Morning in the Mountains of Hokkaido

This morning I sit on the other side of the glass. Eating breakfast. Alone this time. Perhaps my most-eaten food back home would be plain Greek yoghurt. I love it. Unfortunately, it’s not something that you readily find throughout Japan. It exists here though, so I’m enjoying a small bowl of yoghurt, banana, almonds, walnuts, and pumpkin seeds on this fine morning. Apparently Hokkaido is renowned for yoghurt. At least that’s what the little sign above the breakfast area says. It is really nice yoghurt.

For this week, here is a ski resort in the mountains of Hokkaido. The final leg of my stay with family, a leg that I’m very privileged to be a part of. Outside the window is a large circle of maybe 35 skiers. No skis on. Just stretching and bending and twisting. They’re led by a few instructors in unmistakable red coats. Maybe this is all one group lesson, but I’d hope not for their sake.

Next to me is what I can only assume to be a snowman. It has a snowman-like form, but I’m not sure it has a head anymore. Perhaps that’s because it snowed last night. I don’t know for sure. The mountain is basking in mid-morning sun right now. But the ground outside does look a little more fluffy. Soft. Cloud-like. I guess I’m about to find out. I embark on my second-ever day of snowboarding today. Hopefully the powder will soften the blow when I inevitably fall over 100 times. I’m excited. Even from inside, I can already tell that it is an absolutely idyllic day in the mountains of Hokkaido.