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ausi ski bum

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Posts posted by ausi ski bum

    Things that offend

    in General off-topic discussions

    Posted

    I find the whole tipping thing in the US offensive, pay your people a decent wage and don't expect your customers to have to pay thir wages for you.

     

    I dislike people pushing in at the lift line, we will all get a seat and the snow won't melt in the 2 minutes you gain.

     

    Snow Boarders, OK just joking there

     

    I also hate the terms Jap and Japs, while I am an Aussie and my wife a Pom, It just does not seem right.

     

    I find people that dont respect the cultures of others offensive, those that travel and compare with back home, if you can't enjoy the culture your visiting, stay home.

     

    I hate how in the US when you fly all the Merkins are telling everyone how much they catch planes, um so what its a bus with wings, I gave up counting at 400 flights.

     

    I hate the Aussie Tourists that do the wrong thing OS, we have a great reputation, don't spoil it.

    Swine flu (part 2)

    in General off-topic discussions

    Posted

    I had my vaccine today, the shot is no worse than the average flu shot, its free here and anyone can get one, as I am traveling to Japan next year to ski I figured it wise, who knows what germs are flaoting around an aircraft and in those heated hotels.

     

    I personally am not concerned however I come into contact with many frail and disabled in my work so I feel the risk to them outways the risk to me, sometimes you need to consider the benneft to the community.

    Aussie Invasion

    in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry

    Posted

    I use both Travelex and Westpac bank, Travelex online allows you to nominate a store to pick up the cash from including the airport and Westpac takes about a week to get the cash in, remembering I live in Country NSW.

     

    Travelex do not have fee's but their rate is slightly lower, Westpac charges $8 but has a better rate so if your buying more than AU$800 you are generally better off.

     

    In Japan travelers cheques are a total waste of time, its a cash cash cash economy so I cary and use mostly cash.

    Aussie Invasion

    in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry

    Posted

    I am back in 2010 for three weeks, with the improved exchange rate, I may extend that to four yet. The one thing frustrating me the most is not being able to book domestic air tickets until two months out because our return trip is in one of the discount tickets exclusion periods. Its cheaper for me to fly to Hokkaido via Beijing or Seoul than it is direct at the moment.

    Barack Obama wins the Nobel Peace Prize

    in General off-topic discussions

    Posted

    I think it was a little early for Obama but obviously it was for the hope of a more peaceful world that he has brought and the wonderful speaces in the middle east and at the UN recently, his sending envoys to the worlsds hot spots to look for solutions and the determination to talk to enemies and not threaten them. He of course stopped the missile deployment that lead to Russia and the UK also steping back their prolification of weapons.

     

    I see this as a move to encourage the process of peace more than recognise it, in a short time he has achieved more than we realise when you start considering his actions. Certainly a far cry from the Bush war monger years.

    Niseko - Moiwa

    in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry

    Posted

    I looked at the apartments and while they were nice they were over priced and the deal was terrible. the management, booking and other charges were around $25,000pa and you could only use your apartment 2 weeks a year in ski season.

     

    Effectively you bought an apartment that the management company took all the profit from and they told you when you could use it. In other words, Time Share and they made all the money.

     

    I did the numbers and it was a total con. Moiwa apartments shold have been very cheap, available to live in or rent at the owners pleasure and managed in house at a maximum of 20% commission and a basic change over fee. All up around $6-8000 max.

     

    Summer bookings would most likely be next to non.

     

    Much better deals to be had.

    Is this racist?

    in General off-topic discussions

    Posted

    In the original version of that skit on the show many years back the guy playing MJ with his face white, was an Indian and the only black guy in the group, it was quite funny.

     

    Nah its not racist in the least and totally harmles, Americans have lost their sence of humour. Wasn't there a movie recently where two black guys played two white girls and why is it funny when Eddie Murphy plays all the characters in a Barber shop including the white guys.

    Niseko - Moiwa

    in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry

    Posted

    I have spent about three days over there at different times, I always have a hire car so I can get around and not have to rely on shuttles, the Moiwa area has some of the best powder to be found and very few people tracking it out on the best days. There is some great steep runs on the summit if its open, I was playing up there in very deep untracked powder a few years back.

     

    They sell a four hour ticket for about A$32

    Sydney - Tokyo - Hokkaido ?

    in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry

    Posted

    Originally Posted By: Alx
    Now... yet another contradictory comment ... JAL tell me that I can buy the international SYD-Sapporo then forfeit the Haneda-Sapporo leg, to buy the domestic 9000yen fare one way... then the agent I try to buy from that from say that it will invalidate my international ticket?!!

    ??? Confused ???


    Listen to JAL, as soon as you arrive at Narita you go through customs and pick up your luggage anyway so your effectively domestic from thet point. 90000 sounds a good deal to get a stop over.

    Sydney - Tokyo - Hokkaido ?

    in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry

    Posted

    The majority of flights to Chitose are from Heneda not Narita, most people will find they get a stop over, having flown JAL a few times to Chitose I have always had a stop over, but this is at their expense in one of their hotels. In the busier times JAL will arrange a bus to Heneda from the Narita hotel but at your expense, its not to expensive.

     

    Generally on the way home you don't need the stop over.

     

    With all respect acpowman, your not being exactly truthful, the March exclusion period for example starts 12 March (not early march).

     

    Ski wholesalers are OK but I have always done far better researching and organising everthing myself, it just takes a little time, but thats half the fun.

     

    An example of this was the tower hotels at Tomamu, I was able to save hundreds through a Japanese site on the best deal available in Australia.

     

    I am flying Jetstar this trip as I bought Star Class tickets, two for the price of one. Two months prior to my trip I will try and get the Chitose section with FF Points, I have been told this should not be to difficult.

    Dust storms!

    in General off-topic discussions

    Posted

    I was in Sydney this morning, it was pretty strange to see what is fairly common in the country area I live in.

     

    Heading home this afternoon, the airport was still in Kaos with flights to the gold coast and Brisbane being cancelled as the dust reached there.

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