Monday, February 21, 2005
This looks like it might be good -- they've made a movie out of the great book "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy". The movie stars Tim from The Office (Martin Freeman), and it looks like they've captured some of the wackier moments.
You can see the trailer here.
If you haven't read the book, let me know and I'll lend it to you. I borrowed a copy, and enjoyed it so much I went out and bought all three books. If you have read the book (and only if you have, as there are spoilers in the next link) then check out the wiki here.
You can see the trailer here.
If you haven't read the book, let me know and I'll lend it to you. I borrowed a copy, and enjoyed it so much I went out and bought all three books. If you have read the book (and only if you have, as there are spoilers in the next link) then check out the wiki here.
We are in an interesting state of transition at the moment -- it's called "no internet access at home". Due to some colossal stuff ups on behalf of our old service provider (and hopefully, none by our new service provider, although I have a niggingly feeling), we are in this weird "7 - 10 day period" of "service transition".
On the positive side, this weekend we got through alot of domestic duties and computer fixing issues. On the negative side, David and I are limited in sending personal emails.
So if you are waiting for a response, that's why. Just thought you would want to know. It's nothing personal. :-)
On the positive side, this weekend we got through alot of domestic duties and computer fixing issues. On the negative side, David and I are limited in sending personal emails.
So if you are waiting for a response, that's why. Just thought you would want to know. It's nothing personal. :-)
Thursday, February 17, 2005
Proof
Here's the stock photo proving my participation in the mini tri on Sunday. Amazingly, I'm smiling -- it was forced, and as I was the only person running (everyone had passed me) and so I knew there would be a photo later . . .
Saturday, February 12, 2005
Just noticed the slideshow feature of Flickr -- if you want to just sit back and see all of the photos from the trip (well, the ones I've uploaded), click here.
Oh, and in case you are bored of Japan stuff and want to know what else is up, I have a 300m/8k/2k triathlon tomorrow morning at 7am in Mordiallac *groan* . Wish me luck!! I have 72 hours of snowboarding and about 100km of walking Tokyo as my only training . . . the swim should be interesting . . .
Oh, and in case you are bored of Japan stuff and want to know what else is up, I have a 300m/8k/2k triathlon tomorrow morning at 7am in Mordiallac *groan* . Wish me luck!! I have 72 hours of snowboarding and about 100km of walking Tokyo as my only training . . . the swim should be interesting . . .
Hi
Well, we're back in Melbourne. Unfortunately, internet access was much more difficult in Sapporo or Tokyo then we were expecting, so we didn't get the updates done until today. You can find them below!
This will continue to be updated with stuff David and I are up to, so feel free to check back now that we're back in Melbourne. I will try and get the Japan stuff up on its own link so it can be archived, in case you missed any of the earlier updates.
Well, we're back in Melbourne. Unfortunately, internet access was much more difficult in Sapporo or Tokyo then we were expecting, so we didn't get the updates done until today. You can find them below!
This will continue to be updated with stuff David and I are up to, so feel free to check back now that we're back in Melbourne. I will try and get the Japan stuff up on its own link so it can be archived, in case you missed any of the earlier updates.
Meiji shrine
Wednesday, February 09 2005 Last day, so we got up earlier and took the subway to Harajuku where we saw the Meiji shrine (dedicated to the Empreror Meiji) and did some souvenier shopping. We then made a brief stop in Shibuya and Ebisu (where we had lunch), before returning to the hotel to collect our bags and to navigate the subway to the airport.
Lunch in Akihabara
Tuesday, February 08 2005
We took the subway to Akihabara (Electric City) and spent hours looking at all of the gadgets, toys, computers and mobile phones you could ever imagine. There isn't much price difference between Japan and Australia on many things -- particularly RAM and memory cards, or anything that is made in China (which I guess we get directly).
We had lunch at this great little ramen shop, where you had to queue outside -- it was tiny and noisy, but the ramen was great!
It was a long day.
We took the subway to Akihabara (Electric City) and spent hours looking at all of the gadgets, toys, computers and mobile phones you could ever imagine. There isn't much price difference between Japan and Australia on many things -- particularly RAM and memory cards, or anything that is made in China (which I guess we get directly).
We had lunch at this great little ramen shop, where you had to queue outside -- it was tiny and noisy, but the ramen was great!
It was a long day.
Dennis and Dave walking in front of the Imperial Palace
Monday, February 07 2005
When we arrived in Tokyo, it was about 4pm and so was starting to get dark. By the time we took the subway to the hotel in Shinagawa, it was dark, which demonstrated our tiny room's lovely view here.
The next morning, we got up and went to the Tsukiji Fish Markets (where all of Tokyo's tuna and sushi supply is auctioned off each morning), and walked through Ginza and towards the Imperial Palace, where Emperor Akihitko and his family live. You can only see glimpses, but it seemed popular with the busloads of Japanese tourists!
Sapporo ice festival
Sunday, February 06 2005
We left Niseko Hirafu at 10am on Saturday morning and spent a few hours on a bus to Sapporo -- getting in around 1pm. It was snowing, and cold, so we grabbed some lunch in the train station (at ichi, ni, san which is 1,2,3 in Japanese) and then walked the streets. The snow festival didn't actually start until the Monday (thanks heaps travel agent) but the final preparations were being made. Check out the photos for some of the guys carving the ice sculptures with chain saws. This picture was taken the next day in Odari-3, which is one of the main showing areas. It was really interesting and some of the sculptures were amazing!
After the morning at the snow festival on Sunday, we took the train to Chitose (quite an adventure with two snowboards, a pair of skis & poles, three pairs of boots, plus all related equipment) and flew to Tokyo
Friday, February 04, 2005
Last run of the trip
Well, we've finished the skiing portion of the trip. Here's a photo of the three of us at the bottom of the Ace 2 Quad lift up Hirafu. The boys did one more run, but my little legs were feeling every one of the 72 hours of boarding we've done this trip!
Tomorrow morning we're off to Sapporo . . we're not sure how easy internet access will be, so there may not be any more photos until we return, but there should be more postings. Jamata for now!
Tomorrow morning we're off to Sapporo . . we're not sure how easy internet access will be, so there may not be any more photos until we return, but there should be more postings. Jamata for now!
Thursday, February 03, 2005
Not many photos today -- freezing snow, bitter winds and limited visibility, although, once again, great powder. We took some friends of Brent's, Hilary and Julius (she's Canadian, he's Australian) to An'nupuri (again), and enjoyed some nice runs even in pretty stiff winds.
Brent drove us to a Japanese "all you can eat" BBQ tonight -- Yen1500 (about $17) for all of the meat, vegetables, rice and salad you can eat. The meat is raw -- ranging from beef, lamb, chicken and sausages to chicken skin, mussels and some sort of animal organ (ick). You then cook it yourself on a little BBQ sunken in the table. Anyway, another experience, and very nice.
Tomorrow is the last day of skiing, so we're all in mixed spirits. The bodies are tired, battered and bruised, so a break will be good, but we're expecting that a couple of days in Toyko and we'll be wishing we were back in the "pow" . .
Brent drove us to a Japanese "all you can eat" BBQ tonight -- Yen1500 (about $17) for all of the meat, vegetables, rice and salad you can eat. The meat is raw -- ranging from beef, lamb, chicken and sausages to chicken skin, mussels and some sort of animal organ (ick). You then cook it yourself on a little BBQ sunken in the table. Anyway, another experience, and very nice.
Tomorrow is the last day of skiing, so we're all in mixed spirits. The bodies are tired, battered and bruised, so a break will be good, but we're expecting that a couple of days in Toyko and we'll be wishing we were back in the "pow" . .
Wednesday, February 02, 2005
This isn't steep . .
Wow -- what a big 24 hours. After our last post yesterday afternoon, we went to an onsen, had another full day skiing AND went night skiing. But first things first . . .
After posting the previous entry late yesterday afternoon, we headed to La Ponte to the Grand Hotel for an onsen. It is very hard to explain (and obviously, given it is basically a nude public bath, not appropriate for photos) this won't do it justice. All I can say is I'm happy to leave hot tubs and saunas to the common people!
This morning it was snowing -- and windy, and as we headed up the mountain, the wind was bitter and blowing almost east -- versus the north-west (Siberian) winds normal. We changed plans and headed back to An'nupuri, where we found sun, mild temperatures and lots of snow. After a good few hours in the powder, we returned to Hirafu for some night skiing.
There is a huge storm moving in (according to the locals) and while it was clear during our night ski, we understand that it will move in overnight, so we were lucky to get what weather we did! Check out the photos of Mt Youtei (very rare apparently) and others I have painstakingly uploaded . . . :-)
We only have two more days here, so I promise, if the powder isn't interesting you, we'll have "normal" photos by Saturday/Sunday. . .
After posting the previous entry late yesterday afternoon, we headed to La Ponte to the Grand Hotel for an onsen. It is very hard to explain (and obviously, given it is basically a nude public bath, not appropriate for photos) this won't do it justice. All I can say is I'm happy to leave hot tubs and saunas to the common people!
This morning it was snowing -- and windy, and as we headed up the mountain, the wind was bitter and blowing almost east -- versus the north-west (Siberian) winds normal. We changed plans and headed back to An'nupuri, where we found sun, mild temperatures and lots of snow. After a good few hours in the powder, we returned to Hirafu for some night skiing.
There is a huge storm moving in (according to the locals) and while it was clear during our night ski, we understand that it will move in overnight, so we were lucky to get what weather we did! Check out the photos of Mt Youtei (very rare apparently) and others I have painstakingly uploaded . . . :-)
We only have two more days here, so I promise, if the powder isn't interesting you, we'll have "normal" photos by Saturday/Sunday. . .
Tuesday, February 01, 2005
Hank's bar
We have more photos!! I've made them smaller, so hopefully will get more up this time.
Had an amazing day at An'nupuri today -- first day we've been able to get over there as the winds and visibility have been bad. It was great! We even got some clearing, some sun and relatively mild weather.
(-12oC).
Check out the photos here or by clicking on the photo of Hank's Bar beside.
Had an amazing day at An'nupuri today -- first day we've been able to get over there as the winds and visibility have been bad. It was great! We even got some clearing, some sun and relatively mild weather.
(-12oC).
Check out the photos here or by clicking on the photo of Hank's Bar beside.
