You’ll never guess…….. Day 6……… yes I skied! When I drew the curtains to find a huge fresh dump of snow (something like 18cm) and our last day was to be powder, powder and more powder, what could I do? I had to try it. The snowshoe idea went out the window and I was back out there with Omer.
I discovered skiing in powder is a whole different ball game. At the start of the day I felt like a complete beginner again. I fell over countless times and was feeling frustration rise. But then I chose to look at it a different way. Falling into a soft pillow of snow really wasn’t that bad, in fact it was quite fun.
At one point I just lay there and watched the most perfect snowflakes softly drift down from the heavens. It was beautiful. Did you know snowflakes actually are the shape you see in drawings and emojis? They are so delicate, perfectly formed and individual. Again, I didn’t have my phone for photos so you will just have to take my word for it.
Thank goodness for Omer, without his patience and encouragement I would have lost my nerve. Fatigue from six days skiing had well and truly set in, and conditions were tricky or at least nothing like I had ever experienced. Midway through the afternoon lesson when I was feeling particularly exhausted, Omer’s voice rang out, “Amber look at me. Now slowly…… up up up, down down down, up up up, down, down, down. Standup, feet together”
He got me back on track, I got my feet together and had a great run down my favourite slope following his rhythm. We reached the bottom and although the lesson wasn’t over I said “That is it Omer, I’m done. That run is how I want to remember my holiday.”
At first he tried to urge me to continue but quickly came to agree it was one of my best runs and a great way to finish. I bid farewell to the class and headed back to Club Med on my own. Here I sat in the Canadian hot tub to soothe my aching muscles and process a fantastic week.
Aside from the skiing, The Travel Bees have really enjoyed the people we have met in the resort, both fellow guests and staff. We have exchanged numbers and made connections that I am sure we will follow up on.
As you may have read, we had the pleasure of going to Club Med Bintan in September and it turns out six staff members from Bintan are now here in Japan. On our first night in the bar, we waved over one of the guys we knew and had a great old catch up. It felt so nice to be welcomed like old friends.
At meal times the Club Med staff are encouraged to eat with the guests. It is during these interactions that you really get to know who is looking after you. Among others, we shared several meals with Omer and Patrik (Miss 13’s Slovakian instructor). By the end of the week it felt like they were part of the family.
Tonight at our final meal, Omer had an announcement. Tomorrow morning he is transferring to another Club Med resort two hours away. They are short of instructors and needed someone at short notice. In true Omer style he is up for the challenge.
And so tonight, we celebrated like family as we bid farewell and each take our separate roads on our next adventure.
TTB
The Travel Bee 