For our year end trip, we went to Hokkaido for a week and had loads of fun in the freezing temps. And because it was part company trip for Terry`s staff, there was a total of 9 of us including Gabe. And of course, as fun as it was, it was also a long long journey especially with a baby in tow, who by the way couldn`t fly, so we all had to go the long way: Bus, Train, Cruise, Car.
Started our epic journey on a Friday morn, 28th Dec. Took a train to Tokyo station and from there checked in for our 2hour bus ride to the ferry terminal. Gabe was pretty Ok, just a little noise here n there but we managed to shut him up with some munchies. Cruise, sounds luxurious huh....but the one we took, was a more fuss free type. Not like Royal Caribbean or Star Cruise. We took the 4 person room coz all tickets were sold out. The cruise took 16 hours to reach Hokkaido. From there, it was another bus ride to our hotel in Sapporo City, 2hours away.
We stayed at Ramada Hotel for 3 nights, a very convenient hotel right at Susukino. And a nice hotel too. First night, it was our company dinner and we had it at Nanda, a seafood grill restaurant just opposite our hotel....it was superb. Attacked the crabs like there was no tomorrow...Gabe stuffed himself too....with his biscuits and cake. This was also the very same restaurant we went to 3 years back with the YAP family.
After the meal, it was free time, so everyone did what they wanted, Terry, Gabe & I went back to hotel to rest...it had been a long long day.
Waiting to board our bus to ferry terminal
Cruise ship lobby
Our room
See the Moo Moo Cow? Yup that`s where Gabe & I slept
Gabe & Esther GuGu playing
His fave spot and loved the view
Having his meal spot
The cafeteria area
Gabe being Cheeky
Waiting to get off the ferry, had to wrap him up like a dumpling coz it was so cold and snowing outside. He was so angry having had to wear the beanie which he tried to take off multiple times
From here, we took a bus to Sapporo City and then a cab to our hotel. Took a bit of a rest, then made our way to dinner, seafood buffet...yummy yummy. After that i called it a night. Some went on to have their own fun. Next day, off we went to the Shiroi Koibito Factory where the yummy world of chocolate awaits us. Then, we had yummy Sapporo ramen. Then, we went to Mt Moiwa hoping to get up the cable car, but unfortunately, it was closed that day. So, instead we went shopping at the town area.
Lil rascal having his dinner earlier so that I could enjoy my 90minutes of precious buffet time
His dinner: Hamburg Rice
At the Sapporo TV tower area
Yummy dinner
Gabe mucking around with Mummy...
With cousin Sebas at fountain of Shiroi Koibito
Gabe was so tired, fell asleep
Waiting for our desserts
Delicious cakes of all kinds
We did manage to get to Mt Moiwa the next day & took the cable car up. But we stayed outside just long enough to capture few photos, too cold and Gabe wasn`t too happy about it
Otaru is the famed canal area...when we went 3 years back, the weather was wonderful, not too hot and not too cold, just perfect. This time round, i could hardly recognise the area in winter. And on that day itself, the snow fall was heavy. We were deciding whether to leave or not since walking in such conditions was so tough and slippery. Gabe kept whimpering too coz of the cold wind. In the end, we decided to just stay awhile and each carried umbrella. Oh yes, i took a slip n fell on my arse while carrying Gabe in the carrier. No harm done, my arse has plenty of cushion.
Highlight of the trip: steaming hot grilled HUGE SCALLOP
Daddy n Gabe
Do you see how stiff he is?? So funny...again he hated the beanie
Sapporo City was good, but next day we were leaving for Furano. Again a vast difference compared to the summer/autumn days. Even colder than Sapporo City...but well, it`s ski season...We stayed at New Furano Hotel for 2 nights. It`s a small, fuss free hotel cheap but comfortable enough. And it`s just a short walk to the Kitamine ski area. Here, we had ramen and lots of curry, which seems to be a staple diet in Furano...but again, we were here on 1st & 2nd Jan, so many shops were closed. Unfortunately i didn`t try to ski. I well, didn`t really enjoy the too cold weather, n poor Gabe was miserable mostly outdoors, often burrowing his head n face into my chest and falling asleep that way.
But we did catch the Winter Wonderland festival in Furano, where they had Ice bars, family activities and loads of rides for kids. Obviously Gabe wasn`t game for any.
Inside the ICe Bar
Our drinks
Some of the yummy food we had there
At the Ningle Terrace area at Furano New Prince Hotel
Tea Break: Coffee and Apple Pie
His Majesty in Happier Mood
Long trips are always scary for the parents coz you know that kids especially babies aren`t exactly made for these journeys and there are bound to be tantrums and loads of tears. So i went prepared. I bought these biscuits which Gabe tried just beofre we left and he loved it so so much. And i knew these were bullets in desperate times. And true enough, they were lifesavers. I just stuffed him with these whenever he became fussy or at mealtimes just to keep him happy while we had sufficient time to enjoy our meals. He still loves them now.
After Furano, it was time to head back down toward Hakodate where we stayed for a night and next day boarded our 3 hour ferry ride to Aomori. From Aomori we drove 9 hours back to Tokyo. Got caught in a snow storm where visibility was so poor we had to take a break and wait a couple of hours till it got lighter. Yup, it was a long journey back home and reached Tokyo at 1am. Needless to say we were exhausted.
It was a great great trip, but honestly, please slap me if i ever mention i will be taking any transportation other than aeroplane for a trip more than 500km in the future.
We`re back to working mode again now and everything has settled back down to normalcy again. We had a great New Year and hope yours was too.
HAPPY 2013 Everyone.
