snowdude

Originally Posted By: muikabochi Originally Posted By: MikePow Four definite seasons up here. All very civilised. I think I'd like your summers! A bit less extreme than here. I can hardly imagine what it would be like living in Tokyo, big city or southern Japan in summer. Unbearable most likely! More than unbearable, which is why I escaped to my house in Nagano during all of August. Trouble with Tokyo there is absolutely no wind in summer and even if there is the houses are so squashed together that the wind doesn't circluate at all. Usually have to change my T-shirt about 4 t

Me neither, especially as the little slope is only about 330 metres in length with no curves or anything. But I do wonder what kind of crowd it attracts?

Ochinanomizu in Tokyo, loads of shops there, you can find from cheap to expensive boards, skis and all the gear you want.

Very possible as every monitor is likely to display the shades of colour differently. You can adjust the monitor of either a desktop or laptop to your desired taste. I don't think any particular monitor is right, rather some produce a more natural colour better than others. The glossy type of screens tend to produce deeper, richer colours and clearer quality than a matt type monitor. For example the pics on my laptop look much better than they do on my desk top, because my laptop has a glossy monitor, my desk top doesn't.

Originally Posted By: snowhunter I am new to this whole telephone box phenononem. Does it get snowed under?? Yes it should disapear in about another month or so due to awesome amounts of snow fall!

Originally Posted By: SerreChe incredible stuff, I am speechless. A few of these guys will be dead within the next few years though. Yep for sure, see how close they got to those rocks, one mistake and there wasted! It's amazing what people come up with to get their kicks! Does look cool though!

For anyone living in Tokyo or Saitama, and are super despirate to go skiing and absolutely cannot wait, you can always go skiing in Sayama, they have an indoor ski slope right by the station. Never tried it myself, I am patient enough to wait for the real stuff, but just thought I would mention it. And also has anyone ever actually tried an artificle snow slope? My image is that you be at the bottom before you hardly left the top, as it is only short, but have sometimes wondered if it is any good or not. I would assume it is just for beginners?

Let's hope soon we don't see the phone box at all, then we know it is an awesome year.

Yeah Canyons are good, I haven't done a tour with them, but they do seem to have a good reputation and I have been over to their place a few times. A mate of mine works there. The 'WeloveJapan' group sorry I can't comment on them as I have never heard of them let a lone used them.

Nutters all of them, but it does look fun, it's the kind of crazy thing I would be tempted to do!

Oh I'm with you there rach, I actually like the cold, yes some people will think I am stupid, but the summers here are just punishing, no other word for it. In winter ou can put the heaters on or light the fire as I do when it gets really cold, eat loads of hot pot foods, soak in onsens and just feel great and alive. Summer, just make you feel dead all the time!

Karuizawa is very cold in winter, but it is a dry area compared to a bit further north so doesn't get that much snow at the best of times. Like the others said, go a bit further over to Niigata, especially as access is easy and not long from Tokyo, if you take the shink.

Originally Posted By: Tubby Beaver and as I wear a t-shirt while working, have already had my 1st round of "Aren't you cold?" LOL - I get that here in Tokyo most of the time except summer. What is it with the Japanese, they all seem to be 'samugari's' or is it just that us gaijin have thick skin or something. My wife is always complaining it's cold even in Tokyo. Sure it's cooler now, but it definately isn't what you can call cold yet. For you Hokkaidolights is it the same up there in winter or anytime for that matter. I still get the same thing in Nagano where it gets down to

Not cheap, My normal tyres cost 3 man per tyre, hate to think what my winter tyres will cost when it's time to renew them. ouch! I do recommend buying the rims too if you can, because it means you can change the wheels yourself each time. Takes me 20 mins tops to do 4 wheels. No need to pay garage fees to change the tyres each year and less chance of damage to the rims, especially alloys. One thing though like wattie above said winter tyres or studless are useless on icebound roads especially icebound covered in snow. Otherwise excellent in the snow!

I just filled up my car this morning at a shell garage 123 y/l for regular petrol. They are doing a campaign, not sure if all of them are, but my local shell garage on Shinomekaido is. For those of you in Tokyo near this area you might want to go there and fill up. They give you a free point card 3 boxes of tissues and you get regular for 123 y/l.

Originally Posted By: kokodoko Whats it called when you bite the end off choccy bikkies and suck coffee thru it? Childish! LOL jk Just read the above post, now I know what it's called.

Originally Posted By: Hokkaidough I don't know about the man enough but I do know that at least we have been spared McCain and more importantly that Palin character. For that, we should be thankful. Yes Obama is definately the better choice, could you imagine if bush double McCain and I can't read Palin had of won, more bloody wars and problems. Not sure if Obama can deliver though, only time will tell, but at least he has some fresh ideas and seems like he listens to the people. Let's hope he can sort out America, because it affects all of us not just the US.

Yes they are in some ways I wish autumn could last a bit longer as far the view goes. It is a trully lovely time of year especially as Japan has so many blue ski days in autumn which really helps bring out the beauty in the various colours.

Just thought I would share a few autumn pics of my garden and surrounding area in autumn in Nagano! I actually took these pics on the 25th Oct, but forgot to upload them. So anyway here are a few.

Yep they make a huge difference I always use snow tyres in winter. I have driven a car before without snow tyres no comparison. And if you got a 4wd car with snow tyres even better still, of course you still have to be careful if you drive around like Nigel mansel in the snow you are still going to come a cropper.

When I am out if I need to access my email, I just use my keitei, as it has a web browser so can access any of my email accounts to both receive and send mail. So no need to bring my comp with me unless I need to send long emails.

I think like Skidaisuki said boots are more important over all. The bindings need to fit well with the boots and be firm and give good feedback, but at the same time in case of a spill the bindings will unclip from your boots to save broken ankles or legs. Some of the short skis have this problem, because the bindings clip tightly on the boots and wont release if you crash.

Well I have to say it was good to try and eat it all, guess as I have always been a big eater so that appealed to me, but it is true in many ways it is maybe irresponsible of the pubs to do that nowadays with the amount of obesity that exists. Having said that I am going back about 15 years ago or so. But if there are any big eating competitions then I have to say I would still happily participate, whether it is irresponsible of the eating establishment or not!

Originally Posted By: JA Well, the least you could do is shift them from the inbox to a file box, even if still in the email client. My home emails are stored on the network drive, so I can access them from any compute on the network, even the laptops. I have a file system in the email client that allows me to keep the inbox relatively empty, any emails I think I might want to keep are filed as soon as I read them. Any that are still in the inbox after a week are obviously not necvessary, so they go to the bit bucket! It ain't a hardship if you do it regularly. But, sheesh! how many year

Originally Posted By: RobBright Snowdude - you're missing out something- they don't have balls LOL, yes that's true how silly of me, yeah they don't have balls, can't if they can bomb people like a bunch of cowards, ok then hang them by their ears instead.