Its still snowing.
This is the front of our apartment building, the grass is all completely covered and there is snow piling up against the little walls. There is a couple of inches of slush on the roads as well. The news is saying that some trains and highways are closed, and even the Shinkansen's are running late (that never happens!).
Might be interesting walking to work tomorrow morning if it freezes tonight...
It's been snowing here in Tokyo all day. Very cool! Have to go out later, could be interesting...
Has been a while since I posted, but have some more to post later today...
So, like I said in the previous post, after getting back from our Christmas long weekend in Naeba, we booked ourselves in for the new year's long weekend in Iwa-ppara. I've got to say, this place is convenient. Under two hours from walking out our front door in Tokyo, to being on the mountain. This resort isn't as high up as Naeba, so the snow wasn't as good, but it snowed all weekend, so everything was just fine. This place is perfect for beginners, it has amazingly wide open runs that are nice and long, from where this picture was taken (again with the poor quality phone photos!) it is over a kilometer straight line to the bottom. Nice. The place we stayed in wasn't anywhere near as fancy as the Naeba Prince Hotel, but it was good enough, and it had a nice outdoor onsen bath. And its right in the middle of the ski run, so you can ski right to the front door. You did have to take your boots off to go to your room though, but still, can't complain.
Also took my camera with me, so here is some more photos:
It snowed while we were there, about 50cm over the three days...
And then just on dusk on the Sunday night, there was a brief break in the clouds...
Finally got to use my new ND filter that I got before we went to Thailand, pretty happy with the results actually! The lift in this picture is a gondola, but unfortunately its closed this season. I think that the resort will be much better next year when they have it open again, without it, half the bottom section of the resort is unusable. Still plenty of room to ride elsewhere, but it would be much nicer if this section was available. Anyway, was still a good weekend, despite that and the weather, we will be going back!
Should have posted this a week ago... didn't get around to it.
 Our hotel room. Night skiing. | It's winter. It's Christmas, so there's plenty of long weekends and days off work. So we've been snowboarding. First up, Naeba. Home to the "Dragondola". Living in Tokyo has its advantages, it's under two hours to get from home to Echigo Yuzawa, which is surrounded by numerous ski fields, then about 30 minutes by road to get to Naeba from there. I've got to say, Naeba has ruined my whole snowboarding experience. How? Ha, look here or in the pic of night skiing on the left. See that twenty something storey high tower? Well we stayed in that. Oh, and is that a gondola and a quad lift right outside the door? Yes, yes it is. I like being able to put my boots on in my room, and at lunch time, not have to fight for a table, just get takeaway and eat in your room. Nice. From now on, all snowboarding accommodation must be located less than 20 steps from room to lift. The quality of the pic's isn't too good, but its not too bad for a mobile phone. One is obviously our room, nice and big, great view of the mountain, and even better view of the fireworks each night... did I forget to mention there is fireworks? Well there is, and they were pretty damn good. The other pic is taken from the top of the quad lift which leaves fight from the door of the hotel. "Nighta" (Night skiing) until 10pm every night. Oh, it snowed too, mmm powder, deep windblown pockets in the out of the way sections of the black runs. Very nice. |
On the way back to Echigo Yuzawa from Naeba, I spotted another resort right near the train station, looked like it had really nice long, wide, open beginner slopes, just what Yoko needs to practice linking turns. So two hours later, back at home, a quick Google finds that the resort we were looking at is called Iwa-ppara. Another few minutes and we've found a hotel right in the middle of one of the runs. A quick phone call, and we're sorted for the long weekend leading into new years.
HDR is interesting. I've been playing a little with it over the last few days. Lots of possibilities, some of the abstract stuff you can do is cool. Ive got a few more pics here.
For more info about HDR start looking here.
I've also been out taking some more photos recently, wanted to get some Autumn pics before all the leaves fall down... got lucky and actually got some pics of the leaves falling. Some are posted on flickr in my photostream.
