Glen Falting

db, I just spent two weeks on the beach at Byron Bay, even with the prospect of snowboarding most weekends it was still hard to get on the plane. In your present state of mind, its probably best not to return home for a while.

A night out in Roppongi on a corporate credit card.

Forget all the guff about living overseas and how it broadens a person's horizon. Living in Japan is a series of frustrating reminders of how much better things are run, done or organised in other countries - except England of course. Alex Keer's book Dogs and Demons sums it up perfectly. That is not to say there aren't many things that work extremely well here, they're just not quite as noticable. I speak enough Japanese to get by and have some very good Japanese friends and really enjoy living here (in the winter), but I've definitely become more bigated since leaving Oz.

Thanks Brit-Gob, I'll give them a try.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a good place to stay at Nozawa Onsen? Good = convenient/clean/warm/reasonable price etc. I'm heading up there on 25-26 Jan with some friends as an alternative to blowing a heap of cash on this year's Aussie Ball. I've had a look at the accomodation pages on SnowJapan site (fantastic site by the way guys - simply brilliant), but I'm wondering if anyone has some local knowledge they would like to share.