Winterland Hokkaido 2009

It was a super cold holiday at Hokkaido.. daily temperatures hovered at below zero degree celsius, and snow rained down on us everyday. Powdery white snow surrounded us everywhere and it's truly a romantic sight. The previous time I visited Hokkaido, it didn't snow that frequently and it wasn't as cold; this time although the tour itinerary is about the same, the experience is totally fresh with different companions. I've enjoyed Hokkaido as much I've enjoyed the company of larling and his family :)

At the Narita airport, where we need to take a coach to Haneda airport for a domestic flight to Hokkaido. A day is wasted just like that due to travelling.

Finally reached Hokkaido and first stop is to visit Asahi Brewery.

Asahi is Japan's best selling beer, followed by Sapporo.

Their super-dry beer is really not bad, even though I don't enjoy beer.

Seafood and Crab prices here is mad high

Mega tako

Crabs and more crabs

Sapporo TV tower at Odori Park

Flecks of snow on my face

Spots of snow again

Yummy ramen for supper

Day 2

Shiroi Koibito - White Chocolate Factory

This place is like the movie Charlie Chocolate Factory.

I simply love this place

Workers in the chocolate factory..

We were saying we wouldn't mind an internship there.. haha

Keychains for Kai Chouz and Cecilia

Astrogal

ma Astroboy

The security guard is so cute, he even offered us their hats for photo-taking.

Otaru Music Box Museum

Sweet heart shape outside the Otaru Museum

Postcard picture of the Otaru Canal

Humongous pumpkin.

It was the same pumkin I took a pic with 2 years ago when i was there. haha

Two years back..

Comparing the pic quality, it really makes a huge difference using a SLR and a normal cam.

For person wise, i don't think there's a much diff? perhaps a few more wrinkles



Otokoyama Sake Brewery.. one of the best sake breweries in Japan

Tatami-style hotel.

It feels not bad sleeping on tatami.. very cosy feeling

Sumptous buffet dinner at the hotel

Yukata that looks like pyjamas

Day 3

Shooting Star Falls and Silver River Falls

Three little pigs

Asahiyama Zoo.
It's brrrrrr cos we hanged out for 2hrs outdoors in the cold to look at the animals..

Here they have penguin parade in the zoo too.. but the penguins here are the bigger-sized ones, unlike the mini fairy penguins that we saw in Melbourne.
leader of the penguins..

All of us went very upclose with the penguins.

the way they walk is so adorable!!

seeeal

Cute little foxy showing out its tongue

Snowmobile-riding.

It's super exp lor.. 15,000Yen for 2-person mobile, which is approx S$200.

But it's worth the money cos it's damn fun and exciting!!

You can't speed on roads but you can definitely speed on snow!

Lavender in the house

In yukata 浴衣.

Most of the hotel guests would wear yukata to the hotel restaurant for dinner then hot spring.

Super enjoyed the hot spring especially during winter, snow was falling down our heads (for outdoor bath).. I would say Japan's hot spring is the best.

Day 4

Hokkaido's traditional Shiraoi Ainu Village

the lake at the background is totally frozen

sashimi - salmon, tuna and toro.

the toro is damn exp.. 6 thin pieces of toro cost around 3000 Yen which is SGD45.

Toro is the fatty part of tuna belly.. the fat really dissolves in your mouth

Seafood shabu shabu

Pepsi zero in metal can bottle..

the price in Singapore is twice that in Japan.

Jigokudani, also known as “Hell Valley”. It's a sulphurous valley with boiling ponds of smelly sulphurous.

snow falling down on us like dust

Fries with Wen

Day 5
At one of Japan's largest shrines

Super love this backdrop

Going up to the Okurayama Jump Hill. It was the site for the 1972 Winter Olympics when Sapporo played host to the first Winter Olympic held in Asia.

Manificent ski slope at the back

All 12 of us, together with larling's dad's friends and family

signature mario jump with cynthia at Hokkaido this time.

teppanyaki

Paper bibs are provided to prevent oil from dirtying our clothes

top-grade kobe beef..

damn exp but it's extrasuperjuicy which melts in your mouth

Live Hokkaido abalone..

The chef showed us how it's being cooked, and the abalone was literally dancing about, but with excruciating pain.

Finally done with the uploading of pics.

Looking forward to next holiday soon.. :)

23rd birthday

I had a great birthday celebration this year, which was very unlike past years when my birthdays are often forgotten or neglected. I was almost used to spending birthdays as a normal day. But this year, surprisingly I wasn't forgotten! :) On the actual day, larling managed to squeeze time out to have dinner and cake with me, together with my family. Two days after, my DTT lovelies treated me to dinner and cake as well. I was super grateful that they made the effort to turn up, and special thanks to POKx5 who initiated this dinner for me. Muacks to all who remembered my special day.

Thanks larling for the Dinner at Dempsey..

The eye sirloin was juicy fantastic

Dumpling soup that comes in shots.

At home celebrating after work on the actual day..

And larling actually still think that I'm a kid, and bought me a carebear cake! I shall buy him one next time too. We're all kids! haha.

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Dinner with DTT lovelies at Bugis.. We walked ard before deciding on a HK cafe; it was damn hard to find a restaurant that can accomodate all 10 of us!

All the guys looked so kpoh. haha

We tried all ways and means to get a shot of the loving POK and Steve..

this was the best that we can go..

thanks POK for entertaining us. LOL

My lovelies..

Almond

I was given this super duper mega teh peng for my birthday by the cafe. It was real huge and heavy, and it tasted great.

Have to thank ah cai too.. drink more drink more

ah giam helping out to distribute the mega teh peng

helpful ah giam again helping out with the distribution of cake :)

sharing the cake with advance-birthday-boy, steve

thanks folks~

DTT AGM 2009

AGM was at Pump Room this year and i decided to turn up for my first and last AGM with DTT. Had great fun with my lovelies, and they will be the ones that I'll miss most when I say goodbye to DTT..

Ching ching ching

the nicest POK POK POK POK POK ever..

I'll miss stirring POK's shit. LOL

Grandaughter

One of my AICs, Jessica, who left for the better future too

Super redded-face, Ernest

I love you girls..

Crossroad

To leave or to stay..
My heart is yelling me to take this chance to leave, but my money-minded mind is pulling me back.

Once I make this decision, I can never turn back..

Power cycling

At first when I heard at the suggestion of going power-cycling, I rejected profusely. But in the end, we still went for it and I totally liked it! It was seriously a great working out activity. We took the East Npark cycling routes; we started off at East Coast Park, then we cycled a long way to Changi, followed by Loyang park, Pasir Ris park, Tampines park and lastly Bedok park before ending back at East Coast Park. The entire route should be approx a good 40km, in 4 hrs. The sense of achievement is overwhelming during the final burst and when we've completed the entire route finally. We should try other Npark routes some time. :)

Relaxing at the start..

The three besties cum three musketeers.

Cecilia

Take 5 at changi village.


Healthy babies..