lifestyle WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2017

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North Korean visitors at the Masikryong ski resort, near ’s east coast port city of .

This photo shows a general view of the Masikryong ski resort, near North Korea's east coast port city of Wonsan. — AFP photos This photo shows members of a “ski camp” at the Masikryong ski resort, near North Korea’s east coast port city of Wonsan. Snow business: Empty slopes at N Korea's ski resort

utside a large stone tablet acclaims "the work of Dear Leader Kim Jong-Un who devoted hard work and heart Oand soul to make our people the happiest and most civi- lized people". On the ski fields of Mount Taehwa, groomed pistes snake down wooded hillsides to a luxurious hotel and a giant screen showing a North Korean army choir. But the runs are emp- ty. Work began on Masikryong ski resort, the only one in the North and the brainchild of Supreme Leader Kim Jong-Un, after Pyeongchang in the neighboring South was awarded the . The impoverished, nuclear-armed nation has ramshackle infrastructure and around 40 percent of its people are undernourished, according to the Global Hunger Index. But the luxurious resort boasts a wood-paneled reception and statues of winter sports athletes. Outside a large stone tablet acclaims "the work of Dear Leader Kim Jong-Un who devoted hard work and heart and soul to make our people the happiest and most civilized people". At a visitor center packed with pictures of Kim - including one of him using a chairlift, although without skis - guides credit him with giving on-the-spot guidance no few- er than 144 times over the course of construction. The resort is a three-hour drive from Pyongyang, down a potholed concrete road that passes through unlit tunnels and which civilian work crews clear of snow and ice by hand after fresh falls. The warm A general view of the Masikryong ski resort, near North Korea's east coast port city of A general view of the lobby of the Masikryong ski resort, near North Korea’s east coast comforts inside are a world away from the scenes outside the Wonsan. port city of Wonsan. entrance checkpoint, where peasant farmers drag sleds loaded with firewood across frozen lakes, and ox-drawn carts are used for transport. And - aside from the nursery slopes - it is deserted. the Democratic People's Republic of Korea - around 100 of whom is for the improvement of the welfare of our people," he said. "We quite a white elephant either. It's going to take time." But Andrei were on the single nursery slope - they are priced at the equiva- do not calculate." Pyongyang has a "byungjin" policy of "simulta- Lankov, director of website NK News and professor at Kookmin Happy lives lent of about $30 at free-market rates. By some estimates that neous development", meaning pursuing both GDP growth and University in Seoul, said Pyongyang's tourism expectations have A second-hand Doppelmayr bubble lift, the ski boxes still sten- approaches an ordinary worker's monthly salary. But most will go nuclear weapons at the same time, even though it is subject to been "absolutely unfounded" and "nearly comical". Kim Jong-Un cilled with 'Ischgl', its original Austrian home, takes visitors to the on group trips organized by their work unit, school or organiza- multiple sets of UN sanctions over its atomic and missile programs went to school in Switzerland, he pointed out. "He just decided top of Mt Taehwa, where a handful of curious Westerners enjoy tion, at zero or minimal cost. After trying skiing for the first time, - among them a ban on luxuries, including snowmobiles and to emulate what he saw there," he said. "He saw wonderful the thrill of having almost an entire resort to themselves. With a ship's captain Kwak Jong-Song said he found it "refreshing". "recreational sports equipment". mountains in Korea, which are indeed beautiful, and he said why 700-metre vertical drop, the skiing compares favorably to other "I would like to thank our Supreme Leader Kim Jong-Un who is At a parade this month for the 105th birth anniversary of not make our country into a tourist destination like Switzerland destinations in neighboring China or . At one point on giving his whole devotion to our people's happy lives," he said. founder Kim Il-Sung it displayed an arsenal of devices, including a so we can make a lot of money like Switzerland does." The incon- a weekend afternoon in peak season, Swede Patrik Hultberg was Ordinary North Koreans normally only ever express officially-sanc- suspected new intercontinental ballistic missile, as well as floats gruity of the situation is not lost on some Masikryong visitors. the only skier on the slopes, he said. "That's really cool. I wish I tioned views when speaking to foreigners. showing mock-ups of prestige property projects. Masikryong was Norwegian Eidnes, 29, said he had been treated "like a king" at could experience it more, hitting new pistes and there's nobody part of a regional development plan and driven by authorities' Masikryong. "It's very opulent, things are very nice," he added. there." Norwegian software developer Lars Eidnes has previously White elephant? view that a prosperous country should have a ski resort, said Nick "That's a sharp contrast to normal life for everyone. It's been on snowboarded in Iran and Kyrgyzstan. "If you want to escalate from Resort executives say it sees 70,000 visitors a year. Such figures Bonner, director of specialist North Korea travel agency Koryo our minds." — AFP there, then you come to DPRK," he said. are hard to square with the uncrowded vistas, but hotel director Tours, which offers it among its destinations. "So they built it." Day passes for foreigners cost almost $100, while for citizens of An Song-Ryol insists it is profitable. "We do not mind the cost if it "It's not busy, it's never been busy," he told AFP. "But it's not Local bulldog named Drake University's beautiful bulldog

he blue tutu and diamond necklace that Prudence was wearing helped win over the judges at this year's TBeautiful Bulldog contest at Drake University. The 2 1/2- year-old bulldog owned by Angela and Tom Miller of Des Moines won the contest on Sunday. The tongue-in-cheek contest is the opening event of the Drake Relays, a prestigious track and field meet to be held at Drake Stadium. Drake athletic director Sandy Hatfield, who served as a judge, says Prudence is "just gorgeous." Student body President Thalia Anguiana was another judge. She says there's This Friday, April 21, 2017, shows a 600-year-old white oak tree on the grounds of Basking Ridge Presbyterian just something about Prudence's face that made her beauti- Church in Bernards, NJ. — AP photos ful. More than 1,000 people watched the contest as 38 bull- dogs competed. Another 4,000 watched live online. — AP

Max, owned by Katrina Shain, of Sullivan, Ill, waits to be Beloved 600-year-old white judged during the 38th annual Drake Relays Beautiful Bulldog Contest, Sunday in Des Moines, Iowa. — AP photos oak tree takes final bow BERNARDS: A white oak tree that has watched over a New The tree pieces were loaded onto a log truck and taken Jersey community and a church for hundreds of years to an undisclosed site where they will be evaluated and began its final bow Monday as crews began its removal inventoried. Officials still are deciding what to do with the and residents fondly remembered the go-to spot for for- wood and what will be put on the site where the tree mal photos, landmark for driving directions and the stood. The tree has been an important part of the commu- remarkable piece of natural history. Crews at the Basking nity since the town's inception in the 1700s. Officials say it Ridge Presbyterian Church in Bernards began taking down was the site of a picnic Gen. George Washington held with the 600-year-old tree that was declared dead after it the Marquis de Lafayette, and the Rev. George Whitefield, began showing rot and weakness during the last couple of a noted evangelist, preached to more than 3,000 people years. They were due to return to the church Tuesday - beneath the tree in 1740. weather permitting - to continue the process, which is "It's just always been there, it's always been a part of expected to be completed today. my town and now it's time to just say goodbye," Amanda "Over the past few years (the tree's) health has declined Hughes said Monday. "It's dead, it's lived a good life and quite dramatically. Our folks did everything possible to it's time for it to come down, and we will remember it in help its health be restored, but it was just the end of its life different ways now." Arborists say the tree had stood for and it was not meant to be," the Rev Dennis Jones, the nearly 300 years before the church was built in 1717. It church's pastor, said as the work got underway. The stands about 100 feet tall, has a trunk circumference of 18 removal work drew lots of attention from residents of a feet and has a branch spread of roughly 150 feet. Its death bedroom community about 30 miles (48 kilometers) west was likely due to its age. But there is a silver lining for tree of New York and other tree fans who saw it as a chance to fans: Another white oak cultivated from the old tree's bid a final farewell to their close friend. Hundreds of peo- acorns was recently planted at the church, so its legacy Clyde, owned by ple came by during the day to watch the work, many will continue at the church. — AP Stephanie Prescott, appearing somber as they watched workers use chain of Ankeny, Iowa, saws to cut down limbs and branches. waits to be judged.