It has been quite a long while since I last posted on this blog. It has been quite a roller coaster as I was very busy with work (aka finding the dough to fund my ridiculous trips!).
Trappist Monastery is one of the attraction in Hakodate. I was expecting to see a lot more but I realised that I could only see it from the outside. In fact, this is up and running monastery – thus there are no visitors that are able to have access into it. I was imagining different types of photos from the movies, but I guess I have to make do with what’s out there!
This is day 2 of a 14 day trip to Hokkaido. Going thru the west side of Hokkaido island starting from Chitose where I landed, and then headed over to Lake Toya for a quick over night before I head over to Hakodate.
In Lake Toya – it is a quick lay over on the way to Hakodate.
Ukimido Park
The photo above is Ukimido Park – which is a shrine at the end of the “small cape”. Initially – I wanted to take the photo much earlier during the day, but I was scared away from a goose, or maybe a swan. Memories of being chased by a goose when I was young still fresh in my mind!
Silo Observation Deck
After visiting the park, I then headed over to Silo Observation Deck. Its somewhere about 5 mins away by car. Ample parking space and it has a nice shopping area for those who wants to buy souvenirs. Note that there are a lot of tourist.
Because the weather is shit, there’s nothing much to see. I just took a picture and went to the cafe nearby.
Cafe Bahler
Pulling out the soft serve.
At the viewing platform, there’s a cafe named Cafe Balher. Serving coffee and soft serve. I didn’t try any.
Mount Usu Memorial Park
As I was driving out of Silo Observation point, I remember a park that I came across while going for dinner the day before. It’s Mount Usu Memorial Park. It has some of the fun art sculptures . One of it is the picture of the face.
Surfing Beach
Distance between Hakodate and Lake Toya is not very far but I decided to take the long way round thru the coastal road because… I can. The coastal side of Hokkaido island is very pretty, it’s facing the northern Pacific Ocean. Well – right across is California (not swimmable of course).
I was trying hard to find a place to stop, despite having to have pinpoint place to stop, I couldn’t find the entry(perhaps driving too fast) but of course the entrance was very small. And I can’t stop from enjoying the beautiful view of the coastal lines. Weather was cloudy making it more dramatic than ever.
The photo below is the picturesque view of the coastal lines. As you can see the rocks on the left is wave barriers.
Cape Esan Light House
Just before I reached Mount Esan, I could not help but noticed a light house. Probably won’t be seen by the roadside thus you would need to map it out. It looks pretty abandon as the offices are not opened. There’s a small road that leads to the lighthouse and there you would see the lighthouse. It’s pretty serene indeed. If I am not in a rush, I wouldn’t mind having a picnic here, rolling on the grass with the daisies.
View of the lighthouse
Rolling daisies
The lighthouse sign
Mount Esan
Mount Esan is an active stratovolcano of the Kameda peninsula. It is located in Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan. Mount E is part of Esan Prefectural Natural Park.
Driving to Mount Esan was not difficult at all. Just need to be a bit careful as the road up is pretty narrow and have sharp corners. Would have been great if I am on the bike! Driving a Prius is not the best, but I for cost purposes, this is the best option.
View from the observatory
Site view of the observatory
Selfie
That’s Mount Esan
Some shrine. Scary indeed
Mountain vegetation
More mountain vegetation
Uni Murakami
After checking in to the hotel, I went to have Uni don at Uni Murakami. Supposedly the place for Uni. The Uni itself is good but the rice is normal rice. Perhaps it’s the normal Hakodate style. It was really expensive. JPY4860.
Noboribetsu Jigokudani or the hell valley is the first stop that I went to after getting out of the plane.
Thank god that I managed to get a good sleep in the plane, the drive was not so bad. Though I was slightly grumpy at the airport because the wait for the car rental took so long. Initially the person mentioned that it’ll be 15 mins, but actually it took 30 mins. I realised that the rental place is really far!
Similar to Owakudani, coming over here smells the same. Rotten egg all over. Strange enough, they don’t have the black eggs in Jigokudani.
This place is living truly to the hell valley where they somewhat use the “hell” icon pretty much everywhere. As per the photo above, can see the “satan” logo as the indicator on the toilet!
After Jigokudani, I drove up slightly higher and rich Omuya Pond. Its a pond with a large pool of hot water!
The colour of the water is somewhat turqoise-ish! Perhaps a bit exaggerated from my processing of the photos!
After finishing at Omuya Pond, I continued driving upwards towards the Lake Kuttara lookout point.
The view is ok, wish there were no trees blocking it!
Clearly – there are not a lot of people coming to this part of the world as it was only my car at the parking lot.
After checked in to my hotel, had dinner in town – Aigawa Sushi. It was pretty decent.
Throwback 2007 – I went to Tawau for recce for Crossing Bridges. After going for few places for Crossing Bridges the Malaysian team decided to organize one in Malaysia and we decided on doing it in Tawau/Semporna/Maiga.
As part of the organizing team, I did a recon trip to Tawau. It was a good trip generally. The following photo shows a boy at a street market in Tawau. The photo was shot using Leica M8.
Another photo of the Orang Asli. Seen here is the guy who is chilling under a make shift house that they stay. If I remember correctly, there are nomads, hence they won’t be long at the same place at any one time. I remember, when we were headed here, we needed to take a boat here. Its not far from the river though.
Taking a boat heading towards the Orang Asli nomad villageTheir make shift housesThe orang asli smoking my ciggie
I honestly think that I need to be fit again so that I can do more adventure to visit these kind of places in Malaysia and beyond. I just felt that I am not as fit as before.
