Plane to Fukuoka. Shinkansen to Nagoya from Fukuoka and to Shinagawa a couple of times as well as one Kodama to Mishima. Not so bad. Maybe have to rename the blog.
Last time I had a chance to see Mt. Fuji up close from Shin Fuji the mountain managed to hide, but last weekend it had nowhere to run. Together with seven Tokyoites I went there, walked to the top and down again. The result, severe sunburn and hurting legs. But it was a lot of fun. We hiked from the base camp at 1800 meters up to 3200 meters during the first day and spent a couple of hours sleeping in a cabin, then got up at 01.00 for the last stage. Amazing how the last climb had a long queue at 02.00 in the morning. Lots of people wanting to see a rather disappointing sunrise. Actually only five of us really watched it. Three of us got hit with altitude sickness and slept it away. On the number of people on the top I have to say, Only in Japan, kids.
My camera is not really made for taking epic scenery pictures, but I took a couple of shots, and a video showing what it is like on the top of Fuji 05.30 at weekends during busy season, beginning with a sunrise scene, continuing displaying how many people are up there wondering why they made themselves climb the rock and ending with a display of the devastating effects altitude can have on Skaningar (half Danish people from the south of Sweden). That is too big to put up here though.
The female part of the group believes in the importance of stretching. They are right, in principle.
Tomo practicing his Marlboro man pose while Aki opts for the traditional Japanese V.
Into the clouds. This was the last we saw of the color green.
Fuji is a beautiful mountain because it is smooth and symmetric. Well, when you are on it it is kind of hard to notice this. Instead we got treated to this moon-like lava landscape. Hard to complain about the view though.
As any volcano, of course Fuji has a crater. A rather symmetrical one actually. This Is Tomo and Naoto standing pretty close to the edge with the sun acting as spotlight.
Two shots of the sunrise. The first one is better by far.
And the gang of eight. In back-row: Walking stick with Japanese flag (battle-flag), Tomo, Petter, Yours truly and Naoto. And in front Aya, Miwa, Aoi and Aki.
Highlights of the climb were:
Me and Petter joking around and greeting people we meet in Swedish, only to get a perfect "God dag" (hello in Swedish) back from a Japanese guy. Smash...
Fuji-san's soft gravel the whole way down. Pretty fun sliding in that stuff.
Tiger Balm, the universal medicine for anything. Cured both mine and Tomo's headaches within minutes. Amazing. Also good for practical jokes involving underwear.
Oxygen on a bottle. And since some members mabye overdid it a little bit we also got answer to the natural question if you can get high on the stuff.
The prices for water on the top. One liter - 1000 yen (70 SEK, 7 Euro). Supply and demand.
And of course meeting some great people.
Ok, on to other things. Had a week of vacation, which meant the compulsory vacation cold. Don't know why, but I never fail to catch a cold when on vacation.
Living in Japan is ups and downs. But returning to Nagoya on Wednesday night seeing the neon of the station area as I stepped off the Shinkansen I found myself thinking how beautiful the scene was and how lucky I am for getting the chance to do what I am doing and see the things I get to see. Otherwise project management in a weak matrix organization can be very much an exercise in rolling with the punches and having the ability to get up on the count of nine. But that is what I'm paid for, and it can be very nice when things work out.
Looks like there will be a small class reunion here next weekend. Tomo and Mike (and Bjorn, but he is just hitching a ride and has other plans) is coming from Tokyo. And my former classmate, now colleague, CF is flying in for work. That is almost half of the old class, pretty good turnout.
Ok, until next time don't do anything I wouldn't do!
Highlights of the climb were:
Me and Petter joking around and greeting people we meet in Swedish, only to get a perfect "God dag" (hello in Swedish) back from a Japanese guy. Smash...
Fuji-san's soft gravel the whole way down. Pretty fun sliding in that stuff.
Tiger Balm, the universal medicine for anything. Cured both mine and Tomo's headaches within minutes. Amazing. Also good for practical jokes involving underwear.
Oxygen on a bottle. And since some members mabye overdid it a little bit we also got answer to the natural question if you can get high on the stuff.
The prices for water on the top. One liter - 1000 yen (70 SEK, 7 Euro). Supply and demand.
And of course meeting some great people.
Ok, on to other things. Had a week of vacation, which meant the compulsory vacation cold. Don't know why, but I never fail to catch a cold when on vacation.
Living in Japan is ups and downs. But returning to Nagoya on Wednesday night seeing the neon of the station area as I stepped off the Shinkansen I found myself thinking how beautiful the scene was and how lucky I am for getting the chance to do what I am doing and see the things I get to see. Otherwise project management in a weak matrix organization can be very much an exercise in rolling with the punches and having the ability to get up on the count of nine. But that is what I'm paid for, and it can be very nice when things work out.
Looks like there will be a small class reunion here next weekend. Tomo and Mike (and Bjorn, but he is just hitching a ride and has other plans) is coming from Tokyo. And my former classmate, now colleague, CF is flying in for work. That is almost half of the old class, pretty good turnout.
Ok, until next time don't do anything I wouldn't do!
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2 comments:
Slobbelibob, regarding the reuninion, all the people that counts (sorry Yoggi) will be there so I expect a Grand Tour of Nagoya's red light district.
A real bugger I missed the climb but there'll hopefully be more opportunities.
One - There will be no red light districting. Lets try and keep it respectable for once... :-)
Two - No more climbing Fuji in this lifetime for me. But I recommend it!
All bad news for you Mike, but I am looking forward to your visit. Looks like CF might be locked up in a factory even Saturday. I can't take credit for that though even if I know he is going to blame me.
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