So that's what a hang over feels like

03/03/12

Woke up, ears ringing, head hurting, vision blurry and very confused.  I finished off the sandwich I had fallen asleep next to and got up to answer the ringing doorbell. Oscar was looking surprisingly spritely for somebody who had only had a few hours sleep. But I suppose I should be getting used to that.

I checked what damage I had done to my phone and to my wallet. Luckily the phone was okay and I hadn't made a (complete) fool of myself. But I had completely emptied my wallet, save the 3 ten yen coins I found in the card slots.



We set off to do some touristy stuff with our tour guide, Yuka (Daniel's girl friend).



Photo: Bryce on drums, Dennis on lead voice, Oscar shreds some sweet licks on his axe, Dan's the business man and we have Sammy J on the keytar.



We're sitting in a restaurant called 'fon', I know this only because it's the name of their wifi network. They sell... Fried stuff... It's looks like it's going to be a good hangover cure.


Photo: one of the best meals we've had



We decided to head to the abc shop now to get some shoes, but we didn't end up making it.We spent most of our time in a shop called loft. It was 7 floors and it had everything! An alarm clock on wheels, animal shaped rubber bands, darth vader hanging from the ceiling, costumes, xylophones.Everything. We lost the menace (I'm giving Sam Rogers this nickname) somewhere in the store and eventually gave up looking for him. Luckily though, we ran into him later on the street.




 Photo: Darth Vader looms over us as we peruse the toy section \.



 
Photo: Fact.




Photo: Fact.



Also, what do you think about the abbreviation complindy, as in Completely Indy.

So that's what a kick drum sounds like

03/03/12

Just got back from womb. It was awesome. Definitely lived up to the hype. Like every night club there was the usual 3:1 guy to girl radio. But it didn't matter, at all. When we first got there, Slim  positioned me in just the right spot, right in front of the speakers. It was the ultimate acoustical position. It was like I was getting a deep tissue massage, the bass vibrated from the floor, up my legs, right into my stomach. The bass in the air pounded my chest. And I realised.

This is what bass sounds like.

It was clean and in your face. We danced, and danced, and drank, and danced, and danced. We stayed till close. To me is still felt relatively early, but we stepped outside from the pitch black club and it was the middle of the day. On the way home my small bladder seperated me and Oscar from Dennis and Brycey. So we just, lone wolfed it, together. I don:t know what we were talking about on the way home. I just know it made zero sense.

We had absolutely no idea how to get back so we decided to walk untill we found a caucasian we could ask directions. But it took so long that we actually ran into the hotel first.




Photo: The blog has gone viral

Before we headed off to womb, we got dinner with Slim's friend Soh and a few others. We went out to a 280 yen restaurant, it was super cheap and super good. We had a great time talking to them. It was strange as they were the first Japanese people we've met, that speak perfect English. Unfortunately I didn't bring my phone out that night, so I don't have any photos D:

Bus day. Weow.

02/03/12

Slept in as usual this morning. Woke up to bryce screaming "Oh shit! Get up guys!" We actually took it slow getting ready and made it to the bus in plenty of time.
We're on the bus to Shibuya now, which isn't as fast as the bullet train and the seats aren't as nice. It's a 5 hour trip, but at least it's not a 5 hour trip with crazy paul. I think that maybe we're finally rid of him.

We'll see...

Game, DJ set, and Match Making

1/3/11

After writing what about what happened last night, I ended up falling back asleep. Sam was far more hungover than me, so he was happy to stay in bed too. We got didn't get to Goryo till about midday. It was actually a terrible walk in the blistering 7°C heat. We went straight to the top, via the gondola and another chair lift. It was such a clear day, we decided to get some happy snaps and climbed another 20 vertical metres to the summit.


 
Photo: so I'm thinking about becoming the green wiggle. What do you think?


It didn't take long before we ran into the others. And after a couple more runs we grabbed some lunch at the main cafeteria. It's definitely the hottest day we've had here. The snow is starting to melt, making the runs slow and slushy. Which I like.
We had an awesome last day on the snow. It's a sad moment to leave here, but I'm looking forward to Tokyo.


DJ Sammy J has his club set tonight in Goryo. It. Is. Going. To. Be. Epic. I can't wait.

 
Photo: "I don't know where it is, or what it's called" - DJ Sammy J, on his set tonight.


Okay, Sam and Daniel rocked it. Some of the transitions weren't great, but some of them were awesome and the atmosphere was great.

We got to the place and you wouldn't believe who was there! Crazy Paul!

We made a pact to not accept any drinks from him, and I think everybody followed that rule. We were a little worried though when we saw that Oscar had disappeared with Paul to his car.

We don't know what happened. We don't want know to know what happened.

We actually didn't think we would see Oscar again, but they both came back from the car soon after with huge grins on their faces...

Which was worrying...
 
The place was lit like an underground rave. It was completely dark except for a small number of colourful flashing lights. If you were looking to get your drink spiked, this would be the place. We got worried again when this time both Sams (Slim and Dennace) went outside to have a smoke with Paul. The next thing we knew, they're both gone and Paul's car isn't there any more. ...very troubling...

Eventually though they returned. They had gone with Paul to get some more cigarettes from 7/11.

Not the smartest move they made this trip.
 

Photo: Oscar and Slim Shakey, stayed partying, and got home a while after everybody else.



When the two party animals did finally get home. I have to say this is the first time I've been embarrassed to be with them. They woke me up by putting a big pile of snow on my chest. Which they removed from me and placed in Bryce's bed (he slept in a puddle). All the while giggling like little school girls. Knocking over things I didn't even know could be knocked over, and if they hadn't woken the whole hostel by this point, they were about to.

They stumbled out of the room and started having, what I can only assume was a snowball fight, in the hall. Laughing maniacally all the while. Finally it goes quiet and I hear oscar whisper "hey, hey, you know, we should make some noodles". I must have fallen back asleep because what seemed like a few moments later Sam falls in to his bed, stomach full. Nice work guys.
 
Also, we met the manager of the world bar in Queenstown, he's staying at jimmy's house. He is a dude. Turns out he had a very similar experience with crazy Paul, and he was just as creeped out as us. The guy offered us cheap accommodation next time we're in NZ, and I think we'll definitely be taking him up on the offer.




Photo: Almost too cute to be ominous. Almost.



Photo: Somebody brought a dancing robot...

"Been here 14 years, divorced for 4 and a half"

29/02/12

It was far too cold to get out of bed this morning. Which was actually a nice feeling, the cold makes it makes the warmth of your bed that much more comforting. I eventually convinced myself to get out of bed at quarter past 10. Ate breakfast, and waited outside Jimmy's for the shuttle to Goryo. We met up with Daniel and his girlfriend Sam. It was snowing a little bit, so we got a few pretty nice rides in, and went to the park for a bit. But I chickened out on all the jumps, scared of hurting my hand or leg again.

We went to get some lunch. I ate at the main cafeteria, but everybody else wanted to mix it up. So me, Sam, Daniel and Sam met the rest of them at the restaurant up the hill a bit.

As we walk towards the restaurant, we are greeted by an incredibly cute, incredibly happy, incredibly familiar... little pup.

Usually a good sign...

I guess we should have expected it, but, of course, it was Paul's dog. We looked inside the window and see Paul chatting away with the others. Well... he is chatting. The others are sitting in what we can tell (from outside) is an awkward silence. We consider running, but by this time he's already seen us.

How he is finding us, I have no idea.

Eventually we escape from his clutches. We have a few more runs on the now soggy snow and head back. As is becoming usual, Oscar cooks up a mean risotto. I do the usual boring stuff. Shower, shave, change, take off my bandaging. After dinner we have another attempt at the clear black...

We also attempted to play the card game golf. Nobody actually knew how to play though. Which doesn't usually help.

We had a few more people join. Quite a few more people. An innocent game of golf, quickly turned into a very sinister game of kings. To the person I accidentally called on viber (you obviously know who you are), I'm sorry I exposed you to that. And to Sammy J, who stumbled into the room last night, twice, both times too confused to figure out how to close the door. If I didn't find your drunken haze so hilarious, you would be in big trouble.

Photo: "Reuben...? I think... I need help..." - Sammy J

I actually just woke up. I'm not feeling great either... I should be getting ready, not writing this. Sorry guys!

Also, it has been brought to my attention that I haven't really ripped on Bryce enough. So  even though this didn't happen today... Here goes.

When we were playing kings. I picked up a 4, which was categories. The category I picked was 'elements'.

We didn't make it through one round.

On his first turn, Bryce yelled "benzene".

Sorry Brycey :)

In the wars

28/02/12

Ended up getting almost 8 hours sleep. Woke up feeling good. But as usual, we were in a rush, especially me. I just can't seem to coordinate myself in the morning. Everybody had left and I had forgotten something so I was about a minute behind.

I didn't bother tying up my boots, no time.

I was running for the train station, board in hand. And I see Oscar running in the opposite direction. He had forgotten his goggles. I had a momentary lapse of concentration, and the laces of my untied boots got caught...

I went down. Hard.

And hurt my hand pretty badly. Oscar came back with me to wash it off. And we still made out to the station before the train left.

If I had just walked... I would have made it. Hand intact :(


Photo: ...this still counts as a snowboarding injury right?


So I ended up trying to take it easy at Happo One...

...didn't really work out for me.

I strapped up my hand and after a couple of runs, we hit the park. I think I got 1 good jump in and about 20 bad stacks. Good numbers.

We went to the top of the mountain and there was a pretty amazing view.


Photo: a pretty amazing view


But. But. The snowboarding wasn't the crazy thing! The crazy thing was, of course, crazy steak restaurant guy, Paul.

We got to the Happo information center, when we had finished our day. And there he was...

He pulled over and offered is a lift. We declined, of course, telling him our bus was coming in 5 minutes.

..20 minutes later he drives past  ...and we're still sitting at the bus stop

He pulls over, and guilts us into his car, he's like a conversational wizard! He tries to find out what we are doing tonight and we give away as. little. as. possible. Of course he continues to spruik a lift to Tokyo, which we haven't yet got the heart to refuse. Turns out we don't have a choice but to refuse anyway, since Daniel and his girlfriend are joining us shortly, and there will be too many of us.

We get back to the hostel, after enduring an uncomfortable number of awkward silences in Paul's van. Oscar cooks up some udon noodles and they taste, amazing. It was actually one of the best meals we've had.

We realise we've already missed the pub crawl we were going to go on.

But then a strange little man walks in from outside and tells us the pub crawl is just next door.

So we head off.

I only made it through two pubs. I was exhausted, and almost too tired to stand.

Luckily for me, Sam Rogers was too drunk to stand, so we both called it a night. But not before Sam poured his entire beer all over the floor.

We left the others to continue partying and I'm back Jimmy's house, writing this now, about to fall asl...

Quality over quantity

27/02/11

Had a bit of a sleep in this morning, which was nice. We decided it was too late to travel far and after breakfast, we headed to Goryo (our local mountain). Nothing much exciting happened, we just had an awesome day on yesterday's powder. There were a few stacks, mostly caused by me. And somehow I was the only one who got away with not stacking on film. We're sitting down in the main cafeteria having a bite to eat now. I got the nippon special, but I'm starting to regret it. The spicy meal just smells so good. We're planning on going out tonight. But after a visit to the onsen. I'm doubting if it will happen.


Photo: "man, I upload some great photos, like really, I do" - Sam Rogers

We arrived back at Jimmy's house after the snow

And you'll never guess who was waiting for us. Crazy steak restaurant guy!

He was waiting for us outside.

Waiting for US.

Specifically.

No idea how long he had been there.

That's not creepy right...?

He tells us that he is heading to the supermarket if we want a lift. Being the intelligent intellectuals we are, we accept. The whole way there he spruiks a lift to tokyo for a measly 50000 yen (=$650). ...which we politely decline. As this was our first trip to the supermarket, we stocked up. I didn't find even one item that could be found in Australia. It was awesome. I wanted to just buy every item there.

We also had a quick look at the 100 yen shop. Dollar shops in Australia have nothing on this.

On the way home we stopped off at the liquor store. Which probably wasn't the best idea... We bought the highest quality bottle of whiskey we could find.

...


Photo: $30 for 4 litres.

We played a few games of kings, planning to go out. But when we realised it was -14°C outside, we decided to stay in. As with any quality whiskey, it should be savoured, and as such, we didn't quite finish the bottle. Satisfied that we had drunk enough for a pretty killer headache in the morning, we stumbled into bed.