a juice vacay: Day 7 - 14th Feb 2013 (Yuzawa)

We woke up and went for the breakfast even before it officially started as we wanted to catch the first shuttle leaving for Gala Yuzawa so we can maximise our half day ski pass. All thanks to the rejuvenating soak in the onsen, we woke up with no aches at all, unlike our virgin ski experience in Seoul. In fact, we were all psyched up for another day of skiing. These are mostly iPhone pictures cos I did not bring my DSLR up.

Being early birds we had the benefit of taking lots of photos on the gondola up.

Animal searching for food in the snow and left tracks!

Really enjoyed being early birds cos the slopes were not too crowded and the weather was fantastic - praise God.

Emboldened, we decided to take the 3rd beginner route that I was quite adverse towards yesterday. Fell a few times, but nothing I cannot manage. It was quite fun to fall also, and the snow was powdery and comfortable; unlike the wet and sloppy type in Seoul.

Tobs was having a good day and he went for more rounds while I rested at the bottom of the slope and took time to build a mini snow cat. kawaii~

Ski-ed till close to 2.30pm and then had to leave the slopes cos our shuttle was coming at 3. I think we're getting addicted to skiing. I could do this once a year man.

Unfortunately for us, the driver completely forgot that he promised to pick us up at 3pm. We waited till close to 3.30pm then decided to take one of the shuttle buses to some place close to the hotel and had to walk a distance back. Not surprisingly, we were quite pissed off but the hotel did not seem apologetic enough. Why, think we are not potential return customers? Hmpf.

Returned our gear and then took a quick walk outside to explore whatever there is in Echigo Yuzawa. There's a small sake place offering 5 cups at 200Y or something similar, complete with cool dispensers. We aren't sake drinkers so that wasn't really for us.

Also chanced upon flavoured Kit Kat. I kept telling Tobs I want to visit the Kit Kat factory and try all the flavours but I guess some of them are specific to the region and won't be so easily available.

Returned back to hotel and had a good soak in the onsen. By dinner, we were very warm and comfy. The spread was different from yesterday's and I wouldn't trouble with the pictures cos overall, I felt last night's spread was better. But it was still enjoyable nevertheless. Once again, we had a T-family sitting beside us, speaking in Mandarin and peering at our food and quipping "how come they have this and we don't?" "oh must be that they got the more expensive set" "your father got the cheapest you know" blah blah blah. No peace. Argh.