Hara Donuts 安心おやつ。。はらドーナッツ

Occasion: 食べ歩き on a Sunday afternoon

When: One lazy January weekend

Venue: Hara Donuts, PASEO WEST, 1F 

Address: Kita 6 Nishi 2 

(located right next door to Starbucks Coffee, PASEO Sapporo JR Station)

You would be surprise to know that i'm writing this blogpost at 5:05am. Why do I choose to write this topic at this very point of time? and why is this my first post for the year 2012?!  in which, btw, 

Happy New Year 2012 everybodehhhhhh.....

The answer is very simple. I crave it!

YES!! I AM CRAVING FOR A HARA DONUTS RIGHT NOW AT 5:07AM!! 

(yes, 2 minutes have passed....)

This craving caught me by surprise cause to be honest, it didn't blow my mind away on the first bite and it was pretty alright for me in regards to the taste. But i guess hara donuts are one of those stuff in life that grows onto me. Something good to have but not remembering it off for awhile then suddenly BAM!! one freaking morning when no form of life has awaken to embrace the world yet (okay.. maybe the roadside cleaner... or the drunk people dragging their feet home.. or 'whosoevernot'... but you get my point! And worst of all..... you can do nothing about your cravings cos the mall is not open for another 5 hours or so!! So what now?! ):

Back to this special donuts that is trolling me right now. What is Hara Donuts? (website: HERE)

The CNN calls it 'Japanese Boutique Donuts' (click HERE for article)

From some articles I've read, it is also called the friendly, healthy and HAPPY donuts. 

(Read more)

Some calls it 'Tofu Donuts".

Some DON'T EVEN call it a donut, cause it is made with 'tofu' 豆腐。Okay, more accurately it is made from 'okara', a by-product produced during the making of soy milk and tofu. Well known to be highly rich in fibre and very nutritious. 

It is really popular healthy snack take-out store that has branches all over Japan and one will always find a queue at its store front especially in Tokyo. Originally started from Kobe, its' latest addition smacked right at our door step at the newly renovated PASEO. If I am not mistaken, there is another outlet located somewhere between Odori and Susukino. 

If you are expecting Krispy Kreme and Mister Donut kind of donuts, boy, are you wrong?! It is definitely not and far fetched from tasting the same. In fact, on my first bite, it sort of reminded me one of the version of 'you tiao' or 'you zhao gui' 油炸鬼 back home in KL. If you can read Chinese/ Kanji, you would find that the characters I just typed is literrally translated to 'Oil Fried Ghost'. LOL. As for why it is call that, go wikipedia it or something k. BUT not today cos wikipedia shuts down today in protest for SOPA. If you do not know what SOPA is, go wikipedia that also on the following day! And by now, you would have made me very curious on what do you actually know?!!! Do you even read??!! *baffles* Anyway, back to the main topic, hara donuts reminded me of one of the doughy version of the 'you tiao' but not the same thing.

So, pictures of the day to tell the story as below:

Love the simplicity of the signboard and store concept.

There's a sitting area that fits probably 10 pax at most for those
that would like to order drinks to go with their hara donuts.

The famous Hara Donuts!! Yumms!! *salivate*

Little merchandises that is being offered for sale.
Think some proceeds go to the 'Dogs for the Blinds' Charity.

Friendly staffs and open- styled kitchen area possibly to promote
compliance and cleanliness. I like this kind of display. It makes
me feel as if they have nothing to hide. No dirty processes in
making my food that is to be consumed into my mouth! Silly much? hehe
And besides, it is always fun to watch how the food is created. (:

More hara donuts!!!!! Look at them so fresh and yummilicious looking!
They are quite a number of flavors to choose from!

Flavors you can find in Hara Donuts are such as listed on their website.

but I noticed that some of the offerings are new as one of the donuts we saw that day, tomato トマト flavored donuts, was not shown on the website. Apparently they have 日がわり (special offer of the day- ¥130~). Guess you need to go to the store to find out what is the special donut of the day. Some of the permanent flavors worth mentioning are such as コウチャ (black tea), ほうれん草 (spinach), にんじん (carrot), さくら (sakura). I find these flavors so different as compared to other donuts stores. Not only that, these flavors are so good too. Hara Donuts also offer the usual flavors of fruits (strawberries, lemon) as well as sweet flavors such as chocolates, white chocolates, coffee and etc. Prices range from ¥120- ¥160 per piece. 

'Food wikipedia' Tah with はらドーナッツ

My turn!! (:

By the time i took this pic, we've already started nomming. Hence
there's already 3 left in the bag.
Chose the original はらドーナッツ、丹波黒豆きなこ、コウチャ、チョコ
and i forgot what else. LOL.

As mentioned earlier, I didn't find it mind blowing at first. It wasn't love at first bite at all. I found it rather subtle and just a good snack at that time. BUT how the devil it crept up to me at this point of time!! At when I would have to sit around thinking about it non-stop while awaiting for the mall to open!!!! 

YOU SNEAKY DONUTS!!!!!!!!!! 

*waiving fist in the air*

Check out the queue formed. That happens regularly but it doesn't take too long.

Moi posing at the store front. what's new? hehe

Okay. That is all folks. I should continue sitting and waiting around like a mad woman until the time  can rush to the mall and get my fix of this little devils. Happy donuts... HAH!! They're right about it being called happy. I'm sure it has to do with being a healthy snack but as for my definition... I will feel happier once i get to sink my teeth onto these devils. Just as Homer would have said....

"DONUTS. Is there anything they can't do?" 

~Homer Simpson~

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~

Summer Fireworks- 花火 at Toyohira~~

Occasion: Fireworks Festival 花火大会

Date: 29th July 2011

Venue: Toyohira River

Summer in Sapporo came with a blast!! and a blast is what i meant when skies at night were filled up with fireworks!! (:

I can't help but feel awed about the whole firelights dancing in the night sky of Toyohira just last week... we stood overlooking the river of Toyohira and the view was just breathtakingly amazing... I try to make it a point to attend the firework festival in Toyohira every year and join the many locals in ushering new season of summer by donning my best look in my newly bought yukata (summer kimono)..

i shall say... i am mighty proud of myself for able to dress myself up without any professional assistance after learning how to wear the yukata last year.. (:

moi in my new yukata... sweet

ladies of the night dressing up to the nine (:

Obligatory back shot photo with the lovely fireworks as background

Check out my new 下駄 (geta)

The crowd of the night... it looked like the whole Sapporo city was here (:

Summer flowers of the night..

Just simply gorgeous (:

we also met a bunch of young girls dressed up in Jinbei rather than Yukata... but it just makes them look so cute!!

While walking back to Susukino.. my ride came to pick me up *cough cough*

A bunch of us thought of grabbing some food at Susukino but all the restaurants and bars were so packed with people from the fireworks festival that we ended up buying McDonald and of course... beer... hehehe and head down to picnic at Odori... that's what we call "moon-bathing" back home in Malaysia.. LOL..

still trying to look in our best sitting on the ground.. lol

Group picture.. 

Yay!! It was super fun (:

beautiful hanabi skyline..

This marks my second year going to the Toyohira river fireworks festival... i really had a great time and definitely looking forward to the one next year!! (:

"Sparkling glitter way up high, fireworks light up the sky"

 ~Unknown~