MadeinJapan2014: Day ?? - Having too much fun, lost track of time......

Apologies for the void in our posting but have been so busy since arriving at Nozawa. Connie had some spare time while we went off skiing and put together the following comments. Will try and update with all the snow information in the next couple of days.

Thrown in some photos to wet your appetite. :)

Connie here.
Konichuaaaa … or something to that effect. In fact, I’ve heard very little of this one salutation from our close neighbours, the Japanese. More appropriately, they will greet you according to the time of day: good morning; good afternoon or good evening; and I will not attempt to translate these for you for obvious reasons.

Our first skiing day in Nozowa was yet again, nothing short of beautiful. This very pretty village with its winding streets filled with wonderful aromas, has an almost european feel about it, as Tessa pointed out. The landscape of mountains and bare forest, carpeted with “fluffy” snow is breathtaking … and I’m told by the expats this is the place to be if you want a serious skiing experience. The carnival of idiots did well considering the lack of expertise between us … well, I speak for the others. The Clair's gave us little to laugh at, with all bums rarely touching the snow, except for “you know who”. But it must be noted, Adam is very good on his skis! The Valenti family have displayed the Valenti trait “if I want to do it, I’m going to do it”, except for me, but then I’m constantly reminded that I’m not a Valenti, and that makes me happy :). This skiing thing is just too hard … I don’t get it!!! And I’ll probably enjoy my own company during the next couple of days, in my hotel room finishing off a book and doing Sudoko, possibly. Last but not least, our North Queensland Adventurer (as he’s been referred to previously) has come through with flying colours. Since the start of the trip, he had us convinced his skiing skills were non existent. And if it weren’t for James, we would have had no one to laugh at (apart from me). But after a couple of small mishaps, James took off like an Aussie for the pub on a Friday afternoon. And we all know what James does on a Friday afternoon!

Thank you Japan for the invention of Onsens. These public baths insist you enter with nothing but your birthday suit, and yes, one for the girls and one for the boys. After a long day on the ski fields, you come home to these wonderfully soothing hot baths, filled with nature’s hot spring water with a hint of sulphur. Not sure how beneficial the sulphur is to your body, but they certainly soothe the aching limbs, joints, muscles and whatever else hurts. and in my case, everything! Perhaps I’ll sit in one for the entire day tomorrow because my body is already telling me “not happy, Jan”

What’s on the menu tonight you ask? And yes, it’s been one of those holidays where food has been a priority. Lunch is discussed at breakfast, dinner is discussed at lunch, and so it goes. It’s just as well that the Japanese love their food too, with very traditional forms of eating and cooking still important here. Their cuisine is very basic both in cooking and ingredients but like Colonel Sanders, it’s all in the secret herbs and spices.

Until next time …

Sayo Nara (?)