That Friday, we had a class field trip to that very ski jump that was in the video. We went up this tall, steep escalator to reach the cliff that the bottom of the ski jump was situated. Everyone laughed when we realized it was the same view from the video of the avalanche golf ball research.
Suddenly, everyone began to run towards the bottom of the jump, handing Kumi-san and Forrest-sensei their cameras for a group picture. We all wandered around the gift shop and the faux 1st, 2nd, and 3rd podiums where many people took pictures.
As we left, I had to take a picture of Sapporo from where we were; it was a spectacular view. I also got a picture of some of the people I got closest with.
Yurigahara Park
After we left the ski jump, we piled back into the bus and travelled back to the city to Yurigahara Park.
We wandered around the beautiful flowers, trees, ponds and other scenery. Many of us climbed the castle-like tower that gave a beautiful view overlooking the park in all directions. From the tower, we could see a fountain surrounded by a pentagram pathway, and our group ran off to take a group picture.
As we got ready to leave, more people got into a group picture in a sitting area at the front of the park.
It was a beautiful, warm day; I remember butterflies fluttering everywhere as we ran around the park. Two Japanese girls shouted "Ha-ro!" [Hello] as they rode their bikes past me.
It didn't seem like a 'typical' Japanese place to me, but beautiful anyway.
I really wanted to see shrines and temples and 'old' Japanese arcitecture, but soon found out that all of Hokkaido was fairly new to Japan, and there were no old Japanese places like Kyoto would have. Hokkaido was to Japan as Alaska was to the rest of the US - Technically Japan, but just a little different...
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Shana, Laura & Laura on our way to Okura Ski Jump.
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Laura, Laura, Ginger & Shana on our way up to Okura Ski Jump.
(Thx to Justin for the pic.)
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Okura Ski Jump.
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Top row (L to R): Paolo, Scott
Center Row: Justin, ?, ?, Trevor, Jake, Shana, Corrie, Jessiqa, ? & Grace
Bottom Row: Leah, ?, Mike, Laura, Laura, Nicole & Holly
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Laura, Nicole, Shana, Laura & Jessiqa
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Laura, Nicole, Shana, Laura & Jessiqa
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Laura, Grace & Laura
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Laura, Laura & Shana
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View of Sapporo from Okura.
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The outlook tower.
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One view from the outlook tower.
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Shana, Laura, Nicole, Jessiqa, Jake, Ginger (in background) & Laura
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Top Row (L to R): Corrie, Laura, Justin & Jake
Bottom Row: Laura, Shana, Jessiqa, Ed & Jake
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Beautiful tree [Weeping Willow?]
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Some elderly ladies enjoying the flower gardens.
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Daisies.
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A spinning lily 'tree' inside the front lobby.