The Ananti: an impossible hotel in North Korea
The Ananti Kumgang Mountains is located in North Korea. With this I could start and finish writing and everything would be clear. But I plan to continue. These days, North Korea is alarming more than usual when its leader, much loved, of course, has claimed that he has missiles aimed at the United States. It would be funny if it wasn't dramatic.
The borders between the two Koreas are closed. And this hotel, looking so calm, so prepared to receive people with their suitcases and their desire, is too. No one knows when it will open and if it will ever. It is an impossible hotel.
** The Ananti is in a special region of North Korea that was created in 2002 to receive tourists**. South Koreans could travel there but in 2008 it was closed again. They disagreed about what "demilitarized" meant.
an ordinary hotel
From the pictures it looks like a normal nice hotel. Has stunning views of the Kumgang Mountains , 96 rooms, fireplaces and candles, 18-hole golf course, outdoor pools, and nothing like a North Korean hotel, which is usually (more or less crazy) blocks of concrete with no soul.
It belongs to the GHM label, an Asian chain with hotels, few but good, all over the world. We do not know the reasons that led GHM to build a hotel in that area. I don't know them but I would love to meet them.
Other hotels that we probably won't go to are those in the rest of North Korea . In Pyongyang, the capital, there are various monstrosities such as the Koryo Hotel or the Yanggakdo, aimed at business travelers and the few who manage or need to go there. I confess: I like them all in their hypertrophied ugliness. I would go to everyone. A hotel perversion like any other.
No one knows when The Ananti will open