Fuji-queue

Hi Guys!

I feel like I'm saying this rather too often, but I'm sorry it's been a while since I posted anything. Anyhoo, I *should* be posting more often now as I've recently acquired a computer (yay!). Just in time too, I think I was starting to come down with emphysema from all the smoke in the internet cafe.

I actually did spend an hour last week writing about my trip to Fujikyu Highlands, but it somehow got lost in the Blogosphere as I tried to post it. Curses. Long story short, although I certainly had fun, I think I'll always remember Fujikyu as a bit of a disappointment. After all I'd heard about its rollercoasters, I was a bit surprised to discover that the park only has 4 of them. Granted, 3 of those 4 are pretty spectacular, but in terms of quantity, Canada's Wonderland has this place beat all the way. After its rollercoasters, Fujikyu's second-greatest claim to fame is that it sits at the base of Mt. Fuji (hence the name Fujikyu). Unfortunately, Fuji-San is notoriously shy, usually preferring to remain shrouded in mist and cloud rather than to show itself. The day I went was no exception. However, the grand champion of disappointments was the crazy long lines (or queues, as the hoarde of Brit and Aussie Nova teachers I was with called them). Due to some rather poor planning on our part, we wound up going on Culture Day, the last national holiday before the weather starts to get chilly (I would blame Scott since he organized the trip, but he's also my boss). Anyway, apparantly the Japanese like to celebrate their culture by going to amusement parks. I spent the vast majority of my day standing around waiting. Crushingly, I never even got to ride Fujikyu's newest coaster, which holds the world record for the most upside-down flips. I did, however, manage to ride on Fujiyama, which until last year was the highest rollercoaster in the world, boasting an initial drop of 79m. This was the one they rode last year on the Amazing Race. So I may have sat my bum in the same seat as Phil Koeghan (a girl can dream). I also went on what I believe is still the world's fastest rollercoaster, which uses some sort of jet propulsion to blast you from 0-177 km/h in under 3 seconds, so the day wasn't a complete write-off. Nevertheless, I went home that night with a queasy feeling in my stomach and a throbbing headache and wound up crawling immediately into bed to sleep off my rollercoaster hangover.

Since Fujikyu things have been pretty normal and uneventful here in Tokyo. On Saturday I was treated to a lovely birthday dinner by Alyce and Adelle (curry, my favourite!) but it still felt more than a little strange to have a birthday without Janessa. I'm hoping to go to Nagano at the end of the month, until then I'll try to get myself up to some more adventures!