.

Entrance to Lotte World! It feels a lot like Disneyland... but right in the heart of Seoul. It is so easy to get here.

Admission ranges from 20,000 - 30,000 won with discounts after 5pm. The park is open 365 days a year until 11pm. An annual pass costs 150,000 won.

Want a flavor of what it's like inside? Just go towards the ice rink and look up. The third level is Lotte World... the indoor portion. The second and first floors are publicly accessible parts of the mall and skating rink.

This is a great ice rink. One caveat. The air in here is very stuffy. Not enough oxygen. It's like living in a biosphere.

The inner rink is reserved for young skating prodigies and their trainers. These little Seoulites can twirl on a dime!

Lotteria... the Burger King of the Lotte empire. Never eat here. It is so disgusting and bland. If you're going to eat fast food... better eat it right... like at the Krispy Kreme a few stores down.

Do you need a vacuum cleaner or toothpaste after going to the amusement park? Head into Lotte Mart which is a few steps away from the entrance to Lotte World.

And get a souvenir before you leave.

This is shot from the viewpoint of a spying neighbor on Wisteria Lane.

Koreans won't waste good water on manicured green lawns however.

Yep, and there goes the neighborhood.

We barbecuing Korean style. It is hard work and a lot of fanning to get that fire going. No charcoal briquettes. Just a gas torch, fan, leaves, and charcoal woodblocks.

'Does this look like Northridge to you too?' 'Nah, looks more like Diamond Bar to me.'

Picnic time on the deck.

Peace.

Lots of peace!

Someone is showing them how to use Easy Cheese. Just kidding. That's the most suburban thing I could think of.