Adiou To Winter

DSCN1001, originally uploaded by setyr.

Jon from Ahodori Badminton Club was totally right. Niseko is a great place to snowboard. For the first time, I went through moguls (accidentally?!) as I lost my way back down. I mistook it for the easy route back down at the base. After that and 3 days of pure, hard snowboarding, my muscles are still aching as I write.

So, what is Niseko all about? The way I see it, this place is about slopes, more slopes and more varied slopes that caters for all boarders, from beginners to experts, and even to the challenged! And almost all the lifts are open for night skis.

This place is also all about family vacation spots, especially for foreigners who want to pass on their love for winter sports to their kids. Yep, yep, lots of kids in here, especially foreign kids. One boy even chased me, teased me and throw snow balls at me as I passed by the kids park. He looked like he was having fun, and I actually did do too.

I am pretty sure just by looking at the map that this place is also about partying at night, pity that my pals Jeff, Irene and Jordan are not party animals. So, instead of drowning myself to alcohol, I had quality time with 'ME' at the onsen/hot spring. I also had for the first time in my life, accupuncture, which surprisingly makes me feel lighter.

As for my snowboarding career, this would mark the last of the 2008 season. I've grown a lot this year in my snowboarding, I can now do carving on an easy slope, my fear of falling down was dramatically lessen as I can now try to make my way through relatively difficult trails without edging, and I've enjoyed this sport more this year because I've visited new and awesome places, with newfound friends. In the process, I also found new pinoy badminton pals.

So I close my winter journey with the simple tales of Hokkaido. I have accomplished one big dream, which is to snowboard to Japan's northernmost alps. I have eventually learned to be patient and to try harder. I still had bruises but not from scary falls in the previous 2 years. And as to every ending, there is always a promise of an better new beginning.