Japakiwi's blog from Niseko, Japan

"A girl from Ipanema" or "Miles Davis"?

2007-02-19T17:03:00.000+09:00

We had a very nice mild weekend here in Niseko. And today was a bit of snowy day, maybe up to 5cm at the bottom by the late afternoon.

It was quite busy up on the mountain today. Long queues at the gondola at 10 o'clock when I saw that, easily 15-20 min wait. There are lots of kids too. Wonder if it's school holiday in Australia. Also there are lots of Asians too for the Chinese New Year. Could be busy all week this week.

This photo is of a bar in "The Lower Village" where so many small accomodations are. This place is called "Gyu-Bar", and yes, that old coke fridge is the door to inside. you have to duck it when you walk in.

They play nice music such as jazz, bosanova etc with LPs. They've got huge selection of those LPs and it gives a coolness to the atomosphere.

Once inside, there are about 15-20 seats and some more space for people to remain standing, quite small place by any Western standard. Here in Niseko you'll find even smaller places. There were about 30 people inside when I visited there, the place was so full that it was even hard to walk out.

Of course 90% of the customers there at the time, Australians. It's not unusual to not see many Japanese in some restaurants and bars. This is one of those places. Beer is 500 Yen, usual, and all sorts of coctails, liqueres that I'm sure you can enjoy your favorite coctail.

They have huge windows behind the bar counter which is visible from anywhere inside. The trees are nicely lit up so it must be awsome to see the view especially when it's snowing.

You can find this place going staright into the lower village off the intersection, 500m down the street on the right hand side. There is a blackboard signage by the door when it's open too.

Kutchan-vegas

2007-02-12T15:43:00.000+09:00

We've had at least 50 cm of new, powdery, fluffy, dry, light, soft snow for the last 2 days. It's been just the way Niseko should have been at this time of a year. Epic days. The ski area's been very busy this weekend with particularly Japanese visitors due to the wee holiday in Japan, ( they have 3 days off this weekend till today which is a national holiday. Mmmnnnnn, what was the day about to cerabrate? I can't remember. That's why I got kicked out of this country and why I have to pretend to be a Bermudan or a Paraguayan, whenever the situation arises. Just kidding. No offence for both nationals.)

Anyway, there were long queues at the chirlifts at the bottom of the mountain in the mornings with all the people hungry for the untouched powder. The truth is, you don't really have to drag yourself out of the bed too early on a day like today, because whereever you go you still have plenty of fresh powder without a track. yes, stay in bed longer especially if you have a sorehead, you deserve it.

Speaking of hangover, there are so many restaurants and bars here in Niseko. It seems like a new one is popping up somewhere in Niseko as quick as a bamboo shoot grows up. I haven't been to too many of them but one thing is clear to everyone. That is " Japanese and people from overseas hang out separately in different places. At some bars here, It's not unusual not to see any Japanese customer in there.

I don't know why. Maybe because eating and drinking culture between them are quite different. who knows? So do some reserch before you head out for the night if you think you'll be bit disappointed by the lack of presence of Japanese.

I think I will do some reserch myself and let you know sometime later. But here is an perfect solution for the people like that. Which is, " Just head down to Kutchan if you really want to experience that Lost In Translation feel". Kutchan is 15 min drive away from Hirafu, there are some free shuttle bus going around between 2 town at night. It's guaranteed that you'll have no idea what you've got yourselves into at some places.

Overdosed Dick Smith

2007-02-10T15:30:00.000+09:00

There hasn't been much snow worth mentioning since the last post, instead, yesterday and this morning we had beautiful skies with Mt. Youtei appearing through clouds. It's such a beautiful single-cone volcanic mountain. It's getting dark and cliudy as I'm writing this in the afternoon. Some snow's been forecsted for tonight and tomorrow, possibly heavier tomorrow night.

I went to Sapporo which is approx. 2 hours drive form Niseko, for Snow Festival on Thursday night. It was mainly as work trip, but hey, just may as well enjoy it, why not? We got to Sapporo station by a car around 3:30ish in arvo, left the vehicle in the car park building( don't really know how it's called but you know what I mean), the first mission we took care of was going to "Bic Camera"! if your not familiar with the name, it's a store full of electronics (For Kiwis imagine Dick Smith's got 50 times more of the items to sell in the store), it's a boy's dream come true, spent well 2 hours and of course could stay longer if allowed, camera, i-pod, video camera whatever your obsession is telling you to look for.

As I mentioned, we were there for work ( sort of) and hadn't lost our sanity yet so acted as responsible adults and proffecionals, left there and walked to the venue. Along the way I've learned a few things about sapporo.

1, No rubbish bins on streets. Yeah makes sense because usually they are buried under the snow during the winter so why bother spending taxpayer's money?

2, Not legal smoking outside on streets but you still can have a ciggy inside buildings. Ok, is it because again it's cold and snowing a lot so that smokers can get hypothermia if they stay outside too long? Smokers are well protected here in Japan.

Different places, diferent rules, I reckon.

Anyway, the festival was great. All the icey sculptures and castles and everything with colourful illumination. They are awesome art works. Then bands are playing, so many food stalls where you can buy all sorts of yammy foods ( you definitely have to try crab or scallop! Hokkaido is famous for seafoods. Not fond of seafoods? well then go for venison burger or fried chiken, oh, why don't you just head down to a Macdonald's around the corner?)

It's absolutely worth going there if you are around at this time of a year. My advise; DRESS WARMLY OR YOUR DOOMED! ( Toe warmers rock!)

The Best Day In a Long Time

2007-02-07T18:21:00.000+09:00

The snow today was great. We had about 10cm of new snow in the village this morning and looked good. This was a bit out of the blue, wasn7t really forcasted so nor couldn't really see that coming myself. Then I went out about 11o'clock or so, still untouched no tracked knee to thigh deep soft fluffy powder. It honestly feels like you're floating on the water or in the air, whatever, just unreal. Not many people around, noque for any chairlifts. It's kept snowing all day, plenty more powder. Tomorrow will be a good day too unless it gets too windy.

It just changes every single day as you know, the day before was just like a day you have in spring. hard crusty icy snow all the way to the top of the chairlifts after a warm night the night before, freeze-thaw thing which you don't really want at this time of a year.

The world famous ( can't be world-famous -in-Hokkaido!) Sapporo Yuki-Matsuri or Snow Festival is on now. And I'm going there tomorrow night. Never been there, can't wait. If you don't know anything about it, just go www.snowfes.com. It's an awesome festival and worth a visit to Sapporo if you are in the area.

Certified Rubbish Thrower

2007-02-05T12:46:00.000+09:00

We had about 30-40cm in the town of Hirafu over the weekend, easily over half a metre at the top. What makes it better for everyone in this town is the fact that it was so windy/stormy all day here yesterday so that most of the chairlifts at the top were NOT running. what does it mean? Yes, lots of untouched, untracked fresh powder all over the mountain.

People sussed it out by this morning and patiently waited in the long que to get up the mountain quicker than anyone else around you by kicking, shoving, punching and elbowing. This is when your karate, Kang-Fu, Martial Arts skills count. That's why it's good to have Jackie-Chan, Jet Li or Bruce Lee as cousins too to learn everything off their movies. The movies I'm not talking about here is not the same as the DVDs you can rent but they are secretly distributed only to their immiediate relatives. No, I don't think Playstation skill or having Chack Norris as your cousin would have helped you at all.

It's been warm, though. But not surprised at all anymore. Hey we're in the middle of the global warming, guys. This is the weather pattern we normally get in Mid-March, they say. Everyone ( I hope so) wants to do something about it but doesn't have clear idea of what we can do. Not surprising when some goverments are even denying this global phenomena.

Looking aroud for some consience, I've realised the fact that recycling is so strict here in Japan that you need to be certified to chuck out rubbish. You are given this thick manual on arrival to any of the ports, airports in Japan and you have 2 weeks to study and if you fail, bang, you're deported or for worse offenders like losing the book, or not turning up for the exam, you are thrown in jail.

Na, just made it up. But anyway, it's got nearly 50 pages with such a small letters! Who would read this stuff when beurocrats made it this difficult to read. Isn't it Ironic? We just want to do something for this Mother Earth and someone make it virtually impossible.

Wonka in Hokkaido

2007-02-02T15:52:00.000+09:00

Yesterday I went to Ishiya Chocolate Factory in Sapporo to shoot the story about them. Boy! it was wierd, I mean good wierdness which just blows you away. My coleague described the place the best as " Disneyland meets Wonka the Chocolate Factory". You can go through the factory and learn the history of Chocolate ( naturally about theEeurope's history, Columbus etc) to start out with, then the history of Choco-Japan relation and so on. Then you can see how the inside of the factory actually is, of course you can have all sorts of desserts, and you can buy those chocolates for your souvenirs. the smell of the chocolate is overwhelming, for some it must be very tempting, otherwise it may be too much so that it puts you off chocolate for a while? ( It didn't work on me, I'm still loving it!) . Anyway it's an experience and highly recommended if you have a spare time and looking for something different form ordinary touristy stuff in or around Niseko off the slopes. Just make sure to be outside of the building every once in a while. Something's going on hourly there!

http://www.shiroikoibito.ishiya.co.jp/

Big Brother is watching you.....

2007-01-31T11:46:00.000+09:00

It's been funny weather for the last couple of days. It's been quite warm, all the snow fell on the roads melting very quickly which makes a lot of mess. Actually we woke up to the rain this morning which apparently had been on through the night which turned to snow around 8 o'clock onward then around luchtime now as we speak, the sky is getting clear with patchy blue skies. We've pretty much had all sorts of rolercoaster weather in the last 2 days.

The snow this morning was fresh but quite wet with ok visiblity halfway up the mountain. Yesterday was better snow with almost non-visiblity. I didn't really stay too long uo on the slope. There'll be a better day.

Niseko is getting smaller and smaller day after day for me, not gegraphically or anything, but I keep coming across familiar faces from NZ. This morning I bumped into 3 Aussie guys who worked at CP 3 years ago, although in a different department, out of the blue. Honestly, everyone is now following the same path with everybody else. or simply put, Niseko is just getting more and more popular by the word of the mouth?

After the drunken night.....

2007-01-28T12:29:00.000+09:00

It's a beautiful sunny day outside today and I've got a day off, the first one after the new year's day. Not much action today, done all the domestic things like tidying up the room, washing etc. Quite relaxing so I think I'll have a nana lap later too. This is the life!

The season's pretty much halfway through now. It's gone pretty quick so far. I've made some adjustment in my life pattern here that I've reduced the hours of work to get out skiing more, so that should be all good. I haven't been out to any of those "backcountry" yet and I'm hoping to go out there with a mate with lots of experience. I just think I need to be with someone experienced to learn as much as possible such as handling of an avalanche tranciever and so on. I'm plannning to take 7days avo course this winter in Queenstown after the last 3 seasons which I couldn't really take that time off. So again, it should be all good.

It was Australia Day the other day and apparently there were some drunken, agrresive, hot headed people out on the streets that night. Heard of several drunken fights in bars/on the streets. It's just getting quite silly here that this place is becoming just like any other backpackers destinations where young people just get drunk irresponsibly and do whatever they please. What a shame. It's even sadder to know a lot of poeple from overseas trying to settle down here have been making sure not to do that and here they are for a week or two, too much booze and just f%&k things up. I'm definitely not going to come back if the things are just escalating from now on. I'll wait and see. Remember someone is always watching you.......

Onsen with a beer can in their hands

2007-01-22T19:48:00.000+09:00

A bit of break on the weather front. A little warmer than it's meant to be for the last couple of days, nothing new anymore by this winter's warmer weather. Looks like snow is coming back again soon though. Apparently Hokkaido is one of the few places in the world to have this much snow. We should consider ourselves lucky. There was a TV advert in NZ for a car, I think it was that sings "We don't know how lucky we are". Yeah that's right. It's just hard to see it when you are here and all you hear is "we haven't got much snow" from locals who's taken this whole snow thing granted.

So this weekend is apparently going to be a very big one beacuse of "Australia Day" here in Niseko. It is of no interest for japanese people but if they still want to have a big night out, they should definitely come out and join them for a party. Otherwisw lock your door, hide your car or whatever is outside your house and stay home for your safety. And me? why bother?

Speaking of Australians, I've noticed one thing about them or their behaviour here in Japan. Why do they all have a beer with them when they come to Onsen ( Onsen is a hot spa in Japan)?
I'm just wondering if Lonley Planet is telling them that it is a "must do" Japanese thing in their guidebook or something? It just looks so funny to me just like all the Asian tourists have their photos taken with Opera House in their background when they go to Sydney or even those "Peace Sign" which japanese do when they have a photo taken. What I'm saying here is that it is very touristy thing to do and it just looks funny to other people. If I do the same thing in Onsen I'll definitely be in trouble! Not that i want to do it but this is part of a double standard in this country.

Anyway, Onsen is good. That is something I miss badly when I'm living in NZ. Yeah I actually am going there now, see you guys!

it just doesn't stop!!

2007-01-16T09:19:00.000+09:00

It's been snowing for 10 days nonstop now and been very cold and windy too. Chairlifts are always slower due to the strong wind at the top of the mountain. Pretty sure all the locals are annoyed for the shovelling snow but hey, for everyone else, it's just a good news.

Now we've got about 3 meteres of snowfall this winter and apparently we've got one of the most snowfall all over the world. I know it doesn't really mean much by the number, but it still is a significant indicator of the quality of this place, I reckon.

Now we've seen what Niseko really can do when it mean to, all the things I had been told by many people here that last year there were hardly any sunshine but kept snowing. I couldn't truly believe all the words I heard from the so-called "locals" up until now but it actually does what it's meant to. I've seen it!

If you have time and some money and crazy about snowsports, I think your destination's been decided for this winter. And I tell you, you better hurry up!

A Beautiful Day

2007-01-05T10:01:00.000+09:00

it's a beautiful day outside again, wish I were able to go skiing. A huge low is approaching and apparently will bring us a lot of snow from tomorrow night. Let's wait and see what happens.

It's been a month since I arrived here and have seen a bit of Niseko and have met quite a few people, mostly from OZ and I've heard some comments on travelling around and staying in Japan. I think it would be a bit helpful for those visiting here this winter if I can point out some facts about Niseko, or more broadly Japan, over a few times.

This country is definitely a cash society just as any other Asian countries. You get refused for you credit card on many occasion so it's best advised to have plenty of cash in your wallet. It's just different country, different culture. Also the note is still made of PAPER. Keep them dry on the slope otherwise they are not really well accepted at any place when they are wet. So be prepared for this, guys.

Hope everyone visiting here is going to have a fabulous time. But don't turn this place to like Bangkok or Bali! That's my wish.

A happy new year

2007-01-04T11:52:00.000+09:00

Hope you all had the nice new year's eve/new year's day. I believe there were a few sore heads, no worrie4s, I was 1 of those people. Had the first big night out since I came to Niseko, all the bars, streets were filled with people. saw some fire work show, didn't really had the countdown because didn't really know exactly when it was turning to 2007 without any clock or anything around.

Looks like Queenstown's finaly got the summer down there, saw the forecast and it looked good with the temparature like 27 degrees. Summer Ale must be pretty nice.

It's been quite warm here too and everyone is desperate for more snow which I believe will come eventually.

Hope this year will be agood one for everyone, especially those who have visited this site.

Go Harvey Norman Go!!!

2006-12-29T13:14:00.000+09:00

When working in the store, I always have "Triple J" radio station from OZ on web stream simply because all the other co-workers are Aussies. It is just like any other radio station from Auckland to me, full of mainstream so called R&B ( I don't reaaly understand this naming), or pops you hear but you don't even know who is singing or how they look like, I don't even try to these days anyway, all things have been said and done before, nothing new.

Anyway, I sort of realised that I miss that Chinese "Chan guy" on the Edge FM who does all sorts of crazy things. That's the biggest difference between most of Kiwi stations and this "JJJ" station, I reckon. This station doesn't really do or talk about anything. I don't know, doesn't really matter, does it?

Besides, it cracked me up when I heard that " Go Harvey Go Harvey Go Harvey Norman Go!!" advert on the radio.

Things are getting back to normal here in Niseko, woke up to some snow, snowy morning, lunch time and I'm pretty sure it will go on throuhg the night tonight. People look a lot happier than the last couple of days. The more snow, the less time for skiing for me, so ironic.

Merry Christmas!

2006-12-27T17:50:00.000+09:00

Hope you all had a nice Christmas, apparently some snow in Sydney, of course on the Routeburn as well. On the other hand we had a verry sunny day here in Niseko, I even saw a lake by the bottom of Mt Youtei for the first time, I didn't even know that it was there. The town of Hirafu was full of Christmas atmosphere with all the happy people all over the town, out on the streets. To stay away from the crowd I headed for the town of Kucchan which looked just like a ghost town. There were hardly any people walking doun the streets. it was totally another world only 10 min drive away.

It's been raining all day today here, washing away the snow on the roads revealing all the icy layer which makes it harder for us to walk on. This was very unexpected, hopefully it'll turn to snow tonight. The forecast for the next several days looks very good. Everyone is looking forward to some good snow for a change.

I finally have met someone form Cp who actually worked there last winter. It's a good feeling to actually meet someone who I can share some friends' names and so on. Makes me a bit of home sick. Well, anyway, have a good new year's eve and party on!

Small World

2006-12-22T18:15:00.000+09:00

I've bumped into 2 people I know from Qtown already. The first one was the boyfriend of the girl from Perth I worked with over the last winter at CP, he was on holiday here snowboarding with his cousin for his 21st birthday. I was shooting a bar review in a mexican restaurant in Niseko and he just yelled my name through the floor, and here we were.

The another one, also from CP 3 winters ago? he was at Rentals then, and worked on Milford Track as a lodgie, he just walked in the shop I'm working, same dreadlock hair, knew instantly it was him. his Japanese has improved a lot, he's got a japanese girlfriend, doesn't it explain?

So, 2 people from CP already. I wonder how many more I will come across. I've met a guy who has done Routeburn and Milford a while ago, we got into this conversation because I was wearing this year's icebreaker uniform in the shop. Basically I'm wearing CP red cap as ususal, or new item snowbird Utah cap with Ultimate Hikes icebreaker top. Free advertisement for the home. And it's working, I think. So many of Australians I've talked to with Icebreaker or Macpac tops on which made me assume that they were Kiwis. These products must be quite popular in OZ.

Well, I wish you all back home a Boozy Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Or are you too busy to celebrate? No way!

El Nino

2006-12-20T09:08:00.000+09:00

Is it because of this? When it hits NZ in the summer, it becomes a cold, wet one. And when it hits Japan in the winter, it's a warm one. It looks infinitely true to me, global warming and stuff. Basically, during the winter times a huge low pressure sits over the tundra in Siberia, then it shortly crosses over the Sea of Japan, picking up the moisture then it hits the other side of Niseko mountains dumping some the moisture as wet snow, finally dropping very dry powdery fluffy snow. This is what I've learned so far, I may be wrong.

Unfortunately all the friends in NZ have had the not-so-perfect summer so far, I wonder how some of the other friends, the one in Fernie in Canada, the another one in France, then the one in Antarctica. Wonder how their winters ( it's pretty much winter all the time in Antarctica, right?) are going.

It's definitely worth coming and visiting Niseko if you are really crazy about the snow and looking for something different. The "Lost In Translation" experiences are everywhere, you often don't even know what you are putting in your mouth. I had the similar experience in China, ended up having a dish full of worms. Yea, if you are wild at heart, definitely. However, may be a hard place for a vagetalian. Meat or fish is pretty much in any dishes, it's just hard to get by unless you know exactly where to go or what to order.

Well, Aotearoa, have a good Christmas and a Happy New Year. Drink a pint of Summer Ale for me. I'll be back there before it's gone. Kaki Teana? I think that's how John Campbell says it!?

Hasn't snowed a while

2006-12-15T08:59:00.000+09:00

We've got such a beautiful morning today, actually the sunniest since I've arrived here. People will need a sunblock on a day like this, which is a rare thing here. Well, it hasn't snowed properly for 3,4 days now. We had light rain 3 nights ago that made the snow very icy on the lower half of the mountain. It's all too familiar for someone from CP, not a big deal I've seen it all before. However, apparently many locals are quite very picky of the condition os the snow that they don't go skiing unless they have a beutiful powder. Understandable, but not me. I was quite happy skiing yesterday, it was even snowing a bit at the top, about 5cm, I'd say, with wet new snow covering the old.

I was talking to a local last night over a couple of beer, learning all sorts of things about the area, local peopkle and stuff. It was quite interesting to know those things, it gives you the deeper insights into the envoirnment you are in, makes easier for you to sort of fit in. And I thought about the guides on the Routeburn, they are actually doing this for the walkers. Good on you guys, Rock on!

Speaking of the Routeburn, I'm wondering how their summer is picking up. Hopefully getting more sunny days over those "it never rains but it pours" days we had in November. I wish I had 2 bodies, 1 here and the other walking on the track. Anyway I'm trying to learn local flora and fauna, which looks definitely different from the ones on the track. We have BEARS!! here, isn't it cool?

Anyway, it's definitely getting busier in town day after day, I'll pick up more hours from now on, at the moment I'm doing a couple of odd jobs to get by. If you haven't cehcked out "Powder TV", just have a look and let me know what you think. I know I'm not that good yet, but I'll pick it up soonish.

New Ski Buried In Powder!!

2006-12-12T17:48:00.000+09:00

Hi guys! So have you guys already checked me out on "Powder TV"? I think I'm not as that bad as I had been afraid of, wishful thinking! I know!, anyway I just can get better from now on I'm telling myself so. My ultimate goal is to be on "The Edge FM" and take that Chines guy Chan's place. Yes, that's my secret ambition. Quite bright cosutumes, aren't they? Quite snowboarders-like,　my own version of extreme makeover.

I'm living in a staff accomodation now with all the other mainly ski instructers. You know how they are. Well alcohol-cosumed, very nice people to live with, with all their noises they make day-in, day-out so that I don't really feel lonley. What a nice bunch of people to live with. How lucky!

Yesterday we had about 20cm in town, up to 40cm at the top, great powder to ski if you know how, I wish I did, so soft, fluffy that you don't even make any noise whan you fall oner. Yes I know quite a bit about it. Why? Let me just say I'm full of Asian wisdom.

Even today, a bit sunny in the morning, not NZ clear blue sky I'm-gonna-make-you-blind sort of sunny but sunny through thin clouds it can go away anytime sort of sunny. Actually this was the sunniest since I've been here. Well groomed trails, I've got no complaints. Speaking of them, I've already got a few now but I'm not making them public now because you'll never know these days who's having a look at this. Scary world.

Anyway, My new ski's working its hardest, to its full to guide the owner on powder snow, yes I can feel that. But unluckily the owner sometimes can't translate the message from what's under his feet and going wrong way. as you say, we're not on the same page, yet. Hey, how can we be on the same page when my book in Japanese goes the other way round. Takes a while to be friends until my ski understands he's in Japan.

New jobs started

2006-12-09T18:47:00.000+09:00

From yesterday my new jobs have started. The first one, in the store, well, to be perfectly honest with you guys, this is very hard for me. Not because the job is hard, the other way round, it is with very little responsibilty. I spent 3 hours in there today, all I did was washing windows and put tags on about 20 helmets.

Another one, yes, taliking part! I've started speaking to a camera( which is a super wee Japanese magic), of course got nervous, stumbled for words often. But at the same time I think in no time I will get the hang of it and get better. Nothing to lose here, eh? It's all for laugh anyway. Maybe the less perfect, the better for you guys, we'll see. You don't know if I'm just polite or swearing at you when I'm speaking Japanese with smile on anyway.

Good internet connection. Wireless broadband, 10 times faster than Telecom's. Amazing. And free. However Veggies are ridiculously expensive here, you can buy a house for a lettuce, a bit exaggerated?

So many Aussies everywhere, again, this is very surreal. Well, I'm off to cook some tea singing Waltzing Matilda. When you are in Niseko, Do as Aussies do.

Niseko!!!!!!

2006-12-07T18:59:00.000+09:00

Got here late last night in the dark. Couldn't see much, the town was still half asleep before the big season comes along, I guess, you see the lights off the bars and restaurants only here and there.

Got up this morning in the dim winter light, decided to go for a walk. Out on the streets all I saw was a whole bunch of builders. There are so many constructions going on, apparently they are for condos for Aussies. How many they are! Apart from a few Japanese, all the staff here, instructers etc are Aussies. Somehow they think I've spent quite a few years in their country. It's all you guys' fault. It means that you guys haven't taught me enough Kiwi twang. Or maybe my skin turning too white, I don't know. Not too PC, isn't it?

Had the first day on the slope, all I saw was just like the photo here. But, mind you I'm nmot complaining. The snow was so soft and fluffy!! I haven't got my own skis delivered yet so I hired a pair of ordinary skis and I felt like I've got so better all of sudden. That was great.

I had a meeting today regarding my work here and guess my surprise. Apparently I am doing not only 2 hours a day on tv but talking on the new FM radio station sometime! Also, I may be able to meet X-Man aussie guy, Hugh Jackman? in Feb or something I'm not sure of this 100% but we'll see later on. So it sounds like more than I expected. From tomorrow I am going through intense training speaking in front of camera. It's just getting more and more interesting,eh?

Bought a new pair of skis!

2006-12-06T10:37:00.000+09:00

Yesterday I was running around Tokyo to looking for a new skis with a good deal, as you guys at CP already know that the good deal is always in THE SHOP, (Not for you guys Ski Patrols). Eventually I got K2 Work Stinx (sure it does) with G3 "Targa" binding for around $800 so it's pretty good, eh?

Apparently it's been snowing for A WEEK! up in Niseko. I'm catching a flight to Hokkaido this afternoon, then 2 and 1/2 hour ride to the resort. Going to be a long day again. It gets dark by 5 in Tokyo now, I reckon it should be even earlier in the north.

I just have a vague idea of the area, even the jobs I'm going to work. It'll be just like going to a foreign country. Cool!

Well, I haven't got my internet connection up there sorted out so it can be a while until the next posting. There are very few internet cafes in Japan either, because everyone's got a mobile and they can do the same thing as computers.

Anyway stay in touch. The photo is of a street in Tokyo. No, not in China, Jules........

I'm home!

2006-12-04T21:24:00.000+09:00

Just got home now from Chch. Been almost 20 hours since I left Chch and been a long day. saw my mother and her dog, Chico, They both look good which is a great relief when you are away from home.
My trip up to Niseko's been all orginised now, got someone to pick me up at the airport. Apparently been snowing up there for 5 consecutive days. getting excited bit by bit. Tomorrow I'm going shooping for a pair of fat ski in tokyo. I'll take some photoes of streets in Tokyo. All asians there, though.

Off to Japan!

2006-12-03T14:50:00.000+09:00

I'm in Chch now to catch the flight to Tokyo early tomorrow morning. This town seems just dead on Sunday evening, all I see is tourists, and I'm one of them! You wouldn't recognise me because I'm well too blended with all the asian tourists.
It's been a very busy, hectic month for me, having 7 trips on Routeburn, I was so glad to have come back even only for a short while, such a beautiful special place. Lots of rain, snow whatever you name it. very wet start for the summer. I only had maybe 3 days of proper summer days on the track. And I will be so gutted if the lake floods! I had missed the one in 99' because I left the country in August that year then this time. How unlucky! Someone needs to keep me updated on this. Even someone can start the blog like this called "The lake watch" or something. Someone needs to kayak or get a boat out in the mall if it floods for me. Anyway I'll be home tomorrow for 2 nights then to Niseko. apparently it's opend now, been snowing for 3 days now. I"m looking forward to it. Well See you guys then.

What's going on?

2006-11-09T13:38:00.000+09:00

So you may be wondering what this is all about. Well, I've got a job in Niseko, Hokkaido, Japan this winter up there from early Dec. I'll be working a couple of jobs there to satrt with, one of them is quite different from anything I've ever done in my life. Yes, I'll be on TV, mmm.... sort of. The company, actually a resort, has a website as they do and in their contents they have a video snow report which is updated daily during the season. You must have guessed by now what I'm on about. I'll be a presenter on it, mainly speaking Japanese, (Yes I know the language a little, believe it or not) with an English-speaking partner. I thought it will be quite hilarious for all of us, including myself, that you can check me out on their website EVERYDAY! if you are crazy enough to do that. At the same time I'm thinking of letting you know of my life up there on this blog, that will be quite different from here and quite interesting. So check this blog out every once in a while and see how it goes, have a good laugh. However, I'm not sure how often this will be updated considering my laziness so please be patient with me.

Cheers.

Toshi