gammaman

Have been invited by a family I know to join their annual break in Karuizawa, just pay for travel and pass. So I`m goin there. Anyone else gonna be at Karuizawa? Not my first choice and the family are skiers, and sedate ones ones at that, I reckon. Will have to entertain myself on the slopes methinks.

Goemon, really? Well what`s the point of making an American version if they have already seen it?

A day on the hill (and a dent in my board from an unseen rock ), a couple of boarding mags, three crackers, chocolate and fruit pastilles (oh how I love/miss the fruity chewyness). Oh, emails and cards all of which contained a letter in them

Hey Stumpalama, sent you a private mail and an email re. this weekend. I`d love a chance to get on the hill. Don`t usually have weekends off, what d`you reckon?

Ok, got a bit of time so here goes. Of course this is just my opinion from my experience, not gospel. 1. The overnight bus is, lets face it, not comfortable but it is bearable. My advice, take something to read (always makes me wanna sleep more), personal music, something to rest your head on and blindfold type thing if light stops you sleeping. They usually stop twice for toilets and refreshment. 2. Personally I would book the bus in advance. From arrival in Narita you should be able to get to catch either bus easily. 3. I always get the package deals on offer as they throw in

I have serious doubts over an american version. Only one american I know liked it. Can`t imagine how its going to translate for the US. I, however, agree wholeheartedly that it is just pure genius

Went to Joetsu yesterday and it was virtually empty. Had the three kickers and tatty halfpipe almost completly to myself.

OOOoo dear, lets hope you dont start a fight with this one. Have to go to work so I cant answer your Qs now, sure someone else will though. I`ll revisit when I get back to give my opinion. For the meantime find the `cheapest day tickets from Tokyo` thread for a bit of background reading. Good luck

Don`t know anything about the palace but a few things have been brought to my attention. 1. I`ve been told it is actually the dead emperors birthday. Not the current one. 2. It`s actually called `green day`. (I have my doubts about this one, I thought that was part of golden week or somewhere round then) 3. And this is for real, not one Japanese person I have asked (and I come into contact with a few) could tell me the name of the Emperor. Why the hell not??!! Wots his name dammit?

Stumpalama + Dims. Sorry, was away all weekend only just spotted the thred. Well up for it. Stum - have sent you a private. Drop me a line. Dims - used to live in Hodo too. Like it? I ride, will try anything (ish), just wanna slide.

Just come back from three days at Ryuoo. Fantastic start to the season after all the worry. Almost non-stop powder truns all three days. Even the last run of today was a powder epic. BBeeaauutiiful

Very good (and sobering) article. For prices follow the link. 2 courses, basic 20,000y and the advanced 50,000y. My housemate informs me that your definition is correct. He is the font of all knowledge. I believe him.

Just in time. I`m off to the slopes tomorrow, on a............ wait for it ...................... overnight bus. Will have fun. Will have fun. Will be snow. Will have fun.

Joetsu Kokusai where there WILL be snow, I hope. Can someone please enlighten me and tell me just how Christmas eve came to be couples night in Japan?

Elequent, and on the nose .db. couldn`t have said it better myself, nor do I have to time to! Hear hear

Crazyski - educate me, did Heidi have a monkey? I never got to see it on the TV show. Feel kinda short changed, if ya know what I mean. Got my secrets, not tellin, but not really worth knowing. Sorry.

Hokey dokey. Much obliged.

gomen ...to answer that?

Do I really have answer that?

You should get hold of a few boarding mags. They always seem to have "design board graphics and win a real version" competitions ( last one I saw was a Lib tech board built to your spec). They usually have the outline of the board for you to fill in, so no probs with the shape

Personally, and I may be alone in this, I like to dress up in true dandy fashion (outdoor style) on the slopes. Brown tweed jacket, cream jodpers (incase I need to hop on the live steed for the uphill) grandfathers` driving goggles give excellent protection from everything including local wildfowl doodoo. I find riding boots offer excellent support all the way up to the knee.... ah I could go on but instead just ask me when you see me, should be easy to spot.......

Depends on how I`m feeling, what I want, what they want etc - sometimes Ma + Pa, or Mum or Dad and on occaision Mother and Father. Variety is the spice

Coldplay... just breaking onto the scene in UK. Found them way overhyped, dull, boring and frankly tedious. Met the band after (it was my local gig venue, not so big) nice fellas, but boring music. Didn`t tell them that though

Going to Ryuo, apparently it`s open. Bring it on....

Ha Ha Ha, walked into that one Rach.......... Just off to get my clippers and a file