Markie

Yes, I remember as a child, firecrackers and fireworks could be bought in the streets in HK and were very popular during Chinese New Year. However, they caused many accidental injuries and were banned. We still have fireworks displays every year but it is controlled by the government and the public cannot buy any of it.

Good to see the ants out in force at Kiroro again. Can't see the conditions at Happo now but Goryu looks good.

If you go to Niseko and you've got 3 months, it means you can easily try out Kiroro and Rusutsu nearby. A bit further and there is also Sapporo Kokusai, Furano, Tomamu and Sahoro. So there is still lots of variety from a Niseko base. Nevertheless, there is much much more at Hakuba. Not only do you have all the different slopes at Hakuba itself, but there is Shiga Kogen and others in Nagano, as well as all those in Niigata. If I had 3 months in Japan, I'd get that JR rail pass and do some 20 resorts within that time....10 of which would be in or near Hakuba.

I got the JLPT this weekend too, but not too concerned about that, even if I fail. Just want to know how my nihongo is getting along.

Zhang Ziyi? Way above my league, bro....just like 90% of the women in HK and China and 100% of the women in Japan.

To be fair, Oyuki has a point. The skiing is not great and if you are price conscious, things are pretty expensive there.

CB, no need to get jealous now. I'll be seeing you soon enough.

OK, Thursday, you pretentious shite. Looks like we got to get together for some beers sometime.

Quote: Originally posted by Oyuki kigan: Someone mentioned Karuizawa. you are so shallow that you have nothing left in your life to bring you enjoyment by buying overpriced status symbols from pretentious shops Well put! I guess that's why I liked the place.

Oh, I see. Yes, I also thought Yuzawa would be it for onsens since Yuzawa means "Onsen town" in Japanese, doesn't it? I thought Manza would be pretty good for onzens too.

Quote: Originally posted by HoTRoD: The Japanese experience = most definitely Nozawa Onsen. C'mon, don't just stop there. What's so great about it? I haven't been so would like to hear.

Fattwins, Matsumoto has an airport? I think the closest international airport is Nagoya, though.

Quote: Originally posted by thursday: what an easy choice. hire a budding ski tour guide like Markie. Well, I'm only going to places that have the toilet seat I want....BTW, Fattwins, I hope that will be installed by the time I get to your place, otherwise you'd better assign someone to do it for me manually.

Good news for now, but I don't like next week's forecast. Seems like suiyoubi and mokuyoubi are bringing some pretty warm temps over.

The lifts are running again at Kiroro and it looks like the few ants that are there are enjoying some really deep powder.

Yeah, that's what I don't like. It's like you have to connected just to get one. Like some private club or secret society. I'm used to just waving my hand and hailing one down.

Fattwins, I'm a bit skeptical about J-taxis. I still remember Mogski's story from years ago and remember last Easter we had no luck calling one to take us from your place back to the Tokyu?

Agree with Fattwins. Sahoro and Karuizawa is not going to give you good skiing. Karuizawa is good for after-ski family stuff. Don't like Club Med too much because their hotel is too basic. Yes, meals are provided, Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner buffets and that's it. Forget about room service, forget about dropping into the Coffee Shop at any time for a snack, there's none. Forget about a drink (I mean just a Coke) in your room, no mini-fridge, no TV and (most important for my "stuck-up ass") no bidet (automated J-toilet seat).

Sounds like Arai still is the best fit, based on that, too bad it's closed. If you're going with the family, Karuizawa is good too. The ski jo (ski 場）is relatively small, but the Prince Hotel there is good and has a great adjoining mall with lots and lots of shops, cinemas and even a bowling alley. So lots of non-ski fun for the family. But not great ski-fun. Naeba boasts the biggest ski resort hotel in the world. Facilities are good and the ski jo is also good but that place is quite crowded, not only for the ski-lifts but in the evenings, I remember waits of up to an hour for dinne

Great news, straight from the soubriquet's mouth! Ki o tsukete ソーブリケ Checked out the webcam and there's a nice white blanket covering Happo and Goryu (what I can see from the cam, anyway). Now, just waiting for BCS's whole mountain pics. Come on BCS, don't keep me waiting.

Trails? Now that's a word that sounds undemanding and inviting. I'll probably do that.

OK, thanks for clearing that up for me. I did in fact think they were the same thing!

But do they still have the light stuff? I can understand the need for the heavy stuff to give the equipment the robustness needed if you're doing downhill on them. However, I was thinking of doing this on flats or undemanding terrain, sort of like a winter hike. Backpack some lunch, walk somewhere at a leisurely pace for half a day, have lunch and head back just to enjoy some light exercise and take in the scenery. Do they have light equipment for that sort of thing?

If you fly into Obihiro I remember there is a shuttle bus that gets you to Sahoro. If you fly to Chitose, you may have to take the JR to Shintoku and the Club Med people will pick you up from there if you ask them to. Since you are going there, I highly recommend you take a few extra days off and try out Tomamu just one or two train stops away.

Quote: Originally posted by quattro: It's oblivious you have not seen any modern Tele gear. Mine weights as much as any alpine setup. Same goes for the boots. Obviously NOT! I'd better check that out then. Guess you really need to be fit to move around in those then.