White Christmas in South Korea Part 1

*Photos will be added later - too busy to process all those photos!* 

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We spent Christmas in freezing Seoul and its surrounding outskirts this year - all thanks to Hubby who was there for work and who persuaded me to join him in frosty winter with the Bees. I was hesitant at first, as I wasn't very keen to spend a cold chilly holiday in yet another Asian capital city. Furthermore, Big Bee and I were there with Hubby just 3 years ago. However, after reading up a little on small towns and ski resorts, I decided to book super last-minute tickets so we could all indulge in a little wintery holiday! 

Here are some of the highlights of our dreamy escapism from 22 to 29 December 2011. 

1. Firsts

This trip encompassed many firsts for us:

a) First time I travelled with the 2 Bees alone, dragging a gigantic luggage, 2 smaller bags and a stroller. Thank goodness Big Bee is really Mummy's little helper by now, assisting me to hold Little Bee's hand and keeping an eye on Little Bee. It was heartwarming when I saw them ahead of me, pacing the large busy airport, holding hands and chatting mirthfully together. 

Little Bee is also a big sensible girl now, so it was rather easy to navigate around the customs alone with them. Things may get done a little slower, eg when the girls needed help to take off their cumbersome winter boots at the customs checks; when they took turns dashing to the toilet upon arrival in Seoul, which also meant that we were one of the last passengers on the flight to slowly collect our gigantic luggage from the belt; when they needed help to layer up their winter sweaters, jackets, gloves and hats when we reached the Seoul airport, and finally, when I had to slowly shepherd 2 excited girls (in sub-zero temperature!) into the Seoul airport shuttle bus when they would rather prance around in the glacial cold! 

But it was exhilarating to spend quality time with them on the plane, both of them on each side of me - yakking and giggling away, in strong anticipation of a wintery holiday. And it was all worth it when we saw Hubby waiting eagerly for us at the hotel's bus bay even though we arrived on one of his busier working days. 

b) First time that the Bees experienced a snowfall! 

Little Bee was the one with the sharp eye who saw snow falling outside as we adjourned back to the hotel after dinner on 23 December. She exclaimed loudly, "IT'S SNOWING!", and we all thought it was a figment of her imagination - until we saw the flurries rapidly pelting down outside! 

The Bees dashed outside to enjoy the soft falling snow, opening their mouths wide and extending their warm tongues to taste the cold snowflakes in delight. The snowfall was so heavy that the pavements and cars were all turning white rapidly and our hair, faces and clothes were literally covered with a misty white covering of flurries - which made the whole experience so wonderfully magical! 

They were squealing in pure excitement, and hopping up and down like little bunnies. I had never seen them so ecstatic in a while. 

The Bees went back to the hotel room to don on waterproof gloves so that they could play with the swiftly accumulating snow on the pavement. We threw snowballs at each other, much to the Bees' immense delight. We also tried using our bare fingers to touch the snow - freshly fallen snow is so beautifully dry, powdery and soft! 

Surprisingly, the cold is usually a lot more bearable when it is snowing, because it actually gets warmer when it snows (the warmth causes snowfall, amazing!) - so we could play a little longer outside at 10.30pm in temperatures of -5 to -9 degrees Celsius. 

It was a truly enchanting moment. 

We also had a few captivating moments watching the snow falling from our room in the dark, seeing how the brilliant white snowflakes illuminate the entire night sky.

The morning after, it was even more alluring to see the whole city bathed in a thin cloak of magnificently white fairy dust. 

c) First time that the family visited a ski resort, and the first time that Hubby and Big Bee tried skiing. On our final day in Seoul, we made a day trip to the nearest ski resort (as all the rooms were fully booked due to the festive period), which was around an hour's drive from Seoul. I selected a ski resort that was more child-friendly with sledding slopes, a few beginners' ski slopes and fun facilities like playrooms and bowling alleys in case the weather turns overly glacial on us! 

It was teeming with school children on field trips which explained why no rooms were available. But it was bewitching to be surrounded by dazzling white ski slopes and resplendent rolling hills all covered with a light sprinkling of white snow, thanks to the recent snowfall. It was certainly therapeutic to escape the dense crowds of downtown Seoul to this serene slice of tranquillity. 

We warmed up with an enlivening sledding session - with Big Bee sledding around 10 times down the slope! Little Bee loved sledding as well, although she was nicely ensconced with Hubby in a small sled. In fact, she loved it so much that she lay down on the sled on the 4th round with Hubby behind her. The momentum of 2 persons on a sled when they stopped was so strong that supine Little Bee was covered with snow from head to toe when she emerged from the sled, resulting in a wet and very cold little girl!  

Which was when I quickly bundled her up and herded her to a nearby restaurant to dry and warm up, while Big Bee and Hubby continued with their sledding fun. 

Lunch was in a restaurant with architecture that was redolent of European alpine resorts. Menu choices were limited but anything steamy hot was welcomed in a cold environment! We sat by the large windows and immersed ourselves in the stunning vistas of forested woods on gently rolling hills, lightly frosted with snow.  

Hubby and Big Bee took ski lessons with a ski instructor for about an hour, and was able to take a ski lift up a gentle beginners' slope for an exalting run down the slope! It was invigorating just to see their happily lit-up faces as they ski-ed past Little Bee and us. Big Bee told me she loved the experience of skiing and it was apparent that a short afternoon of skiing wasn't enough for her. 

Meanwhile, Little Bee was busy trying to make snowmen, little snowcastles and frosty hills as well as snowballs. Her affinity to snow is almost like her affinity to sand - she could squat and play with the powdery magic for ages. I asked her whether she prefer sandy beach resorts or snowy ski resorts, and she told me she likes the latter because she could make snowmen. I think I better start her on building sandmen when we are back in Singapore! 

Being cold also meant we craved for warm snacks regularly - the Bees were ravishing warm hot dog sticks, piping hot corn sticks and rice balls! However, I must say we deliberately chose a warmer day to be at the ski resort, so that it would be a lot more comfortable for us to indulge in a full day outdoors. 

....to be continued...Part 2...