Well after the relatively eventless day of Tuesday, Wednesday was like an overload for me. 'Cause Wednesday is the day we went to DISNEYLAND!!! Tokyo. Alright so I wasn't overly anxious to go, it was a take it or leave it thing for me to start with. But I have to say I'm am glad I did go, if only for the experience. We took a train, blah blah blah, we arrived and walked in.
The place is so Fairytale like, though I'm sure that is how it is meant to be to give the impression of walking into a different world. Walking in the front doors you are greeted by the well manicured gardens and beautifully clean buildings, much like I'd expect in my fantasy world. So our first decision was where do we go? Well I suggested that like a maze, we should stick left, then we'll find our way out eventually, but Conrad's desire to go "to the world of tomorrow, TODAY!" was overuling. So we took a right instead. We walked down a little alley with different shops on either side selling their wares. Some lovely displays in the windows but completely misleading to what was actually through the door (Merchandising).
We arrived into the world of tomorrow and we were eager to get onto a ride, so up first was the Star Tours!(TM) ride. I thought I could get lifetime membership at the Skywalker Ranch because I noticed that they were using the same font as Star Wars (a registered Trademark of the Lucasarts Corporation). However my hopes were quickly dashed when I found out it was a Disney/George Lucas joint project. Oh well, a Star Wars ride is at least a little cool. So after lining up for about 30 minutes we made it onto the ride (Steven, Conrad, Whitney and I, but didn't want to go on in case it was a rollercoaster, and the signs were a little misleading). It was a moving shuttle/video screen affair, however, as it was all in Japanese I'm not quite sure what the droid flying the shuttle was saying, however I did say to him at 1 point "just stop apologising and fly the damn shuttle". I figured at this point that "rides" in Japan are probably a lot more tame then I'd like/i'm used to.
So after departing that ride we wandered around till we got to a GRAN PRIX RACING ride. WOOOO. Everyone jumped on this ride, though mum and Whitney "shared" the experience. It consisted of engined cars that you drive around a track, however they had a top speed of nothing, and they were technically on a track, however you could steer, within reason. Yay.
Well after some more walking around we made it to Toon Town, where we took a few photo's with us acting the fool and doing silly things, and any ideas to get on one of the rollercoasters was quickly cut down when we saw the 100m long line extending from the entrance. And the wait from the entrance was 40 minutes. So with that idea squashed we headed to another area where we found Alice in Wonderland references, and decided that as it was 12 or so, we should eat.
Walking into the Wonderland themed restaurant was an experience. It was so, surreal. All the way from the entrance to the exit (which was technically the same door) was themed and it really sort of dragged you kicking and screaming into the experience. Although I would have preferred it to be a little Cheshire Cat creepier. After having a roast beef and Caesar Salad though (typically theme park prices, but the quality was at least good) we left and made our way to... dun dun dun... a shop. Whitney wanted to find something to buy, although she already had a pair of Minnie Mouse ears. Well, we walked into the Aristocats store and back out again, and into Fantasy Land, or whatever it was called. Sure, great, except for 1 thing, the huge big castle in the middle of Disneyland, the one they show as their Image, well, you couldn't climb it. Hell they didn't even have "Buy a ticket to see the tower" tours. Disappointment. And if I was any more honest I guarantee I would have jumped the fence and climbed up the stairs to get some shots from the balconies.
Anyhow, as we walked from under the castle we took a few photo's at the entrance, before me Whitney and Mum where asked to pose for a photo with some nice young Japanese girls. Now, I don't mind, I like having photo's with young ladies, even if they are complete strangers. I would prefer it actually, rather then the sideways glances I'm always getting. Sure, blond hair and blue eyes is extremely unique in Tokyo/Japan, but it doesn't mean I am a monster and I really, really don't mind if you come up and say Hi. I'm friendly. I promise. But I digress. A photo or 2 and we are on our way again. By this time we are walking up the main path where the parade is going, and the parade is about to start, meaning 1 thing, the rides will be quieter. So off we go back to toon town to get on the RESCUE RANGERS ROLLERCOASTER!
Well, it was still a wait of 30 minutes, but better then the hour we would have had to wait. I even found out that I can do a pretty good Mickey Mouse voice, thanks to Conrad trying to talk like him. I've always known I could mimic most voices, but Mickey Mouse was new to me. But none-the-less I used this new ability to the full. As we were getting on the ride I said "oh boy" (Mickey Mouse voice), and the 2 ladies (Well, 1 was probably my age, and I think she had her mum with her) started to laugh a little. The ride set's of and as we get to the top, I yell once again in Mickey character "Oh boy, here we go, this'll be fun" and the 2 ladies start bursting out laughing. It's nice to have a new audience. However I can't say the ride was as fun for me and Steven. 30 minutes of waiting and a 1 minute ride doesn't do it for me. Our conversation consisted of "I think you car has more G force then this ride Steven", "Yeah, and it goes faster too", "Yep".
Well the ride ends, and as we roll around the last corner into the station, I look at one of the young guys walking onto the ride, I get eye contact, and say once again in character "Oh boy, this is the best ride ever, your going to love it". This kid just stairs in confusion at me. And we all start laughing. What was I supposed to do?
Right well off the ride, and it's a walk to Westernland, and a pitstop for us all. Wander around some more, over to Adventureland. Swiss Family Robinson house, then we look in a couple of shops, take a River Cruise (the guy driving the boat was speaking Japanese, and everyone was laughing, so I just smiled and didn't understand anything), a few more stores, and it was about called a day. We had a quick peek at the musical that was going on, and after lasting 2 minutes of assault to our ear drums, we walked back to the main entrance area. Whitney and Mum wanted to look in some shops for souvenirs, so us Boyz!(TM) went to a cafe to get a coffee. I loved the Cafe, not for the coffee, but for the full Art Deco interior. Also the waitresses were wearing period clothing, and it looked awesome.
A quick wander out the doors and we were back in reality. We got on a train, and went to Super Autobacs to find Steven some breakpads (they are open till late so, but we were getting drained quickly) so after another hour we were all ready to break. Back to Tokyo station and we stopped at the Sushi place we had gone the previous year. The one where the old guys love to pile on the Wasabi (I love it). A few beers and 8 plates of Sushi and it was time to crash.
We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of the dreams.
Disney don't make anything, they just "Borrow" ideas.
I "borrowed" one of theirs display, be right back.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Tuesday, is my blues-day. Where for art though snow?
Well conditions on Monday were a little slushy, with the higher temperatures starting to destroy all the lovely snow, which was fortunate seeing as we were leaving today. We ordered breakfast at 7 and said goodbye to the very nice and polite dining staff, and got our bags ready to get on a bus ride for 70 minutes or so.
Not much to report about the ride to the Shinkansen ("Bullet" train) or even to Tokyo, but we arrived nicely and without much trouble. We sent Mum and Whitney on a bus to the hotel, and Conrad and I set off for the hote on foot, seeing as we had 2 large board bags that wouldn't fit in a taxi anyhow. After walking a large distance, and getting warmer by the minute, we met Steven on one of the last turns before the hotel. Seems he couldn't get the last bag into the Taxi, so he just walked as well.
We made it too the hotel and waited for the Girlz!(TM), and after they finally arrived (the driver said Steven had sent him to the wrong address, but apparently he had to ask for directions for where he was going from passersby) we were told by Center Hotel that book in wasn't until 3pm. And it was 12.30 or so. Not a problem, I mean I did tell them we might not arrive until 3 anyhow. So we left our baggage with them and set off for some food. Mos Burger was the place to go, I had a hankering for a Chilli Cheezburger. Well guess what, no Chilli Cheezburger, but there was a spicy cheeseburger. So I ordered that and a large fries and coke. The young lady behind the counter who helped us spoke fairly good English, and was so bubbly you couldn't help but smile at her. It was sort of funny when I said thank you for my food she had brought me, and as she was walking off she said in a low voice "No Problem". Cute.
We ate our food in a park next to a school that sits behind the hotel we are at, and afterwards set off for the Yaesu mall to show Conrad all the fun that lies below the streets. It is a large mall area with many shops showing off their wares. Well we walked around for a while until it was 3 and then set back for the hotel. We had to check-in and change clothing, as we all felt like hobo's/out of place in amongst the black suits and coats of Tokyo Business Central. So after a shower and a change we headed out for some eats and to explore some more.
We showed Conrad many a cake shop and all the excitement of the Daimaru centre. And after a purchase or 2 we made our way to the Gyoza place I had been craving for the last year.
And they didn't disappoint. They had added a large 2-3 person feed on the menu and Conrad and I went shares in that, as did Steven and Mum, whilst Whitney ordered the Ramen bowl and a plate of Gyoza. So add to that a beer, and then a highball afterwards and another plate of Gyoza (there are 3 types, Pork, Beef and Pork, and Beef made with wagyu, and all different sizes) and we walked out fatter and happier. So were do we go but the local little bottle shop.
When I say little, I mean in size it is smaller, but the range is AMAZING. Plus, they allow you to try 10ml of a bottle for whatever price is being offered. So when I spotted a 32 year old bottle of Blackadder Scotch Whisky to try for 250yen I couldn't pass up the opportunity. And boy did it burn. The taste was so smooth, but rather then burn the throat, it tingled the lips and burnt the stomach, it was that strong and smooth. But at $100 a bottle I couldn't afford anymore. So we got a bottle of Courvousie (?) Cognac and we headed back for the hotel. And that's about it. We walked back, stopping at a supermarket on the way, and settled in to sleep for the night. Apparently I found out today we are going to Disneyland Tokyo tomorrow. Who knew.
I am but a mushroom. They keep my in the dark and feed me *crap*.
I've eaten enough mushrooms this week, in soup.
Soup is the poor man's Scotch Whisky.
Not much to report about the ride to the Shinkansen ("Bullet" train) or even to Tokyo, but we arrived nicely and without much trouble. We sent Mum and Whitney on a bus to the hotel, and Conrad and I set off for the hote on foot, seeing as we had 2 large board bags that wouldn't fit in a taxi anyhow. After walking a large distance, and getting warmer by the minute, we met Steven on one of the last turns before the hotel. Seems he couldn't get the last bag into the Taxi, so he just walked as well.
We made it too the hotel and waited for the Girlz!(TM), and after they finally arrived (the driver said Steven had sent him to the wrong address, but apparently he had to ask for directions for where he was going from passersby) we were told by Center Hotel that book in wasn't until 3pm. And it was 12.30 or so. Not a problem, I mean I did tell them we might not arrive until 3 anyhow. So we left our baggage with them and set off for some food. Mos Burger was the place to go, I had a hankering for a Chilli Cheezburger. Well guess what, no Chilli Cheezburger, but there was a spicy cheeseburger. So I ordered that and a large fries and coke. The young lady behind the counter who helped us spoke fairly good English, and was so bubbly you couldn't help but smile at her. It was sort of funny when I said thank you for my food she had brought me, and as she was walking off she said in a low voice "No Problem". Cute.
We ate our food in a park next to a school that sits behind the hotel we are at, and afterwards set off for the Yaesu mall to show Conrad all the fun that lies below the streets. It is a large mall area with many shops showing off their wares. Well we walked around for a while until it was 3 and then set back for the hotel. We had to check-in and change clothing, as we all felt like hobo's/out of place in amongst the black suits and coats of Tokyo Business Central. So after a shower and a change we headed out for some eats and to explore some more.
We showed Conrad many a cake shop and all the excitement of the Daimaru centre. And after a purchase or 2 we made our way to the Gyoza place I had been craving for the last year.
And they didn't disappoint. They had added a large 2-3 person feed on the menu and Conrad and I went shares in that, as did Steven and Mum, whilst Whitney ordered the Ramen bowl and a plate of Gyoza. So add to that a beer, and then a highball afterwards and another plate of Gyoza (there are 3 types, Pork, Beef and Pork, and Beef made with wagyu, and all different sizes) and we walked out fatter and happier. So were do we go but the local little bottle shop.
When I say little, I mean in size it is smaller, but the range is AMAZING. Plus, they allow you to try 10ml of a bottle for whatever price is being offered. So when I spotted a 32 year old bottle of Blackadder Scotch Whisky to try for 250yen I couldn't pass up the opportunity. And boy did it burn. The taste was so smooth, but rather then burn the throat, it tingled the lips and burnt the stomach, it was that strong and smooth. But at $100 a bottle I couldn't afford anymore. So we got a bottle of Courvousie (?) Cognac and we headed back for the hotel. And that's about it. We walked back, stopping at a supermarket on the way, and settled in to sleep for the night. Apparently I found out today we are going to Disneyland Tokyo tomorrow. Who knew.
I am but a mushroom. They keep my in the dark and feed me *crap*.
I've eaten enough mushrooms this week, in soup.
Soup is the poor man's Scotch Whisky.
Monday March through the Marshes. Or sludge as the case may be.
What a day. As far as last days on the snow go, it was pretty good.
We started out the day with the prerequisite waking, breakfast, morning snowboard dressing ritual, and then busted it out to the slopes.
After missing a large part of Yesterday travelling to the reaches of the unknown (Yokoteyama) we headed straight up the first lift at Ichinose and took the flat run down the back to Terakoya. I was still getting my legs (and my confidence) back after the whole pelvic injury thing that transpired, so I took the first run fairly calmly. After going up the main middle lift at Terakoya we stopped for a quick photo, and then started off down the middle run. I should mention that with temperatures rising at the moment in Shiga Kogen, Terakoya seemed like a good start to the day, as the sun has to rise over the mountain before it starts to affect the snow, as opposed to some areas that suffer direct sunlight from morning till night.
The first run I was trying to get my legs still, but even so Steven and I had time to skip a line through the trees. As this seemed like fun we started trying to spot lines through the trees we could take the second time. But as is obvious nothing goes to plan. Once we set off the top of the mountain any attempts to take a bee-line through the trees was thwarted by the dreaded SKI PATROL (ominous music, "Doom doom DOOooooooooom"). A few boarders who had set off just before me were being told to get out of the out of bounds sections, and me, being the agreeable citizen like I am (Halo appears above head!) decided that it was best to let sleeping dogs lie. So after passing the Ski Patrol, I told Conrad (the Extreme!(TM)) that I wasn't going to attempt the tree adventure, and instead just shot down as fast as I could to the bottom, which I have to admit felt fairly quick. It was nice to be getting my confidence back.
After we reached the bottom (and Steven bragged about taking a trip through the trees regardless of the Patrol, ominous music) we set up the same lift a 3rd time, but with a different course in mind. We shot down towards the far left lift in order to take it up to the back of Higashitateyama. When we spotted that there was a path below the lift we were on we changed plans slightly to see how this path worked. It was a short diversion, and after reaching the bottom and making it back up the lift we headed towards the bottom of Ichinose and over to Yakebitai.
After a few different paths we made our way to the Terrain Park (Jumps and Grinds area) because I had a hankering to try a jump or 2. I still was trying to protect my poor gut, but I didn't want to miss a chance at trying a jump, seeing as I never had the skill/guts to do it before (ha ha ha, Guts, and my guts is hurting). So I led the way, after waiting for Conrad to get into Photographer Extraordinaire Position! and made my way to the first grind box. Nothing special, just rode along it and off, but I landed, and that was a BIG DEAL. I'm sure Steven can tell you how he thinks he went, so i'll stick to how I did for the most part.
I crashed. Alot. But I still had fun, and for someone who has never done jumps before, or even been taught, I feel like it was a good start. Plus I didn't want to wreck my board, seeing as it isn't a park board, and it's still new (and my BABY!). I made a few little jumps, and I laughed (I couldn't help it) when Steven fell over on the grind box straight onto his bum, all you could hear was BOOOM, and seem him sort of bounce a little. Yep, he bounced. Laughs. After 2 runs down we had to call it quits (we had a quick snack of chips/sweet buns after the first run) as we were hungry and we had to head back to Ichinose area for food, as Prince Hotel (North, South, East, West, whatever) are all expensive, and the food's not that great. So after taking the large 8 seater Gondola to the top of Yakebitai it was a stonking fast run to the bottom for me. I went faster then I've gone for a long time, and it showed by how long I had to wait at the bottom for the other 2.
After a diversion (the lifts down the bottom of Yakebitai towards Ichinose were closed) we made it over and sat down at Rocky's to have a beer, Coffee, and Food. By now it was 3 and we knew that once we got up we would only have maybe 1 or 2 runs at best before it was time to call it quits. So we agreed upon taking the Ichinose lift to Terakoya, taking the top run along to Higashitate, and then looping back again to Ichinose. So once we reached the top of Terakoya Conrad and I got out our Video Cameras and started taping some runs. So I've got video of the loop run, if you want to see it, however it's a little jumpy, as you can imagine.
Well long story short, we made it back to the bottom or Ichinose and the lifts were only JUST running, so Steven and I broke away from Conrad to take 1 last run. And it felt good. Taking a trail through the trees and making it back to the bottom, we said goodbye to Shiga Kogen and it's beautiful snow, hopefully not for the last time, and slunk our way back to the hotel.
As we had eaten everywhere else except the hotel for the past week or so, our front desk clerk Ganji was urging us to have food with them, so us being the obliging sort, obliged. Or oblodged...? It was a fairly mild affair, thought surprisingly tasty with Chicken, Beef strips (we cooked ourselves, and they were really nicely marbled) and various vegetables. We called it a night after some packing and had our last little slumber in Snowy heaven....thingamajig.
Snow is cold. But Cold is Cool. So snowmen are Cool-men.
I miss the boarding already.
We started out the day with the prerequisite waking, breakfast, morning snowboard dressing ritual, and then busted it out to the slopes.
After missing a large part of Yesterday travelling to the reaches of the unknown (Yokoteyama) we headed straight up the first lift at Ichinose and took the flat run down the back to Terakoya. I was still getting my legs (and my confidence) back after the whole pelvic injury thing that transpired, so I took the first run fairly calmly. After going up the main middle lift at Terakoya we stopped for a quick photo, and then started off down the middle run. I should mention that with temperatures rising at the moment in Shiga Kogen, Terakoya seemed like a good start to the day, as the sun has to rise over the mountain before it starts to affect the snow, as opposed to some areas that suffer direct sunlight from morning till night.
The first run I was trying to get my legs still, but even so Steven and I had time to skip a line through the trees. As this seemed like fun we started trying to spot lines through the trees we could take the second time. But as is obvious nothing goes to plan. Once we set off the top of the mountain any attempts to take a bee-line through the trees was thwarted by the dreaded SKI PATROL (ominous music, "Doom doom DOOooooooooom"). A few boarders who had set off just before me were being told to get out of the out of bounds sections, and me, being the agreeable citizen like I am (Halo appears above head!) decided that it was best to let sleeping dogs lie. So after passing the Ski Patrol, I told Conrad (the Extreme!(TM)) that I wasn't going to attempt the tree adventure, and instead just shot down as fast as I could to the bottom, which I have to admit felt fairly quick. It was nice to be getting my confidence back.
After we reached the bottom (and Steven bragged about taking a trip through the trees regardless of the Patrol, ominous music) we set up the same lift a 3rd time, but with a different course in mind. We shot down towards the far left lift in order to take it up to the back of Higashitateyama. When we spotted that there was a path below the lift we were on we changed plans slightly to see how this path worked. It was a short diversion, and after reaching the bottom and making it back up the lift we headed towards the bottom of Ichinose and over to Yakebitai.
After a few different paths we made our way to the Terrain Park (Jumps and Grinds area) because I had a hankering to try a jump or 2. I still was trying to protect my poor gut, but I didn't want to miss a chance at trying a jump, seeing as I never had the skill/guts to do it before (ha ha ha, Guts, and my guts is hurting). So I led the way, after waiting for Conrad to get into Photographer Extraordinaire Position! and made my way to the first grind box. Nothing special, just rode along it and off, but I landed, and that was a BIG DEAL. I'm sure Steven can tell you how he thinks he went, so i'll stick to how I did for the most part.
I crashed. Alot. But I still had fun, and for someone who has never done jumps before, or even been taught, I feel like it was a good start. Plus I didn't want to wreck my board, seeing as it isn't a park board, and it's still new (and my BABY!). I made a few little jumps, and I laughed (I couldn't help it) when Steven fell over on the grind box straight onto his bum, all you could hear was BOOOM, and seem him sort of bounce a little. Yep, he bounced. Laughs. After 2 runs down we had to call it quits (we had a quick snack of chips/sweet buns after the first run) as we were hungry and we had to head back to Ichinose area for food, as Prince Hotel (North, South, East, West, whatever) are all expensive, and the food's not that great. So after taking the large 8 seater Gondola to the top of Yakebitai it was a stonking fast run to the bottom for me. I went faster then I've gone for a long time, and it showed by how long I had to wait at the bottom for the other 2.
After a diversion (the lifts down the bottom of Yakebitai towards Ichinose were closed) we made it over and sat down at Rocky's to have a beer, Coffee, and Food. By now it was 3 and we knew that once we got up we would only have maybe 1 or 2 runs at best before it was time to call it quits. So we agreed upon taking the Ichinose lift to Terakoya, taking the top run along to Higashitate, and then looping back again to Ichinose. So once we reached the top of Terakoya Conrad and I got out our Video Cameras and started taping some runs. So I've got video of the loop run, if you want to see it, however it's a little jumpy, as you can imagine.
Well long story short, we made it back to the bottom or Ichinose and the lifts were only JUST running, so Steven and I broke away from Conrad to take 1 last run. And it felt good. Taking a trail through the trees and making it back to the bottom, we said goodbye to Shiga Kogen and it's beautiful snow, hopefully not for the last time, and slunk our way back to the hotel.
As we had eaten everywhere else except the hotel for the past week or so, our front desk clerk Ganji was urging us to have food with them, so us being the obliging sort, obliged. Or oblodged...? It was a fairly mild affair, thought surprisingly tasty with Chicken, Beef strips (we cooked ourselves, and they were really nicely marbled) and various vegetables. We called it a night after some packing and had our last little slumber in Snowy heaven....thingamajig.
Snow is cold. But Cold is Cool. So snowmen are Cool-men.
I miss the boarding already.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Sunday (BEEP) Sunday. Where have all the buses gone.
Alrighty, after the break I had on Saturday to recouperate from my many pains, I was hoping Sunday would be a nice cruisy day. It instead turned into an up and down sort of day. After the requisite breakfast, of which I've been nearly only eating the toast and jam, we made our way to the Ichinose Diamond area. We were considering going to Yakebitai for a little while, then heading over to Yokoteyama, seeing as we had never been there. But as a bus was arriving shortly we decided to wait and just head straight to Yokote.
Everything was going alright, it was taking a while to get there, but otherwise things were fine, until we got off the bus. My RFID ticket for the Bus/Lifts was playing up and not registering on the machine. The bus driver was probably the first one I've ever met that didn't speak any English, and I can't speak any Japanese, so a polite lady helped out briefly to tell me my pass had expired... a 10 day pass expiring in 7 days? Hardly. Well after showing my receipt for the ticket, the driver phoned it back to base, and I was told that it didn't work, I needed to pay. So I left the bus 830yen lighter and very unhappy about the situation.
After walking up to the first lift I tried entering but once again the evil RFID chip of DOOM was out to torment me. A few attempts and the helpful man at the gate said there was something wrong, and he would replace it. Well, all I understood was "replace" and he walked off. A couple of minutes later I had another chip, and it worked fine. So 3 monstrously long lifts later we were at the top of Yokoteyama. All 2305 Metres of it. We wandered around and took photo's/video of the area, with a fantastic view on a clear day, and suddenly felt the pangs of hunger. By this time it was around 12 and the bakery at the top was sounding like the only option.
I got a Sausage/Cheese/Capsicum/Tomato/Onion pizza Loaf of some sort, Conrad the same, and Steven bought himself a garlic bread and Mega DOG! It was basically a 30cm long loaf of bread with a large sausage, tomato sauce and mustard. I didn't think he'd get through it, but his gut never ceases to amaze. With a shared bottle of Kirin Classic for good measure we were in high spirits to finally hit the slopes.
Ok, slight hitch. The only way down from the top of Yokote is by a red run, which only Skiers can use. The only other thing up there to do was a little loop run on the back of the mountain, which seemed pointless seeing as we wanted to ride down. So some more video and photo's and we caught the lift back to the top of the 2nd lift we had taken, and proceed to ride the rest of the way down. I fell over and got frustrated because I didn't really want to injure myself anymore then I already had. So after taking it easy and making it to the bottom, I suggested maybe we leave Yokote, seeing as it didn't really offer much in the way of runs, and it takes forever just to get up them. Dang slow lifts. So it was another 30 minute wait for a bus to show up.
This bus didn't head all the way back to Ichinose, or even somewhere around it, so we chose to get off at Hasuike and take the Ropeway across the large gap inbetween. It was a nice view and all, but we were kind of getting anxious just to do some riding, seeing as by now it was about 1 or 2. A quick skip up a lift, across Tanne No Mori, and down the bridge to Ichinose Diamond, to go for a ride in Yakebitai. This was becoming a good place to ride, with a few runs and fast lifts.
So after riding around for a while, and trying not to break our necks on all the hard pack ice that had been made from a Busy Weekends worth of use, we finally returned back to our hotel after all the lifts had closed down. A lazy night followed with us visiting the Victoria Restaurant again for another buffet dinner, replete with platefuls of Steak, then it was back to our room for a quick night cap and sleep.
I done busted my gut. I'm in a rut.
I got Mocha Chocolate coated Almond Nuts.
Nom.
Everything was going alright, it was taking a while to get there, but otherwise things were fine, until we got off the bus. My RFID ticket for the Bus/Lifts was playing up and not registering on the machine. The bus driver was probably the first one I've ever met that didn't speak any English, and I can't speak any Japanese, so a polite lady helped out briefly to tell me my pass had expired... a 10 day pass expiring in 7 days? Hardly. Well after showing my receipt for the ticket, the driver phoned it back to base, and I was told that it didn't work, I needed to pay. So I left the bus 830yen lighter and very unhappy about the situation.
After walking up to the first lift I tried entering but once again the evil RFID chip of DOOM was out to torment me. A few attempts and the helpful man at the gate said there was something wrong, and he would replace it. Well, all I understood was "replace" and he walked off. A couple of minutes later I had another chip, and it worked fine. So 3 monstrously long lifts later we were at the top of Yokoteyama. All 2305 Metres of it. We wandered around and took photo's/video of the area, with a fantastic view on a clear day, and suddenly felt the pangs of hunger. By this time it was around 12 and the bakery at the top was sounding like the only option.
I got a Sausage/Cheese/Capsicum/Tomato/Onion pizza Loaf of some sort, Conrad the same, and Steven bought himself a garlic bread and Mega DOG! It was basically a 30cm long loaf of bread with a large sausage, tomato sauce and mustard. I didn't think he'd get through it, but his gut never ceases to amaze. With a shared bottle of Kirin Classic for good measure we were in high spirits to finally hit the slopes.
Ok, slight hitch. The only way down from the top of Yokote is by a red run, which only Skiers can use. The only other thing up there to do was a little loop run on the back of the mountain, which seemed pointless seeing as we wanted to ride down. So some more video and photo's and we caught the lift back to the top of the 2nd lift we had taken, and proceed to ride the rest of the way down. I fell over and got frustrated because I didn't really want to injure myself anymore then I already had. So after taking it easy and making it to the bottom, I suggested maybe we leave Yokote, seeing as it didn't really offer much in the way of runs, and it takes forever just to get up them. Dang slow lifts. So it was another 30 minute wait for a bus to show up.
This bus didn't head all the way back to Ichinose, or even somewhere around it, so we chose to get off at Hasuike and take the Ropeway across the large gap inbetween. It was a nice view and all, but we were kind of getting anxious just to do some riding, seeing as by now it was about 1 or 2. A quick skip up a lift, across Tanne No Mori, and down the bridge to Ichinose Diamond, to go for a ride in Yakebitai. This was becoming a good place to ride, with a few runs and fast lifts.
So after riding around for a while, and trying not to break our necks on all the hard pack ice that had been made from a Busy Weekends worth of use, we finally returned back to our hotel after all the lifts had closed down. A lazy night followed with us visiting the Victoria Restaurant again for another buffet dinner, replete with platefuls of Steak, then it was back to our room for a quick night cap and sleep.
I done busted my gut. I'm in a rut.
I got Mocha Chocolate coated Almond Nuts.
Nom.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Saturday Slumber, sourced on the seat and table.
So I was in pain on Saturday. But not as bad as Friday night. The night of sleepless pain didn't help either. I used some Heatpacks with Arnica, at least that's what I think they were. Anyhow, it seemed to relieve some of the pain and discomfort I was feeling in my pelvic/ab region, but I knew if I pushed myself Snowboarding today, I really might regret it. So it was a very laid-back day for me. Got up at the usual time, give or take 20 minutes due to not getting any sleep, and made my way down to breakfast. (On a side note, I think the food is causing problems with my stomach, because I believe the un-holy beings I keep creating in the toilet smell worse then the sulphur streams around the area).
After breakfast we lazed around playing on the computers, and catching up on some more episodes of Chuck (I'm now up to S02E19, just about to meet Chucks dad), and generally being sloths. By 12 we went to lunch at ROCKY'S (Eye of the Tiger starts playing, da da da da....da da da...) and I ordered the Pasta with Cream sauce. It was "alright" but apart from not being a SUPER big fan of pasta, I've noticed that the Japanese serve far to much Spaghetti, and not enough sauce. It's like a 1 to 4 Ratio of Noodle to Sauce, and I love a 2 to 1 ratio of Sauce to Pasta. But anyhow. I ordered a Cappuccino and was pleasantly surprised, although it was weak (as is the norm here) it was still rather tasty. And after lunch I ordered the Mont Blanc cake, I'm not sure what it was, but I'm guessing some white Chocolate and White Bean Paste were involved.
After lunch Steven and Conrad left to board (I was in tears... not literally) and Mum, Whitney and Myself pottered around the shops, seeing what tid bits they had to offer. I bought a few gifts for people, I won't say what or for whom, suffice to say some are funny, others are cute. I also bought a rather cool Smiley face, which is fluffy and round, and when squeezed, it laughs and shakes. I cracked up laughing so I bought it. It wasn't too expensive. And I also got Steven a little Hamburger Coin ....purse, for lack of a better word. He's been using a Cat Purse, and it's extremely girly, so to protect his masculinity I bought him a Hamburger... Purse.
I should mention I also slept a little bit today, in the "Bar" area of the hotel, head down on a table and sleeping quite happily after the dozing I missed last night. I didn't even drool. Though I'm not sure if I snored or not. But it was alright, except for the big red mark on my forehead when I woke up. But the table is definitely more comfortable then the pillow or my bed. Dang.
Alrighty, so after we bludged around all day, the Boyz!(TM) came back, and we had dinner at HERE! It was a noodle affair again, with some Beer's thrown in for good measure. After all the doing nothing, I was tired, and by 9 it was lights out.
If teleportation were a reality, I'd teleport a comfy bed to the hotel.
And a comfy lady.
I'm kidding about the Bed.
After breakfast we lazed around playing on the computers, and catching up on some more episodes of Chuck (I'm now up to S02E19, just about to meet Chucks dad), and generally being sloths. By 12 we went to lunch at ROCKY'S (Eye of the Tiger starts playing, da da da da....da da da...) and I ordered the Pasta with Cream sauce. It was "alright" but apart from not being a SUPER big fan of pasta, I've noticed that the Japanese serve far to much Spaghetti, and not enough sauce. It's like a 1 to 4 Ratio of Noodle to Sauce, and I love a 2 to 1 ratio of Sauce to Pasta. But anyhow. I ordered a Cappuccino and was pleasantly surprised, although it was weak (as is the norm here) it was still rather tasty. And after lunch I ordered the Mont Blanc cake, I'm not sure what it was, but I'm guessing some white Chocolate and White Bean Paste were involved.
After lunch Steven and Conrad left to board (I was in tears... not literally) and Mum, Whitney and Myself pottered around the shops, seeing what tid bits they had to offer. I bought a few gifts for people, I won't say what or for whom, suffice to say some are funny, others are cute. I also bought a rather cool Smiley face, which is fluffy and round, and when squeezed, it laughs and shakes. I cracked up laughing so I bought it. It wasn't too expensive. And I also got Steven a little Hamburger Coin ....purse, for lack of a better word. He's been using a Cat Purse, and it's extremely girly, so to protect his masculinity I bought him a Hamburger... Purse.
I should mention I also slept a little bit today, in the "Bar" area of the hotel, head down on a table and sleeping quite happily after the dozing I missed last night. I didn't even drool. Though I'm not sure if I snored or not. But it was alright, except for the big red mark on my forehead when I woke up. But the table is definitely more comfortable then the pillow or my bed. Dang.
Alrighty, so after we bludged around all day, the Boyz!(TM) came back, and we had dinner at HERE! It was a noodle affair again, with some Beer's thrown in for good measure. After all the doing nothing, I was tired, and by 9 it was lights out.
If teleportation were a reality, I'd teleport a comfy bed to the hotel.
And a comfy lady.
I'm kidding about the Bed.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Friday is a Harsh Mistress. But the Chicken is good.
Alright, i'll start by saying that by Friday end, I was in pain. ALOT of pain. At least top 10, if not top 5 pains I've felt in my life. But I didn't cry, and I don't.
So we started out reasonably well on Friday morning. Breakfast, got ready, and we were on the slopes by 8.40 or so. The pains I had gathered from the day before had subsided, my stomach was fine, my arm was fine, I was, for lack of better words, fine. We took a Black run at the top of Ichinose and discovered fairly quickly that Conrad doesn't like the steep descents. Not surprising it being his 4th day of snowboarding. It was sort of funny in some respects because I was watching from further down as he sat on his heel edge, and when that didn't seem to slow him down (he had good sideways pace) he fell over and slid on his butt for about 20 metres before coming to a stop. Having realised that heel edge wasn't giving him the desired effect, he slid down the rest of the way on his butt, until he got to the red section and then went slowly on his feet. He didn't get injured, not that I know of, but maybe his confidence was a little worn out.
Off to Yakebitai-yama. We had barely touched this area last time we came, only doing 1 run, so this time we were making a concerted effort to explore as much of Shiga Kogen as possible. So we crossed the road from Ichinose to the bottom of Yakebitai, and made our way up the first lift. After realising we didn't have the right angle to take the green run we planned on, it was a quick trip to the bottom via a red run, not too difficult at all, and back up an appropriate lift to try out the missed Green run. Waste of time nearly, as it was just less angled then the red we had taken, so to allow for novices to get to the bottom. Not worth the lift ride up.
So after getting back to the bottom, we took a big lift to the near top of Yakebitai, and proceeded to take a few runs to reach the bottom. WOO! Conrad was in much better form on this mountain, transferring from edge to edge extremely well, and keeping up with Steven and I in some areas. WELL DONE CONRAD!!! He is getting the hang of this Snow-thingy quite well. Once we reached the bottom we took a nice comfy gondola ride to the top. Well, the top wasn't much excitement, probably offering a few hundred metres of extra ride from where we exited the last lift. Not a bad thing though as the ground here was fairly fluffy and must have somehow avoided the onslaught of many a ski-schooler. Even though they are only green/red runs.
Having arrived at the bottom we were getting hungry. 20 to 12 and we stopped at Prince Hotel (something or other, apparently there is a north south east and west Prince hotel....?) to order some food. Not very good price, and the Chicken and French fries Steven and I ordered were a little dry, no doubt sitting there for half an hour before hand. I'll be honest though, 2 of the girls they had working here were quite cute, so I'll let them go this time, but I still don't like dry fries.
Alrighty fueled up and ready to go, we made for the gondola again, but not before a toilet break. We had seen on the map something labelled "Terrain Park" and wanted to go and see what kind of jumps and stunt areas this held. Well wouldn't you know it, after making our way down and across to the lift that connects to the terrain park, we see everyone leaving, and people stuck on the lift. Borked. Fortunately there was another gondola not to far away, and I must say it was quite nice. It held 8 people and looked newer then anything else I'd ridden on in Shiga. Which means I guess it was installed after the Nagano Olympics in '98.
Up the top it would have taken a few Black/Red runs to get to the Terrain park, as opposed to the lift that drops you right at the top of it (the one that broke), and Conrad-chan wasn't up to tackling anymore blacks, so we ran down the same run we had done 2 times already, and thought it would be best to head back over to Higashitateyama area. So after another lift ride, and some traversing, we were back in Ichinose, and making our way back to the Terakoya side of the mountain. We took our regular Green Tree run, and this is were things got bad-ish. I fell over 1/4 the way down, and had barely enough speed to make it throught some flatter sections. I finally caught up to Steven when he had fallen over in the downward hairpin sections.
Now the hairpin sections had been receiving some bad treatment from the ski-schoolers over the past couple of days, and rather then be nice and flat through here, instead it was hollowed out in the middle, meaning doing S turns was EXTREMELY sketchy through here. Steven had already fallen over, and because I had some pace through here, stability started becoming an issue, when, wouldn't you know it, I fell.... HARD. I landed on my back, and it winded me slightly, and because I had tensed my abs for the impact, I tore the same muscle in my stomach that had plagued me the day before. And I was in PAIN.
Making it to the bottom was difficult to say the least, I fell over more times then I care to remember. So having finally made it to the restaurant at the bottom, I grabbed a beer and sat down. I was in pain, but this was only the beginning. After we had all rested up for a while, and gotten some Mocha Chocolate Almonds (they are AWESOME), we headed over the Nishitateyama runs and onto the back of Takamagahara. Now, between the Nishi and Taka sides is a road, with a bridge over the top, and I didn't have enough speed to make it to the top, and because of the angle, I didn't skate across, I shuffled up and over, much to the displeasure of my stomach, by the time we had reached the top of Takamagahara, I was getting seriously sore. After a run through the tree section again, taking things slowly to protect my now collapsing Abdomen, we made it to the Higashitate gondola, and that's when the pain REALLY kicked in. I was having trouble just sitting up for the the tear in my abs/pelvic region (not groin I should add).
We travelled all 3 of us in one of the gondolas to the top of Higashi (usually only 2 people would fit comfortably with their snowboards, however the young man insisted we should all get in, and it wasn't comfy) and I couldn't take the pain much more. Conrad had gone to get a Hot Coffee to warm the cockles of his little body, and I told Steven I'd see him at the hotel. I needed to rest, and badly. I made my way, without incident to the bottom of Ichinose from Higashi, with some grumbling at some people who ran out in front of me, and caused me to skate until I reached a down section, and believe me, skating was the last thing I wanted to do. So I traversed across to the Road, unstrapped, and walked down to the hotel, unloaded my stuff, stopped at the store in the hotel to grab some Canadian Dry Ginger Ale, and went to my room. I poured myself to large Whisky and Drys, and waited till their medicinal effects kicked in.
Now as I mentioned, this was INTENSE pain, definitely top 10 of my life. I couldn't sit up, I could only roll and hope I didn't tense my stomach to get up. It was like this for a few hours, and I used my anti-inflamitory gel to subside the pain, though I believe the Whisky was doing a better job. So after laying down for a few hours we headed out to dinner, at Kimoshika to get some Nipplegreastion food (Nepalese). I ordered the Chicken Tandoori and Chicken Tikka, but it was the beer I really needed. Trying to sit up at a table to eat when your ab is torn is an incredibly painful way to eat. So needless to say I wasn't much fun to be around, that, and everytime I laughed it hurt immensely. So after dinner, I went straight back to the hotel to lay down, and grab another drink. I should point out that as we have no fridges in our rooms we have taken to hanging/sitting things outside the window to keep cold. And that where I grabbed the Dry Ginger Ale from and poured myself a strong one.
The rest arrived back and joined me in a drink, and I got some healing heat packs (they have a smell of deep heat in them) and some weird black little balls Steven had gotten from the guy at the front desk. Now, as I said I thought his nickname was Ganja when we first met him, I was a little concerned as to what these little black things were, if they were hallucinogenic, or if they really would help my muscles as claimed. But I took 3 anyway, and after another 2 whisky and dries, it was lights out. However I didn't sleep very well, and I woke up regularly from the pain. What a bad nights sleep.
Do you trust a guy called Ganja?
Would you eat his little blacks muscle pellets if offered to you?
I think the walls just melted. WEEEEEEEEEE!!!!
So we started out reasonably well on Friday morning. Breakfast, got ready, and we were on the slopes by 8.40 or so. The pains I had gathered from the day before had subsided, my stomach was fine, my arm was fine, I was, for lack of better words, fine. We took a Black run at the top of Ichinose and discovered fairly quickly that Conrad doesn't like the steep descents. Not surprising it being his 4th day of snowboarding. It was sort of funny in some respects because I was watching from further down as he sat on his heel edge, and when that didn't seem to slow him down (he had good sideways pace) he fell over and slid on his butt for about 20 metres before coming to a stop. Having realised that heel edge wasn't giving him the desired effect, he slid down the rest of the way on his butt, until he got to the red section and then went slowly on his feet. He didn't get injured, not that I know of, but maybe his confidence was a little worn out.
Off to Yakebitai-yama. We had barely touched this area last time we came, only doing 1 run, so this time we were making a concerted effort to explore as much of Shiga Kogen as possible. So we crossed the road from Ichinose to the bottom of Yakebitai, and made our way up the first lift. After realising we didn't have the right angle to take the green run we planned on, it was a quick trip to the bottom via a red run, not too difficult at all, and back up an appropriate lift to try out the missed Green run. Waste of time nearly, as it was just less angled then the red we had taken, so to allow for novices to get to the bottom. Not worth the lift ride up.
So after getting back to the bottom, we took a big lift to the near top of Yakebitai, and proceeded to take a few runs to reach the bottom. WOO! Conrad was in much better form on this mountain, transferring from edge to edge extremely well, and keeping up with Steven and I in some areas. WELL DONE CONRAD!!! He is getting the hang of this Snow-thingy quite well. Once we reached the bottom we took a nice comfy gondola ride to the top. Well, the top wasn't much excitement, probably offering a few hundred metres of extra ride from where we exited the last lift. Not a bad thing though as the ground here was fairly fluffy and must have somehow avoided the onslaught of many a ski-schooler. Even though they are only green/red runs.
Having arrived at the bottom we were getting hungry. 20 to 12 and we stopped at Prince Hotel (something or other, apparently there is a north south east and west Prince hotel....?) to order some food. Not very good price, and the Chicken and French fries Steven and I ordered were a little dry, no doubt sitting there for half an hour before hand. I'll be honest though, 2 of the girls they had working here were quite cute, so I'll let them go this time, but I still don't like dry fries.
Alrighty fueled up and ready to go, we made for the gondola again, but not before a toilet break. We had seen on the map something labelled "Terrain Park" and wanted to go and see what kind of jumps and stunt areas this held. Well wouldn't you know it, after making our way down and across to the lift that connects to the terrain park, we see everyone leaving, and people stuck on the lift. Borked. Fortunately there was another gondola not to far away, and I must say it was quite nice. It held 8 people and looked newer then anything else I'd ridden on in Shiga. Which means I guess it was installed after the Nagano Olympics in '98.
Up the top it would have taken a few Black/Red runs to get to the Terrain park, as opposed to the lift that drops you right at the top of it (the one that broke), and Conrad-chan wasn't up to tackling anymore blacks, so we ran down the same run we had done 2 times already, and thought it would be best to head back over to Higashitateyama area. So after another lift ride, and some traversing, we were back in Ichinose, and making our way back to the Terakoya side of the mountain. We took our regular Green Tree run, and this is were things got bad-ish. I fell over 1/4 the way down, and had barely enough speed to make it throught some flatter sections. I finally caught up to Steven when he had fallen over in the downward hairpin sections.
Now the hairpin sections had been receiving some bad treatment from the ski-schoolers over the past couple of days, and rather then be nice and flat through here, instead it was hollowed out in the middle, meaning doing S turns was EXTREMELY sketchy through here. Steven had already fallen over, and because I had some pace through here, stability started becoming an issue, when, wouldn't you know it, I fell.... HARD. I landed on my back, and it winded me slightly, and because I had tensed my abs for the impact, I tore the same muscle in my stomach that had plagued me the day before. And I was in PAIN.
Making it to the bottom was difficult to say the least, I fell over more times then I care to remember. So having finally made it to the restaurant at the bottom, I grabbed a beer and sat down. I was in pain, but this was only the beginning. After we had all rested up for a while, and gotten some Mocha Chocolate Almonds (they are AWESOME), we headed over the Nishitateyama runs and onto the back of Takamagahara. Now, between the Nishi and Taka sides is a road, with a bridge over the top, and I didn't have enough speed to make it to the top, and because of the angle, I didn't skate across, I shuffled up and over, much to the displeasure of my stomach, by the time we had reached the top of Takamagahara, I was getting seriously sore. After a run through the tree section again, taking things slowly to protect my now collapsing Abdomen, we made it to the Higashitate gondola, and that's when the pain REALLY kicked in. I was having trouble just sitting up for the the tear in my abs/pelvic region (not groin I should add).
We travelled all 3 of us in one of the gondolas to the top of Higashi (usually only 2 people would fit comfortably with their snowboards, however the young man insisted we should all get in, and it wasn't comfy) and I couldn't take the pain much more. Conrad had gone to get a Hot Coffee to warm the cockles of his little body, and I told Steven I'd see him at the hotel. I needed to rest, and badly. I made my way, without incident to the bottom of Ichinose from Higashi, with some grumbling at some people who ran out in front of me, and caused me to skate until I reached a down section, and believe me, skating was the last thing I wanted to do. So I traversed across to the Road, unstrapped, and walked down to the hotel, unloaded my stuff, stopped at the store in the hotel to grab some Canadian Dry Ginger Ale, and went to my room. I poured myself to large Whisky and Drys, and waited till their medicinal effects kicked in.
Now as I mentioned, this was INTENSE pain, definitely top 10 of my life. I couldn't sit up, I could only roll and hope I didn't tense my stomach to get up. It was like this for a few hours, and I used my anti-inflamitory gel to subside the pain, though I believe the Whisky was doing a better job. So after laying down for a few hours we headed out to dinner, at Kimoshika to get some Nipplegreastion food (Nepalese). I ordered the Chicken Tandoori and Chicken Tikka, but it was the beer I really needed. Trying to sit up at a table to eat when your ab is torn is an incredibly painful way to eat. So needless to say I wasn't much fun to be around, that, and everytime I laughed it hurt immensely. So after dinner, I went straight back to the hotel to lay down, and grab another drink. I should point out that as we have no fridges in our rooms we have taken to hanging/sitting things outside the window to keep cold. And that where I grabbed the Dry Ginger Ale from and poured myself a strong one.
The rest arrived back and joined me in a drink, and I got some healing heat packs (they have a smell of deep heat in them) and some weird black little balls Steven had gotten from the guy at the front desk. Now, as I said I thought his nickname was Ganja when we first met him, I was a little concerned as to what these little black things were, if they were hallucinogenic, or if they really would help my muscles as claimed. But I took 3 anyway, and after another 2 whisky and dries, it was lights out. However I didn't sleep very well, and I woke up regularly from the pain. What a bad nights sleep.
Do you trust a guy called Ganja?
Would you eat his little blacks muscle pellets if offered to you?
I think the walls just melted. WEEEEEEEEEE!!!!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
"The Thursday Gambit"... Alternate Title "Let's watch Dean wait".
So the plan was to get to the snow early, meaning up at 7, breakfast 7.30, leave and be on the snow at 8. It's amazing how long getting snow gear on is, when you are in a rush. We made it by about 8...ish, and started off with the Training Area to get Conrad's legs back after the day break we had. So down the Ichinose Green run, we cut onto the other quad lift, made our way over the back to Terakoya, and finally we made our way down Higashitateyama all the way too Hoppo Bundaira. Not bad, we travelled a big distance and it was only 10ish. Time to get a beer.
There was a method to this though. Beer has carbs. Carbs have energy. Energy makes me GO!!! Plus I had to fix my boots up. They seemed to plague me all day though, either being too tight or too loose. Really annoying, seeing as I keep losing finer control. I think I finally figured out this afternoon that it is the top of my boot cutting into my calves. We shall see tomorrow. So anyway, after fueling up, we went back up to Higashitate to do another run down. But here's where it got annoying, as my alternate title suggests.
You see, Steven went to get my beer, but rather then getting me a 375ml can like he got himself, he got me a 500ml can. I still can't fathom why, but he said I shouldn't be complaining. So by the time we had taken 2 lifts to the top of Higashitate, my bladder was nigh of breaking point. Think of Rose and Jack trying to fight for survival to get to the outside of the ship in Titanic, and you'll understand how much I had gushing around. Not fun. So the jumpy, slidey action just made me want to go more, and so I said, "I need to Go", thinking this would indicate my imminent bladder release. How wrong I was. I made it to the Gondola, ran into the bathroom, and let nature take it's course. Meanwhile Conrad and Steven where coursing through nature, and away from where I was.
We both got lost last year in the same place, so I figured "Steven will come to the Gondola, seeing as it is the bottle neck of the area, and the only way back to our hotel side of things". Well, they showed up, after 1 hour. "Hungry" Steven asks, DUH. Yes, I was, only to be informed he and Conrad had already eaten, whilst they were "waiting" for me. A likely story. So we headed up the Gondola, and to the Terakoya side of the mountains to have a looksey at a place we had noticed earlier in the day. Well, we didn't account for Conrad's.... um, how shall I put this, lack of path finding skills. We went down a little run and waited for him. And waited. And waited. I took a ride up on one of the lifts to see if I could find him, only to find out the lift didn't go the way I wanted it to. So back down to wait some more.
Well by now, we were confused, and thought, he must have taken the left path and back down to Ichinose. So that's where we headed, nope, no Conrad. Hotel? Nope, his board isn't there. So obviously, my AMAZING ability to conjure up all maner of images in my head kicked in, and Conrad went through any number of Scenarios. First, he fell off the path, down some trees, and was laying unconscious at the bottom, slowly freezing to death. Next, he had fallen and broken his tree stump legs. Next, he was quite fine, crusing up and down mountains, many a little Japanese lady following him and yelling "KuWAIIII" (that made me mad, where's my cheer squad?).
Alrighty, so I needed food. Seeing as I still hadn't eaten and it was 2. So I went to the Khuls hotel again, and got another mixed Pizza (see Sunday for a description). I kept an eye out the window as I partook of my strange meal and beverage. Couldn't see him, so I sent Steven to the Ichinose information area to see if they could page him (also cause someone was brought down from the mountain and I wanted to see if it was him, minus his cheer squad). Well when I finished up I went down to meet up with Steven. No Conrad still. So we decided that I would go to the path we lost him on, then check out some of the other frequent haunts to track him down. Well after 1 hour I still hadn't found him. So I took my board back to the hotel to see if he had checked in, and to lighten my load. Still no Conrad. By now the front desk man (Ganji? I can't remember) said he hadn't arrived but would call the Ichinose Information area if he turned up. So back I walked again, muchly sore from all the up and down hiking. Well as I neared the Information Centre, who should come tearing down but the giant plum (he has a big purple jacket).
He informs us that he was looking for us, in between practicing on every path between Ichinose and Higashitateyama. Great. Well he was still keen to go, so back again to get the boards and onto the slopes for 2 more runs. My boots were still a little loose, so I was losing some level of control, as well as feeling because the bindings were REALLY tight. But anyhoo. 2 nice clean runs and back to the hotel where I am now, having typed for the last hour and drank a beverage.
We are off to get food now so hopefully some Gyoza and Ramen will make me feel great.
Waiting is Boring. Walking is Tiring.
I need a sherpa to carry my and my things.
Wanted: 1 Tibetan Sherpa, must be willing to travel.
There was a method to this though. Beer has carbs. Carbs have energy. Energy makes me GO!!! Plus I had to fix my boots up. They seemed to plague me all day though, either being too tight or too loose. Really annoying, seeing as I keep losing finer control. I think I finally figured out this afternoon that it is the top of my boot cutting into my calves. We shall see tomorrow. So anyway, after fueling up, we went back up to Higashitate to do another run down. But here's where it got annoying, as my alternate title suggests.
You see, Steven went to get my beer, but rather then getting me a 375ml can like he got himself, he got me a 500ml can. I still can't fathom why, but he said I shouldn't be complaining. So by the time we had taken 2 lifts to the top of Higashitate, my bladder was nigh of breaking point. Think of Rose and Jack trying to fight for survival to get to the outside of the ship in Titanic, and you'll understand how much I had gushing around. Not fun. So the jumpy, slidey action just made me want to go more, and so I said, "I need to Go", thinking this would indicate my imminent bladder release. How wrong I was. I made it to the Gondola, ran into the bathroom, and let nature take it's course. Meanwhile Conrad and Steven where coursing through nature, and away from where I was.
We both got lost last year in the same place, so I figured "Steven will come to the Gondola, seeing as it is the bottle neck of the area, and the only way back to our hotel side of things". Well, they showed up, after 1 hour. "Hungry" Steven asks, DUH. Yes, I was, only to be informed he and Conrad had already eaten, whilst they were "waiting" for me. A likely story. So we headed up the Gondola, and to the Terakoya side of the mountains to have a looksey at a place we had noticed earlier in the day. Well, we didn't account for Conrad's.... um, how shall I put this, lack of path finding skills. We went down a little run and waited for him. And waited. And waited. I took a ride up on one of the lifts to see if I could find him, only to find out the lift didn't go the way I wanted it to. So back down to wait some more.
Well by now, we were confused, and thought, he must have taken the left path and back down to Ichinose. So that's where we headed, nope, no Conrad. Hotel? Nope, his board isn't there. So obviously, my AMAZING ability to conjure up all maner of images in my head kicked in, and Conrad went through any number of Scenarios. First, he fell off the path, down some trees, and was laying unconscious at the bottom, slowly freezing to death. Next, he had fallen and broken his tree stump legs. Next, he was quite fine, crusing up and down mountains, many a little Japanese lady following him and yelling "KuWAIIII" (that made me mad, where's my cheer squad?).
Alrighty, so I needed food. Seeing as I still hadn't eaten and it was 2. So I went to the Khuls hotel again, and got another mixed Pizza (see Sunday for a description). I kept an eye out the window as I partook of my strange meal and beverage. Couldn't see him, so I sent Steven to the Ichinose information area to see if they could page him (also cause someone was brought down from the mountain and I wanted to see if it was him, minus his cheer squad). Well when I finished up I went down to meet up with Steven. No Conrad still. So we decided that I would go to the path we lost him on, then check out some of the other frequent haunts to track him down. Well after 1 hour I still hadn't found him. So I took my board back to the hotel to see if he had checked in, and to lighten my load. Still no Conrad. By now the front desk man (Ganji? I can't remember) said he hadn't arrived but would call the Ichinose Information area if he turned up. So back I walked again, muchly sore from all the up and down hiking. Well as I neared the Information Centre, who should come tearing down but the giant plum (he has a big purple jacket).
He informs us that he was looking for us, in between practicing on every path between Ichinose and Higashitateyama. Great. Well he was still keen to go, so back again to get the boards and onto the slopes for 2 more runs. My boots were still a little loose, so I was losing some level of control, as well as feeling because the bindings were REALLY tight. But anyhoo. 2 nice clean runs and back to the hotel where I am now, having typed for the last hour and drank a beverage.
We are off to get food now so hopefully some Gyoza and Ramen will make me feel great.
Waiting is Boring. Walking is Tiring.
I need a sherpa to carry my and my things.
Wanted: 1 Tibetan Sherpa, must be willing to travel.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)