Hokkaido 2009

Alpha Resort Tomamu


This is the layout of the resort with its numerous skiing trails. For the three full days of skiing, I was only skiing on two main beginner slopes and had even attempted one intermediate slope.
Skiing begins at around 9am, lunch at 12pm, resumes at 1pm, and then ends at 4pm cos the sun sets really early! Super fun! By day three, my left leg was just sooooo weak... so took a few falls (on the intermediate slope). But the snow's so thick that it was not painful!
Wilson, who had earlier visited a friend in Beijing, bought a set of ski wear for me at a really cheap price :D I had to buy the beanie at the ski resort, though.
My locker at the hotel to store my ski boots, skis and poles :) Notice the light blue boots!! haha the girl at the rental shop was so nice to find me boots which matched my ski suit.
Had to buy these extra thick gloves from Northface in Singapore. Goggles were bought at the ski resort. I had not wanted to buy goggles initially, cos I thought that since I'll only be skiing on beginner slopes and am probably not going too fast, a pair of sunglasses should be sufficient. However, it was snowing quite frequently so goggles were necessary.
The ski resort has mainly chair lifts to take skiers up to the top of the slope. This one takes skiers to the top of a beginner-level slope. Note the building on the left.. I usually ski back to the hotel at the end of the day :) cool!
One can take these "gondola" cable cars up to the top of the mountain for more challenging trails. There's a beginner slope up there too.. so, naturally, I've been up there a few times :)
A long way up to the top. Skis are stored outside.
At the top of the mountain, getting ready to set off!
Skiing
Skiing
A photo-taking moment on top of the mountain.
Skiing - almost back to the bottom!
Another photo-taking moment :)
On day three, my ski coach told me to get on the ski chair lift right next to our hotel! My first reaction was "You must be kidding!"(cos it's up to an intermediate slope!) In the end, I went on it three times! haha.. fell a few times at the steeper slopes but I could still handle the less steep sections :)
Another photo-taking moment, at the top of the intermediate slope.. while waiting for the others to come up.
The resort created an adventure park with several obstacle courses. See the white paper strapped to my arm? One must collect "stamps" on the paper upon completion of each course. And if anyone's wondering... nope.. didn't get all the "stamps".
Vending machines at the resort centre. Great for buying hot drinks to warm up.
Skiers and snowboarders would leave their snowboards or skis inside or..
outside on the ski racks during lunch breaks .. The red ones are mine :)
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Well, with the sun setting soooooooo early.. one must wonder what there is to do for the rest of the evening. There's a HUGE indoor pool in the Vis Spa next to our hotel! It is also a wave pool and big jacuzzi area to the left. Jets of water in different settings. And of course, there's the man-made onsen here too. So, a wonderful way to soothe the aches from the day's skiing.
Workers were working overtime constructing the Ice Village.
Gates to the Ice Village.
Ice Village - there was an ice bar, ice restaurant, ice-cup making workshop, ice hotel-- with three themed hotel "igloo".
Ice bar
Ice bar - everything is made of ice! Bar top, seats, tables, even the glasses.
Ice bar
Reception area for the hotel - not in operation yet. So we can visit all three igloos.
Ice hotel- Bed
Ice hotel - seating area
Ice restaurant
Ice restaurant
Trees lighted up at ice village
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Kawaii !!!! didn't buy, though... so took photo instead :)
One of the restaurants at another hotel in the resort. Features this LOVELY view!
Bus ride to the train station.
Train station at Tomamu.
Waiting for the train.

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