~Hokkaido Trip~

Ladies and gentleman..I'm back already from my Hokkaido trip..One word..SUPERB!!!It was pure bliss going there under the homestay program.My host family treat me and the other China gal so well that we gained 2 kg each..Haha..Lets begin with the daily program shall we?

19/8/2006

Reached Toky at 5am.Brush up and then wait for a friend.We went for breakfast then head to Tsukiji fish market.It would be a more pleasant trip had I not forgot to put my luggage bag in the locker,so fish market we went,tagging along is my humble red trolley luggage bag.The fish are huge and like what Clement said,the market doesn't stink...
We then went to Asakusa and there we took more pics and stroll along...The weather
hot and burning and I curse myself for not putting on any sunblock,wear any cap or prepare my sunglasses..
WE also went to Tokyo dome...Sat on the roller coaster which ended way too fast and also another swing like ride..The roller coaster is suitable for everyone,guaranteed..
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Then we headed to Akihabara,to experience what is Maiden cafe,only to be disappointed that we couldn't find the real thing and ended up in a new cafe where the bar tender are just young gals in cute uniform..So then we headed to Odaiba for a car exhibition and was late 15minutes for the car test drive.Wasted...

Up on the ferris wheel,my first in Japan...After that we head back to the rumah pelajar,dropping to admire Ginza's nightlife and the doze off at the rumah pelajar..

20/8/2006

Went to Shinjuku and walked to a place nearby for korean lunch..Drank some 真露 which wasn't very strong but I was already red in the face.What a weakling I am..After that we bid goodbye and I head to meet the HIF people fr my homestay program to Hokkaido.Thank goodness by now,my red face has dimmed into a pink blush..Got on the bus and sat next to a China gal.Saw May Ching and Xin Ning on the next bus and was worry shit how to communticate with other people.With alcohol in my blood,I was pretty much dizzy,alert but not widely awake.Spoke to the China gal,introed each other to the entire bus and I slept my whole way to the port.Woke up with a slight headache,and after checking in,I stayed with Xin Ning and May Ching,both have each other as company whereas I had non..

I had trouble making friends on this day,first because I was unwell and puked after that.(I really cannot take alcohol)But after that things start to get better although its after I start going to Nanaecho..So things on the ferry?Not well..Enjoyed the breeze on the ferry though,and also I tried my first public bath with everyone...After a nap and some medication to cure my headache,I was better than ever and enjoyed the night's party..

21/08/2006

We touched down and headed to Sapporo.Checked in the hotel and it was free time.I was in a room with a 28year old lady from China and trithfully I was a little afraid of her,her being in Japan for 5 years,speaking to her makes me feel inferior enough..Anyhow,we had our own friends then,so after checking in,we went our own ways for our free time to roam about Sapporo.No poins guessing who I went with..May Ching,Xin Ning and I first got ourselves some Yukata which was on sale..And then we head to Oodori koen(park) and had the famous potato and corn there..It was really nice..Then we stroll around and saw the clock tower,the JR station of Sapporo,tried the miso ramen there...

22/08/2006

Early morning after breakfast we checked out of the hotel and head to visit the Ainu people of Hokkaido.Sapporo is really just another city,nothing much to see..We saw the dance there and as it was raining there wedidn't really have time to look around much..

Next was lunch at a place called Showa shin yama昭和新山 where the hill was built during the shouwa era and then it was time to say goodbye to May Ching and Xin Ning and begin my quest to go solo...hehe

A Korean gal who sat with me the day before sat with me again and we chatted all the way,even cam whore a bit..She taught me a few things about Korea and we exchanged contact address.Later we found out we were going to the same place,Nanaecho七飯町.As our place is the second furthest place from Sapporo,we bid other foreign students goodbye as we drop them off..18 of us got down after about 3hours bus ride,leaving 25 left for Hakodate city.We were ushered into a hall and I was a bit nervous which family I will get.The china gal,Aratannhuara from Monggol and I sticked together and we were then introed to our host family.I was glad to see 2small kids and a gentle looking ojiisan and obaasan.After the introduction at the hall,our family took us back home where the obaasan then prepared a superb meal for us..The local delicacy Jingishkann and Crab(毛かに)

I was damn grateful and was counting my blessing right then..Mind you,we had a crab EACH,not one crab for the whole family..I was like...oh my god....Next was sleep..End of day 3...

23/08/2006

WE didn' have any program for this day so our host family took me and Aratan out instead.We went to Onuma Koeen(Onuma park) first and strolled around the whole morning..The park is famous for its picture taking spots and also the small islands formed by the debris of volcano eruption.It would be a nice view during Autumn though.(regret regret...deleted loads of pics due to limited memory card place..aww)

After that we went to Hakodate hill but it was a pity cuz it was very cloudy that day and we cannot see the view of the city(I was pretty excited at first because I heard about the view from Hakodate hill is splendid and when my host family said we were going there I was overjoyed).Thankfully our Ojiisan said we will make another trip up again when the weather is better..Fuhh..Lucky..At night we went to しんわの湯,a public bath.But man,this public bath is really a big scale one.My first public bath.Thank goodness Aratan was with me and she told me what to bring etc.We went there after dinner and man,it was really comfortable.They had the open air type,the Jacuzzi type etc.I truly enjoyed my time there,looking up on the starry night in a hot bath.Suprisingly I didn't really shocked myself this time.I guess if you follow the crowd,the mentality somehow will change..After that had my first Hokkaido soft cream(ice cream)..It was smooth and delicious after a hot bath..Bliss..

24/08/2006

Our first day having activities with the other 16foreign students in Nanaecho.First we had 陶芸(making ceramic bolws etc).We were given a ceramic cup each and were asked to design our own cup.I had a hard time deciding what to draw,ended up with small flowers..Here are some works of those better ones...Really amazed that they can really draw man...

Envy?
After painting our own cups,we tried our hands on making a bowl or a cup etc,much to my dismay I cannot form anything..Sighhh..After that we had a lunch with the senseis..And it was off to our next destination..

WE went to Konbukan( seaweed mansion?)We saw videos of the seaweed,which reminds me that usually people die getting entangled when swimming in a pond etc.While the others like to eat these,to me,its a little disgusting..Anyhow,bought some seaweed foodstuff..

Next we went to a temple and saw a ceremony there..and everyone prayed for health and well being of everyone..
our first day together ended then..Went back for another nice dinner called Oden,something like the steamboat we see in pasar malam..Only this was way much nicer..Had a great dinner and then head for our rest...Till here,Part one ends..I'm tired out typing everything..hehe..Had a hard time reading?