Breaking aesthetic standards of this blog I put photos of me on the front page not (only) because of my narcissism, and urge to make you feel jealous, but mostly because I know how much you miss me while I am away :) Just for your relief: after clicking on one of the nails you want see my face anymore.

When I learned that I go to Japan, the same instant I knew that I will use this chance to go skiing. I got tired of 10 seconds runs on 200 meters long slopes around Moscow. Can I still handle something more real?

Hakuba is a decent ski resort in relative proximity to Tokyo. I used to ski there quite often. The distance allows you to go Saturday morning and return Sunday night. That's what we did with small and well-organized team of colleges. The rest is in photos! Since I didn't venture to bring my main camera on the slope this time, most of the photos are from our pension and from the road.

Winter is almost over. In fact spring will officially start tomorrow and it's the last winter day today. Not many people seems to regret much. I do! This one wasn't bad at all. It was at least two snowy months with lots of sunny days. To give the winter warm farewell I've published some winter photos.

For most of (non-Russian) people Russian winter is something frightening. Recalling my Australian colleague and friend who spent this winter in Moscow

Казалось бы московская зима и велосипед - две вещи несовместные. Проведя после двенадцатилетнего перерыва зиму в Москве я понял что это не так. Началось все с того, что я купил себе новый велосипед. Я отъездил 25 лет на спортивных и туристких велосипедах - из них семь последних лет на верном Trek 520, и переходить на другой тип велосипеда не хотелось. Оказалось однако, что ситуация изменилась, и ездить по Москве на туристском велосипеде по нынешним временам невозможно. В Токио я передвигаюсь по проезжей части вместе с машинами, при этом кроме стычек с таксистами и безобидной для иностранца якудзой других проблем у меня (тьфу-тьфу) не было. В Москве проще сразу броситься под самосвал.

One may get impression that all I do in this life, is flying planes and jumping with parachute. I wish! In fact as most of us, I spend 12 hours in front of computer. I rode a sport plane once in my life and I jumped with parachute just once.

It happened in Japan about year ago, and I haven't published those photos yet. Since for my previous entry I created new category Sport & Extreme, I thought it should be at least two entries in it :) That's why!

It was 10pm Saturday night when I decided that I had enough. I spent whole month with no single holiday, with no single get away from Moscow. I had to do it just for a change. I threw cameras and tripod into my bag, run out of apartment to catch cab towards Leningradskij Railstation.