Hokkaido, Japan 2012

Japan has never been a place that I intended to visit in a very near future. The country has also been about Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka etc. Big cities with skyscrapers - just like what I would see in KL or Singapore. That's until I saw this documentary in a Singapore TV channel on travel. It was on Hokkaido, the northern most island in Japan. That's when I decided that I will make Hokkaido my next destination.

My itinerary in Hokkaido is as follows:

18 May 2012 - Depart at 11.30pm to Tokyo with MAS.

19 May 2012 - Arrive at Narita Airport after a 7 hours night flight. Took an ANA domestic flight from Narita to Sapporo. My first destination in Hokkaido.

20 May 2012 - Sapporo

21 May 2012 - Day trip to Otaru

22 May 2012 - Sapporo to Noboribetsu by bus.

23 May 2012 - Noboribetsu

24 May 2012 - Noboribetsu to Lake Toyako Onsen by JR train.

25 May 2012 - Lake Toyako Onsen to Hakodate by JR train.

26 May 2012 - Flight from Hakodate to Haneda. Walked round Shinjuku and Shibuya.

27 May 2012 - Flight back from Narita to KLIA.

This trip is slightly different from those I have been. It is more about food, nature and hot spring than historical buildings like in Europe or modern buildings in Seoul or London. And it was this that appeal to me. Overall it was an enjoyable trip. And I could go back for other parts of Hokkaido or perhaps in a different season.

Travel Destinations Update

The year 2010 seems to be a traveling year for me, especially in the second half - 2 holiday trips and 2 business trips.

The summary list of travel destinations can be updated as below:

1995 - Australia - Sydney & Gold Coast
1996 - Thailand - Bangkok & Pattaya
1997 - Netherlands, Belgium, England - Amsterdam, Brussels & London
2000 - New Zealand - Christchurch, Rotorua & Auckland
2001 - Denmark, Sweden, Norway - Copenhagen, Gothenburg, Stockholm, Oslo & Bergen
2002 - Hungary, Austria - Budapest & Vienna
2002 - Hong Kong
2004 - Thailand - Chiangmai
2005 - South Korea
2006 - Thailand - Chiangmai
2007 - Thailand - Phuket
2008 - Indonesia - Bali
2009 - Australia - Melbourne & Sydney
2010 (May/June) - Italy - Rome, Florence, Pisa & Venice
2010 (September) - China, Shanghai (Business Trip)
2010 (November) - Indonesia - Jakarta & Jogjakarta (Business Trip)
2010 (December) - Taiwan

Hopefully there will be more trips for the year 2011.

Shanghai, China

My maiden to mainland China - Shanghai - 14 September 2010 to 18 September 2010.

Due to last minute instruction from the Client, I have to make this trip to Shanghai, supposedly for a valve testing, but in-fact the purpose of me making the trip is to source for bus shelter for the Client. Because of the last minute instruction, I was not able to fly with the rest on MAS, and was booked to fly Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong.

The first and last day was basically for traveling and the only time for sight-seeing in the fourth day. We covered 3 spots in one day. Starting the day in City God Temple (城隍庙) area, then lunch. After lunch, Shanghai World Expo and finally the Nanjing Pedestrian Walk to the Bund.





Shanghai World Expo 2010





Our very own Malaysia Pavillion

Indonesia


The Chinese Pavilion, the most popular of the Expo. You need to make a reservation in order to get into the pavilion.






















The futuristic Saudi Pavilion - 4 hours queue to get in













Taiwan - another 4 hours queue to enterf















The Magnificent Lupu Bridge








What to do when you dead tired in the Expo? You can either lie down on one of the many benches, like this below:


or, get one of these stools which are sold outside the Expo:

Ireland Pavillion

Outside the Norway Pavillion

Inside the Norway Pavillion

We only managed to get into 5 pavilions: Malaysia, New Zealand, Mongolia, Nepal and Norway. Queue time for the 5 pavilions: 20 mins, 5 mins, 0 min, 5 mins and 10 mins respectively.

Queue time for some of the more popular ones are: Japan, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan - 4 hours.



Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street- This is Shanghai at night for you (夜上海)

Getting out from the Metro Line 2 at the People's Center Station, will lead you to this famous shopping strip in Shanghai. Walking down to the end of the road will lead you the famous Shanghai Bund. To me, the Bund really lives up to its name. I was completely overwhelmed by the sight and lighting of the Bund. A highlight for Shanghai at night.










One thing impress me a lot. It is cleanliness of the city. This is cleaning up of the street when everyone leaves.