Summer Beach- Bikuni 美国, Shakotan 積丹北海道

Occasion: Summer Holiday International English Village 

(Organised by Hokkaido University Faculty of Education)

When: August 20-21, 2011

Time: 7am (Day 1) to 3pm (Day 2)

Venue: Bikuni Beach, Shakotan

As an international student in Hokkaido University, one will never get bored studying here as there are plenty of interesting and cultural programs offered by the university to gather both the international students and locals here for fun and exciting activities. Just this weekend, I am privileged to go for a summer beach holiday with the local elementary school kids from Sapporo and Bikuni. To be frank with you, I am not one that is comfortable with children especially a bus FULL of all these little monsters!! Even more intimidating, these lil monsters are all the time throwing questions at you in their rapid Japanese!! I was more looking forward to the snorkeling activity stated in the trip itinerary. I really miss our gorgeous beaches back in Malaysia. BUT I was proven wrong by the end of the trip!!!! My highlight of the trip was actually the wonderful moment spent with these children (: *super hearts them all*

Had less than 2 hours of sleep the night before the trip and it was amazing that i didn't wake up late and miss the bus ride. LOL. Took my car motion sickness pill and was knocked out the entire 2 hours journey. 

Check out the refreshing scenery out of city (:
Just looking at the water, I want to jump in and swim away

Upon arrival, we were briefed on the activities and itinerary of the day. Then, we changed to our swim wear and head out to the beach (: Woot woot!!

Happy to be embracing the summer beach breeze (:

Obligatory pose for the camera

Each of the international students were assigned to children who we grouped together to form a 'Buddy' system. I have 2 of the cutest and mischievous buddies ever!!! Both of them came over to ask me to be their 'Buddy' just right after the facilitator yelled "START"... so i have to admit.. i am very flattered by the invitation of these 2 'lil monsters' (:

Posing with my buddies: Saki-chan and Zena-chan (:

So once at the beach, we put on our wet suits and snorkel away looking for fugu (blowfish)!! I was acting just as excited as the kids i tell ya!! hahahahaha... and YES!! We did spot so many fugu in the clear water... it was AWESOME to the max!! (:

Buddies picture wearing our wet suit after the snorkeling session

FYI, the wet suit was so hard to put on!! Oh My... i think i lost almost 1000 calories just putting them on.. and another 2000 calories helping the kids putting on theirs... I almost died from exhaustion..

Of course... the adults have a little fun of their own as well.. hehe

I can't say it is comparable to the beaches back home but it is
still beautiful enough for me (:

Another 2 of my favorite kids... these 2 'belongs' to
my friend... they are super sweet to the max!!

We also had a good laugh burying my fren with sand... especially the kids were squealing in delight doing it.. hahahaha... their laughter were so contagious.. they can make you feel all warm and happy.. (:

Thank you, Gie for offering to be the victim LOL

Kids and adults all teaming up to bury her under.. 

the end results.. LOL

I even brought along my シャボン玉 along so the kids and I can have a little fun blowing bubbly loves all along the shore of Bikuni beach (: 

As the saying goes.. "Sharing is Caring"... so let's spread some bubbly love to the locals in Bikuni (:

Super warm feelings looking at them amusing
themselves with the love bubbles (:

Even the other kids joined in and the boys were busy bursting the girls'
bubbles .. LOL *pun intended* hehe

Wonderful skyline of this little beach town

At the end of snorkeling session, we all gathered back at the
community centre and does many other activities with the children

Here's me helping the kids work on the Welcome Board.
It was a real coincidence that we all wore purple too.. hehe

The kids also busy taking pictures of us with their mobile phones
We felt like a celebrity getting paparazzi-ed LOL

Super cute Misaki-chan here is super smart and beautiful.
She has the most gorgeous eyes i've ever seen and she was drawing
a picture of moi right here (:

On Day 2, the children had to attend the life saving courses and the adults are allowed to roam freely around the area. 

Me and the board showing the co-organiser of the life saving
course of this program

The giant 'buddies' of this 'English Village' program.. 

Strolling along the beach shore area

Fishing boats around the port arena

The lights hanging on top of the boats are used to attract
squid and cuttlefishes

Summer love for the beach (:

Group photo of the 'English Village' participants

bringing home with me wonderful memories..  (: 

I went to Bikuni, Shakotan with a different expectation, and i left there gaining more than what i was expecting... Thank you to the young innocence of these children... I love this feeling (:

"While we try to teach our children all about life, Our children teach us what life is all about." ~Angela Schwindt~

Cocoro 心 Soup Curry + Summer Bubbles

Occasion: To feed the hungry me

When: One lovely summer afternoon

Venue: Cocoro 心 Soup (URL: Click Here)

Add: Sapporo- Shi, Kita-ku Kita 15 Nishi 4

Summer love... I am currently having a love affair with the famous Hokkaido soup curry... For those that does not know what is 'Soup Curry'??!!! *horror* 

"How could you??!!" tsk tsk...

Soup curry is a bowl of yummilicious liquid curry that is filled with home grown Hokkaido fresh vegetables (sometimes complimented with meat and seafood) served with rice. Soup curry is also one of the specialties you can find in Sapporo. A definite must-try cuisine for everyone that visits here. Highly recommended by moi (:

Soup Curry: "How to"

• First, choose your soup base (if options are offered)
• Choose your mains (vegetables/ meat/ seafood/ others)
• Choose your level of spiciness (may differs from level 0- 50)- pick level 3-5 to be safe.. if you pick any higher than that, you are at your own risk *disclaimer made*
• Choose the size of your rice (small to normal portion usually are FOC, but if you are a big eater who wants 1/2kg of rice *go figure*, some establishments charge you for a minimal fee)
• Choose your favorite topping to go with it (Optional)- popular toppings recommended: CHEESE, egg, mushroom, extra potatoes and vegetables
• Lastly, place your order and wait for the yummy to be served (:

I've been hunting for good soup curry all around Sapporo for super yummilicious soup curry and to date.. not one has failed me just yet but encouraging my love affair with it even further.. hehehe

Anyway, I've chanced upon checking out Cocoro Soup Curry Cafe just this week after hearing some rave review on it from Facebook and online.. so i decided to drag my friend over there to try it out with me.. and besides.. it is just 3 blocks down my house.. how convenient (: 

the restaurant is very nice and cosy looking and equipped with air conditioning (crucial utility to have during the summer heat in Japan.. hehe)..

It is not difficult to find at all as it is located just a few meters off the corner of the main street.. anyway.. i forgot to take a picture of the shop front.. thousand apologies.. but i promise you that it is definitely easy to spot! (:

the extensive menu displaying their offer

My fren ordered seafood soup curry with egg, mushroom and
cheese topping as sides 

Surprisingly, the cheese topping here is a served separately from the soup curry. It consists of mixed cheese and it's to your own liking on the amount you want to put into your soup. As for my case, of course with no second thoughts.. i dumped my whole serving in.. hehehe.. now u know how i gained those stupid kilos from.... BAH!!

I have to admit.. i am liking it very much (:

this is what i ordered, chicken soup curry and cheese topping as side.. 

I always tend to order chicken soup curry if it is my first time to try out that restaurant.. i guess it is the best way to make comparison on the dish cos every soup curry restaurant will definitely serve chicken as main. But to be truthful, I always prefer my chicken soup curry from Picante instead cos they served DEEP FRIED CHICKEN!! Yay!! and it was done to perfection almost similar to the famous ayam goreng mamak and nasi bojari fried chicken at Madam Kwan's that i craved so much from home..  will blog more on that in my next post (; 

Obligatory picture with the food.. (: 

the restaurant cosy interior.. i especially love the open
kitchen concept.. check out the chef at the back on the left!

 I have this thing with open kitchen concept design cos i love the idea of able to see/ admire the chef diligently working to prepare your food with so much precision and passion.. well that's just me.. I'm totally fine dining at places where i can't see my chef cooks too.. hahaha.. #justsaying

Anyway, lunch at Cocoro was good and i enjoyed dining there very much. The price is pretty much reasonable and similar to other soup curry restaurants around the area. I think my bill came up to ¥960 (soup curry) + ¥100 (cheese). Fairly priced for a good lunch *burp* (:

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After lunch... i found my new summer toy to play with!! シャボン玉！！！！！My new toy!! I got excited with it that i bought myself enough to give away to the whole village kids.. but NO way I'm going to do that!! it's all mine and mine and MINE!! *selfish*

If you see a silly crazy girl walking around spreading her love with her bubbles.. yup.. that's moi alrite.. u are very much welcome to cross the street opposite in order to avoid the crazy me.. hahahahahah...

Getting excited playing with my bubbles (:

See that silly joy on my face!! Gosh!
i love being a kid again!!

Wheee... making bubbly love (:

With that, i end my sunny afternoon post of yummy soup curry and bubbles...... Simple things like these make me grow fonder of Sapporo more and more every single day.

"The world's a bubble, and the life of man less than a span." 

~Francis Bacon, Sr.~