Davo

Yeah it was at some ski resort on the slopes of Mt Fuji-close to those famous lakes whose name like the resort I can't remember. The stage was in front of the main buildings of the resort, but there was so much rain that it started to sink. Never did get to see Prodigy due to the cancellation-the irony was that it hardly rained at all on the Sunday. There was supposed to be an all night dance tent but it was turned into a shelter for all the unprepared people who turned up in shorts and t-shirts.

Yeah it was at some ski resort on the slopes of Mt Fuji-close to those famous lakes whose name like the resort I can't remember. The stage was in front of the main buildings of the resort, but there was so much rain that it started to sink. Never did get to see Prodigy due to the cancellation-the irony was that it hardly rained at all on the Sunday. There was supposed to be an all night dance tent but it was turned into a shelter for all the unprepared people who turned up in shorts and t-shirts.

We had to sit to close to the screen and at some points during the 3rd hour I felt kind of like I did when I used to get carsick as a kid. I think stretching it out over 3 years is excessive-but probably the best way to cash in.

Can't help you there sorry-wish I could ditch the real job and go though. I worked at the first one years ago through the same connection-it got cancelled on the second day because of the rain but it was loads of fun. Secret is to be already working for some outfit that's going there I guess. [This message has been edited by Davo (edited 07 May 2002).]

I have the opportunity to go and work in a bar there but can't because I'll be having much more fun teaching English-Yippee. Routine is definately the enemy.

Badly planned lift systems in some areas meaning you have to rely on sloooow short lifts to get your vertical. Straight to the top asap please.

Guess it does-though it's not strictly a dance music orientated event & probably pretty expensive in comparison.

There's a resort in Nara having one this month-had no idea there were resorts in Nara. Also saw an ad for one up in Biwako valley in Aug. It doesn't offer much as a place to go boarding but it's definately a good spot for a party-nice views of Biwako. Any other resorts having parties? Maybe thats how these little places make a profit.

I caught a few minutes of it as well-the body armour on the imperial troops looked like cheap plastic , which is probably exactly what it is. When it came out in 1977 it was super cool but it seemed pretty lame to me when I saw it last year. Darth Vader is still a good bad guy-randomly killing his own men and all that. Battlestar Gallactica was the cream of the cheese.

I caught a few minutes of it as well-the body armour on the imperial troops looked like cheap plastic , which is probably exactly what it is. When it came out in 1977 it was super cool but it seemed pretty lame to me when I saw it last year. Darth Vader is still a good bad guy-randomly killing his own men and all that. Battlestar Gallacktica was the cream of the cheese.

Welcome Wang-please have a curry lahksa for me, not easy to find here in Osaka.

I'm interested in hearing everyones ideas on this. Here's my 2 cents: package deal bus trips/ onigiri, cheese and kit-kats for lunch/ discount coupons/ mizuwari apreski firewater/ sleep in your car or somewhere cheap/ creative ticketing. If you can do some kind of performance thing like juggling chainsaws you might be able to busk your way onto the mountain by thrilling the crowds who gather round the bottom.

I saw the last 30 mins and they seemed unable to capitalise on some good opportunities through indecisiveness-could be different when some of the real talent rejoins the squad.

I could tell it was crap when I saw 70% of the many copies at Tsutaya were availible in it's first week of release. If you want a good laugh I recommend "Meet the Parents"-I watched it twice and laughed just as much the 2nd time round.

Takeshi Kitano aka Beat Takeshi-famous actor/director/comedian of Brother fame hosts a mad discussion show with a large panel of foriegners who are fluent in Japanese. I'm not sure if it's still on, or remember it's exact name but it's the funniest thing you'll ever see on regular Japanese TV. They're always debating controversial issues-it's a hoot. Some other comedy stuff can be funny but in general I'd agree with grungy gonads-read a book instead.

I agree-it'll definately be hot as Japan enters into it's yearly tropical transformation. I don't know so much about Korean weather but I think the timing misses most of their monsoon and it may still be too cool there to have started about now. I guess it cools off earlier there as well. As far as Japanese weather goes-right now or late Sept and all of Oct would be perfect conditions.

Because I'm in between jobs and not working on an assignment I should be doing. Also, as cheeseman has rightly pointed out there's more to life than snow. Talk about whatever you want mate.

Not that I'm suggesting that we all abandon SJG or anything. I'll keep logging in and checking what's up, but what other forums do people recommend? The traffic here is going the way of the snow. The Lonely Planet thorn tree has it's moments, I'd be interested to hear about some others.

Came across one called Bishops Toe or something like that once-it reeked and tasted kind of musty. Blue cheese is killer-kinda smells like chunder don't you think? Cheese gives you crazy dreams so it could an idea to eat a lot before taking anti malaria medication which can give you really crazy dreams. Saw a picture once of a football stadium in USA full of supporters who called themselves cheeseheads and had fake cheese stuck on their bball caps. Tasty and versitile-cheese really has it all. Last time I went to Mt Cheeseman though I gouged my board down to the core for 15cm on a rock-a

There are always at least two sides to a story and absolutism is inevitably wrong. The zettai dame approach to non-gelande riding or the attitude that you can do anything you like represent these sides in this particular one. Where is the sensible middle ground, compromise or solution? I'm not sure and I've never been to Arai to be able to comment on the situation there, but I do have something to say about the absolute policy at a certain Hakuba resort. Once after being apprehended by patrol at said resort for out of bounds riding I asked for a full outline of where I couldn't ride. Most

Interesting approach-guess I won't be in a hurry to go to Arai as I'm likely to spoil everyones day by closing down the mountain. I am very careful going out of bounds and will continue to do so without putting myself or others at risk. He's got a point about the herd mentallity-try crossing a busy intersection here when the light is red and someone is bound to follow you without checking the traffic at all.

You're right about the English summer Ocean11-nice when it happens and in many ways preferable to August here. Still too chilly for swimming but, which is why the English breakfast has been added to the diversity of Spanish regional cuisine. Baked beans ole! ole!

It's going to be a long and gruelling afair that won't let up until late September. It was a warm and humid rainy lunchtime in Osaka yesterday. I thought I'd at least get through to May before I started sweating. A Canadian mate of mine reckons summer lasts for 8 months here. By my standards I'd say 5 or 6. I'll be getting to the beach or a river or even a human soup pool as often as I can. But it's much better than the two eight month winters I spent in London-plenty of cold with hardly any snow. Gambare people.

I have tried this gnarly sport only once and it was dead easy to be up and riding first time much to my suprise. Are there any wakeboarders on the site and does anyone know about the where's and how much's etc of doing it in Japan? Would especially appreciate any info about the Kansai region-where I guess Biwako is the place to do it.

Check the address above or do a web search-maybe 40 odd in NZ alone-plenty of choice and worth it just to leave the summer hell behind even if it isn't an epic snow year.