My December holidays have always been a time of joy, celebration, and relaxation. As the end of the year approaches, I look forward to spending quality time with my family, reflecting on the past year, and preparing for the opportunities and adventures that the new year will bring.
One of the highlights of my December holiday is travelling to Japan. My family and I went to many different places in Japan like Kyoto, Osaka, and Hokkaido. It was a neutral yet fun experience because I got to try new things, and experience environments, culture, and foods that I’ve never acknowledged before. One of my favourite experiences is experiencing snow for the first time. I was in Hokkaido and it was starting to snow, where the atmosphere was freezing and breezy. I had to wear many layers of clothing underneath my puffer jacket. At the hotel where I was staying, there was a small hill covered with snow which had a skiing place. My family and I decided to try skiing for the first time. The moment I touched the snow, I felt its cloud-like texture and softness, which was like a cosy blanket. It was the best feeling ever and I fell in love with its texture.
Besides that, the waiting line for renting the skis was super long and took a lot of time. Despite the long lines, the skis, boots, and equipment looked very cool. I’ve always thought skiing was easy but when I tried it, I struggled a lot. As I fell onto the snow, the boots felt tight and uncomfortable which made my legs feel compressed and tightened. After a few minutes, I gave up on skiing and rested in my hotel room for a few hours. It was an exhausting experience for me.
Another one of my favourite experiences was trying the ‘onsen’. Onsen are hot springs that are for relaxing and meditating while in very hot water which can be up to 39 to 42 degrees Celsius (102 to 107.5 degrees Fahrenheit). The mineral of onsen water gives healing properties like helping increase blood flow and hence the amount of oxygen in the blood, making it very beneficial for the body. It is advised, however, to not stay in the onsen for too long or it may cause dehydration and nausea. While an onsen is relaxing and beneficial to your health, it is generally not a good idea to enter more than 3 times a day. Honestly, I like the outdoor onsen most because you can feel the coolness of the air in the upper body and the warmth of the water in the lower body at the same time. I like the atmosphere and environment of onsen because the place is so peaceful and clean.
Overall, it was merely a pleasure trip for me, and I had fun experiencing these new things in Japan. I’ll surely go back again next time!
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