One week… One week of fun and laughter. Well, like all good holidays, it has to come to an end. 2 days in Shanghai with buddies from Michigan, 5 days of snowboarding in Hokkaido and lastly 1 day of solitude in the city of Sapporo as i await for my flight to take me home tomorrow. Thus, a good moment to reflect on the wonderful memories as my bus takes me to the city. Thank god for technology but typing on a blackberry is still a challenge.
Shanghai… It was great to finally spend quality time with Marc and Teck. All the Michigan boys have been jetsetting so much that chilling out over single malt whiskey is a luxury to be cherished. we have all chosen pretty different paths and thus it is great to just pause and hang out a bit before we continue on our way again. Next year, Marc will be back in Harvard again. I don’t know where I will be since in my line of work, I am only as good as my last trade. In the last twelve months, Teck have resided in two different cities and now he jets out of shanghai every week. We hung out at 3 on the bund and enjoyed each other’s company like it was just yesterday when we left New York for Asian. Looking over the city, it brought back bitter sweet memories. There were some memories of the city which still lingered in my mind when i was there during the christmas　of 2004. Shanghai is the city growing out of its capacity. I wonder how it will be like in another 5 years.
Next Stop, Niseko Japan. The annual pilgrimage to seek the softest snow and freshest UNI. Snowboarding and eating sashimi with good friends. A good combination. This is our second year at it. Although not everone of the original kids turned up, there were enuff guys and gals to rekindle the memories which made Niseko special in the hearts of those who came and conquered the slopes. There were new friends too. They came here as individuals but leave this place converted snowboarders.
The weather this year was slightly different. We were probably a little late as it was warmer than i remembered and thus the ground was a little icy from the melting snow. However, the snow deities heard our pleas and on the night of our first day, sent a blistering snowstorm our way. I woke up on the next morning to the scream of Hydie.. the scream of joy. This year we set a new record. Hydie and I covered all three main slopes in one day. Grand Hirafu, Hagashiyama and Annupuri. Carmen Wong, probably her boldest attempt ever, followed us all the way to the top of the moutain and rode down like she has done it a thousand times. Mark as usual in his steady self led us all the way down.
For me, it was just great to be on the slops again. I had missed it. Think doing it only once a year is definitely insufficient to quash my desire for adrenalin. It is like giving just one pocky stick to a kid. one stick is never enuff. This year my reputation as a tree killer continued on. I knew charging at full speed on your goofy stance is never the wisest idea. But it was just too tempting. Ever since Mark introduced this game of zigzaggin among trees, I have not been able to stay away from it. Sometimes i made it through unscathed. Other timesI literally became a tree hugger. On day 4, I had a big crash into a slanted trunk and I needed Filson to help me dig out of my own jam. We all had a good laugh. Obviously, I have yet to attain the level of skills that would enable me to dance around the leaveless trees like fishes around coral rocks… but i will get better.
On the last day, everyone’s sore and tired. My legs were so wobbly, every pace is a half step. Hydie’s (tai lik) left knee is once again swollen to the size of a cantalop while the other heidi ( sai lik) has already left for the city to do her shopping. I said goodbye to the gang as they all hopped onto the bus to take them to the airport. I leave for the city. It wasn’t planned that way but circumstances created a void which I now must venture on my own into Sapporo. Always sad to say goodbye at the end of a good trip. But new adventure awaits.
To take a quote from a new friend( I changed it a little, hope you don’t mind); "When one door closes, another opens but often we look so long at the closed door that we don’t see the one which has been opened for us." our holiday is sadly over. Just remember the good moment (film or no film) and we all be looking forward to next year….. IT IS THE SAME FOR LIFE.
Carpe diem
SNOWNUTTS thanks and U’re Da Best
