If you're a regular South Park viewer, you'd remember this phrase. This is how Stan Marsh learns (or tries to learn) Skiing while they were on a so called vacation at 'Asspen'. So this Christmas weekend we decided to try it out; try out how many pizzas and how many French fries we could have in a day.

First time for me and I'd say that its a must experience and a must learn if you haven't already. Now, I know its not that easy or it may be pretty difficult to motivate yourself (it took me ~5 years, but then it was not just the lack of motivation) but must say that it was real real fun.

Who needs lessons when you got almost the whole slope for yourselves. Being a cloudy day (rains predicted towards noon) there was hardly anyone out there. After renting the heavy/bulky boots and Skis huffed and puffed I dragged myself to the lift, falling down couple of times in the process. Falling down was one thing but getting up was simply impossible. I lay there for a whole 2 minutes or so trying to get myself up and even though a voice inside me said 'Get up dude' and 'Yes you can do it' .. I simply couldn't get up !!

Reached the lifts and made up my mind to take a crack at it - Downhill skiing. Took the lift to the top of the beginners mound and the same saga repeated while getting down from the freaking lift. Couldn't stop myself, didn't read the signs put up at the point of descent and paid the price. Result - another 2-3 minutes pf 'trying to get up' .

First time going down the slope was fun. I had no freaking idea as to what to do and how to do. All I knew about Skiing was 'Pizzas and French fries' and needless to say that its not enough to know your Pizzas and French fries. Came down the slope with the wind blowing on my face and my past my ears and it felt amazing !! Its probably the closest one can get to a natural way of going down the hill (by natural I mean one that doesn't include any machines).

Stopping/Trying to stop at the bottom of the hill is something that's an interesting and an important part of the whole act of Skiing. I couldn't do it the first time - but then thats how you learn ;-). A second trip to the peak, the descent was smooth. Managed to complete the act without tasting the snow even once. Oh boy - You should have seen the smile on my face as I slowed down and zoop - a perfect stop.

In the next 3-4 hours managed to do some 10-15 trips and enjoying it every single time. Had to cut short the day as it had started raining. Realized that although skiing wouldn't have been an issue, drive back to the Cabin would have been troublesome with all the snow turning into ice on the roads.

All in all the stay at the Cabin and the Skiing was amazing and I'd really want to do that again. This winter ? Maybe yes but if not - definitely in the next one. And if you're wondering where is this place, its a small town called Windsor in VT and the slopes are known as Ascutney Mountains.

Hope you all had a Merry Xmas !!

A friend of mine had an opportunity this time to yell at them (Orbitz). Just for the heck of saying it lets just say that they suck big time. Couple of months back he got an opportunity to go through their web-site and book tickets online. This time an International flt ticket.

And boy was he in trouble ... British Airways cancelled their flight and the customer rep at Orbitz reissued the tickets - but this time in a higher class (which he wasn't made aware of) . 2 days before departure he calls up to confirm his tickets only to find out that he has to pay ~ $4000 [the difference] before he could check in.

Went crazy, called up Orbitz who didn't know what to do. Went to the airport to talk to BA reps at the counter and ended up spending 5 hours. The whole Saturday afternoon spent at the airport with calls going back and forth, yelling and shouting at the reps (poor chaps), cell phone batteries giving up and what not.

I was just sitting there like Viktor Navorski (The Terminal), watching hundreds and hundreds of passengers running around. People carrying 3,4,5 and 6 suitcases, huge fedex boxes and what not. There was a Canadian Ice hockey team (I believe) with their bulky kit blocking the walkway. Then there was this lady who startes at the display screen for a while and hurries to the KLM check in counter. After like couple of minutes, I saw her running again - this time from the KLM counter to the BA counter ... getting confused as to which airline to board ? ;)

Anyways it was getting on my nerves (and my friends') but finally they had it settled. Alfter all the confusion and waste of like 1000 man hours, they gave him the best offer available at that time - 1 weeks wait. Yup - the trip was delayed a week cutting short his vacation. Thanks to Orbitz; bottomline - they suck big time.

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Name: Rajesh Warrier

Location: Boston, MA, United States

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