Day Seventeen: Shirakawa-go to Hakuba (Going Mobile, Or: "Ali, I've a feeling we're not in Japan anymore")

Sadly Nik has left us high and dry, so rather than enjoying his whimsical writings, faitful readers, you will have to deal with the ramblings of the mad and incompetant - Ali and I.

The day started early in our guesthouse, with the usual uphill battle to get Nik and Ali out of bed for breakfast. After 35 mins, they were up and dressed (sadly not showered, only baths were available, and only in the evening). Nik was slightly less dismayed with the breakfast offered by the gueshouse, but still - he was noticably displeased. As with last night, Ali and I enjoyed the experience immensely.

After a short walk around town, we were on the bus back to Takayama - it was much bigger and less crowded this time, which we were all thankful for, facing a hard day of travel. We all boarded the same train headed to Nagoya, and said our goodbyes to Nik at Mino-ota, a backwater town in the middle of nowhere. After saying goodbye, we caught two trains and a bus, then made a trek through the heavy snow to our lodgings.

The most notable thing about this place is that EVERYBODY is Australian - the place is packing with about 40 Aussie "blokes", and most of them seemed to be in the bar. Needless to say it was just like being at home - that is if we spent out lives at the OBH. However as much as we felt like fish out of water, everybody thus far has been perfectly nice, so no complaints there.

We strolled through bitter cold into the Echoland area for dinner, and wound up and a cosy Mexican restaurant of all places. The meal was exactly what we needed after a day of snow and trains.

Tomorrow morning we hit the slopes, so be sure to check back for a full acount of how badly we embarassed ourselves on the slopes and in the lodge.

-Dan