I was out on a date with my mom this afternoon. A flower date. My mom had always loved flowers and she's been wanting to see the Sakura for quite some time. Originally we had planned to bring her to Japan for that, but we sort of missed the March deadline this year. Yeah. Lazy daughter me had procrastinated until the air tickets got too expensive.

 

Well, fortunately for lazy daughter me, Gardens by the Bay brought the Sakura to sunny Singapore! Obviously that was a chance to fulfil mom's wishes, so filial daughter me definitely had to take time to bring her! Good call. Mom's still tired from walking around but she loved the flowers.

 

The Blossom Beats Floral Display (that's their Sakura display) features a variety of blossoms including the well-known Cherry blossom (that's the Sakura), Peach and Plum blossoms. Like their counterparts overseas, the display is expected to last about 2 weeks. Yup, delicate, fleeting beauty all right.

 

Gardens by the Bay had done a deliberate display of these blossoms amidst a Japanese-themed garden setting. So while walking around the display, we saw bonsai arrangements, arch bridges, mini pagodas, and even a Torii gate.

I'll have to say this, because the displays are deliberate and within a small area, please do not expect the grandeur of sweeping, cascading blossoms that you might find on the streets/Sakura gardens of Japan/Korea. As long as you don't have that expectation, you would probably be able to enjoy the Blossom Beats display a lot more.

Another point to note, expect crowds. Especially if you're there for the photography, you'll really have to find a good time to go. Otherwise, you'll be jostling with many others for that perfect photo spot or you'll get photo-bombs or you'll get irritated with inconsiderate people who refuse to budge from where they're standing.

Another alternative mind-set (especially if you're not that into photography), just go and enjoy the blooms. Any nice photos are a bonus.

 

 

While mom and I were specifically there for the Sakura, we were also quite taken with their other displays. We took a pretty long time in the Flower Dome admiring all the work and displays.

 

 



 

There! I swear there were other flowers! Weird cactuses too! Mom and I had a good time scaring each other with stories of spiders and weird alien shows when we came across the ones in my photo below!

 

 

Since we were already there, mom and I bought tickets to both conservatories. Once we were done at the Flower Dome, we headed off to the Cloud Forest, which was only a short hop away.

 

Given how hot and humid Singapore can be, I was extremely glad that both conservatories had to be at cool temperatures of 23 to 25 degrees. What's even better was the mist created by the man-made waterfall that greeted us as we entered the Cloud Forest. I would think that if this had been your first stop coming in from the heat that is Singapore, you'll love to just stand there and soak it all up. Apparently, at 35 metres, that's the world's tallest indoor waterfall as well!

Near the entrance to the "mountain's" walkway, was a lego display of some carnivorous plants! I could recognise the Venus Fly-Trap, the Pitcher plant and the Rafflesia. Ok, the Rafflesia isn't carnivorous, but it's some sort of smelly, parasitic flowering plant native to this part of the region.

Whatever the species, it was an awesome lego display. Mom and I stood there for quite a while just admiring the artwork!

 

 

The main feature at the Cloud Forest (apart from that waterfall) is a walkway that surrounds the mountain shrouding the waterfall. Take the lift to the top of the mountain to begin your stroll along the walkway. Pretty darn cool aerial view of the canopy and the lush plants covering the mountain.

 

 

So if you're planning to visit the Blossom Beats (Sakura) Floral Display, please head to Gardens by the Bay soon! It has already been around for about a week and given how fleeting the Sakura blooms are, I don't figure you'll have much time left.

Information

Gardens by the Bay
Address: 18 Marina Gardens Drive Singapore 018953
DID: +65 6420 6848
Website: http://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/en.html
Operating hours: 9 am to 9 pm
Last ticket sale at 8 pm and last admission at 8:30 pm
Specific attractions may have different operating timings, so please do check the website before going down

Ticket rates for local residents:
1 Conservatory
Adults: $12
Senior Citizens (>60 years old): $8
Children (3-12 years old): $8

2 Conservatories
Adults: $20
Senior Citizens (>60 years old): $15
Children (3-12 years old): $12

Additional discounts can apply for Passion, NTUC or OCBC card members.

Otherwise Standard Rate for all other non-local residents are for 2 Conservatories
Adults: $28
Children (3-12 years old): $15

Dynasty Travels: 8D6N Colourful Hokkaido Tour, Day 6 (Part 2)

Right, I'm typing this as I'm watching The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen on Fox. Hopefully, that means I won't be too distracted trying to tell you guys what's next on Day 6.

Day 6's itinerary:
Otaru --> Hokkaido Shrine --> Susukino Street + Ramen Yokochu

Anyway, right after lunch, we headed for the Hokkaido Shrine. I have to admit, I didn't find anything particularly exciting online prior the trip about Hokkaido Shrine, hence I wasn't terribly excited. Especially not after Otaru.

 

 

Hokkaido Shrine is located adjacent to Maruyama Park. If anything, I'll have to say that the place was really serene.

 

 



 

 

This big straw rope, also known as the 'Shime-nawa’ usually signifies that the ground thereafter is sacred, where deities lies. Hence, visitors would all have to 'purify' themselves.

 

 

 

 

So, in case you're wondering how to go about 'purifying' yourself, I've noted down the steps as they were explained to us:

1. Take a ladle with your right hand.
2. Ladle water and wet your left hand. Don’t do this above the water-vessel. Shift to the side so that the water doesn't fall back into the common pool. And don't finish up all the water you've ladled, there are still steps 3 to 6!
3. Switch the ladle over to your left hand and wet your right hand.
4. Now switch the ladle back to your right hand again and catch some water with the palm of your left.
5. Take a "drink" with the water pooled in your palm. And when I use those inverted commas, I really mean that there is no need to swallow the water. Again, shift to the side and you can just spit it out gently. Do not touch ladle with your mouth.
6. With the last of the water in your ladle (still in your right hand), wet your left hand again.
7. That’s it!

Well, if you don't ever think that you would remember this (and still fear that you might look really silly), no worries. Just look around for any Japanese, and ask for help.



 

 

 

 

While at the shrine, you can also have your fortune told. For about 200 yen, you get to pick your fortune that's written on a slip of white paper, also known as Omikuji. If your fortune sucks, then just tie it up at the rack and walk away. That actually signifies that the bad luck has attached itself to the wood, instead of the bearer. However, if you received good fortune, keep it in your purse, wallet, bag and make sure you leave the place with it. Good luck is then supposed to have followed you.

 

 



 

 

We were also fortunate enough to have witnessed the priest giving his blessings to new cars. Apparently, the Japanese would drive their new cars to the shrine to be blessed to ensure that they would be safe on the roads.

 

Remember Rokkatei from my earlier Otaru post? Well, Rokkatei has a branch at the Hokkaido Shrine! If you ever do visit the Hokkaido Shrine, please do make sure you drop by the Rokkatei branch here. Not to buy more confectionery, but for the delicious red bean mochi! Visitors will be served with a cup of tea (that's free!) and you can purchase a piece of the red-bean mochi called Hogan-sama. It's freshly grilled on the spot and apparently only this branch of Rokkatei sells it!

 

 

Once we were done at the Hokkaido Shrine, we were then driven to the Sapporo Clock Tower. Unfortunately, this was just a quick photo-shop and there was no chance to explore the place.

 

 

 

 

A pity really. The Sapporo Clock Tower, also known as Tokeidai, is a pretty well-known symbol of Sapporo and actually houses a museum. Since I didn't get to explore, I really can't comment on whether it is worth a visit.

 

However, I actually got really irritated with it as a photo-stop. For one, there were very few spots to get proper pictures of the clock tower. And given the very few spots, there was a camera crew there who was not only in the way, but took up almost all available space! When we (including our tour guide in Japanese!) asked politely if they could just excuse themselves for a few minutes for us to grab pictures, they ignored us completely! As if we were transparent! Non-existent!

 

They could have just communicated to us if they were on schedule or something. But instead, they refused to even talk to us, and one even knocked us out of his way! I have to say, I was extremely stunned as that was my very first experience of Japanese rudeness and inhospitality! What irked me even more, was that shortly after all that, they packed up and left. Well, guys, you could have said something right?! By then, I was no longer in the mood to get any more pictures.

 

 

Anyway, the last stop of the day was Ramen Yokochu. Yes, I know the itinerary also says Susukino Street but that's another item of that day that irked me. Our Susukino Street was shown to us when we were on the tour bus, on the way back to the hotel at the end of the day. Like "by the way" this is Susukino Street.

 

Yeah, I know. No time and all that. But seriously, I really think it could have been better managed if time had been better managed and the agency didn't book a hotel that was extremely out of the way. If you've read my other posts, you'll have figured out that time was my main gripe in this entire trip.

 

 

So anyway, back to Ramen Yokochu which essentially means a small street with several ramen restautants.

 

 



 

 

 

It's pretty amazing that this alley has more than 10 ramen restaurants. Unfortunately, when we arrived, a lot of the restaurants were still not opened. However, as they agency had already pre-booked for us, we were ushered into one with this red sign board:

 

 

 

 

 

Given that small alley, it was no surprise then that the restaurant was small. Extremely small. The minute our tour group of 24 entered, it was full! And not just the normal full capacity sort. I felt like I was a sardine in a tin sweat can! Not the most pleasant of environment to partake a piping hot bowl of ramen.

 

Our tour guide, Ms Reikko, shared with us that the chef of this ramen restaurant had once been invited to a Singapore food fair too. Unfortunately, my parents and I very much preferred the Santouka ramen we had at the Asahikawa Ramen Village. Not sure if the sardine-sweat-tin had a part to play, but I couldn't finish my bowl of ramen. All I wanted to do was to leave the shop for cool air.

 

 

 

 

My one and only shot of Susukino Street taken as I was standing at the exit of the Ramen Yokochu. Still kind of apt, since (other than shopping and Pachinko parlours) Susukino is also known as a red-light entertainment district.

 

 

Thoughts from Day 6:

 

Is it any wonder if I say I would recommend that you make a day trip out to Otaru? I could easily lose myself in Otaru for the entire day. Honestly, I'm going back there one day and doing myself a favour by slowly savouring the treasure trove that Otaru is. Do not rush through Otaru.

 

If you're the sort of person who goes by "see one shrine, seen it all", then you might want to forgo Hokkaido Shrine. Hokkaido is not my virgin trip to Japan, and in my opinion, there are other shrines more majestic or beautiful. However, this one does evoke a sense of peace and serenity that I do not always find at other shrines.

 

As for Ramen Yokochu, visit only if you're into ramen or touristy stuff or you want to get an Instagram worthy pic (yeah, those walls would have been Instagram heaven). Otherwise, honestly, there's ramen everywhere in Hokkaido. And there's good ramen outlets everywhere in Hokkaido. You really don't have to specially make your way there.

 

 

Tourist Information:

 

Hokkaido Shrine

Address: 〒064-8505 Hokkaido Prefecture, Sapporo, Chuo Ward, Miyagaoka, 474

DID: +81 11-611-0261

 

Ramen Yokochu

Address: 〒064-0805 中央区南５条西３丁目 Ｎｏ．１１グリーンビル



Dynasty Travel: 8D6N Colourful Hokkaido Tour, Day 6 (Part 1)

I'm finally getting to the end of the Dynasty Travel Hokkaido tour series. Okay, yeah, sure, I took a hiatus but at least now, I'm again motivated to finish this up! I should stop repeating about that motivation though...

 

So anyway, Dynasty's proposed Day 6 and Day 7's itinerary looked like this on paper:

Day 6: Ishiya White Chocolate Factory --> Otaru --> Susukino Street + Ramen Yokochu

Day 7: Central Wholesale Market --> Hokkaido Shrine --> Odori Park --> Asahi Beer Factory --> Tokeidai --> Mitsui Factory Outlet

 

That's essentially

Day 6: Sapporo --> Otaru --> Sapporo

Dday 7: Sapporo

 

Hence our tour guide, Ms Reikko shook things up a little and we ended up with a Day 6 itinerary that looked like this:

Otaru (小樽市) --> Hokkaido Shrine --> Susukino Street + Ramen Yokochu

 

 

 

 

The foodie in me had been extremely excited about coming to Otaru even before the trip. Almost everyone who had been to Otaru before me had been telling me things to eat and buy. In just a bit, I'll let you know which are the ones that you CANNOT afford to miss.

 

 



 

 

Otaru is a small harbour city that makes for a pleasant day trip out of Sapporo city. It was once a major trade and fishing port that went obsolete with the arrival of modern dock facilities. The port was land-filled but a part of the old canal was however retained and beautifully restored ~ modern day Otaru Canal. The many old warehouses and old shipping offices that line the famous Otaru Canal are now transformed into shops, museums and restaurants.

 

Unfortunately, it was still blazing hot the day we were there. It was almost 28 degrees according to a huge digital thermometer. I couldn't get a shot of that thermometer though. It felt like every single tourist there decided to converge on that thermometer that day. But anyway, my point in highlighting the temperature in Hokkaido in July, please do bring along water, shades, brollies, etc. Basically I hope you'll make yourself more comfortable while strolling about in the hot sun if that's the period you're going.

 

 



 

 

In spite of the hot weather, the canal makes for a pleasant stroll and the old warehouses are really great photo points. We were there pretty early in the morning, so hawkers along the canal were only just arriving and setting up. I'd imagine that if we had been later, they would have provided some shopping and likely even more photo opportunities.

 

 

 

 



If you're seeking some novelty, there is also the option of canal boat rides. Again, as is with this particular tour, we didn't have the time for that.

 

Having said all that, mid-morning on a July weekday was probably not the best time to visit Otaru Canal. While doing my research, I read that there were festivals and events that were often held along the Otaru Canal. Plus, I can just imagine how much more romantic (and picture worthy) this place could be in winter when they have the Snow Light Path festival!

 

 

 

 

While strolling along, I spotted one of my favourite BBQ restaurant in Japan ~ Gyu Kaku. Yes, they are also available in Singapore, but the ones in Japan are just fantastic. Whenever my friends and I go to Japan, we would definitely make a stop at one of their many outlets.

 

Unfortunately, this time round, I could only afford to take a quick snapshot. My parents thought I was mad when I waved a sad goodbye to the building.

 

 



 

 

Sakaimachi Street (境町通り) is a short walking distance from Otaru Canal, and while touristy, was fun to spend some time in. Many of the old buildings have been converted to shops, cafes and museums. Even my father who's not the shopping sort, found it interesting to window-browse through the array of kitschy offerings, glassware, chopsticks, chocolates, etc. I believe you might even be able to try your hand at making your own glassware in some of the shops.

 

Even though we weren't given a lot of time to explore, in the short time we had, I can say that the variety of stuff found here is quite astounding. Shopaholics, you probably gotta hold on to your wallets or pass them to your non-shopaholic friends. If you're a shopaholic travelling with a group of shopaholics, then... all the best, wallets and cards.

 

 



 

 

Again, due to limited time, I could only get a snapshot of the famous Music Box museum at Sakaimachi Street. In fact, if I hadn't done my research prior the trip, I wouldn't even have known that I was standing in front of it! Neither would I have known that that clock outside the Music Box Museum was a steam clock that was a present from the city of Vancouver! Our dearest tour guide was concerned (again) about getting us somewhere else.

 

Sigh. I so wanted to get a decent picture of the clock and the museum. Even the amateur photographer in me could see the potential photo opportunities presented!

 

Right, if you're into photography, then please make sure you pop by Otaru. The old buildings are great subjects/focal points.

 

 



 

 

So instead of bringing us to the Music Box Museum (which I personally think would have been a much better option), we were being hurried into Ginnokane which was a confectionary shop for a piece of cake and a drink in a Hello Kitty cup.

 

There are better cakes around Otaru (I'll let you know where shortly) and honestly, if you're not a Hello Kitty fan, this was a waste of time in my opinion. I only remember this stop as "Thank God it's air-conditioned!" OK, we got to bring back the Hello Kitty cups which perhaps a Hello Kitty fan would appreciate. I later gave those cups away to a friend who's a fan of the kitty.

 

It's no surprise then that the minute we found out it was Own-Time-Own-Target (OTOT) after the Ginnokane stop, I literally dragged my parents out and headed off to fulfil my stomach's desires.

 

Those of you motivated by food, pay attention from this point on:

 

 

 

 

At Sakaimachi Street, there are several cafes to choose from. However, take it from me that you MUST get yourself to Le Tao for their amazing cheesecake. This was the first stop that I dragged my parents to (after Ginnokane).

 

In fact, I was so excited, I only remembered to get a picture of the cake when my parents grabbed my fork and reminded me. Yeah, I was that close to stabbing the cake already. I was also so excited, I didn't grab any pictures of the café or anything else.

 

My entire focus was that perfect piece of melt-in-your-mouth-awesomeness. The best cheesecake I've ever tasted in my life. And one that I'll gladly fly back all the way for. (Heh. I'm already talking to my friend about the possibility of a winter trip there!) I even asked about the possibility of bringing the cake back to Singapore. Unfortunately, the cake only has a shelf life of 6 hours so that's really impossible.

 

 







 

 

 

Second stop that you MUST make: Kitakaro Cafe (北果楼). Yup, I remembered to get pictures this round, but it wasn't long before I forgot about the camera again.

 

I remember wondering if the god of pastries or baking lived in Sakaimachi Street. First the to-die-for cheesecake, and now the lightest, freshest and most delicate tasting cream puff. It was a good thing I had my mom with me then. I had wanted to go back for a second portion of both the cake and the cream puff, but my mom put a stop to it as she was concerned about the expanding waistline.

 

hmmm... maybe not so good now that I'm writing this. I fly all the way there, a second portion shouldn't have been debated (yeah, I didn't lose that second portion without some fight). Besides, vacation calories don't count right?

 

Now, most tourists would probably have heard of Kitakaro Café and their cream puffs. So don't worry about not being able to find it there. It's not easy to miss it. Not when you see people exiting from its stores with the cream puffs and their signature bags.

 

However, fewer would have known that you can also get one of the best rice crackers here at their souvenir shop. They have several flavours available, e.g. scallop, lobster, seaweed, etc. Samples are also available for tasting so you can choose the ones you really like.

 

The crackers come in slim packs and also have a pretty short shelf life so please think before you buy. By that, I really mean you have got to count the number of days (to your return, till you get to give them away, that sort). I know of many people (especially on their maiden Japan trip) who don't realise that a lot of Japanese souvenir snacks have pretty short shelf lives.

 

But then again, these rice crackers from Kitakaro are so good, my friends and family finished them very quickly and expiry was not even an issue. I bought like 20 over packs home to give away and later even had friends asking if I still had more to give!

 

 

 

 

The third and last recommended stop: Rokkatei (六花亭), which is conveniently next to Kitakaro Café. This is more a souvenir stop point, but the snacks to buy back are worth the snaking queues.

 

What I have pictured above, are their white chocolate strawberries. It's not a personal favourite of mine, but I do know of some friends who love these. So you might as well have a go at it.

 

What all of us (and I really mean all: myself, family and friends) love though from Rokkatei, and which I don't have photos of (go figure?!) is their Marusei Butter and Rum biscuits. I might not have the photos, but they're famous enough you can google for pictures.

 

The Marusei Butter and Rum biscuits are another melt-in-your-mouth wonder. I had friends who made a special request to bring them back to Singapore. I made sure I had a personal box of the biscuits to bring home myself. My parents returned home and found that they were short on presents. I just growled at them when they attempted to take that personal box. It's that heavenly.

 

 

So there, my three recommendations if you ever hit up Otaru.

Well, given we only had an hour of OTOT, I had to hit the top three off my Otaru bucket list. If you're ever in the same circumstance as us, you'll know what to do/where to go.

 

 



 

 

Once we were done at Otaru Canal and Sakaimachi Street, we were shuffled off to lunch. Lunch happened to be near the Tenguyama ski resort. The ski slope was shrouded in green though instead of glistening white snow.

 

 



 

 

 

Of all my meals on this tour, this was unfortunately the worst. Perhaps it was because we just had awesome desserts and were stuffed from that. It might also be because the restaurant was warm, stuffy and had poor ventilation. Whichever, I just couldn't find the appetite for this meal. The fish was too dry and the soup surprisingly bland.

 

It was the one and only meal in this entire trip that I did not finish the food off the plate.

 

 

Tourist Information:

 

Otaru Canal

Address: 〒047-0007 Otaru, Minatomachi, Hokkaido Prefecture