A friend recently asked me to suggest a nice destination for her upcoming holiday. I told her Hokkaido. She got a green light from her hubby, but I’m not too sure if they will change their mind again ;P

I was in Hokkaido briefly back in 1999. Took the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Morioka - switching to ordinary train onwards - going via the undersea tunnel that connects Honshu to Hokkaido.

Hakodate was the first stop on Hokkaido island. I only stay a night, enough time for me to visit the spectacular night view on top of Hakodate-yama and gorging some seafood at their morning market.

Back then, Hakodate was just a small train station. I remembered fondly how I was taking naps on their old wooden bench while waiting for train onwards to Sapporo and Morioka (when I was heading back to Tokyo).

Today, Hakodate Station has become an ultra modern building. I still missed the old quaint station that it once was. *sighz*
Wikipedia: Hakodate Station

It’ve been 8++ long years, I think I ought to pay a visit again.

Drea-ea-ea-ea-eam, dream, dream, dream
Drea-ea-ea-ea-eam, dream, dream, dream
When I want you in my arms
When I want you and all your charms
Whenever I want you, all I have to do is
Drea-ea-ea-ea-eam, dream, dream, dream

But for now I better get back to work (sleepzzzzzzzzz)! LOLz
It has been the most busiest December. Originally, I did planned for a short getaway, but unfortunately I’m still stuck in the rut. Oh well,

Business as usual on both Eve (i.e Christmas & New Year). New Year Resolutions, new plans or perhaps another new blog concept? Will see now but till then, it going to be a very busy busy month for moi. Hence I’m “closing shop” earlier this year.

So may I wish all readers a merriest (and wet, if you happen to be in Singapore) Christmas and another bountiful New Year!!!

!SEE YA NEXT YEAR (2008)!

New Zealand, Coromandel Peninsula @ Tairua

Japan, Kumamoto @ Kimpo San

I’m going to squeeze the last of Fukuoka in all into one post. Though it’s still not really complete, but I guess that should suffice for now. Expect a LONG POST.…..

HAKATA STATION

Starting from Hakata Station, JR recently introduce the shinkansen from Hakata to Kagoshima. Only takes 2hrs 12mins @ 7800Yen. Just for comparison, the highway bus I took from Fukuoka International Airport takes about 2hrs to reach Kumamoto, nearly half way point to Kagoshima. So you can pretty much guess the huge saving in time.

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I simply have to share this seafood donburi @ Fukuoka Fish Market. I’m not too sure if they were listed anywhere, but I chanced upon this while trying to visit the Fukuoka Fish Market.

My visit to fish market was unsuccessful, apparently they disallow any outside visitors. This happened to Tokyo Tsukiji a few years back, when a bad incident with tourists prompted the closure of auction area to the general public. Too bad, I almost made it to Tsukiji, unfortunately, I overslept; Auction starts as early as 3am. but darn … I’m still in slumberland!!! kekekeke … come to think of that, I should have camped outside the gate, but it’s really really freaking cold in the morning. Oh well, that’s history ……….

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The last being the ramen from Kagoshima. Sadly, I did not have opportunity (or rather tummy space) try the one from Tokyo, Miyazaki & another from Hakata.

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The April masthead is already up, and you should have an idea what’s coming on next. But before that, I still a couple more post on my Kyushu trip.

Continuing with yet another yummy ramen, this time from Shinpuku of Kyoto.

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The next ramen comes from Sapporo, in the northern island of japan, Hokkaido. Hokkaido is already famous with their diary products, beautiful flower fields & seafood, especially their crabs.

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Next we have the ramen from Hakata.

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Visit to Fukuoka, Hakata cannot be complete without at least a visit to the Ramen Stadium @ Canal City.
Featuring 8 selected Ramen shops all over Japan, showcasing their very best and striving to “alive” by your precious votes. Your votes will determine if the ramen shops will stay or be replace by another competitor. I did not managed to taste all but having tasted 5 out of 8 is already quite a feat for me.

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Before I continue with Fukuoka, here is a quick post about my route planning for this Kyushu Trip. I hope it will helps clarifies on my travel route & perhaps help anyone who may be planning a trip to kyushu soon.

I was there for 16days I spent 1 week in Kumamoto and rest of the days were distributed among Aso, Beppu/Oita, Mojiko & Fukuoka. By the way, I took the highway bus from Fukuoka Airport to Kumamoto (about 2hrs journey) and pickup rented car at Kumamoto Airport after week 1.

So, when I did my planning in Singapore using ruler & pencil on a scaled map. It works out pretty fine, A -> B, 200~300km here & there, not much of a problem, about the distance to Malacca / Port Dickson which is a piece of cake to me kekekekeke …. Hence my original route plan was Kumamoto -> Kagoshima -> Miyashaki -> Beppu & finally Fukuoka. (You see it colored blue -> red -> yellow -> green -> purple on the map)

However, after I arrived to Kumamoto, I realise this route plan is crazy!!!! …………..

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