Ovaltine melts

It got pretty chilly a couple of nights a go and I fancied some hot milk and Ovaltine. I've been having plenty of hot cocoa and tea, so I fancied abit of something else. Who knew that if it was left out for a while, Ovaltine melts to form a blob. Ros, thanks for bringing me a batch last year, but looks like the last bit sorta didn't make it. Hmmm, may be I can chisel out some of the good stuff and use it with some hot milk.

In anycase, I can only hope that this pending winter will remain warm like last year. Hmmm, may be that's bad because it makes me sound like I'm hoping for Global Warming. In anycase, I get this gut feeling that we're gonna get plenty of snow this winter in Niigata, Japan. Hot summer, cold winters... And when you have a mild summer, I reckon most of the time it become a mild winter... In anycase,... I should still be watching my diet. Must cut the refined sugar count.

Solitary viewing

Last night, I went to the cinema to catch an early evening showing of the film "The Kingdom". I won't go into the details for of this film, as that isn't the point of this blog. I will say that it was full of action and I was not let down. A great intro into the world of the middle-east and its rise as an oil empire.

Anyways, I'm tempted to go to the cinema on a weeknight now. Well, it's a bit busier on Wednesday night, as it's "Ladies Day" (Ladies get in for 1000yen, whereas, us blokes are stuck with 1800yen, I've always wondered what would happen if the customer was a trans-sexual or a new-half, and to me "Ladies Day" sorta sounds like it's a day where Ladies have their... day... day of what though?) In anycase, I ended up in the cinema alone. Not the first time, but I enjoy it all the time nevertheless. I can put my feet up, sit pretty much wherever I wish (though, I did end up sitting in my allotted seat) and laugh out loud as much as I want. Something which doesn't happen in Japan, even when it's a comedy flick. Laughing out loud at the movies is apparently wrong, and bad manners as you can't hear the movie. Okay, whatever.

Anyways, can't say that "The Kingdom" is the kinda film where you'll be finding yourself laughing out loud many times. I simply enjoyed my private viewing. Paid the same as everybody else but got my own cinema. All these little minions of cinema employees waiting on me. yeah! Felt like a wee treat, like getting your economy class ticket bumped up to first class as the flight was over booked.

I've always wondered if films would still be projected when no one bought tickets to the actual show. Could you show up late, walk into an empty theatre and find the movie playing to no one? Would I find cinema employees in there making out?

Anyways, I wonder when the next private viewing of a movie at the cinema will take place.

P.S. To those of you who think that I wasted electricity by allowing the theatre to give me a private viewing. screw you. I loved every moment of it.

Ack ack!... I took a week off work and went off hiking back in September over my birthday. Spent my birthday in a small tent by myself, wondering if the typhoon will soon pass as little droplets of moisture builds up in my tent. Once the typhoon passed the next few days were hot and sunny. You might imagine it to to be quite wonderful, but when you're constantly over 2300metres and above the cloud line, it's amazing how much stronger the UV rays are. Even after slip-slop-slap'n myself, I ended up totally burnt. Even with long sleeves on, I ended up with plenty of water blisters and now I've got a very distinct light & dark tan-line right across my forehead. It's been 3 weeks, and there's no sign of my forehead beacon letting up. The back of my hand was tingling all the time, and as the photos shows, I'm flaking as though I'm going though a process of Ecdysis. You can tell from my middle finger that underneath my ring, lies my true colour. Pasty white, or should I have said pasty yellow?

In anycase, I spend 6 days hiking, a total of 7 days living out of my backpack as I had to spend an entire day from the car park (end of the trail) to the beginning of the trail. Quite a scenic trip if you're going via the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route. (a bit expensive too) If you have the time, I definitely recommend the hike from Murodo to Kamikochi. I pretty much followed the LP - Hiking in Japan Guide, which was good as a guide. Though, I get the feeling that the author didn't camp along the way, but spent nights in the various mountain huts/lodges that scattered along the trail. A much easier way of travelling, as one no longer needs to carry a tent, sleeping bag, mattress, stove, cooking gear, food for 7-8 days etc. Heck, you could go around in a day pack if you have the money. But spending over 5000yen for just a floor to sleep on, or over 8000yen for 2 meals I was not ready for. Especially as this trek was done before payday. In comparison, 500yen a night for camping is a huge difference. Up high, conveniences cost a lot of money.