Jeepney Press / Richine Bermudez

Cloud 9 by Richine Bermudez

As covid cases plunge, people around the world have started planning their trips and vacation again and finally set themselves free from the confinement caused by the virus.

The new normal is here, and the world is ready to dance with it. Are you?

My friend and I have always wanted to go up to the mountains to see a hidden treasure, an experience that is on everyone’s bucket list.

We planned to finally make this happen during the Golden Week holidays. The process of planning the trip was not as bloody and as complicated as our other trips. This tour is accessible and available to everyone for as long as you arrive not later than after lunch. You need the whole day to enjoy this tour, and it is advisable to start it in the morning.

Aside from the breathtaking view that awaits the tourists, what makes this trip special and exciting was the way to get to the top of the mountains. Their slogan ts this experience well: It’s not the destination, it’s the journey!

We started our odyssey at Ogizawa Station in Omachi City, Nagano Prefecture. We rode on an electric bus all the way to Kurobe Dam. Kurobe Dam is the tallest dam in Japan. It is 186 meters high and was finished in 1963. The scenery and the surroundings gave us an Alaska vibe; the water in the dam had some pieces of ice, while the surrounding mountains were covered with snow.

The next ride was the Tateyama Cable Car, which climbs a steep course underground at an altitude of about 500m in 7 minutes. The station after this will give an opportunity to enjoy the dramatic view of the Alps while relaxing on the tables on the terrace. We felt like we were in Switzerland. It’s really a must-see view and a must-go place.

The next ride was my super favorite of all the ropeway rides. It provided us a panoramic view of the Tateyama Mountains and the experience was unforgettable! We had mixed emotions while inside the ropeway, a little bit of excitement, being a bit scared and happy! It was one of the highlights of the trip. The ropeway was like a moving observatory deck that gave us the chance to have a full experience to marvel over the view of the northern alps.

And the final destination is one of the best scenes I have ever seen in my entire life. It can compete with the view of the Grand Canyon in Arizona, USA. The feeling was surreal, the journey was incomparable! We felt like we could almost reach the gates of the heavens.

Walking in the snow corridor of Nagano was a dream come true. It was cloudy at first, which made us a bit worried, but God knows how to surprise his children. After some time, the wind blew and moved the clouds away; and there the beautiful view of the snow walls welcomed us as if God said: Welcome to heaven, my children!

The walls were 18 meters high and could reach 20 meters high depending on the snow that day. Seeing this phenomenon paved away the e ort and the energy we used on the way. I can say that it was not my last time going there. I will still go back and re-enjoy the experience.

After doing this tour, I can con dently say that I know how it literally feels to be on CLOUD 9!

Richine Bermudez

Jeepney Press