Cookout

I had a cold last week...and a pretty bad one, home alone with a high fever, for second I thought I might gonna die and the police would find my bones on my bed 6 months later...I think I really need to get married ASAP.
Going forward with my life before what left on me are bones and artificial chemicals from all the bentos that I ate, me and couple of friends gathered at Okamoto sempai's apartment for the 2nd 'No Plan' cookout party.

Us, in you know, the kitchen

Compared to the last 1st cookout party, Okamoto sempai invited more people (mostly the familiar faces) than the one almost half a year ago. From last experience, I would expect this cookout party will eventually be a 'sleepout' party and with this amount of people coming and Okamoto-sempai will run out with futon* to accommodate all of us. So me, like in any other occation, always being prepared, brought my own electric blanket, spare pairs of clothes and toiletries...from 'cookout' to 'sleepout' to 'campout'.

A nice smile while doing the springrolls.

About the food, well, as it name was, 'No Plan' cookout party...Okamoto sempai as usual did prepare much on what he was going to cook but could say it was better than the last one because at least he didn't burn anything. As for other dishes, I finally could take the fact that 'too many cooks won't spoil the dishes'(sounds familiar?).

Too many cooks won't spoil the dishes.

Fun?...absolutely,totally and without a doubt, we had tonnes of fun.

With the traditional Japanese pose.

I think need a peaceful weekend for myself sometimes.

We seem to be having a good time...

*futon = bedding

Roppongi Hills Revisited...

Which used to be the view from my working desk.

It's kinda odd for Okamoto-sempai who I know always have below 1000yen meal suddenly came out with an idea of going out to have something different, something classy like according to him : a gorgeous gourmet lunch. So we went to Roppongi Hills* which was used to be my place of work and among to the young Japanese - The center of gorgeousness, to have our lunch.

Among us, a terrorist.

After we had our 4000yen per-person Korean yakiniku lunch, we headed to Roponggi Hills observation floor, found a cosy spot to lay down...all the way till sundown.

The usual 'Gang'.

Probably we will see more of these kind of weird changes on Okamoto-sempai who will turn 30 this year.

till dusk....

* some may already know, on January 18, 2006, Japanese prosecutors raided the office of Livedoor (Mori Tower 32nd floor,R oppongi Hills) and home (Roppongi Hills Residence) of Japanese entrepreneur, Horie Takafumi on suspicion of securities fraud. Livedoor's share price fell 14.4 percent in one day, with sell orders so numerous that trading volume prompted the Tokyo Stock Exchange to close 20 minutes early for the first time in its history.

We Want Snow!!!

Here I am again(of course, with guys from the office) near the mountain range in the middle of the Honshu(main island of Japan) which just a short 200km from Tokyo at one of the largest ski resorts in Japan.

The members of the tour.

Yuzawa of the Minamiuonuma District is always been my favourite place to do my winter activities every year since it's the closest place from Tokyo where I can get powder snow, cheap(1 day trip with Shinkansen return ticket and lift pass will only cost you about 13000 yen or about RM400) and it's convenient, with free shuttle buses from Echigo-Yuzawa station to almost 16 nearby ski resorts.

Hey!!!That's Mount Fuji

As for this year, with the heavy snowfall in the Minamiuonuma District, the snow coverage will go as high as 4.5 meters. Although our trip was blessed with first class powder snow, lessons learned:

• Don't overjoy with the powder snow and overpass the sharp corners with intention to do some fancy tricks - or you'll find yourself in a deep loose snow and it will cause you about 30 minutes to dig yourself out.
  
• Never misses an apportunity of waxing your board before hitting slopes - or you'll get stuck on your board facing 40 degrees down the slope.
  
• Beware of cross manuevering oji-san* snowboarders - or you'll end up eating the snow followed by the alcohol breath faint voice appologizing sumimasen*.
  

While waiting for the shuttle bus.

All geared up!!!

Overall we had a great trip...as always, no injuries except for our Aussie tour leader who somehow accidentally twisted his knee. While waiting for the bullet train, we had enough time to have the locally famous Koshihikari rice ball and a hot dip on the Sake Iri hotspring inside the station....KIMOCHIIIIII....

Nice and warm after the hotspring...then food...

*oji-san = pakcik
*sumimasen = I'm sorry