さようなら 北海道

- Kind person who helped carry our luggage down the stairs
- Sapporo to New Chitose Airport
- More shopping for tidbits
- New Chitose Airport to Narita Airport
- Continue with shopping...
- Narita Airport to Changi Airport
- Home sweet home

Hokkaido - Day 7 - Sapporo

- Takino Park
- Nijo market
- Crab dinner at Susukino

Hokkaido - Day 6 - Sapporo

- Kushiro to Sapporo
- Train ticket mistake
- Otaru
- Raining
- McDonalds dinner

Hokkaido - Day 5 - Kushiro

- Marshland
- AEON shopping centre
- KFC lunch
- Free curry rice dinner at hotel

Hokkaido - Day 4 - Kushiro

- Sapporo to Kushiro
- Washo Fish Market
- Hello Kitty 福袋
- MOO
- Free curry dinner at hotel

Hokkaido - Day 3 - Asahikawa

- Asahikawa Zoo
- Asahikawa to Sapporo
- Cup noodles for dinner

Hokkaido - Day 2 - Asahikawa

- Sapporo to Asahikawa
- Lunch
- Miss bus to Higashikawa by seconds
- Ice Festival @ Higashikawa
- Miss bus back to Asahikawa
- Free curry dinner @ hotel

Hokkaido - Day 1 - Sapporo

Finally arrived in Narita Airport at about 7am. Didn't sleep very well on the plane as the man sitting beside me kept fidgeting throughout the flight. After checking in for the domestic flight to Hokkaido, we walked around the airport but felt tired after a while due to our lack of sleep. We then proceeded to the waiting area near the departure lobby and took a nap while waiting for the domestic flight at 10.50am. Was so tired that I fell asleep again during most of the journey to Hokkaido.

We were excited when we finally reached New Chitose Airport and quickly went to the JR center to exchange our Hokkaido Rail Pass and also reserve some tickets. We were very excited to see snow falling on our way to Sapporo station. However, it was rather cold when we reached the station and had to put on additional clothings to protect ourselves from the coldness. We had a little difficulty locating the hotel as everything looked so snowy white, but finally managed to find it.

After checking in and leaving our luggages at the hotel, we went to the nearby shopping mall ESTA for a late lunch. We ordered a bowl of Cha Siew Ramen and a 3-in-1 special set of Yaki Soba, Tako Ball, and Cabbage Pancake to share. All were delicious :) After that, we went to Odori Park to look at the "White Illumination" but sadly it was closed due to the snow festival that would be held in end Jan/early Feb. We also did not have a chance to eat the delicious sweet corn that we had when we were here 4 years ago... hope to be able to eat it again during the rest of our trip.

We were getting a bit cold from the walk so we went to the nearby underground shopping mall instead. There were lots of winter wear on sale. We also proceeded to Li Xiao Lu, where I bought a packet of heat pads for the hands at a drugstore. The stated price was actually 245yen but I only paid 197yen due to a discount... so cheap.... We also stopped by a few souvenir shops selling local goodies to compare the prices as we intend to buy some back for our family and colleagues. Seems like the prices are quite standard so would probably just buy from the one with the widest range of products.

As we didn't want to walk back to our hotel in the cold, we decided to take the subway although it was only 1 stop. We then went to the supermarket to buy chicken karage & a bento set for dinner. We passed by Mister Donut and bought 2 donuts as well.

Tomorrow we will be going to Asahikawa so shall sleep now...　お休みなさい

Happy New Year!

Today is the first day of 2010! However, it didn't feel like a special day, besides it being a holiday :P Just want to have a good rest this long weekend before going back to work again...

Happy New Year to all! Hope this year will be a wonderful one :)

New Year Eve

How time flies... today is already the last day of 2009. Like Christmas eve, we were allowed to leave at 12.45pm if we have finished our work. As our boss invited us to his home in the evening, 小花 and I decided to just go directly from the office to his house instead of going home first.

We went to have lunch at VivoCity before proceeding to the National Geographic store to scout for winter clothing for our trip to Hokkaido. A staff recommended a few and we decided on a pullover that felt really light. We then went to the Winter Time store to purchase a pair of gloves each before going back to office to finish some paperwork.

We left the office at almost 7pm and went to our boss's house. A few of our colleagues and their family were already there and we started eating and chatting together. The whole house was rather lively as there were quite a number of children and they were running round the house playing with each other. It was only until around 11.30pm before I left for home.

On my way home, I saw many people take the MRT that was headed to Harbour Front station. I guess they were going to the countdown party at VivoCity. Some of them even made the effort to dress up, although a few looked a bit weird :P