It’s raining powder

Just a pictorial entry on my trip to Niseko, Hokkaido. Before I roll out the pictures, I just want to say this short trip was one of the best I’ve ever had. I loved the arresting expand of soft snow, plus I can snowboard!

I got a few days of snuggling up with Mr. D after being apart for a while. Hirafu was the town we stayed in with two other couples and the owner of the lodge. After my mid-term exam, this was seriously an awesome treat.

My snowboard for three days.

Looks cool, eh? That was the only part of me that looked cool – I fell on my bum a gazillion times. I took two hours of lessons from a kiwi dude, Gavin, on the second day to get the basics and I was on my own pretty much on the kiddy slope. The other beginners were also slipping and sliding. I even skid into a kids’ ski school and got entangled with a wee one. He didn’t cry, thank god.

Man, it’s soooo hard to get up after falling. My arms were aching for days after because you need your arms to push you back up.

Look, I’m snowboarding! What you can’t see is all the snow stuck on me bum.

It’s such a great workout. After a day of boarding, I just shovelled in tonnes of delicious food and guzzled loads of umeshu and lemon shouchu.

Courtesy of Mr. D, this picture is a lovely moment when we wrapped up ripping up the slopes on our last day. He was exhausted from skiing through trees with his maniac buddies from Oz, so he skied with me on the beginner slope.

See, it’s really Aussie Town – there’s Vegemite in the supermarket. I tried it on hot buttered toast for the first time and I’ve to say I never felt more Aussie in my life. It tastes a bit like salty cheese spread. Yum.

Last words? Well, if you’re a snow bunny, you’ll love Niseko. The snow was so soft it felt like falling into feather pillows when I made my first snow angel. I also learned how to pack a proper snow ball. I felt like i was struck in the arse by a rainbow. I think I’m addicted. More, please.

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