2nd March - ...ohhhh yeahhhh....finally after long discussions, checking websites, visiting travel agencies, etc etc...I took the decision to spend a normally whole ski season budget for a 5 day ski-trip to Japan, Niseko in Hokkaido Island..too bad I am back already, but at least able to share my memories without telling any story of broken legs, arms or whatever..:D more, I haven't even fallen this year!
Getting to Niseko has been a journey itself...wake up at 7, meet 
up with Ander, my spanish ski-mate, at 8 in front of the escalator, and here we go to the airport..4 hrs flight in which we had the opportunity to practice some japanese with the hostess (basic and most useful sentences, such as Kawaii which will prove to be as useful as leng nui in Hong Kong) and making fun of one of our neighbours, who succeeded in ordering - and drinking, of course - 5 whiskeys on the rocks just before lunch time. Arrived in Tokyo Narita, and after succesfully passing the anti-drugs control of Japanese dogs, we spent our 3 hrs in the airport drinking beer and chatting with a US-army officer on his way back home, who became our hero for his curious interpretation of some restrictive american rules...comments will be censored for this time
up with Ander, my spanish ski-mate, at 8 in front of the escalator, and here we go to the airport..4 hrs flight in which we had the opportunity to practice some japanese with the hostess (basic and most useful sentences, such as Kawaii which will prove to be as useful as leng nui in Hong Kong) and making fun of one of our neighbours, who succeeded in ordering - and drinking, of course - 5 whiskeys on the rocks just before lunch time. Arrived in Tokyo Narita, and after succesfully passing the anti-drugs control of Japanese dogs, we spent our 3 hrs in the airport drinking beer and chatting with a US-army officer on his way back home, who became our hero for his curious interpretation of some restrictive american rules...comments will be censored for this timeWe arrive in Sapporo airport only at 8pm, rather tired and hungry, where while waiting for the baggage we meet up with the president of Spanish Country-Side (nn so come si dice sci di fondo...) Ski Association who confuses us as being journalist. Cleared the misunderstanding, we proceed out of the gate ready for the last stage - 3 hrs ride on a freezing (and old) bus which will eventually take to our destination, Niseko
We decide to save the energies and go to sleep (it's 1am after all)...wake up call day after set at 7.30am
3rd March - After a nice breakfast, we are finally ready to start our first asian ski experience: it could not start better, since after getting our skis and boots at the rental store, and taking the first lift, Ander manages to break that lock of his ski (apparently previously mounted with Japanese glue - not very sticky i guess), which forces us to go back to the ski rental and change pair of ski (and also ski shop of course, can u imagine lose your ski that way while skiing?). Ok, it's 11 already and I have done one slope only, Ander hasn't even started...no need to worry though, here lifts are open till 9pm so there's plenty of time...
In fact, at 4pm we are done already, no better proof of how we are getting old damn..anyway it's only the first day, it's saturday, we need to try Japanese nightlife right? so here we go...small nap (1.5hrs), and at 9 ready for dinner...start with a couple of beers, then move to a bar for a tipical Japanese Caipirinha, then move to another one for a couple of rum and coke...apparently we don't manage to find the right place..we find the right person though, a Japanese guy who can speak spanish (!!) will guide us to the secrets of Niseko nightlife, and the results by themselves are worth the whole holiday price...I won't go in details but what we saw that night in Mash-up is unfortunately difficult to describe..you can write me maybe personal emails?? ;) anyway at 3.30 we are done and ready to go back home with a big smile on our face - just to make everyone safe, no illegal or immoral things happened that night !:D
4th March - The day after is awesome (with the exception of waking
up with a small hangover and little sleep), nice snow, beautiful weather...only problem is again Ander who manages to break the lock of his ski for the second time in two days (hence it is you the problem eh??), so we are forced to get back to the ski rental once more to fix it...not big trouble though, since it's a good occasion to have some bread with italian soppressata, brought for the occasion to save some money. We ski this time till happy hour time, after which we decide to go back to the slopes and enjoy some night-skiing...too bad the snow it's not perfect, it's march already so the temperature tends to be a bit high (after all the ski resorts goes from 300 to 1200m) and the snow is extremely slow at lower altitudes...nevertheless, it's worth to give a try and we enjoy as much as we can..
up with a small hangover and little sleep), nice snow, beautiful weather...only problem is again Ander who manages to break the lock of his ski for the second time in two days (hence it is you the problem eh??), so we are forced to get back to the ski rental once more to fix it...not big trouble though, since it's a good occasion to have some bread with italian soppressata, brought for the occasion to save some money. We ski this time till happy hour time, after which we decide to go back to the slopes and enjoy some night-skiing...too bad the snow it's not perfect, it's march already so the temperature tends to be a bit high (after all the ski resorts goes from 300 to 1200m) and the snow is extremely slow at lower altitudes...nevertheless, it's worth to give a try and we enjoy as much as we can..No crazy night this time, it's sunday and you can feel that people around are probably tired frm the night before..so again after a few beers and dinner it's time to go to bed (anywya it's 1 again)
5th March - Last day in Niseko, few centimeters let us think tht it's finally time to try the famous Niseko powder snow...yes, maybe it would if it was not for the 80kms/hr wind that blows and makes the slope a ultimate adventure to see who is crazier..we decide to change resort but things don't change that much, it's even raining so the quality of the snow is horrible...pity since it's the last day already, but there will be probably be another chance next year...who knows!!
6th March - time to go home, these few days have been so intense that I leave with the only thought that I should get back to Japan at the soonest...wonderful and funny people, interesting and fascinating culture, nice and crazy nightlife...next stop will be Tokyo for sure!!more photos on kodakgallery.com
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Ciaoooooooooooooooooooooooooo
