JULY 17, 2000 VOL. 156 NO. 2

Detour

TRAVEL WATCH Finding Rustic Charm Down on the Farm All over the world, farms and ranches are turning the curiosity of city slickers into a profitable sideline Detour The Shilla Hotel began life as a state guesthouse and remains the choice of vips from George Bush to Michael Jackson Short Cuts The most expensive cities in the world Web Crawling A directory portal for facts on airlines, hotels and destinations

Architecture and history buffs can feel shortchanged in Seoul, which lost so much of its character during the Korean War. But the Shilla Hotel is worth a look. The Shilla began life as a state guesthouse and remains the choice of vips from George Bush to Michael Jackson. The original guesthouse, a magnificent Korean-style, tile-roofed building, now caters to banquets and weddings. On its grounds are remnants of Seoul's old fortress wall, where newlyweds like to pose. The hotel also maintains a jogging trail, which is dotted by 70 bronze and stone sculptures by contemporary Korean artists. Rooms start at $210. Tel. (882) 230-3310.

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