Sunday, April 25, 2004
After a weekend of pretty heavy snow showers (yup) which actually accumulated a little, it's now warm and springlike again.
I wish they'd change to daylight savings here, there are currently debates about doing it. At the moment it's blindingly bright from about 4.30 or 5am, even with blinds and curtains. This morning we were also kept awake from before 6 by some strange sounding machinery outside. They have a tendency to only operate noisy stuff like that in the early hours of the morning here.
I wish they'd change to daylight savings here, there are currently debates about doing it. At the moment it's blindingly bright from about 4.30 or 5am, even with blinds and curtains. This morning we were also kept awake from before 6 by some strange sounding machinery outside. They have a tendency to only operate noisy stuff like that in the early hours of the morning here.
Wednesday, April 21, 2004
Went to a local dentist for a check-up today. He seemed amused that I had metal amalgam fillings, saying that only "old" dentists use them in Japan now! Saying "that's the good old NHS for you" in Japanese proved to be difficult.
Finally sorted out our Shanghai trip - visas and schedules all arranged and paid for. We're off in only a week!
Finally sorted out our Shanghai trip - visas and schedules all arranged and paid for. We're off in only a week!
Friday, April 16, 2004
OK OK OK!! Following some comments about "weather reports" I hereby will write a more profound, informative blog...
But maybe it's important to understand that on this vast, cultureless, Northernmost outpost of Japan, the weather is very important, an intrinsic part of life. Oh fine, I'm talking nonsense now, see what happens when you try and make me be informative?
Last weekend, Sapporo! We took the night bus again, of course this time we were prepared for the shock of being dumped at 6am and found our way to some bathrooms with hot water, and some seats where we could eat some snacks and await the opening of some coffee shops at around 7.30...we spent the rest of the day doing some shopping, eating (I can recommend La Pausa for cheap and good Italian lunch-sets) and stuff like that. Checked into our hotel in the afternoon for a nap. We stayed at the Hotel Monterey which is styled to look like an old London hotel - pretty well done actually. All the furniture is imported from England (made in Brighton according to the labels) and it's nice and dark inside. On Sunday we found our way to the Sapporo International Church for the Easter service - simultaneously translated on headphones - which was a really good experience. Then more eating, strolling around the duck ponds outside the Old Hokkaido Government Building and then we got the afternoon bus back to good ol' Kitami.
Is that enough for everyone? I think so. See you later...
But maybe it's important to understand that on this vast, cultureless, Northernmost outpost of Japan, the weather is very important, an intrinsic part of life. Oh fine, I'm talking nonsense now, see what happens when you try and make me be informative?
Last weekend, Sapporo! We took the night bus again, of course this time we were prepared for the shock of being dumped at 6am and found our way to some bathrooms with hot water, and some seats where we could eat some snacks and await the opening of some coffee shops at around 7.30...we spent the rest of the day doing some shopping, eating (I can recommend La Pausa for cheap and good Italian lunch-sets) and stuff like that. Checked into our hotel in the afternoon for a nap. We stayed at the Hotel Monterey which is styled to look like an old London hotel - pretty well done actually. All the furniture is imported from England (made in Brighton according to the labels) and it's nice and dark inside. On Sunday we found our way to the Sapporo International Church for the Easter service - simultaneously translated on headphones - which was a really good experience. Then more eating, strolling around the duck ponds outside the Old Hokkaido Government Building and then we got the afternoon bus back to good ol' Kitami.
Is that enough for everyone? I think so. See you later...
Friday, April 02, 2004
We had a day off on Tuesday, so went to walk around a little peninsula on Kussharo lake (see August 04 2003 entry for more about that place) - the trail was "a little" snowed under, even now...we had to abandon the attempt after we ended up traversing along the side of a 45 degree slope covered in about 2 feet of soft snow, with a drop directly into the still thinly frozen lake below...
Oh yes, and also, after a warm, sunny, springlike week, more snow! A couple to three inches today, but nothing to write home about really. But cold!! When will it be spring...?
Oh yes, and also, after a warm, sunny, springlike week, more snow! A couple to three inches today, but nothing to write home about really. But cold!! When will it be spring...?
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