"You are a Great Conversationalist."

A piece of wisdom: If you listen--truly listen--people will feel heard.



You needn't say a word. Perhaps nod your head, cluck your tongue, smile, cup a hand. The connection will be made.



And you'll be called a great conversationalist.

Seoul Survivor.

Seoul has been in the news and on my mind.

Last winter, I was diverted from Thailand due to protests that shut the country's airports down. I was fortuitously re-routed through Seoul.

Talk about a soft landing.

Though I have traveled for years in Asia, I had never spent time Seoul. South Korea's capitol city is Asia-lite in the best sense: easy to navigate, full of English speakers, yet still thrillingly vibrant with an East-meets-West flair.

Perched on Mount Namsan--the city's highest point--The Grand Hyatt Seoul is an oasis for cosmopolitan residents, intrepid travelers, ex-pats and power brokers. There's a serene spa, a fantastic gourmet grocery store and, best of all, a gracious and accomodating staff.

Seoul is surprising in the best way: it exceeds expectations.

http://seoul.grand.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp

500 Days of Summer.

Boy Meets Girl. It's a formulaic staple of song, books and movies.

But 500 Days of Summer is given a completely fresh reworking by the male writers and director, and especially the hugely appealing actors, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zoeey Deschanel.

This is pure celluloid joy. You'll laugh, you'll cry. You'll want to hug a member of the opposite sex.

And face it: that's a winning formula.

http://www.foxsearchlight.com/500daysofsummer/

Green Porno?

Who knew the lengths that dishy Italian actress Isabella Rossellini would go to in promoting animal mating habits?

Following a successsful first season in 2008, she continues to don silly homemade costumes to prove that "nature is scandalous" when it comes to sexual behavior.

The program is whimsical, informative and scientifcally accurate.

http://www.sundancechannel.com/greenporno/

Delicious Cinema.

Nora Ephron, the writer-director of the new film Julie & Julia says her main goal was to make people walk out of the movie "starving to death."

Yes, the beouf bourguignon looks yummy. But I was hungry for more Meryl Streep, who stars as the indominable Julia Child.

Turns out Child was herself a real dish--spirited, sexy and unstoppable.

What a summer treat.

Are you an Urban Pansy?

Does your favorite guy fall a bit short in the home improvement category?

This article from the August issue of GQ is one of the funniest I have read in ages.

http://men.style.com/gq/features/landing?id=content_10057

When in Istanbul..

For the past 2 weeks, I have been in Turkey taking care of complex (family) business.

It's been made easier by the staff at Istanbul's chic Radisson Blu, situated right on the Bosphorus. It's a true 'see and be seen' spot--posh but not pretentious.

Against the lapping waves at StarBoard restaurant, a diverse crowd can be spotted.

Tycoons arrive via boat wıth coiffed models, businesspeople close deals over cocktails and wealthy Saudi women in black abayas converse in family groups. The city's top clubs are mere steps away. The scene reminds me of South Beach Miami.

Until the moon rises and the call to prayer echoes from the mosque.

Then I am reminded that nowhere on earth is Istanbul. A city both enduring and contemporary, a bewitching blend of East and West.

http://www.radissonblu.com/hotel-istanbul