Of Travel & Memories

Is it stupid of me to keep on pining for what was long past?

It is not a place, much less a person. It is the experience I had that I long for. I can't help myself, pining for that wonderful experience I had all those years ago in Hokkaido, Japan with the rest of the family members.

It was something special, something true to the heart. As my brother puts it "Old times, old times".

I keep on harping about going back to Hokkaido, I think it's more of searching for that experience rather than visiting the places. Of course, I do love the country. But, to me, I want the intangibles over the tangibles. I want back the services, the good experiences, the times we shared and loved.

I am feeling very melancholy and reminiscing these past days.

I don't know what's wrong with me. To keep on searching for something intangible.

So, in about two weeks times, I'll be leaving for Taiwan, if everything turns out well.

I went to the NATAS Fair 2010 at Singapore Expo on Friday afternoon with my father. My father thought he was being smart to visit the booths on the first day and on an afternoon to boot. Well, there place was swarmed with like-minded people.

Luckily, there was carpark lots left. Ate at Burger King before going inside. Needless to say, the queue for the entrance tickets was so very long. But the queue moved quite fast. It cost $4 per person to go in.

Once inside, the crowds seem less congregated because the fair spanned from Hall 4 to 5. Seemingly, all the outbound tour operators were there. Ha, now is the time for me to dish out all those terms I have learnt during my tourism studies.

I was so excited to collect those brochures and catalog showing each country's best. I love reading up on what each country have to offer and more.

There were so many people giving out pamphlets and stuff. We went to Chan Brothers and another tour operator to compare the packaged tour on Taiwan. At last, we went with Chan Brothers, partly because of its reputation.

Wow, the Chan Brothers booth look to be the biggest yet, what with so many staff on hand and all of them occupied at any given moment. Signed on a deal; 8 days Taiwan All Rounder, after the one my father wanted was replaced with this instead.

I want to fly Singapore Airlines, but, alas, there was only a flight on Friday afternoon. Therefore, we had no choice but to make do with China Airlines. I know, me, (un)willingly to go with China Airlines. I guessed I resigned myself to saving money for my coveted trip, since one SQ ticket will cost a hundred plus more for each person. Another reason was due to it being a short journey, just 4 hours. I can endure that, I hope.

Naturally, I was going to research more on China Airlines when I reached home. I found out that it has a higher accident rate than normal airline average in the world. Oh gods, I shouldn't have done this. Now, it makes me quiver just to think of it. Urgh, I'm going to be sick.

This is the time to know more about the tour operator job. After learning about it so much, it brings a new perspective to see it at work. Those details, itineraries, advertising gimmicks, asterisks at play, etc. Pheesh, if they make it even more "cheap and wonderful", I wouldn't have fall for that. I rather take reasonable over gullible any other day.

Finally, everything was done. We went on to get our "free" 20 inches luggage bag from DBS bank for spending $2,500. Since we have some time left, we visited other booths promoting their countries. That's when I started my spree. Of collecting brochures.

Europe, Japan, Australia, Korea, Taiwan, but no USA. I now have this huge and heavy stack of booklets which I have no where to keep.

And then my father drove me back, too bad I had work later in the day and my father had to go back to his office. If not, we can spend more time there.

Saw the news yesterday, there was at least 8,000 visitors there by the first day. Is that awesome or what?

I just want everything to be alright. C'mon, millions of people fly in and out around the world. If I am afraid, I should jolly well stay in Singapore for the rest of my otherwise miserable life. I want to travel, that is a dream and hope.

Tough luck, my dears

Well, well, who would have known that the Japan Trip would draw so much interest?

I warranted it will caused some stir because it's a trip to Japan, but never in my dreams would I thought that in mere minutes when the clock stroked twelve that night, so many people were sending in their particulars.

I heard that over 100 people signed up for the trip but obviously there is only 20 plus spaces available. I was wronged again when I thought they will open up more vacancies to cope with the influx.

To think that they publicise it so much as if nobody will go and strongly encouraged us all to sign up.

I was really surprised that I wasn't offered a space, I mean, I sent my entry in at 12.05am. But, whatever. One of the reasons I expressed interest is because of the company I hope to get. Since, I didn't get it and the number is so high, it's best to let it go.

And surprisingly, I had a call today from the teacher-in-charge. There was a vacancy and she asked if I'm still interested. I told her no.

I still think it's a good experience to have. For the first time to go overseas with the school, with no contract to boot. I can now save up the money and dedicated it to my graduation trip instead. Florida!

Hokkaido, Tokyo, Japan trip 2007

26th Nov:

Stayed at home all day to do last minute packing. After dinner, We left for Changi Airport Terminal 1 in a maxi cab. The flight to Tokyo was about 6 hours long. There were small TV screens on the ANA plane but I didn't watch any movies.

27th Nov:

Reached the airport in the morning. Boarded the bus to Hanade Airport to take the flight to Hokkaido. Upon arrival, we went to have a seafood lunch. It was really delicious. There were miso soup, hairy crab and other types of seafood. We then went to sample some chocolates. The melon chocolates with almonds were really good, though I didn't buy them.

We travelled for 4 hours, the road became icy, snowflakes started falling. The farm houses and the background with its mountains and bare trees looks picture-perfect. It gives a rustic feeling and was totally different from Singapore.

We reached Tokachigawa Daiichi Hotel in the evening. Before dinner, I tried out the 'onsen' or known as hot spring, the water is rich in minerals absorbed from vegetation. This is the only place in Japan that has it. It was an experience to remember. There were different kinds of shampoo, body gel, facial wash in there. After the hot spring, refreshed yourself with the hair-dryers, moisturiser and lotion available. I tried out both the indoor and outdoor pools. The outdoor pool was better. It was cold and hot at the same time.

We put on the 'yukata' and enjoyed seafood dinner. When my cousins and I went up to our room. Our 'tatami' were already done. We will be sleeping on the floor. Quite the experience.

28th Nov:

After buffet breakfast, we took a photo stop at a lake. We fed the swans and ducks too. We stop-by at the Oketo Wood Craft Centre next. There are handmade woodcraft made by artists in Oketo town. Most of them are kitchenware and made of oak, pine and birch. We then went to the Winery shop where the adults can get to sample white wine and plum wine. I did drink a little. We also saw the making of wine. The wine chocolates were nice.

We had lunch at a small shop. The bowl had 2 sides. 1 contains soba, the other contains rice with tempura. After that, the fox farm was next. The foxes were really furry and cute. We continued the journey to Sounkyo, a hot spring resort located at the foot of Mt. Daisetsu, or big snow mountain. It was coldest that day. There was strong wind and snowfall. We went to the hot spring before dinner. I too went to the indoor and outdoor pools. The outdoor pool was different from the 1st one. This time, snowflakes were falling on our heads while our bodies were immersed in the hot pool.
My brothers and cousins built a snowman outside the hotel. They also had snowball fight with my uncles. It was really fun though I did not join in. It was a wish come true for all.

29th Nov:

I woke up at 5+ to go the the hot spring again. The buffet breakfast consisted mostly of traditional Japanese fare so I did not eat much. We visited the Sounkyo Gorge. The 2 waterfalls there had became icefalls. The snow was so thick. It was so cold there even gloves and boots could not withstand it. The scenery was as usual, picturesque.

We travelled to the charming town of Otaru. It was a lovely place, some called it romantic. I found it a little like Venice, with its canal, old shop-houses that sell glassware and music box. I bought many small souvenirs and took many pictures. The chocolates and milk ice-cream were also famous there. Some of us tried out the 6-flavour ice-cream in a cone. The steamboat lunch was great. One of my uncles ordered a spider crab to share. Its taste was different from other crabs.

We then proceeded to Sapporo. We went to a underground shopping mall where I bought a skirt. We took pictures with the Sapporo TV tower, which looks like a mini Eiffel tower. There were Christmas lights on the trees and decorations. We went to a discount shop and bought all the White Lover chocolates. The White Lover brand was famous in Hokkaido and it was only sold in Hokkaido. I bought 2 boxes to distribute to my friends next year.

After the BBQ dinner which was great because of the Kobe beef. Its taste was different from other meat and it was really tender. It was supposed to be cheaper here than other places. We checked in at Keio Plaza Hotel Sapporo. It was the nicest and grandest hotel throughout our trip. Our room was the biggest.

30th Nov:

After buffet breakfast, which was one of the best, we proceeded to Ainu Village. After the performance by some Ainu people, we went to feed the bears and Ainu dogs. Next stop was Mt Showa, an active volcano. It was sprouting smoke. We then journey to see the bears at the bear ranch. The bears will wave if you fed them apples. We stopped by Lake Toya before going to Hakodate. Our hotel was Daiwa Royal Hotel and there was hot spring inside too. As usual, it was hot spring before dinner.

1st Dec:

Went to the hot spring 1 last time and at the same time, bath. We then went to the Hakodate morning market. The whole place are people selling fresh seafood. There's live squids, sea urchins, abalones, king crabs, etc. My auntie bought a sea urchin to try. I didn't dare to eat it, but they said it was quite nice.I did try out the cooked abalone though. Some other people from our tour fished for squids in a tank and ate them live.

We then took the flight to Tokyo. Tokyo was not as cold as Hokkaido. We visited the Asakusa Kannon Temple, followed by a walk through Nakamise Shopping Street. There were lots of people.We ate our 1st Chinese meal in so many days. We checked in at Loisir Hotel.

2nd Dec:

We all parted here. Everyone in this tour had decided to stay on and extend their stay in Japan. Since we wanted to arrive early at Disneyland, we woke up very early in the morning to eat breakfast before going to there via subway. Our tour guide had very kindly helped us take our luggage to our hotel. The ride was long and tiring. It was stuffy and full of people. We had to change 3 times of train before reaching Disneyland. We wanted to go DisneySea though. The quenes were so long. Time past so fast, I only played 2 games while my cousins played 4. We stayed on to the road show and left before the fireworks as we were scared of the crowds leaving after the show. We saw the fireworks display at the JR station. It was beautiful, colourful and special. We checked in at Shinagawa Prince Hotel.

3rd:

Woke up late. Cousins, brothers, uncles and aunties wanted to go to Shinjuku, a fashion place. I didn't want to go because we need to take the subway again. I went to the many shopping centres around Prince hotel instead with my parents and grandparents. We then waited for the others to return. We left for Narita Airport at 1+. The journey took about 2 hours. We checked in our luggage and went in to do last minute shopping. The plane left for Changi Airport. It touchdown at 12.10am, Tuesday morning. I did not sleep till 3am. Home sweet home.

Summary:

I did not have any regrets joining this tour. The tour guide is funny and a good entertainer. There's free gifts. Everything is new to us, the scenery is prefect. I love Hokkaido for its chocolates, seafood, ice-cream, hot springs and most importantly, snow. It was everybody's greatest wish to see snow falling. Our wish had came true. My cousins made snow angels and snowman and had snow ball fight. Here, they are more generous in helping, whole chocolates as samples and free drinks. The people are really friendly too. They will wave to us when we leave. We also learnt more about Japan and its people. Hokkaido is a picture-perfect place even in the winter, where all the trees are bare.