2nd Day at Hokkaido

The next morning, we took an hour flight to Hokkaido to begin our real sight-seeing of the beautiful countryside. Our Hokkaido Tour Guide was there to fetch us. When I first saw her, I knew she wasn't a Japanese. She is a Taiwanese who has lived in Japan for 30 years. Her name is Ogawa. She is a very experienced Tour Guide and tells us funny jokes about the Japan culture and people and policies. Overall, we were very glad to have her to guide us as she's very animated in her delivery and often we burst out in laughter.

1. Shiraoi Ainu Village
2. Fruit Picking
3. Surprise bonus
4. Lake Toya
5. Mount Showa

1. Shiraoi Ainu Village
A visit to the Shiraoi Ainu Village is to catch a glimpse of the Ainu lifestyle and to watch a performance put up by the people there. The Ainu folks lived very much like us. They worked in this Shiraoi Ainu Village just like us from 8:30am to 5:30pm.
The only male performer in Ainu custome gave us an introduction to their ancestors's lifestyle many years ago. Afterwhich, some ladies in Ainu customes also performed a music piece and singing. My colleague told me that this same man appeared in "Japan Hour" so he must be quite popular now.




2. Fruit Picking
I'm always very fond of fruits picking or even just glancing at fruit trees. In July, we were able to pick ripe strawberries. The strawberries were small but very sweet. It must be the sweetest strawberries that I've ever tasted ! We chanced upon a cherry tree which was also open to fruit picking. They wasn't as sweet but was still quite excited to see one.





3. Surprise bonus
As we headed for our Lake side resort hotel, we chanced upon a vast land full of sunflowers !!! This was indeed a great surprise as Sunflowers normally bloom in August. Ogawa asked if we would like to come down from the bus to take photoes, without hesitation everyone shouted "Yes!". The sunflowers really look very cheerful with their brilliant colours in the dusk !





4. Lake Toya
As Hokkaido, Lake Toya is the host place for G8 Conference for all the big shoots, the place was simply crowded with policemen and their awsome vehicles. Ogawa cheekily told us that we were VIPs from Singapore and we should feel very protected in Hokkaido. We did not faced any problem during our trip for 6 days in Hokkaido as we're with packaged tour. Luckily we did not choose to go free and easy this time round as the police checked individual who drove around Hokkaido at this moment.

Lake Toya is simply beautiful. Really loved this resort in front of the lake. Its called Toyako Manseikaku Hotekl Lake Side Terrace. The hotel room is big, clean and new and the view is awsome from the window. We can see the misty lake and the mountains from there. At night, we strolled along the long stretch of walkway to watch the fireworks shooting from a couple of small boats on the lake ! It was heavenly .... accordingly to Ogawa, this lake that doesn't freeze during the winter. (ice-free lake)

The next morning after breakfast, we went for our second walk along this beautiful lake again. We were indeed very lucky to be able to come to Lake Toya as the lake area will be closed to everyone coming the next day. Ogawa has specifically asked us to tell another ASA group members (in case they asked us) that we did not come to Lake Toya.







5. Mount Showa
This is a mountain that was thrust up from flat farmland after 2 years of volcanic activity. We took our Group photo here.