Home sweet home 到家了

Narita Airport，Japan 日本成田机场

Home sweet home!

At about 5:45 pm, our JAL flight landed at KLIA, and two hours later, we reached home, home sweet home!

甜蜜的家！

大约傍晚五时四十五分，我们乘搭的日航班级降落在吉隆坡国际机场(KLIA)，两个小时后，我们抵达家门，甜蜜的家！

Meal on plane 飞机餐

Hokkaido 12 北海道

Toyata Rent-A-Car

We returned our 8-seater Vellfire MPV (Alphard) to Toyota Rent-A-Car this morning near the Chitose Airport. It cost us 227,500 Yen for 10 days rental (about RM8,600). It is cheaper than renting the same model of MPV in Kuala Lumpur.

We bid sad farewell to our companion for the last 10 days who served us faithfully and comfortably, covering 2000 kilometers.

We boarded 1:00 pm flight for Tokyo and arrived one and a half hour later at Norita Airport.

Due to unavailability of connecting flight to KL, we stay tonight at Norita U-City Hotel, about half an hour of bus journey from Norita Airport.

After checking in, we walked to explore the surrounding area near the hotel. We visited a big Japanese Buddhist temple which is also a tourist attraction. Many stalls and restaurants can be found along the road leading to the temple.

We have Onagi for dinner.

We called it a night and retired early, so that we will be ready for the 11:00 am flight back to Kuala Lumpur. (Leaving for airport at 7:00 am). (More pictures in Facebook)


我们今早把租来的 8 座位 Toyota Vellfire (Alphard) 退还给租车公司 Toyata Rent-A-Car。十天的租金是 227.500 日元，约马币八千六百元，这比在吉隆坡租用同一车款来的便宜。

我们和这十天里，忠心可靠的服侍作我们的朋友说再见了。我们一天走了二千公里。

我们乘搭日航下午一时的飞机，离开了札幌，一个半小时后，抵达了成天机场。
因为不能够订到今天的飞机，所以我们在机场附近的 Norita U-City Hotel 酒店过一夜。

办好租房的手续，我们到附近的地区走走。我们步行到大约两公里外的一间古老日本佛教寺院看看。途中有很多的摊位售卖物品，及很多的餐馆。

我们决定在此用餐，我们吃烧鳗鱼饭，以尝尝道地的风味。

大家都疲倦了，所以就早休息，以准备明天明早七时去机场，乘搭十一时的飞机回国。（更多的照片Facebook）

Authentic Made In Japan Onagi 道地的日本烧鳗鱼饭

Hokkaido 11 北海道

We decided to have a free and easy day in Sapporo.

After almost 8 days of moving around east, north and south of Hokkaido, a relaxing day in Sapporo still involved a lot of walking.

I put my RM22,000.00 prosthetic knee into good test. We walked, to my estimation, about 5 km round the south and eastern part of Sapporo to explore places of interest.

Sapporo is an orderly and clean city. Many cyclists can be found on the mall, gardens and parks. Life is much relaxing in Sapporo.

Nijo Fish Market is a must for visitors. It is a fish market offering fresh seafood from Hokkaido.

Odari park looks beautiful in tourism brochure. We found it a letdown. The park is very long covering few streets well kept and planted with many flowers and shrubs. May be it is late Summer, not many flowers can be found.

However, the city park is an attractive place to sit and relax.

We tried out the Sapporo sub-way by taking a train ride to go back to hotel. A very young and friendly railway customer services staff showed us how to buy ticket, where to board the train and where to get down.

We spent the last evening in Hokkaido by doing some shopping in the arcade. （More pictures in Facebook)


















我们决定在札幌轻松的度过一天。

将近8天的不停走动，走遍了北海道的东，南及西部，在札幌的一天，仍然是要走很多的路。

札幌是个整齐又整洁的城市。在街上，购物中心和公园，都可以看到很多的脚车骑士。札幌的生活可说是相当的写意。

我的二万二元换上的合金膝盖关节零件，正好派上用场，也是考验。根据我的估计，今天就在札幌的南及东部，走了大约五公里的路。

二条(Nijo)市场是游客都到地方。这里是售卖北海道新鲜海产的市场。

札幌的大通公园，从旅游宣传上看来是美极了，但与现实相比，有点失望。可能是已进入了夏季，所以没有什么鲜花。整个公园有六条街这么多长，种满了树木和花草，一片翠绿。

不过，离它不远的市区公园，却是非常美丽的地方，鲜花盛开，有两个喷水池，很多人也到此休息及休闲。

傍晚，我们到步行街走走，顺便购买一些物品带回家。（更多的照片在Facebook）

Hokkaido 10 北海道

Noborebetzu is famous for its hot springs.

Besides volcanic sites, it has many lakes and beautiful mountains. We spent whole day in the area visiting hot springs and lakes.

We arrived at Sapporo at around 8 pm after a 150 kms journey from Noborebetsu. Sapporo would be the last leg of our journey.

Our hotel situated at the busy pedestrians arcade which covers 6 streets. Underneath is the sub-way station with many shops and walkways. (more pictures in Facebook)

Lake Toyako, with Island within the lake

洞爷湖的湖中岛

登别以热泉名冠全国。

除了许多火山的地理经典，它还有好多的湖及美丽的山峦。我们用了一整天在这个地区观赏温泉及湖泊。

我们在晚上抵达札幌，北海道的首都，作为我们北海道之行的最后一站。

我们住的酒店，就在札幌最热闹的地区，一条长达六条街道的步行街，它的地下，是捷运站及地下人行购物街，人潮汹涌。（更多照片FACEBOOK）

Hokkaido 9 北海道

Today, we experienced the Valley of Hell, the beauty of Nature, the mystery of water (geyser), , majesty of mountains ....

Then back to the modern civilisation ... we are back in Sapporo, a sprawling city.

A long day...traveled more than 300 km the whole day, we are in Sapporo at about 8 pm. After dinner, I went for a hot spring spa...too comfortable, going to sleep and hopefully when available, would upload to Facebook.


今天我们体验到了地狱之谷，自然的美丽，水泉的奥妙，山麓的宏伟。。。

然后，又回到了文明 。。。我们回到了札幌。

非常长的一天，走了来回超过300公里。到了札幌的酒店，已是晚上八时了。。。吃了晚餐，过后去泡温泉。。太舒服了，要睡觉了，有时间才上载跟多的照片，及给予讲解。。。睡觉了！！

The Valley of Hell

The mystery of soup

The wonder of nature - Island within Lake Toya
自然的奥妙 - 湖中之岛

札幌的姑娘
Sapporo's beautiful SYT


Going for Hot Spring Spa
去泡温泉

Too tired liao... post when available and able
晚安了。。。容后再上贴。

Hokkaido 8 北海道

Today we went down south to Tomakomai, a sea port town gateway to the famous Lake Toya. We are going to see a lot of mountains and lakes.

Nothing much for today. We visited the fish and fruit market to buy staff for our dinner. Later, we visited the Ainu Cultural Museum. Ainu is the aborigines of Japan, mostly found in Hokkaido and nearby islands.

Practically, I am dead tire after 10 pm. So pictures help to tell the story. Please see more pictures in Facebook.

今天我们南下到苫小牧(Tomakomai)，它是去著名的洞爷湖必经之路。我们将回去观赏好多的山和湖。

今天没有做很多什么。我们到鱼及果菜市场，购买一些晚餐的物品，如冬菇，鱼，猪肉和蔬菜。自制晚餐不是要省钱，而是能够吃到这里的特别水产，如鱼，虾，三文鱼，海螺等，有大又香甜，在马来西亚是享受不到的。

每晚我都很疲倦了，因为都是早出（早上七时），到晚上七时才回到酒店，所以累积了。请看FACEBOOK 更了解今天的活动。

Hokkaido 7 北海道

Friendly and kind Japanese !

Today, July 22 is the 7th day in Hokkaido, we were leaving Wakkainai for Asahikawa. It was an exciting day too.

We left Wakkanai city at about 8:00am to visit the northern most part of Japan - Cape Soya (Soya Misaki).

We took a wrong turn, instead of right, we turn left after leaving our hotel. We noticed it when we realized that the sea supposed to be on our left side, instead, on our right!! However, it was a blessing in disguise!

We saw fishemen drying seaweeds (kelps) in one of the houses along the shore. We stopped and went down to see ... they are friendly and invited us to try out - to dry the sea weeds.

As we do not understand Japanese, we tried to use signs and writing to express ourselves. Thanks to the friendly Japanese family, we have the opportunity to see how seaweeds are being processed.

Finally we made it to Cape Soya, the northern most point of Japan!

We have lunch picnic at one of the park along the way.

After lunch, we continued our journey south. We saw many hay bails along the way and were curious to know how it was made.

We stopped by a field and noticed a tractor was driven to collect hay and made into bales...

The owner was so friendly and came down to talk to us ... alah... Nippon go wakarimasen (do not understand Japanese), we resorted to signs and writing to communicate.

Mr. Togashi Sakae was so kind, invited us to his another farm to show us how hays are being cut and making the bales.

He was so friendly to offer us cold drink after arriving at his farm quite a distance across the road.

We thank him for his kindness and friendliness .... going out of his way, sacrificed his precious time to show us the farms and hay bales making.

We spent more than an hour with him and sadly have to say goodbye to continue our journey toward Asahikawa.

We exchanged Email and promised to keep in touch. (More pics in Facebook)






















善良及热情的日本人。

今天是我们在北海道的第七天，也是充满探险喜乐的一天。我们离开稚内，南下回到旭川。

我们今天将会到日本最北的国土 - 宗昌岬。

在离开酒店的时候，我们错误的转左，而不是正确的转右。走了一段路，才发觉到海应该是在我们的左边，但现在却是在右边！走错了！不过，塞翁失马，焉知是福。

我们见到了一家渔夫，在海边晒海草，就进去观看。主人家非常友善的欢迎我们，还邀请我们亲自动手，试试晒海草的滋味。

糟糕的是我们都听不懂日语。凭靠着对日本语的几句防身，加上手语及书写，我们还算能够做一些基本简单的沟通。谢谢这家渔人，我们对海草及其制作过程有了了解。

我们终于来到了日本最北大国土，宗昌岬。

如以往般，我们找到了一个环境舒适的公园，吃我们自备的美味午餐。

午餐后，我们续程前往旭川。途中，我们见到一捆一捆的乾饲草，很想知道及看看它是如何制成的，就停在一家大路旁的牧场。

主人非常友善的停下来，看看我们究竟想知道什么。他还特地到带我们去附近他另一个牧场，看看饲草是如何收割的。这也是依靠书写及手语才能沟通的。

热情的主人Mr. Togashi Sakae（找不到华文字）带我们到他的牧场之后，还请我们喝冷饮。

我们非常的感激他的友善讲解，大家第一次近身的看到乾草的收割及制作的情形。

我们在那里逗留了一个多小时左右，然后就和荣先生说再见了，我们互相交换电邮，希望能够时常联络。

我们每人都留下一个美丽的回忆。（看更多的照片Facebook）

Hokkaido 6 北海道

Today we went to Rishiri Island, about 2 hour ferry journey from Wakkanai.

It is a small island with a "copy" Mt. Fujiyama (Tokyo) in the middle. We joined a 3-hour round the island bus tour with a Japanese guide ... whatever she said ....we wakarimasen! ( we do not undertand)

We were backed to Wakkanai at about 4 pm and went for some sightseeing around the city.

It is about 22 degree, and I am sunburned! (more pictures in Facebook)




Rishiri Island 利尻島

Inside ferry
渡轮内

今天我们到一个利尻岛 (Rishiri)去游玩，乘坐渡轮，需要两个小时。

它是一个小岛，中间有一座“假”的富士山。我们参加一个巴士环岛配套，导游是一位只会说日本语的小姐，她讲的一切，我们都听不懂 (wakarimasen)!

大约下午四点左右，我们回到了稚内，然后我们到附近参观一些景点。

这里的气候大约是22 度左右，凉快但却给太阳晒焦了！

请看Facebook 有更多照片。

Waikkanai city
稚内市

Hokkaido 5 北海道

This morning we decided to visit a few museums in Asahikawa to add a little "culture favour" to our tour.

But before that, we visited a Catholic Church simply named after the road name (Road 6 Catholic church).

We went to International Dyeing (left) and weaving Art Museum, Yukara Ori Craft Museum in order to know the textile and dress culture of Japanese. We also visited Snow Crystal Museum which is adjacent to the above 2 museums.

We found a nice place in a park to have our lunch.

After lunch we started our journey north to Wakkanai, the northern most city of Japan. We decided to take the western coastal road in order to see the beautiful scenery along the way. We were not disappointed ... blue sky, blue sea and cool weather.(let the pictures do the talking)

We arrived at Wakkanai at about 6:30 pm. It was a five-hour, 250 kms journey. When the wind blow, we feel very cold. Tonight's temperature is around 14 degree C. (Too tired to write, please see Facebook for more pictures)









今天我们决定去拜访博物馆，为这旅程增加一点人文气息。

不过，我们先去拜访了一间天主教堂。这教堂就以本身所在地路为名 - 第六条教会。

我们拜访了旭川国际染织美术馆及优佳良织工艺馆，以更多了解日本人的丝绸及纺织历史及风俗。

我们到附近的一个公园野餐，吃我们自己准备的午餐。

午餐过后，我们就启程北上，到日本最北的城市，稚内。

我们沿着西边的海岸公路北上，因为沿途可以观赏到美丽的海景，而且不必给过路费。（日本过路费相当的高）

的确是值得的。沿途的蓝天一片，蔚蓝的海水，景色美丽极了。。。

我们大约傍晚六点半抵达目的地，总共用了大约五个小时来完成这美丽的旅程。稚内气温大约22度，但有风吹得话，会觉得冷。今晚气候是14度摄氏。
、
我太疲倦了，请看Facebook更多照片。

Hokkaido 4 北海道

Grateful thank God for giving us good weather in Asahikawa, I prayed that the typhoon that ravaging southern Japan would blow over soon and causes minimum damage.

Asahikawa is the second largest city in Hokkaido. It is clean and peaceful. I saw workers picking every speck of waste or paper from the street early in the morning. The roads and streets are superbly clean.

Within the city itself offers not much for tourists, so we went out today for a day nature and scenic tour.

We took the Patchwork & Panoramic roads from Asahikawa to Biei. We saw rolling hills planted with various crops in different shed and colors - wheat, potatoes, padi, reddish.....


Later we travel out to the mountains to visit wonders of nature - The Daisesusan National Park mountain ranges and waterfalls.

We ended our day by going to Ramen Village in Asahikawa to have authentic Japanese Ramen as dinner..... Oishi desu ne!!

In Hokkaido so far, tourist places visited offer free parking and public amenities. People are polite, friendly and helpful.

With an English speaking GPS, occasionally speaking Japanese which I do not understand a word of it, we manged to navigate ourselves quite well in Hokkaido.

Tomorrow, we are leaving for Wakkanai, the northern most city of Japan.

More pictures in Facebook (Click here)










非常感恩天主所赐的美好天气，我也祈求天主使蹂躏日本南部的台风尽快过去，蒙受最低的损害。

旭川是北海道第二大的城市，街道清洁整齐，不喧哗。我看到工人在早上，到街道捡起每一件垃圾，包括一张碎纸，所以这里的街道是超级大干净，人民有着高超的公民意识。

旭川的市区并没有吸引游客的经典，所以我们今天往外观光大自然的风景及野外景观。

我们取道从旭川到美瑛之间的自然风光之路。这里山峦起伏，山坡连绵，种满了小麦，稻米，马铃薯，萝卜等农作物，不同的颜色，覆盖了大地，非常美丽。

我们到一个看来已经没人看管的森林公园野餐。假如是在马来西亚，我们会担心安全，绝对不敢在这样的地方停留，

过后，我们离开旅游区，到山丘区去-- 大雪山森林公园区里的山脉和瀑布。

我们每天都很早出，天黑了才回来。今天，我们决定到旭川市区内的拉面村享用道地的日本拉面。。。Oishi desu ne ! (美味极了 !)

在北海道，至今为止，所到达旅游景点，都有提供免费泊车及其他方便设备。这里的人都很有礼貌，友善及乐意助人。

持着英语的卫星导航系统，虽然常有说些我一句都听不懂的日语），我们还算可以应付。

明天我们将前往稚内，日本最北端的城市。 更多照片FACEBOOK (点击此）

Hokkaido 3 北海道

Third day in Hokkaido was an exciting day.

Firstly and foremost, I thanked G0d for answering our prayer of good weather.

Today was one of the days that good sunshine was needed. We were visiting the most famous Lavender fields in Furano.

Left Otaru at 7:00 am heading towards Furano, about 150 kms away. It was raining all the way.... until few kilometers from Furano. The sky broke and sun coming out..

Glorious sunshine on the beautiful flower fields. Furano - followers flowers, tourist, tourist everywhere.

I was told by a tourism office staff that it was raining the whole yesterday.

We took a break from over-sunshine, retreated to a neaby forest park to have a picnic ... finishing whatever we brought ... biscuit, fruits, eggs, tidbits....

After Furano, it is a town called Biei, which was picked as the most beautiful village in Japan.. clean, quiet, with beautiful buildings and many bicycles.....

Tonight we put up at Dormy Inn in Asahikawa, second biggest city in Hokkaido ... compare with the big room in Otaru, room in Dormy Inn is simply .... very very small!

Anyway, it was a great day for us! Praise the Lord!

More pictures on Facebook part 1.
More pictures on Facebook part 2


北海道的第三天，棒极了！

首要的，要感谢天主垂听了我们的祈求，赐给我们好天气。

今天最需要好天气及阳光，因为我们要到富良野去，观赏闻名的薰衣草花田。

今早我们在七点左右，离开小樽市，到150公里外的富良野。一路上都下着雨，但离开富良野大约几公里时，天空黑云散开，阳光展现了笑容。

艳阳高照，亮丽光彩，富良野到处都是花，花，游客，游客。。。。

我们暂时避开列热点阳光，到附近的一个森林公园野餐。。我们把带出来的食物，水果，鸡蛋等食物吃完就是了。

富良野之后，我们到了一个叫美英的小镇，它被推选为全日本最美丽的村镇 - 干净，幽静，美丽的建筑物，及很多的脚车。。。

今晚我们住宿在旭川，北海道的第二大城市。比起昨天在小樽的房间，这里的可小的可怜，真的是太小了。。

更多照片Facebook (1)
更多照片Facebook (2)

Hokkaido 2 北海道

Otaru canal 小樽运河

I have a good sleep on the first night in Otarau, simply was too tired. Day broke early in Hokkaido at about 4:20 am.

We left our hotel early at 7:00 am for a whole day of outing, and returned at 7:00 pm. A long day and long story.

It was light drizzling in the morning but we went to visit the famous Otaru Canal, an old cannal built hundred years ago and attracted million of tourist yearly.

We went up to Tenguyama (Tengu Hill) to have a great view of the city.

Today we explore the coastal area around Otaru and visited many famous tourist spots.

We were attracted by the fresh and reasonable of the sea food, decided to cook our seafood dinner. We bought fresh scallops, salmon fish, octopus.... We bought a rice cooker to cook them !!

We walked a lot...climb many hills .... we went to see many beautiful rock formations along the coastlines.

Thank God for the cool weather ... and little rain, we have a wonderful day in Otaru!

Too tired to write some more, please see many more pictures in FACEBOOK.

Japanese children also support BERSIH (clean) 日本的小朋友也支持干净 （Bersih)

昨晚我睡得很早，也很好，因为太疲倦了。北海道大约四点多就天亮了。

我们在早上七时就离开了酒店，开始一天的行程，到了晚上七时才回到酒店。

早上有些细雨，但阻碍不了我们去观看小樽市超过百年世界闻名的运河。这地区每年都吸引了百万人的游客。（本外地）

我们上了天狗山，观看小樽市容。

今天我们将游览小樽市邻居的沿岸地区，观赏了好多美丽的景点。

我们被这里新鲜，价格合宜的新鲜海鲜。我们觉得自己烹煮一顿美味的海鲜晚餐。我们买了公鱼(Scallops), 三文鱼，八爪鱼。。。还买了一个电饭煲来烹煮这些食物。。。！

今天我们走了很多的路，爬了很多的山坡，看到了很多美丽的岩石结构。

感谢天主恩赐的一天，天气非常的凉爽（22度左右）。。。一些微雨，及圆满的一天。

太疲倦了，请看请看FACEBOOK 更多照片。