TOKYO TO NISEKO

The last few days have been a great adventure. More sight seeing around Tokyo and a very special dinner at Kozue at the Park Hyatt which is star of the film Lost in Translation. It was such an amazing food experience and was the perfect place to celebrate Simon's (and Lindsay's upcoming) birthdays.

Yebisu Gardens was also a lovely place to eat out and walk around the cafe's and restaurants.

We are now skiing in Niseko which is lovely. The apartment is very swish and lovely (thanks Kazza) and overlooks the front slopes and main Gondola.

Temperatures have been very cold with today achieving a maximum of minus 8 degrees. So 'rugging up' is essential for the Japan skiing experience. The runs are amazing and long and predominately powder snow which is amazing.

There have been a few hot chocolates on the way and it actually snows heaps (which isn't something you experience skiing in Australia). I'm willing a bit of sunshine - it's been trying but leaves very quickly.

Our evenings here have been great - hitting the Onsen (hot Japanese mineral bath situated outside in the snow) to restore muscles with a 500 ml Asahi beer - quite a lovely way to finish a big day of skiing. Finding a great bar, then dinner and early to bed is the ritual. One bar we visited - Gyu, you enter through a tiny fridge door which is cool and the owners are lovely - they live upstairs.

Feels funny being in such a cold climate when Brisbane is currently suffering from a heatwave. Stay cool Brissy people!