CRAZE FOR SKIING ON MASIK PASS

             The craze for skiing on Masik Pass sweeps across the DPRK these days.

New Craze and New Scenery

Ever since the Masikryong Ski Resort was opened to the public, it has always seethed with holidaymakers. Nowadays, however, their number is sharply increasing. Bus and other traffic services are provided from Pyongyang and other major cities to Masik Pass. Boasting of modern architectural beauty blended well with the rugged mountains, the ski resort is crowded with people from all walks of life including young students.

What catches everyone’s eye first is the long stretches of ski runs which are brimming over with optimism and joy.

Young people are so brave as to ski down at breakneck speed from the top of steep silvery runs, and snowmobiles are rushing up from the foot to the peak of the pass, raising fine sprays of snow. Among them is seen a family on a snow sledge sliding down at high speed, giving out thrills of excitement and shrill laughs. All these present spectacular sight.

Skiers in colourful gears going up the mountain by chairlift look like “beautiful flowers” rising up to the blue sky. All the holidaymakers, regardless of age, sex and occupation, enjoy themselves to their heart’s content.

Here a fisherman from the east coast has a friendly chat with a lumberjack from the northern tip of the country and there a young farmer couple ski down for the third time. An elderly couple cheers up their grandchildren sledging.

Girls who are sensitive to the trend derive from ski gears an inspiration for the designs of their fashionable dress. Found there are newlyweds enjoying their honeymoon and schoolchildren competing with one another in skiing, nurturing their dream of being ski aces. At the snow and skating grounds, children are engrossed in training their skills. The winter campers of the Songdowon International Children’s Union Camp also come to the resort.

Though it is cold outside, people enjoy a bath in the indoor swimming pool of Masikryong Hotel. As a multilateral service system is established in it, the resort offers an impressive catering service to the visitors.

The mineral water gushing out of the pass is very popular for its good taste and abundant minerals good for health and other elements with medicinal effects. So the dishes of edible herbs treated with the water, a specialty of the pass, taste unique.

Coffee shops serve mocha, latte, cappuccino and other world-famous coffees. The night view of Masik Pass is also fantastic with its attractive snows cape, modern ski resort, fresh air, the dazzling illuminations and unceasing melodic songs adding much to its exquisite pastoralist.