blu

Coincidently, the Queens Birthday holiday is the opening of the AU ski season each year - that could cause a problem when we become a Republic.

what about Mos (I struggle with Kana menus).

that would be the Yamaguchi-gumi or Goto-gumi.

just started TOKYO VICE - A Western Reporter on the Police Beat in Japan (Jack Adelstein). About organised crime and the you know who.

It's 35 celsius now at 18:00 (Central Coast). Sydneys hottest Aussie Day in 20 years. That's probably why we drink so much. There were colonial tall ships on harbour, ocean and harbour swimming races, artillery firing, a new mass haviana inflatible record (2068 people), kangaroo pizzas, sausage BBQ's, and only 27 minor arrests statewide so far (it's close to zero tolerance today).

ASB if want it in Ichinose, then check Mount Shiga Hotel (western beds in J room) or Olympic Hotel. I think you were unseasonally lucky but should go back to Hokkaido again in 2012.

Join the holiday - light the barbie and have a few cold bevies. Celerbrate mid summer here, or mid winter up there.

Laptops can be too big. Buy the cheapest netbook on sale & claim the GST refund at airport on departure.

even a group lesson each day.

that was quick, was just fishing Mama. It's a great pix of Yotei.

looks a bit tracked.

It's the free credit card travel insurance for us (3 years now).

there's 600 resorts & they are all different, just spin the wheel & choose one.

They are legal to use if they meet the Japanese standards & have a conformity mark on them (a bit like the post office "T" with a circle around it).

The Tourist Office in the Asahikawa train station can provide information and timetables on buses to Kamui, Asahidake and Kurodake. Kamui - there is one ski bus in the morning from Asahikawa to Kamui, returning abour 16:00. I think it was an Hokkaido Resort Liner bus. We prebooked tickets the day before. I think it was about 1,200yen each way. Kamui is definitely worth a visit & is only about 20 minutes from the city. Asahidake would be 90 minutes or more, leaving Asahikawa about 09:00.

Moguls - not before spring softening, then it's like a mini boardercross.

AirDo sales must be up.

naked hitchhiking - not without the (wheel) chains.

Looks like a white Aussie Xmas (almost) - it's snowing: http://www.perisherblue.com.au/winter/snowreport/bluecow.php

Go via Austria. Better than boarding at Cairngorm.

If your leather boots are getting too wet you can hire snowboots at Rhythm or 323. Otherwise check Rays Outdoors @ Erina (or the new Ananconda store) for something waterproof.

Furano is. Opened today.

Breakfast - just a smaller version of dinner. Just ask for the egg to be cooked if possible. Lots of good stuff even if you avoid the fish - miso, rice, pickles, omelette, salad. Just watch for the custard in a cup with a bit of octopus or prawn in it.

... it's not looking positive here. Maybe bring your own boots (or rent in Aus), or head to Niseko for western sizes. Last season I noticed that Burton US10's (snowboard boots) were "asian fit" - with a smaller foot shape/width.

How was the crowd on the hill?