Isaac, Joy and Papa Go Japan: Day 3 and 4, Higashikawa, Otaru, Sounkyo and Asahidake
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I did not plan to drive around the entire island of Hokkaido in the few days we had. It would not be practical or fun. So I decided to keep things within the centre of Hokkaido.
From Shikotsuko, we drove to Higashikawa (my favourite town) and stayed at my friends’ B&B. Dinner was spent watching the Rugby World Cup Finals with my friends (they were rooting for England) while Isaac and Joy played with their kids, who were a few years younger. Jody and Nina adore big sister Joy, whom they met when she came visiting during my solo trip with her when she turned 12, and the girls were happy to see her again.
The next morning, we set off again, without any plans once more. I thought, perhaps we could drive out to Otaru, just to have a look. Frankly, it was just an excuse to drive, as the drive itself is very pleasant. I told them, “Otaru is famous for their canals.”
Joy asked, “And?”
“That’s pretty much it,” I said. It is one big tourist trap, to be honest, and I told them, “Essentially, we are driving all the way to see Otaru’s Long Kangs.” They laughed and were cool with their father’s rather stupid travel plans.
“The canals are actually quite nice when it is winter, to be honest,” I added, trying to make it sound a bit more exciting.
When we got to Otaru, I found a parking lot near the canals and was quite pleased it said ¥100 for 30 minutes. After parking, I realized I read it wrongly and it was actually ¥400 for 30 minutes during the day, and ¥100 for 30 minutes AT NIGHT.
“We better not stay too long,” I told the kids. Joy, the financially-minded of the two, said, “Ya, not worth paying that kind of parking for Long Kang.”
So we snapped some photos, walked around the food court a bit, and then left Otaru. I figured we would get lunch further away, en route to Sounkyo, where we planned to stay the night.
Sounkyo is a quaint mountain resort area, located in Kamikawa. It is considered a touristy place, but a good base to hike Daisetsuzan National Park from. We stopped at a ramen place in Kamikawa called Yoshino, just off the highway. And wow, the ramen was great. They even had thick slices of Miton roast pork available as a side, in limited quantities. This is part of the fun of road trips: stumbling upon good places to eat.
After eating at Yoshino, we drove on to Sounkyo and stopped at the Twin Waterfalls rest stop. That was when we encountered some serious cold and wind chill. It was -1ºC and windy there. We looked at the majestic cliffs for a bit, stared at the waterfall which was not flowing very rapidly (Spring is when the ice melts and you get a grander sight) and then we ran into the souvenir store to enjoy some heat.
The store ladies were so kind, and offered us cups of soup. They had a hot pot set up with paper cups to serve their customers, and we were very thankful for the soup. So much so that I felt I had to buy some stuff there, in gratitude. I bought some sweets and grapes. You may have seen the Instastory of Joy and me eating said grapes in our ryokan later, and attempting to spit the seeds into the bowl.
I asked the kids if they wanted to climb the stairs to the viewing platform but the sign said, “20 minutes” and there was a sign to look out for bears. So we chickened out. Actually we were just lazy. It was too much of a climb on a cold autumn’s day just to see two off-peak waterfalls.
We finally checked into Kumoi Hotel, a nice little place that was renovated only two years ago. Many of these onsen hotels in areas like this tend to be old and tired. A couple of the hotels I saw along the way had signs with missing words in their names. But not the Kumoi.
The kids had to set up the futon beds themselves, something they learned to do in our first house, and I have to say, it is handy having two assistants to set up the beds.
At least this Sounkyo area had three restaurants open till 8pm, so we did not need to tabao food. We chose an Italian place called Bear Grill, run by a handsome old man who made great food.
We also stopped by the Seicomart, the FamilyMart of Hokkaido, to resupply our drinks and junk food. And then retired to our hotel.
Because the Kumoi has its own onsen baths, I took the kids to the baths and taught the son how it works. Joy already had some experience in our previous trip so she was fine. The son took some convincing. “Nobody will look at your junk lah,” I assured him.
I gave him pointers on how to use an onsen, like putting a small towel on his head, and using the same small towel to cover his lower bits. The butt, that one cannot cover, the small towel was not big enough.
The kids enjoyed the onsen experience thoroughly, and we vowed to do it again when we could. And we ended our night at Sounkyo with a movie screening in the room, where I introduced them to The Matrix. Suffice to say, their minds were blown.
The next morning we drove back towards Higashikawa and stopped at the Seven Stars Tree. It is a scenic spot where, I later learned, a famous oak tree, that was once used on the packaging of seven stars tobacco, stood.
I only found out when I got to the Tree. Great, we drove all this way to see a cigarette advertisement. But the view was really nice lah. So it was not for nothing.
We also made a stop at the Shirogane Blue Pond, which was recently upgraded with new viewing platforms and lights. There, we spotted some dumb tourists taking photos on a tree branch that grew over the water. This is why we can’t have nice things.
By then it was close to sunset, and I didn’t want to drive in the dark, so we drove to Hotel Bear Monte, near Asahidake mountain, where I booked a night in this bigger, fancier onsen hotel. It took a lot of talking to convince the kids that it is okay to walk around the hotel in our yukata. And even to have the buffet dinner wearing our takata.
“This is how the farmers used to do it, on their vacations to onsen hotels,” I told the kids. They looked a little skeptical but took to it eventually. So we walked here walked there, like a boss, in our yukatas.
Like Japanese farmers on their winter onsen vacations.
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同時也有5部Youtube影片,追蹤數超過24萬的網紅Kyle Le Dot Net,也在其Youtube影片中提到,At the base of Chu Prong Mountain on Highway 14C near Pleiku City, was one of the most famous battlegrounds of the Vietnam War. The movie We Were Sold...
tourist spot near me 在 Tiara Jacquelina Facebook 八卦
WRITTEN BY A police officer:
Everyone should take 5 minutes to read this. It may save your life or a loved one's life. In daylight hours, refresh yourself of these things to do in an emergency situation... This is for you, and for you to share with your wife, your children, & everyone you know. After reading these 9 crucial tips, forward them to someone you care about. It never hurts to be careful in this crazy world we live in.
1. Tip from Tae Kwon Do :The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If you are close enough to use it, do!
2. Learned this from a tourist guide. If a robber asks for your wallet and/or purse,
DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM. Toss it away from you... Chances are that he is more interested in your wallet and/or purse than you, and he will go for the wallet/purse.
RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!
3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car, kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy.. The driver won't see you, but everybody else will. This has saved lives.
4. Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc., and just sit (doing their checkbook, or making a list, etc.
DON'T DO THIS!) The predator will be watching you, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side, put a gun to your head,
and tell you where to go. AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR , LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE..
If someone is in the car with a gun to your head DO NOT DRIVE OFF, Repeat: DO NOT DRIVE OFF! Instead gun the engine and speed into anything, wrecking the car. Your Air Bag will save you. If the person is in the back seat they will get the worst of it. As soon as the car crashes bail out and run. It is better than having them find your body in a remote location.
5. A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot, or parking garage:
A.) Be aware:look around you, look into your car, at the passenger side floor ,
and in the back seat.
B.) If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door.
Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women
are attempting to get into their cars.
C.) Look at the car parked on the driver's side of your vehicle, and the passenger side.. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work, and get a guard/policeman to walk you back out. IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. (And better paranoid than dead.)
6. ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs. Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot. This is especially true at NIGHT!)
7. If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN!
The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times; and even then, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN, Preferably in a zig -zag pattern!
8. As women, we are always trying to be sympathetic: STOP It may get you raped, or killed. Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking, well educated man, who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often asked 'for help' into his vehicle or with his vehicle, which is when he abducted his next victim.
9. Another Safety Point: Someone just told me that her friend heard a crying baby on her porch the night before last, and she called the police because it was late and she thought it was weird.. The police told her 'Whatever you do, DO NOT open the door..' The lady then said that it sounded like the baby had crawled near a window, and she was worried that it would crawl to the street and get run over. The policeman said, 'We already have a unit on the way, whatever you do, DO NOT open the door.' He told her that they think a serial killer
has a baby's cry recorded and uses it to coax women out of their homes thinking that someone dropped off a baby.. He said they have not verified it, but have had several calls by women saying that they hear baby's cries outside their doors when they're home alone at night.
10. Water scam! If you wake up in the middle of the night to hear all your taps outside running or what you think is a burst pipe, DO NOT GO OUT TO INVESTIGATE! These people turn on all your outside taps full blast so that you will go out to investigate and then attack.
Stay alert, keep safe, and look out for your neighbors! Please pass this on
I'd like you to forward this to all the women you know.
It may save a life. A candle is not dimmed by lighting another candle..
I was going to send this to the ladies only, but guys, if you love your mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, etc., you may want to pass it onto them, as well.
Share this and tag any woman you know that may need to be reminded that the world we live in has a lot of crazies.
tourist spot near me 在 Kyle Le Dot Net Youtube 的評價
At the base of Chu Prong Mountain on Highway 14C near Pleiku City, was one of the most famous battlegrounds of the Vietnam War. The movie We Were Soldiers recounts this moment in history. Thousands of soldiers died around this area. I didn't know very much when I came here. I wasn't too sure if I was in the exact location because I only had a picture of a map. But it turns out that it was indeed the right spot.
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About Me: I'm Kyle Le and I live, travel, and eat in Vietnam and many Asian countries. I'm passionate about making videos and sharing modern Asia to the world. I've traveled everywhere in Vietnam, from Hanoi to Saigon - Far North, Central Highlands, Islands, and Deep Mekong Delta - I've visited there. In addition to 10+ countries in Asia from Indonesia to Thailand to Singapore, you'll find all of my food, tourist attractions, and daily life experiences discovering my roots in the motherland on this amazing journey right on this channel. So be sure to subscribe- there's new videos all the time and connect with me below so you don't miss any adventures.
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tourist spot near me 在 婷婷的世界 Ting Ting's World Youtube 的評價
Hi! My name is Ting Ting. I’m an Australian, I live in Kaohsiung and my mission is to share Taiwan with the world one place at a time one delicious meal at a time. If you’re new to my channel welcome, lovely to have you along and if you’d like to be part of the fun just hit the subscribe button and hit the bell so that you know when I upload a new video.
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I hope this Taiwan Alishan travel guide video and notes below helps you. If you have a question please leave a comment below.
- 8:30 AM ARRIVE CHIAYI STATION
That’s the TRA station - not the high speed rail. If arriving by high speed rail allow up to 30 minutes to catch a taxi to the TRA station.
For a guide to trains and buying train tickets in Taiwan see this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDpdUGs7HNM)
- 9:00 AM TRAIN FROM CHIAYI STATION TO FENQIHU STATION (runs at 9:00 on weekdays, 9:30 and 10:00 on weekends, trip time 2.5 hours)
You can’t go all the way to Alishan station now as the track was damaged in a typhoon and they’re not going to fix it).
You can buy tickets in advance here: https://afrch.forest.gov.tw/. The website is only in Chinese so use google chrome on your computer to translate the page. Pay by credit card then pick the ticket up at ANY major train station when you arrive in Taiwan (show your passport at the ticket window).
Guide to the train numbers here: http://taiwan-itinerary.blogspot.com/2016/10/alisan-railway-tickets.html.
- LUNCH AT FENQIHU
Fenqihu was the popular stop for loggers at lunchtime so it’s a really cute little old town. The bento shop shown in the video is next to the 7-Eleven. When you arrive at Fenqihu, go all the way down the stairs, walk straight down the street and you’ll see it. Fenqihu isn’t big so you can wander around for the rest of the time. Unfortunately unless you stay in Fenqihu overnight, there’s not enough time to go hiking or see the lake (which is what the town is named after).
- BUS FROM FENQIHU TO ALISHAN TRANSPORT STATION
Use google maps for directions on where to catch the bus from (up on the highway). Set your destination as “Alishan station” and select directions for public transport. Schedules say the bus leaves at 2:40 but we arrived at the highway just before 2:30 and the driver said it was already past time to leave. So get there a little early! This is apparently the last bus, although you can catch another bus to Shizao, then change for a bus to Alishan (that seemed too annoying so we didn’t do it).
- DINNER AT ALISHAN
I haven’t seen one good food review on Alishan (it’s not what you’re there for anyway!) - so we just got beers and instant noodles from the 7 Eleven and enjoyed them at the hotel.
- STAY AT ALISHAN HOUSE
Look around for deals online, or stay at another hotel near the Alishan station (https://goo.gl/maps/Mn2yTnAAoWn). There are quite a few. Don’t expect a cheap hotel to have good facilities, this is a very popular tourist destination. Book early especially in peak season!
- SUNRISE TRAIN
Tickets for the sunrise train (around 350nt round trip) are sold the afternoon before at the Alishan train station. If staying at Alishan house you can buy them straight from the hotel reception, or if staying somewhere else, go to Alishan train station to buy these.
- HIKING
There are trails around the train station area. Pick up a map from the station or your hotel. The train on top of the mountain can also take you to some of the attractions if you’re tired of walking.
- BUS BACK TO CHIAYI
Get a timetable from the 7-11 at the transport station (or your hotel will have one). Use your easycard/ipass card to pay for the bus fare BUT you need to “save your bus spot” at the 7 Eleven first. I tried doing this 30 minutes before catching the bus but there were no spots left so we had to wait 1.5 hours until the next bus. So do this as early as you can. The last bus leaving from Alishan transport station to go down the mountain is around 5:00 pm.
There are taxi drivers around the transport station trying to get you to go down the mountain with them. I don’t recommend this option.
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tourist spot near me 在 KemushiChan ロレッタ Youtube 的評價
Eating all I can and staying at a farmhouse run by an uber-friendly former sumo wrestler! This is one of the COOLEST places I've stayed at in Japan, by far!
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Cheap Pocket WiFi for your next trip in Japan. Link above gives you a discount at checkout!
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