We tend to ski off piste at Togakushi, some of the runs encircle a bowl that is really good to get into.
This is looking down into the bowl.
This is looking back up towards the main slope.
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Togakushi
Went Skiing up at Togakushi in February. I almost had a mid air collision with a metal post that supported a chair lift. Very lucky I didnt hit it. Heres some of the photos.
We tend to ski off piste at Togakushi, some of the runs encircle a bowl that is really good to get into.
This is looking down into the bowl.
This is looking back up towards the main slope.
We tend to ski off piste at Togakushi, some of the runs encircle a bowl that is really good to get into.
This is looking down into the bowl.
This is looking back up towards the main slope.
English Club
These are the happy members of English Club. I managed to convince them to dump the peace sign in favour of a rock sign!!!
The girl to my right is called Kaori. She's the head of English club. When I first got here I didnt know what to do, so I asked them to do a wordsearch (It was English work!!!) as boring as it sounds. The next day I asked her what she wanted to do. She turned to me and said " I want to... (Check Dictionary - show me answer) Take Over." Cheeky Lady!
The girl to my right is called Kaori. She's the head of English club. When I first got here I didnt know what to do, so I asked them to do a wordsearch (It was English work!!!) as boring as it sounds. The next day I asked her what she wanted to do. She turned to me and said " I want to... (Check Dictionary - show me answer) Take Over." Cheeky Lady!
Besho Onsen
In February I headed up to Besho Onsen, a nearby town which has many Onsens (Hot water baths). The town is known in Nagano for its temples as well. Apparently they're pretty old. Its a good place for a day trip, though what takes 10 minutes in a car, costs 7 quid on the train???
Saturday, March 03, 2007
Hakuba
I spent the next 6 days after Tokyo in Hakuba the main ski area in Nagano. Heres a few photos from going skiing. Ive definately got a lot better since Ive been out here.
For the first 3 days there was no snow, and one of the ski areas was a bit of a nightmare. We went the main ski area that was the center of the Nagano 98 Olympics. It was really icy and it was beginner central. At one point you ski from the top of the mountain and as you get lower it becomes more steeper, and then for some reason the designers had decided to create a choke point about 10 meters across. Straight after that there is a mogul area - small bumps created by skiers turns. There was a dozen crashes down there and it wasn't good to be around.
So after that we decided that it was worth to go to Nagano city and check out Zenkoji temple. The main Buddhist shrine in the prefecture. Its a pretty impressive shrine. There were a dozen people celebrating the New Year. I saw people taking smoke burning from the incense and try to move the smoke onto their head. It was some kind of blessing. I saw people touching the head of a statue of the big Buddha and rub it on there head. Another kind of blessing.
Nagano is a wicked city, they have a club called the Jigger Club. Need I say more???
That night there was a snow storm strong enough that we had to dig the car out. We only had a few hours before the ski hills were shut down and we had to head back. We had to dig the car out again.
For the first 3 days there was no snow, and one of the ski areas was a bit of a nightmare. We went the main ski area that was the center of the Nagano 98 Olympics. It was really icy and it was beginner central. At one point you ski from the top of the mountain and as you get lower it becomes more steeper, and then for some reason the designers had decided to create a choke point about 10 meters across. Straight after that there is a mogul area - small bumps created by skiers turns. There was a dozen crashes down there and it wasn't good to be around.
So after that we decided that it was worth to go to Nagano city and check out Zenkoji temple. The main Buddhist shrine in the prefecture. Its a pretty impressive shrine. There were a dozen people celebrating the New Year. I saw people taking smoke burning from the incense and try to move the smoke onto their head. It was some kind of blessing. I saw people touching the head of a statue of the big Buddha and rub it on there head. Another kind of blessing.
Nagano is a wicked city, they have a club called the Jigger Club. Need I say more???
That night there was a snow storm strong enough that we had to dig the car out. We only had a few hours before the ski hills were shut down and we had to head back. We had to dig the car out again.
New Years Eve
We spent the most of the day in Harajuku, a funky small area of Tokyo. When you ask the Japanese people about it they say its a "young area." Its pretty cool. Whilst I was there I saw a crowd of people taking photos of a man with a horses mask/head on. Its a bit weird. Its a home to several subcultures.
There are the Lolitas
And the costume-play (COSPLAY) Japanese. They look a little like Tranvestites.
And then theres my favourite. The Ganguro girls. I see this most of the time at school. It can a bit of a weird look. And the girls can be a bit up themselves. The Japanese see them as social outcasts.
Harajuku itself isn't like the rest of Tokyo. Its a nice area to hang out.
That night we went to a wicked club called Ageha. It took a while to get there, and was expensive to get in, but was a great place to go. The club had four main rooms. the best was the reggae area that was outside. You weren't allowed to take photos, but I cheekily took a few inside.
There are the Lolitas
And the costume-play (COSPLAY) Japanese. They look a little like Tranvestites.
And then theres my favourite. The Ganguro girls. I see this most of the time at school. It can a bit of a weird look. And the girls can be a bit up themselves. The Japanese see them as social outcasts.
Harajuku itself isn't like the rest of Tokyo. Its a nice area to hang out.
That night we went to a wicked club called Ageha. It took a while to get there, and was expensive to get in, but was a great place to go. The club had four main rooms. the best was the reggae area that was outside. You weren't allowed to take photos, but I cheekily took a few inside.
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