had some photos on my desktop so wanted to post them before i delete it. been talking to a lot of snowboarders in hawaii recently. most of them going to whistler in america. in fact, one of my good friend has been going to whistler for the past 15 years. then last year, he went to hokkaido for the first time. he told me “what the heck was i thinking!!! hokkaido is the best! i will never go back to whistler again!” i told him “yup, Gerry Lopez told me that hokkaido is the Pipeline of snow. that says a lot.

snowboarding in waist high deep powder comes close to surfing. it’s like riding the foam!

everybody asks me if i’m going back to Niseko again. here is my answer “not planning to anytime soon. i don’t know how to take things slow. if i get the chance to go full speed in life, i will go full speed. i pretty much charged my hardest on that mountain. if i hit a tree, i’d be dead. so i’m taking a break from snowboarding because i love my life.”

check out Mike Woo’s new creating by TSSC.

innovation, design, and technology.

this spot is called “Cobra’s” and it’s off treasure island in the banyaks. this is Matsu on a gem! i stuck out my camera as he came flying around me. got the perfect shot that morning. makes me want to go on a boat trip again to surf perfect waves with my good friends.

the boys in el salvador took over 3000 photos of us. i looked at it all and found this golden moment. here is my good amigo friend Satoko coming from behind on one of the best sessions of my life. sunset time, no people, good waves, and a session i will remember for the rest of my life. i totally love this photo because it reminds me of that special time. great surfing amigo!

i stood in line for 2.5 hours when i arrived in japan. i stood in line for 40 minutes trying to check into my hotel in tokyo. there are chinese tourists everywhere! coming in by the train loads and bus loads. good for the japanese economy because they spend a lot of money, but not good if you don’t like to wait in lines like me.

i have a free time for lunch in tokyo. i ask a friend where the best place is. i put it in my google map and start my 15 minute walk there. i get out of the hotel and it’s raining! omg!

i get to the ramen shop in ikebukuro. i’m soaking wet, then realize that i have to stand in line for 40 minutes in the rain. no umbrella for this gaijin. it’s 11 degrees, it’s raining, but i’m committed to eat ramen no matter what.

thank goodness i brought my rain jacket on this trip.

i tell the lady “i want the most popular ramen on the menu.”

i finally get a seat. i’m freezing cold but warm up instantly when my hot ramen comes. wow, looks so good!

i order an extra egg and char siu. total cost 1000 yen or $8.

i eat and drink every drop. the absolute best ramen i’ve ever eaten in tokyo. i’m happy, i’m satisfied, and i’m ready to walk in the rain again.

i highly recommend you eating here if you’re ever in tokyo. i’ll be back there again for sure. but next time, i’ll take an umbrella.

this is the shops name. and here is the address. just copy and paste it into google maps and it will take you right to the doorstep.
無敵屋
東京都豊島区南池袋1-17-1 崎本ビル

i get back on the subway. just siting there people watching.

and i’ve noticed they built barriers with gates along the tracks. why? is this to prevent people from jumping in front of trains?
anyway, gotta get to the airport today in the 6 degree freezing weather and rain again. no umbrella but i’ll make it there somehow. another flight, another country. see ya!