Off to Beer Bar Basil Basil.
The rain had made the snow on the ground very slushy.
I had bought a cheap pair of crampons for the trip as my previous trips to Alaska and Northern Canada in winter had told me the icy footpaths were downright dangerous. But it didn't look I would need them this trip.
The guys at the bar recognised me instantly from the previous night.
I took a seat at the bar and had a Yebisu Black. Not that Yebisu is pronounced Ebbis.
I was surprised at how quickly I had picked up a few words of Japanese.
I asked for 'mizu kudasai' ('water please') and the staff were very impressed.
This dark beer was very nice and certainly a 'sipper' rather than a 'quaffer'.
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It was around 8.30pm and by now the ski crowds were starting to filter in. There were several hotels nearby and once people finish their skiing, they go out for a meal and drinks.
Most of the clientele were Asian and I saw no westerners during my time in this bar at all.
The bartender, a lovely lady by the name of Kato, had two friends drinking at the bar, a guy and a girl, both 29 years old I would find out.
Kato spoke very limited English but using a translator app, she explained to me that her two friends would like to be my friends and asked if they may join me.
Now I will confess I wasn't exactly in the mood to converse using an internet translator for the next few hours, but I couldn't exactly refuse, so I beckoned them over.
It became quite clear that they had much more to drink than I, but that was OK.
I can't remember their names, but when the guy went to the bathroom, the woman assured me that she and the man were not an item.
Umm, OK.
Anyway they turned out to be awesome.
One of the things that I found equally funny and annoying at the same time during my whole time in Hokkaido was what followed when I introduced myself by my first name which is Justin.
"JUSTIN BIEBER" would be the reply every single damn time to much merriment and laughter.
In the end I resorted to "No, Justin Timberlake" which only caused more merriment and cackling laughter.
Anyway after a few drinks together, it was suggested we play the 'alligator game'.
It involved a toy alligator with buttons for teeth. You take turns in pressing the teeth until eventually one of the teeth leads to the alligator's mouth snapping shut and you lose the round.
The duo racked up six shots of God knows what and we decided to play six games. The loser had to skoll a shot.
I offered to pay, but was met with "No, Japanese hospitality" on the man's iPhone.
Anyway it was heaps of fun, and I had only had a couple of beers so wasn't worried in the slightest about losing.
After the guy had lost the first three rounds, I was actually hoping i would lose a round so I could have whatever it was that was in the shot glasses.
On the fourth go, she lost and had to skoll.
By now things were starting to get messy and for once it wasn't me who was in a bad way.
Two more games to go and by now I was really praying that I would lose so these two people weren't forced to drink more hard liquor. They clearly didn't need it.
He lost the fourth game and then he lost the sixth and final game as well.
This video goes for a minute, but it gives you an idea of the fun.
Listen for "Justin Bieber" when it's one of my turns.
As the camera tilts up at the end you can see him clearly struggling.
Anyway, we'd played six games of this damn thing and I hadn't lost one.
Typical.
When I want to win, I don't. When I don't won't to win, I do.
By now it was obvious there would be no more games of alligator.
He and I went outside for a smoke (in my case a vape) and he could barely stand let alone talk.
I was actually a little worried.
I had to help him back inside and amazingly, he ordered another beer.
Certainly no RSA in Japan by what I could tell.
After a few sips, he vomitted into his glass, filling it up with all sorts of things that had been eaten that day.
The staff thought it was hilarious and everyone in the entire bar was saying sorry to me.
Maybe after the laughter, everyone was embarrassed.
I tried to explain that this happens in Geelong most days of the week, but it clear they were both well gone.
As she was the less inebriated of the two, I suggested she makes sure he gets home safe and she said she would, but said she wanted to spend more time with me and said she would be back in an hour.
Now, I don't profess to be the most attractive man on the planet and clearly not in Justin Bieber nor Justin Timberlake's calibre, but I wasn't going to find out.
They left and after one more beer and a warm sake, I made sure I left before the hour was up.
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All in all a really fun and eye opening experience.
I'll never forget that damn alligator, which was actually 'Crocodile Dentist'.
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