Autumn Canoeing in Jozankei 定山渓で秋のカヌー

Occasion: Autumn Season Canadian Canoeing at Jozankei

When: End of October, Autumn 

Venue: Toyohira River 豊平川, Jozankei 定山渓　

Meeting point: Foot bath "Ashi-no-fureai Taro no Yu" 

(Organiser will provide pick-up service from this point- kindly make prior reservation before going) For more info, click HERE

I know i know.. it was already the end of Autumn a few days ago. We've experienced our first snow just mid of last week. I should remember that night very clearly cos I rode home on my bicycle from Kita 24 in the heavy snow with practically nothing on but donning my leather jacket that comes handy with a hoodie and especially brave through the snow with NO GLOVES on!!! I had to count my fingers by the time I reached home to make sure I have still got all 10 of them with me!! You want to see the end results of my first snow experience?!

TA-DAH!!!! LMAO...

My hair was so heavy with wet snow by the time
I reached home and yet I can smile for the camera (:

Anyway, back to the topic of our little group excursion canoeing at Jozankei the Canadian style. If you wonder the same thing as I did earlier, why Canadian style?! Well according to wikipedia, apparently, the American calls it 'canoe' and the English calls it 'Canadian canoe', which basically is the same sport. Besides that, canoe uses paddling and not the typical rowing. When paddles, one will face the direction they are heading to, in contrast to rowing, where one will face the opposite direction instead. *now it's time to use your imagination and it will make sense to you* (but if it still doesn't make any sense, ermm... i'm sorry for you)

I heard so much rave about the awesome-ness of the autumn leaves outside on the mountains of Hokkaido and took this opportunity to check out the wilderness by what more seems to be the best idea of all, by strolling down the Toyohira River and feast our eyes and senses with these beauties. 

I'll let the pictures do all the talking... (:

Check out the gorgeous view of Jozankei cruising down the river

the gorgeous red bridge, the reflection on the clear river and
amazing breath taking view of the autumn moutains

Me and my partner in crime, Dino all prepped for take-off!

"Ahoy" there (:

I spot enemies rowing close by... *takes out my weapon*

nothing to fear in the end cos enemies rowing skills were so bad
i almost died laughing!! LOL
Here you see them rowing to the hit the river banks for the gazillion-th times!

Goofy 'enemies' from L-R:
Lan, Tah and Gie (:

Spectacular backdrop (:

It was a sweet coincidence to bump into these 2 here (:
Ren and his gf

Dino, my rowing partner who kept insisting he did
most of the hard work of rowing.. which of course he LIED!

I rowed just as hard too okay.. 

Group photos of the rowers that day (: Basically everybody somehow
knows everybody here except for the honeymooners hailed from HK at far left

After the excursion that probably lasted about 1 hour including prep time, we left the river satisfied (: Everybody enjoyed the little cruise down the gorgeous river line and mesmerized from the autumn backdrop. We then decided to take a little walk around Jozankei to check out what else this small little town has to offer besides being the famous location for onsen (hot spring bath). 

It drizzled slightly in the morning before our canoe ride

Came across this cute little hot water fountain that has duckies on them
*quack*

Hot spring smoke emits from the wall of the mountain here
.. feels so surreal

Cheeky Gie got caught red handed!

Nearest water fall around the area

Group photo!!
L-R: Tah, Gie, Moi, Lan and Dino

With that, that ends our day trip Canadian canoeing down Toyohira River at Jozankei. On the same night, we went celebrating Halloween in town. I've blogged about that HERE if you have not read it yet. GO READ IT!! What chu waiting for??!! 

Last but not least, as true to my common style, enclosed is another vain pic of moi to end this blog post. Muaks.. till then.. have a great week ahead. (: 

A very happy moi (:

"Row, row, row your boat,

                                   Gently down the stream.

Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,

Life is but a dream" 

~Unknown~

Autumn in Sapporo: Ginkgo Avenue

Occasion: Autumn Leaves Photography Session

When: End of October- Early November

Venue: Ginkgo Avenue, Hokkaido University

Address: Between Kita 13 and Kita 14 intersection Nishi 4 (5 mins walk from Kita 12 Subway station)

AAAaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh~~~~ Autumn... favorite season of the year.. so emotional, so nostalgic, so full of enigma.... (: 

How I love the colors, the smell, the weather, the fashion, the everything about autumn.... *sigh*

Gorgeous autumn leaves showing the turn of colors

One of the most recommended spot to view 紅葉 (autumn leaves) in Sapporo is at Ginkgo Avenue. Ask every local there, and that is exactly where they will suggest you go to the nearest popular spot smacked right in the middle of the city. 

Brief introduction on Ginkgo Avenue below... hmmm.. just realised i've been pronouncing and spelling it wrong all this while, I've always thought it was GinGKo Avenue rather than GinKGo Avenue.. oh well.. not too late (:

As taken off the Hokkaido University official website (click HERE)

Ginkgo Avenue which stretches east-west through the University, attracts a huge amount of visitors over the period the autumn leaves change into beautiful orange hue. This usually occurs from mid to late October every year. The avenue, over 380m long and consisting of 70 trees is an amazing sight over this period.

famous Ginkgo Avenue

It is definitely one of the most anticipated time of the year for me as Autumn is my favorite season of all. The weather is cool, the sun is out shining and the colors of the Autumn leaves are just so mesmerizing and full of emotions. Apart from the reason of me able to dig out and flaunt all my Autumn fashion look of trench coats, high length boots and gorgeous knitwear.. teehee :p *short bimbo moment*

Anyway, let's not stray too far from topic.. So... since it was one of those "must-do" thing in the checklist before all of us will leave Japan, I decided to gather every of our close friends together and take some group photography session with the gorgeous Autumn leaves in Ginkgo Avenue as the ideal background. Lan got a bit emo on this idea since it is possibly her last autumn spent in Japan. (Hot mama and Lan is graduating next September.. sob sob)

Here are the gorgeous pics taken. Enjoy!

*All photos credited to Tah, Lan, Gel and myself (:

the trio that has been together since first month in Japan (:
super hearts you ladies 

the gorgeous ladies (:

fooling around with the cameraman, Dino
kekekeke 

Gie and I, super hearts our goofiness
*One of my fav pic of the album

Group photo!!
Lex, Gie, Tah, Dino, HotMama, Lan and of course Moi (:

Ladies of the clan (:

The Japanese loves to bring their families and this includes their cute little puppies in pram for a nice walk around the campus. You definitely won't find this scene in Malaysia. Dogs in prams?!! No way!! only in Japan aitelyu!! We got distracted by this cute little thing... hehe...

now everybody goes... AAawwwwwwwwwwwww~~

*melts*

can't help it but wanna touch touch the boy

early days of Autumn when the leaves started to turn gold

love the contrast of red against the clear blue sky

shadow overcast the sun lit ground

Gorgeous against gorgeous backdrop
*cough cough*

Love this shot of Gel, he looks cool in this pic (:

Not Ginkgo Avenue but close by, in front of Engineering Faculty

It's raining leaves... hallelujah... it's raining leaves

Check out the colors!! Amazing aitelyu!!
Lan, Moi and Big Guy

Beautiful, ain't it?! So, what are you waiting for? Go check out Ginkgo Avenue before everything falls in preparation for cold winter. Well if you can't make it, there's always like another 365 days more to wait til the next time... LOL... BUT don't think so you wanna wait that long rite?! So head over there now and go appreciate the beautiful landscape of autumn 

in Sapporo.

With that, as usual, I'm ending my post with another vain pic of moi.. hehehe..  

taken in Bibai trip (:

"Bittersweet October.  The mellow, messy, leaf-kicking, perfect pause between the opposing miseries of summer and winter."  

~Carol Bishop Hipps~

Halloween in Sapporo

Yes... thousand apologies for missing out on a post last week.. I know i know... it's my bad... 

ごめんなさい。。。

Just checking to see if anyone actually missed me during my absence.... KIDDING!! :p 
(good thing some of you did.. luv u guys max!! hehehe)

Camera has been acting up on me and i was slightly distracted last week... but now am back on track...  

As the post title suggested, went out partying with my frens to celebrate Halloween just last weekend.. it was all fun and good stuff.. 

Occasion: Halloween Party

When: October 29th, 2011

Venue: A Life (URL: click HERE)

Address: Minami 4 Nishi 6 Taiki Building (タイキビル)  Basement 1, Chuo-ku

Celebrated Halloween last year at TK6. This year.. we decided to head to A Life instead. It seems that A Life is the most happening club scene around Sapporo. Don't take my words for it cos I'm relatively a new patron anyway but so far.. it has been a great place to get my grooves going. (:

Was being a little fickle about whether to wear a costume or not because I wasn't feeling the mood for it.. We just came back from canoeing excursion that very same morning at Jozankei (will blog bout this later) so was feeling all weary and tired.. however.. at the very last hour, I decided to just go ahead and assemble something from my wardrobe in other not to be a stick in the mud at the party.. hehehe...

of course.. Dino, Chevere and Gie was in full spirit in going in costumes/ masks... they managed to get the hype in me going as well.. 

So... scroll down for pictures from last weekend... 

Moi as pirate (: 

Gie decided to go wearing a gorgeous DIY carnival masque 

Chevere was cool.. his scar on the eye was awesome max!

Dino, the Zombie!

And with that, we were all set to head to A Life.. 

super hearts these BIG head skulls.. kekeke

Dino and I at the main entrance

This trio were awesome..
but i guess it's not easy for them to move around that nite.. 

Guess who's around for Halloween? Mr. Jack-O-Latern himself (:

More costumes..

Another good costume of that nite.. gotta give it to them.. 

Nina joined us that nite wearing a wig.. I can barely recognise her in this pic

Dino looking very happy surrounded by cute french maids.. tee hee

by the end of the nite..
we were all drenched wet from all the dancing

Gie, Moi and my gold shovel...
ermm.... dun ask k

Okay.. that's it for all the party pics...  as usual.. gonna end this post with a pic of moi but surprise surprise.. for once, it's a not vain pic of me.. *gasp* LOL

My failed attempt to growl like a pirate.. 

"When black cats prowl and pumpkins gleam,
May luck be yours on Halloween."
~Author Unknown~