Don't Panic.

DON'T PANIC.

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Adventure on the advanced slopes of Happo and Checklist

Survived accidentally going up the wrong gondola to the advanced slopes of Happo One, Nagano, Japan. Refused to give up, but will ski board rather than use alipine skis next time. Falling face down crossed skis is a killer done too often, which couldn't be helped. Four hours to get down the mountain LOL.

Checklist:

1. Wear contacts or get powered goggles. Glasses fogged up and blinded me.
2. Wear ski mask or balaclava. Would have saved me from eating snow.
3. Wear my inner snow gloves next time. Rented gloves got wet and froze my fingers.
4. Wear thermal leggings, waterproof. Pants under the rented ski pants (which got wet) didn't do too badly however.
5. Go on ski boards rather than skis. Took the last ounce of my energy to get back up after falling down over a two hour period down the slopes. I was saved by a frenchman named Olivia(?) who walked me back to the beginner slopes. Nearly gave up on the slopes and sat buried in the snow which was warm and soft. And easier than trying to lift the skis back out of the snow. Difficulty lay in trying to uncross the skis to get them back side by side to get up. Required inner leg muscles I've never developed.
6. Wear my thermal sleeved t shirt, with my turtle neck U2 and turtle neck cashmere, and my light hooded fleece under the ski jacket again. Kept me warm and probably saved my life.
7. Thermal socks and proper sized boots. Toes in pretty bad shape trying to hike down the mountain with skis on shoulders and poles dangling everywhere. Fingers were too frozen to carry skis properly.
8. Know the trail!!!!! Or don't go ahead without the guide next time. Serves me right if I died.

But it was an adventure of a lifetime! :) Definitely ski boarding again next time. Shiok. And my very first snowy white winter over the new year :) :)

# posted by Paul @ 6:57 AM 0 comments

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Tokyo Arrival Instructions

Something I've been wanting to jot down, especially before I forget.

On arrival at Narita Airport, the first thing to do is to rent a phone from Softbank. You can return the phone at the same shop in the airport when you leave. And japanese phones can send and receive emails. The softbank outlet is located on basement 2.

Next, head for the Airport Limousine booth to get a ticket to the Westin Tokyo, the ride will take 1.5 hours. Do not try to take the train unless you know what you're doing.

# posted by Paul @ 6:40 AM 0 comments

Friday, November 2, 2007

Early Jap Days

Alrighty, I'm blogging again. The first few days in Japan was mighty fun. First, I got caught in a "typhoon", which was more like a london drizzle, but still wasn't funny when I wasn't sure where my apartment was and had to drag two big luggages up and down stairs.

Then I realised I'd not brought one of those converter plugs with me ... I'd flown them all with my shipments. Duhh. So after going crazy wasting my time trying to buy one, I realized that I could splice the wires. Thank goodness for my swiss army knife! And for 100yen shops.

Ok. Now to make some money so that I won't have to survive on 100yen shops too much. LOL.

And I'm starting to think there's a god after all. Cos from a choice of 30 apartments, I'm stuck with one. Cos my piano ain't welcome. Thanks man. *glares upwards*

# posted by Paul @ 7:51 AM 0 comments

Wednesday, April 4, 2007

First USD10mio trade and USD20mio Arb

Bucketloads of dough might not save me though! Hahahaha.

# posted by Paul @ 6:09 AM 3 comments

Saturday, March 24, 2007

Another Small Footprint in the Sand

My Por Una Cabeza arrangement performed by Shimon Walt and Gang in Canada this coming April, along with a CD recording with acknowledgements. Not to scrappy.

# posted by Paul @ 10:47 PM 0 comments

Monday, March 5, 2007

Landed a tenant!

Yes!! I must say women these days are darned rich. Only one year my junior, goodness.

# posted by Paul @ 5:57 AM 2 comments

Thursday, March 1, 2007

Don't Panic

Still Alive. Tokyo Striiiings to come.

# posted by Paul @ 6:52 AM 0 comments