Mount Fuji Ascent (Part I)

Completed the Mount Fuji climb on 23rd July - it was much tougher than expected, definitely not a normal 'tourist' activity. It's a task for which some physical and stamina training is greatly recommended, mainly because of the thin-air and terrain. I was lucky to have made it without any training, but just barely (totally exhausted by the end of the journey, and ankles/legs were aching badly... still having trouble climbing up and down the stairs for the next one week). Now I realized why I am the the first person (Japanese or non-Japanese) in my department who's doing the climb; most of them wished me 'good luck'/'all the best'/'come back in one piece' etc.

We took a bus to the 5th Station (at 1,500m above sea-level, about 40% up the mountain - serious mountaineers start the climb at 1st Station i.e. ground-level). Our equipment list as follows:- hiking boots (good old Timberlands - waterproof and made for battle); - 6 bottles of water (available for purchase on the mountain, but the price increases with altitude; up to $8 per bottle - the small 150ml ones!); - winter jacket/gloves (even during summer, the temperature can drop to near-freezing at the summit); - special 'rain hat' that bf bought the day before.. it looks like a fishing hat but made of plastic, and the front part of the shade is transparent, so that you can pull it over your eyes and look right through it, like a windshield, while your face is almost completely protected from rain; and - poncho/raincoat in case of wet weather.

There were many climbers, mostly within the 20-40 yr range; but there were some kids and very senior folk (probably in their 70s) too; everyone was well-equipped with back-packs, colorful 'climbing suits' and walking/hiking sticks. This chap and his friends were video-recording their Ganbatte speech before the climb.

At the waiting area just outside the entrance to the climbing trail, some of the 'climbing groups' had their leaders giving speeches, which usually ended with everyone shouting chants/slogans with raised fists (quite scary, like going to battle) - the Japanese take the Mt Fuji climb very seriously, since it's viewed as a sacred mountain, and climbing it is viewed as a form of pilgrimage. Of course, most of the tourists/westerners were standing around looking very quizzically at these activities, and taking pictures.

We started our climb at 2.30pm. The weather was mostly sunny with some cloud cover, and temperature ranging between 20 - 25 degrees. By 4.30pm we were above the clouds.

The higher we got, the tougher and steeper the terrain became - some areas had loose pebble-like gravel which made it hard to keep your footing, and other areas had black volcanic rock where each step forward was about twice the normal stair-case step-height; so it really was a 'climb' rather than an upslope walk. The air also got noticeably thinner; each time we had completed a section of the trail (the trail comprises a long zig-zag series of sections, about 3-5 persons wide, that snake up the mountain), we found ourselves huffing/puffing for air. Some of the climbers (mostly the older folk) brought along small oxygen tanks to 'oxygen-up' when they felt the need.

Pitstop on the mountain.

Still at Level 7th, cloud was suddenly blown in.

I think it is worth to climb Mount Fuji, unfortunately as I described my experiences to my colleagues, 9 out of 10 replied "I think I am more sure I dont wana do it now".

One of the climbers in the tour group. Tour groups take frequent breaks and almost always jam up the mountain track coz they always climb very slowly.

Notice the slight agony in the smile...

Taxi on Mount Fuji

The march of the dedicated...Just keep walking, there is no turning back now...

At various points along the trail, there are 'mountain huts' where climbers can stay for the night, buy provisions (water, chocolate, food etc), use the bathroom, or just sit and rest before continuing the climb. The mountain was getting very crowded; often after we had made a rest stop, we had to queue up to join back the climbing trail. There must have been something in the order of tens of thousands of climbers that day.

Are you guys catching up yet? Feels good to be always on top of things!

Two guys on the left.. checking their messages on their mobiles as they take a break. Indeed handphones are very vital to the Japanese.

Can anyone really resist the beauty Mount Fuji has to offer?

Heading towards the Highest

Today in the office, colleagues around me were getting excited that I am going to climb Mt Fuji over the weekend. Interesting thing is none of my Japanese colleagues have climbed Japan's highest mountain. Still there were many words of wisdom. Perhaps one should work out for a month before attempting to climb, bring some lemon, energy water, mountain climbing shoes etc. Ishitani-san could see Mt Fuji from his home on clear days, so he never thought of climbing. Ayumi-san jogs at the ocean frequently, but she thinks she might not be fit enough to climb the mountain.

Mt Fuji is a dormant volcano, which most recently erupted in 1708, also rumoured to erupt this year. I thought about What If as I was showering after packing for the trip.

Dont really know what the agenda is tomorrow as my bf has kindly organised the entire trip. The only thing I know is I have to get up at 830am, head for Shinjuku to take a bus which we will reach Level 5 of the mountain. Climb till evening, where we will stay in a hut with tatami (only?). Wake up at 4am to catch the sunrise which should be the highlight of the trip.

Though I travelled out of Tokyo to Yokohama last weekend, I am really looking forward to travelling out again. Nonetheless I would so love to enjoy the view rather than climbing it, being on it, and not being able to see the famous view. Hopefully the bus would drop us somewhere to catch that famous sight. Still I have to count myself lucky, we decided on the trip only this Monday, and managed to arrange transportation and accomodation during this climbing season which is only during July and August.

Mid Japan-life Crisis

So far so good (great), I am about to reach my 6 months, 1/2 way mark to my Japan experience. Everything has exceeded my expectations so far, including my workplace environment and the professionalism it offers. At yesterday's lunch with the ED, she asked, if there was a business reason would I be willing to stay on. I said yes. Thinking back I feel like I am trying to avoid going back to Singapore to face certain reality.

Can't help but feel that setting foot back to Singapore would simply means my life is going to be molded like Every Singaporean. Firstly, the pressure to settle down. 3 out of 5 of my best girlfriends are married. When I chatted on msn last evening with a Singaporean girl of my age, the topic was also about X got ROM, Y is getting married. Its joyous indeed, but it feels like there is nothing going on in life except that being tied down is the most exciting thing.

Thinking about what I have to face when I go back fears me more than whether I want to extend my contract here. What can I say but enjoy it while I can. Why does life become only more exciting when you step out of your own country - Sg. Why is there more to learn that you simply would not be able to if you stayed on and still. I am glad I have this opportunity (which I really need to treasure).

T-W-I-S-T-E-D L-O-G-I-C
Just got back from Coldplay's Twisted Logic Tour IN Tokyo @ Nippon Budokan.

One of the best concerts I have attended so far. The lightings were fantastic, and Chris Martin really worked the crowd well, with his Nihongo. How cool is that, so lucky to be based here for work and having the opportunity to watch Coldplay wrap up its tour promotion of last year's X&Y album in Tokyo on July 19.

Apart from the concert, in the afternoon I was treated to a one-to-one Japanese lunch with my boss (ED) at Westin.

Life's just getting better when you are left alone to discover it, nothing to complain about!!



Shoot @ Yebisu Garden below apartment, no Chris Martin's pictures @ concert of course..........

Shot @ Hokkaido Annual Snow Festival.

She refused to get down from the polar ice scuplture despite repeated callings from her parents.
Its 1am here. What can I say but long distance relationship is tough!!

Its OceanDay!


Its a long weekend or so Singaporeans would term it. Yes, Monday is Ocean Day here in Japan, and its a celebration for the "Ocean" (umi no hi). Apparently a recently introduced national holiday, and it marks the return of Emperor Meiji from a boat trip to Hokkaido in 1876.

My week

Kinda slow, but after settling here for six months, I just bought my mobile this Tuesday. Thanks to Miki who brought me to Ebisu, and then finally finding the ideal phone and plan from Shibuya. Its a 3G phone which unfortunately I would not be able to use in Singapore when I return. At least it can be used in many other countries for example the States - so basically I have gotten myself a travel phone (it simply cant be used in my home country!!).

Japanese phones send messages using email accounts rather than SMS. So you can choose an email address for yourself/ your phone. My phone costs 14000 yen (S$200). I got my ideal phone for 1 yen, after the shopowner took pity on me (not going to elaborate why but Miki and I gasped and thought it was a miracle). Here you can also choose the numbers...080 XXXX YYYY. XXXX - there are three sets to choose from; and YYYY - you put in your 1st three choices, and they would check if anyone has taken them. Well, I got my 1st choice... of course.

Gonpachi

Thursday night after work, I landed in Gonpachi for dinner with Stella, a brilliant Korean colleage. She and her husband have shifted to Ropponggi recently, who also makes it easier for us to hang out together (two stops away now). Highly recommended resturant:

• Atmosphere: Enchanting mura (village) - felt like in the edo period.
• Cavernous interior courtyard with 2 storey high ceiling, everywhere was well decorated with wooden pillars, stone block walls - actually reminded me of ancient Chinese gongfu shows resturants.
• Open kitchen concept: you can see the cooks preparing the yakitori and barbeque in front of you.

Whats Next?

I dont know - but there are tons of really good food at Nishi-Azabu that I am dying to try, Toraji, Hudson's ice-cream and Yaki Yaki Miwa! I wished my closest friends are around me to share these new interesting experiences with me. Food in Japan is really QUALITY.

Air

Air Tokyo

One of Tokyo's hippest nightclubs, where they filmed Lost in Translation. The club is in the basement, with a good mix of hip-hop and house often spinned by famous DJs. Sound system is the best I have experienced so far. Costs 3500 yen per entry -- usually the less meat-market clubs with good DJs are that expensive. 1st floor is a cafe, and the dance action starts in the basement. Rachel and I watched Germany vs Portugal on the plasma @ the hip-hop dance area last night.

Update on yesterday's night program -- Spanish resturant (forgot the namecard!) was fabulous. We ordered 4 dishes & 4 desserts to share. One of the interesting highlights was 4 different types of olive oil were served, with the waitress explaining the origin and taste of all 4. I liked the Spanish's one best.

After that, I had my 1st Karaoke experience in Tokyo - my frens were all so excited for me... We first got a ticket, and my trader fren took a basket with 2 mics to our room... find it slightly hilarious since the style is so different from Singapore. The karaoke room was really small, but had really cool lightings once you START singing...(incentive!!). Frens were also crazy in that once the pop songs go on, we would be jumping up and down on the sofa seats...

Finally, the last destination for the interesting evening was Air. Although not supposed to be a meat-market place, I still see a handful of girls targeting Caucasians. Simply go up to them, start talking, and put their hands around their necks. Of course some were happy to respond, but some were only there for the DJ, not the meat. A handful of Japanese man came up to me, but their approach was definitely more civilised than other meat-market clubs.

Caught the 1st JR train back to Ebisu @ 5am. Was thinking of stopping this weekend clubbing lifestyle. But of course, I woke up to a call saying I would probably need to go clubbing next week because some frens need to check out the lightings... errh am I fated to club or what? feeling kinda tired about it though...

Today's Program

Tonight would be SPANISH FOOD with Miki, Rachel and Ken. Followed by partying either in Shibuya or Nishi Azabu.

I am always more excited when I hang out with the locals here. These friends are Japanese and yet with an international and more open mind-set, I often hear comments/ discussion which I typically would not from a typical local.

Last night I was with another bunch of colleagues. We started off with Tequila shots (2 each). Not sure why but this Mexican resturant in Ebisu serves a really big cup of shot - or so we called "value for money". I guess a usual night out after work here is alcohol, cigarettes and informative humour. Quite a nice gang last night - all from investment banks, both front and middle offices, and a mix of Japanese, New Yorker and Singaporeans. Thats a nice way to end a really stressful work week.

We had an interesting conversation about how to tell people what we (Product Controllers) do. Coz usually when you mention that, people's face goes blank. And when you say which financial product you are looking at, I think they wished they never asked the question in the first place. In summary, in order not to induce such blank expressions, we should say Finance, or we click macros, or when there are no system issues, there is basically nothing to do.

Well, time to head out for shopping as this is the mid-week of Tokyo Sale.....