The White Room

Happy New Year all. We saw it in watching Japanese drumming, drinking sake and watching about 100 skiers/boarders coming down the slope holding burning torches. After a bit of a slow start to the season, the next few days is looking like its going to dump some large amounts of snow here in Hokkaido. Locals feel they haven't seen this little snow in Dec/Jan for a long time. But in saying that we have still had some sweet powder days. And an average season here is still going to awesome. Check out these pics.....

White Christmas

We spent our first white Christmas here in Hirafu. Had a great dinner with our housemates. Everyone pitched in and we put on quite a spread. We were so happy with it we had to put up some photos for you all to see.

Niseko!

This is Mt Yoeti San on one of the few clear days we have in the winter. In the foreground is Hirafu village where we live.

We have been in Niseko Hirafu for about 3 weeks and already riding some of the best powder in my life. What a contrast to Kushiro. We share a house with 5 others (all Australians) and in the village it must be about 70% foreigners. We almost had reverse culture shock as we found it hard concentrating hearing so much English spoken in the bars. This place has so many bars and restaurants. We live only a few hundred metres from the first lift so spend our lunch breaks and evenings on the snow. Although I thought that I had broken my wrist this week. Or more specifically the scaphoid bone in my wrist. But after a MRI today I go the all clear. So lucky not to have a cast on for 6 weeks!
These are the two Apartment buildings Sarah and I mange.

Leaving Kushiro

Last Days

The last week or so has gone by in a blur of sashimi, sushi and beer! We had a farewell party at Shu-sen (of course) last Wednesday night (public holiday on Thursday!) And partied to the small hours of the morning. Nights like this make us wonder why we are leaving, although maybe it’s good to go out on a good note. Friends and karaoke, what more can I say? Thursday night was one of the more memorable days in Kushiro and not because of the hangover. Nahoko-san, one of Sarah’s students whom she has become really good friends with took us out to dinner. We went to one of the finest Japanese restaurants in Kushiro. It was amazing, our own tatami room with rice paper sliding doors and amazing service. We were treated to 8 courses of fine Japanese cuisine and tried several different types of local sake. Brilliant! First course was crabs eggs wrapped in cucumber, followed by sushi. Course number three was sashimi of a local fish, then honey glazed salmon. Number 5 was some sort of potato and fish soup, followed up with a leg of king crab. Just when I couldn’t take any more number 7 was served, containing rice and salmon eggs with miso soup and some pickles. Dessert was a small serving of toffee coated ice-cream. Are you jealous yet? You should be because it was some of the best food I have ever had. This was followed up with a Friday lunch with one of my classes! Again sushi was enjoyed by all. It has been a nice week, and we will miss our students and friends. We must have done a good job! Pity about our boss who is continuing his childish and un-professional manner. He has resorted to responding to us in grunts which must surely be a new time low. Plus he has declared he cannot afford to pay us all of our final wages! A heated discussion ensued and it seems that we will now get paid what we are owed. Well today is our last in Kushiro, we finish work at 9pm and board the 11.30pm night bus for Sapporo. Arriving around 6am where we find a train taking us through to Kutchan and then to Niseko-Hirafu. To say we are looking forward to the change is clearly and understatement. I especially am looking forward to being surrounded by mountains once again and feeling their positive energy. Plus the ski-fields open this weekend so the timing is right. To those in Kushiro, ja ne and kutsukete. We hope to see you again in the future.

Yaki Niku

November 06

Had a great weekend. Some of our students took us out to a Yaki Niku place for dinner. Yaki Niku is a Korean version of BBQ and is really popular here. They bring small charcoal fires to your table and you cook your own meat. The meat is served in small cuts and is easy to pick up and retrieve with chopsticks. The only downfall is that it gets really smoky and your clothes smell for a while. There are a few different cuts that we probably wouldn’t eat in New Zealand, like pig intestines, cows tongue (I was apprehensive but it was really good) and of course liver. It is an all you can eat and drink in 2 hours deal…fantastic. A great concept that I can’t help thinking of as a challenge! After having a huge feed of meat and beer we headed to another bar before going to our local, Shu Sen.

Kushiro Climbing Competition

November 2006

On Sunday Sarah and I were invited to attend the Kushiro Climbing Competition. It was held at our local wall at Seiundai. In total about 30 climbers attended from Kushiro and the surrounding areas. Sarah and I did really well. Sarah placed fist in the Women’s Middle Grade, and I managed to get into the open finals and gained 5^th place overall. Lots of fun and laughter. With the short climbing season here and the fact that there is only 1 climbing wall in all of Eastern Hokkaido the level was not as high as in New Zealand. Which was good for us as we could do well in the competition. We were both happy to receive prizes.

Me-Akan Dake

November 2006
We had a long weekend and on Friday went to Akan National Park to climb Me-Akan Dake 1499m. It is an active volcano that had been closed to hikers since our arrival but opened again in September. However it still seemed very active, approaching the summit there is a constant noise that sounds like a jet flying overhead. It was a nice hike, through forest and then into the moonscapes higher on the mountain. Very smelly though.