Kraut_in_HongKong

Since I can't get ski socks in Hong Kong I think I will go for football socks. Or is there any opposition to it?

Just wanted to ask the same question again: Who's doing Happo-One Jan. 28th-30th with kids?

Best movie I saw in recent years: Love Actually No mega action, just a really nice movie.

Just saw the new King Kong. Not bad, but can't understand the fuzz about it.

Quote: Originally posted by soubriquet: I'm intrigued by the female speed skaters. I can never look at that enormous muscle development without thinking "hmm, wonder what sort of experience that would be.." I presume a nut cracking experience.

Just a note: I would put the chains only on when required by law. It's a pain driving with them.

Is that the correct address for the "Tracks Bar"? TRACKS BAR (Backpackers) 長野県北安曇郡 白馬村大字神城　 ２２４０７－４ 22407-4 Oaza Kamisiro Hakuba-mura Kita-Azumigun Nagano JAPAN tel: 0261-75-4038 I need that for the Party next Saturday....

In the EU alps chains are by law required on many pass roads in winter. I don't know about Japan, but I think if I would drive in JP, and go for ski often I would probably buy a pair and have it on stand-by. Try them once on on a dry road. It can be a bit troublesome the first time. For a 4x4 chains go usually on the front tires.. For hill driving, the most dangerous part is downhill. That's when you want a good grip to stop in time. Last time in the Alps I had a Volvo XC and still got stuck in snow and had to be pulled out with a truck. One wonders what the logic is of a 4

Quote: Originally posted by I'm Sexy: I don't like sausages at all... I read sometime what is in them. Depends. In the old days we used to buy a pig, slaughter it, and make it into meat products. There was nothing revolting in it. Friends who worked in a saussage factory all said that this is an awful job. Nitrite: You need it to keep the meat red. Otherwise it will turn grey. Like a steak that you fry.

Quote: Originally posted by Fossil: Its all in the translation apparently I believe "Du hast wurst" in german means to be lucky and another expression states that "that is all sausage to me" meaning it is of no consequence or very common. .... "Du hast Schwein" = You are lucky (Schwein = Pig) "that is all sausage to me" = Das ist mir Wurst = Doesn't matter to me, not my concern.

I had once -35 in Germany. Had to go 100Km to work. Car ran OK, but shock absorbers where frozen. The highway was LITTERED with diesel cars and trucks, since diesel becomes milky below -20 (just like olive oil in the fridge) (you have to add normal petrol to keep it from freezing). BTW, I doubt the vodka to animals story. It's cute, but probably not true. To have them survive you have to KEEP them warm, not let them think they are warm.

Quote: Originally posted by sakebomb: It's regularly on the news here.....my favourite story was they ask you to come into their bar..let you drink happily and then extort you with a monster bill at the end.... That happens a lot in China too. Specially in Beijing (Wangfujin) and Shanghai (Nanjing Lu). Watch out! Don't go with people. I am sure Japan is different. However, I am used to keep attention all the time, 100%

I/we will most likely come (let's say >90%) for a drink. Have to bring probably wife and kids. Will be 4 then. No food for us. See you!

well, I really suggest to carry some plastic band-aid anyway. I often get friction burns and a simple plaster works wonder.

Forgot, we eat also lots of snakes in China. Finely sliced in soup it's nice. But a large piece fried requires excellent teeth. BTW, my favourite J food could be Nikujaga, but somehow hard to find....

Well, I travel a lot in China.... Bee larvae - expensive, otherwise nothing special Water Beetle - looks like fat cockroach. I passed this one Dog - nice meat I often see crocodile in supermarkets, but haven't tried. And i really like those little dry fish that you get in korean restaurants.

I usually use only thin socks. If I get bruises I cover the area the band-aid to get rid of the friction. It works 100%

Funny news! Greenpeace Germany transported a stranded, dead finback whale from the the baltic sea to Berlin and placed the dead animal in front of the Japanese Embassy. The Embassy staff can use it now for research...... http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,13509-1995479,00.html

Hehehehehe, I had 39 and don't know any Japanese at all.

I really don't know yet. We arrive on that day. Food will be in the hotel. A beer would be nice though.... BTW, I hope somebode can post the Tracks Bar address in Japanese (as I presume that not every taxi driver will know the place by its english name).

Quote: Originally posted by Toque: That might be true in Hong Kong but in Japan most everything is legit If you buy from some obscure source then I would even worry in Japan. The shop may have bought it somewhere unknowingly. And you can not tell an original NF from a fake. They can be quite well done too. I would buy only from larger shops - and pay the price. But I am lucky and my wife works in fashion and has access to some factories that make ski gear for well known brands. So I don't have to suffer $700 for a Spyder jacket. But I agree, the risk in Japan will be much lower.

I'am also not in Japan and just go for a few days. I would not go to Nozawa Onsen. The resort is good, but the village is quite small and there is not too much to see. Hakuba sounds a bit more exiting with cafes, restaurants and things. If you have not skied before, I suggest you opt for very short ski. Maybe snowblades. That's how I started, and I got up and running in 20 minutes.

Markie With bonus flights you have to book them well in advance. I think we have booked this trip 1994 (Just kidding, we booked in September or so. And cool, my wife goes once a month biz class to Europe, so the milage stream is never ending)

Markie I am not on a package tour. We are on free bonus flights with CX. So, collecting milage does make sense! Unfortunately we arrive very late, and return very early. Basically losing valuable time. I wouldn't have mind to have paid, but then we would have lost the milages, which is not eneugh to go to Europe for 4.

Be carefull with North Face, there are lots of fakes on the market. Make sure you know EXACTLY how an original looks.