It’s been a decade and Gardens By the Bay turns 10 years old and celebrates it’s 10th anniversary this year 2022.
GBB, in short for Gardens By the Bay, first opened it’s doors to the world in June 2012. Here’s a throwback to my first visit at GBB in 2012. See how much Gardens By the Bay has changed through the decade.
I can remember vividly by first experience 10 years ago in September 2012 – just barely a few months after Gardens By the Bay opened it’s doors.
There were a lot of people queueing to get inside. The minute I entered, a feeling of coolness surrounded me. There were a lot of beautiful flowers and plants to capture (see the flowery photos above).
My cousins and I stayed back till evening to witness the light shows. It was a spectacular display of lights and musics. A beautiful sight of the Supertrees lighting up in the dark night sky.
Gardens By the Bay 5 Years Later
Fast forward to 2017, I’m back here in Gardens By the Bay. This time it was in December to experience the Christmas Wonderland theme. The coolness in the flower dome and the Christmas theme went well together.
Again, my family and I also stayed back for the light and music shows under the Supertrees. See how the colours changed through the night.
Gardens By the Bay Another 5 Years Later
Come June 2022, marks Gardens By the Bay’s 10th anniversary. I look forward to celebrating with Gardens By the Bay in reaching this milestone on their journey.
Shลwa-shinzan is one of Japan’s youngest mountains and is also a volcanic lava dome in the Shikotsu-Toya National Park, Hokkaido, Japan, next to Mount Usu. The peak is 398 m (1,306 ft) tall, and still actively smoking.
Shลwa-shinzan, ๆญๅๆฐๅฑฑ, Shลwa-shinzan
The name Shลwa-shinzan means “Shลwa new mountain”
Getting to Showa Shinzan
Showa Shinzan stands next to the lower station of the Usuzan Ropeway. From Toyako Onsen, it can be reached in 10 minutes by car or taxi (about 2000 yen one way) or in 15 minutes by bus from Toyako Onsen (15 minutes, 350 yen one way, one bus every two hours).
Lake Toya is located southwest of Sapporo and New Chitose Airport, between Niseko (one of Hokkaido’s finest powder snow ski resort areas) and the Pacific Ocean.
Lake Tลya is a volcanic caldera lake in Shikotsu-Toya National Park, Abuta District, Hokkaidล, Japan. The lake is nearly circular, being 10 kilometers in diameter from eastโwest and 9 kilometers from northโsouth. It has an area of 70.7 km2 and shore length of 46 km.
Lake Tลya (ๆด็บๆน, Tลya-ko)
How to get to Lake Toya
From Tokyo, you can reach Lake Toya by flying to Chitose City’s New Chitose Airport, and then jumping on a local train from there. You can also ride the shinkansen all the way from Tokyo, a journey completely covered by the JR Rail Pass.
If you’re coming by car, it is:
about 2 hours from Sapporo
about 1 hour and a half from New Chitose Airport
about 2 hours and 15 minutes from Hakodate
Coming from Sapporo, we took the train from JR Sapporo station down to Toya station. It was a 1 hour and 52 minutes, or 163km train ride.
Toya Station
From Toya station to Lake Toya, it was another 15 minutes bus ride. The bus stopped at Toyako Onsen bus terminal, where we continued on foot (4 minutes or 300 meters) to our hotel – Toya Kanko Hotel.
Toya Kanko Hotel is in Toyako Onsen, which is at the foot of Mount Usu is where you will find most of the area’s hotels and shops, a visitor center, the sightseeing boat pier and the bus terminal.
Toya Kanko Hotel offers elegant rooms. The hotel comprises 131 rooms. WiFi throughout the accommodation is available. Some rooms offer a heating system, a safe box and a wardrobe with views of the mountain. A tub, a hairdryer and free toiletries are featured.
At ใฌในใใฉใณใๆน็ใ restaurant all guests are invited to enjoy Japanese cuisine. The outdoor bar is a nice spot for relaxation. Boyotei and Sobakura are situated about 200 meters from the venue. A private pool is featured onsite. Toya Kanko Hotel offers sport activities, such as tennis and table tennis.
Japanese Style RoomJapanese Style RoomYukata (Japanese Pajamas)Direct view of Lake Toya from hotel room
Private Dinner at Toya Kanko Hotel
Private dinner of pork, cooked seafood, fresh raw seafood, desserts, and passion fruit at the hotel.
After dinner, we went back down to the lake to enjoy the fireworks.
The Lake Toya Long Run Fireworks Festival is a 187-day-long display that runs from April 28 to October 31. The skies above Lake Toya are lit up fireworks every night from about 20:45PM – 21:45PM.
Guests staying at the many lakeside hotels can enjoy the 20 minutes fireworks display from the comfort of their rooms or the open-air onsen baths. A special fireworks-viewing boat service is available for those romantics among you who want to make the evening even more special.
Of course it’s free of charge along the lake. But to view it from the boat; the fare for the fireworks viewing boat is ยฅ1,600 for adults and ยฅ800 for children.
It was a cold and wet autumn night. We were craving for something hot and spicy. We had soup curry as planned at Soup Curry Garaku in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan.
Where is Soup Curry Garaku?
The restaurant is located below ground, so we walked downstairs.
Let’s check out the menu. They’ve different types of soup curry dishes with chicken, shabushabu, pork, vegetable, sausage, mushroom, or lamb.
Then, select the amount of rice and the level of hotness. Rice comes in small (100g), middle (200g), or large (350g) amounts. The hotness level range from mild to standard to hot to very hot to ex hot to fire!!! You can also add on “toppings” with the curry, at additional charges.
To savour the curry in the comfort of your own home, you can also buy their soup curry powder mix.
Sakaimachi Street is an attractive, preserved merchant street in central Otaru, a short walk from Otaru Canal.
Sakaimachi Street is about 900 meters in length. It is here you can find souvenir shops, museums, restaurants, historical buildings, and landmarks. Many of these restaurants and stores are in these historical buildings, many being converted from old warehouses. So, not only can you do some shopping and dining, but you can also get some great photos while on your travels.
Sakaimachi Street (ๅข็บ้ใ, Sakaimachi Dลri)
Where is Sakaimachi Street
Sakaimachi Street is a ten minute walk from Otaru Station or a five minute walk from Minami-Otaru Station. Alternatively, two of the four Otaru Stroller’s tourist bus lines pass along the street, providing frequent connections with Otaru Station.
The north entrance of Sakaimachi Street is near the Bank of Japan Otaru Museum and around the south end of Otaru Canal.
The south entrance is a five-street intersection, and it is called Meruhen-Kรดsaten. Formally, this intersection is “Sakaimachi Intersection”.
“Meruhen” is a German word “Mรคrchen” and means “fairy tale”. “Kรดsaten” means “intersection”.
Walk with us on this private walking tour
1. Otaru Denuki-Koji
Quaint alleyway with a retro feel, lined with restaurants and food stalls serving ramen and yakitori. There are around 20 small shops in the historical building.
If you are looking for a great view of Otaru Canal, there is a free observation deck upstairs. It is little narrow to climb up the tower, but Otaru Canal and the ocean is in front of your eyes. Enjoy 360-degree panoramic views from the observation deck!
2. Seafood Restaurant Donburi Chaya
Donburi Chaya is a seafood rice bowl specialty restaurant, which originated from the Nijyo seafood market.
Japanese Maccha Sweets (The GreenTeaMatcha Building)
5. Venetian Cafeteria
Take a break with a rainbow tower ice cream. My rainbow ice cream had 7 layers of a variety of tastes: Grape, Strawberry, Powdered Green Tea, Melon, Chocolate, Milk, and Lavendar.
On the 1st floor is a confectionary where they offer their popular products, including Double Fromage. There is a takeout corner where you can eat their limited edition “Hokkaido Jersey Milk Pudding” made with Hokkaido Jersey milk and LeTAO’s original fresh cream. On the 2nd floor is a cafe where you can enjoy original cakes only from PATHOS as well as plates of pasta.
Pathos is the Greek word for “passion” and it’s logo mark of the sun expresses that meaning as well.
Kitaichi Glass Crystal Shop Set of shops selling items made from glass, such as decorative snow globes & kerosene lamps. Address: 7-26 Sakaimachi, Otaru, Hokkaido 047-0027, Japan Address: ใ047-0027 ๅๆตท้ๅฐๆจฝๅธๅ บ็บ๏ผโ26
Our private walking tour along Sakaimachi Street ends here. Otaru Music Box Museum is a specialty retailer featuring artisanal tabletop music boxes in many styles with ornate decorations.
On June 25,1994, the world’s largest and second ever steam clock was installed in front of Otaru Music Box Museum is a popular music box museum in the Otaru Orgel-do II building in Otaru, Japan. It includes various examples of music boxes as well as CDs that have music box-esque versions of various songs.
Otaru Music Box Museum (ๅฐๆจฝใชใซใดใผใซๅ )
The British-style bronze clock measures 5.5 meters high and weighs 1.5 tons. It was assembled by Mr. Raymond Sanders, who also made the first steam clock located in Gastown, Vancouver, Canada.
โOtaruโ is one of the leading tourist spots in Hokkaido with high popularity, and its symbol is the Otaru Canal. But whatโs so special about the Otaru Canal? And how much tourism time should you set aside for it?
Otaru Canal, ๅฐๆจฝ้ๆฒณ, Otaru Unga
Otaru Canal was a central part of the city’s busy port in the first half of the 20th century. Large vessels were unloaded by smaller ships, which then transported the goods to warehouses along the canal.
The canal became obsolete when modern dock facilities allowed for direct unloading of larger vessels. Thanks to a citizens’ movement, a part of the canal was beautifully restored in the 1980s instead of being landfilled, while the warehouses were transformed into museums, shops and restaurants.
The Otaru Canal is a ten minute walk or a two minute bus ride down the main road from Otaru JR Station.
The canal is about 1.1km long, so it makes for a pleasant stroll during the day on the promenade, when artists present their works to passing tourists, and during the evenings when old fashioned gas lamps are lit and provide a romantic atmosphere.
We started our stroll from one bridge to another. From the bridges, you’ve a beautiful view the warehouses, the canal, and the promenade. The 2 bridges are the Chuo Bridge and Asakusa Bridge.
View of Otaru Canal from Chuo BridgeView of Otaru Canal from Asakusa BridgeWe visited Otaru Canal in the cool 14.1*C autumn season.
Not to be confused with Jeon Mi Do in Hospital Playlist and Thirty-Nine, this is Mido Korean BBQ in SS2, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.
In Petaling Jaya and in SS2, we are not short of Korean BBQs. Before After (a) Meal, go to Mido – a few doors back.
Getting to Mido Korean BBQ
Mido is directly opposite McDonald’s in SS2. Mido is easy to spot with it’s traditional Korean-looking front.
If you’re driving, parking is easy at the right timing. Find parking along Jalan SS2/64 and anywhere else in the commercial square of SS2.
Mido Korean BBQ
The interior has a traditional Korean house and restaurant feel. You’re not out of place, as there is a robot (on wheels) going around delivering your orders.
The seating arrangements are comfortable for 1 to 4 pax per table. If you’re eating in a big group, you’ve to split the group to 2 or more tables.
At the time of writing this, Mido had a few promotions running. Birthday babies get 1 free pajeon (Korean pancake).
We went on a Thursday and so happened it was ladies’ night. If there’s 1 lady in the group, you get 10% off from the bill. Then, if there’s 2 ladies in the group, you get 20% off from the bill. Then, if there’s 3 ladies in the group, you get 30% off from the bill. Finally, if there’s 4 ladies, you get 40% from the bill.
The promotion applied to a la carte dishes. We pounced on the beef, pork, and other dishes. You could either have the meat cooked for you or you can cook yourself at your own pace. We had the meats cooked for us.
We ate AUS Grade 5 Ribeye, Pork Belly, Pork Collar, Skirt Meat, Steam Egg, Corn Butter, Seafood Pancake, Kimchi Military Casserole, Mini Kimchi Soup, and Mido Rice Balls.
You can’t give Sankaku Market a miss when you visit Otaru in Hokkaido. It is a down-to-earth marketplace with vendors selling fruits, veggies, seafood, and prepared seafood dishes in this wet market.
Otaru Station
Where is Sankaku Market
It is the closest tourist attraction (200 meters or about 2 minutes walk) to Otaru JR station. After exiting the station, turn left and walk up the stairs to the covered wet market.
Sankaku market is a short 200 meters and small fresh market. There are many seafood stalls and restaurants in the alley. The seafood stalls sell:
Raw salmon
King crab leg
Arabesque greenling
Atka mackerel
Surf clam
Oyster
Neptunea Arthritica
Ezo Neptune Whelk Winkle
More
Eat in Sankaku Market
There are a few restaurants in the market. In one of the restaurants, you can grab a crab and they’ll cook it for you on the spot!
Donโt forget Ajidokoro Taekda and Kita no Donburiya Takinami Shokudo in the middle of Sankaku market.
Alternatively, you can also create your own seafood rice bowl.
Choose rice bowl size: small or middle size
Choose 3 to 4 combinations out of 10 preferred toppings. Toppings are:
Salmon roe
Sea urchin
Crab
Tuna
Botan shrimp
Sweet shrimp
Salmon
Live scallop
Flying squid
Seasonal food
I created my own bowl and ate seafood rice bowl of sea urchin, crab, tuna, Botan shrimp, salmon eggs, salmon, live scallop for dinner at Takinami Shokudo.
Address: 627, Jalan 17/8, Seksyen 17, 46400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Business Hours:
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday
11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday
11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday
11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday
11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday
11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Kwong Wah is not hard to miss as it is just before the row of houses on Jalan 17/8 in Seksyen 17. The entrance, instead of facing houses, it faces Jalan 17/9 and SK Sri Damai field, widely. It has an open space in the front and an un-enclosed kitchen. You can actually see your asam laksa and cendol being prepared.
Parking is not hard to find. You can park along Jalan 17/9 or along any of the row of shops behind.
If you’re taking-away (tapau-ing), order inside and collect your orders outside here.
The interior is a fine blend of modernity and tradition. Even though the flooring is an antique and old pattern, yet it feels modern. The neon lights and lightings around the inside brings up the place from inside and add a touch to it.
Kwong Wah Ais Kacang
Bringing the taste of Melaka to PJ. Authentic gula melaka Ice Kacang using our secret family recipe handed down through generations since 1939.
Have a taste of their “must eat” and “our signature” food. Start with sour – Asam Laksa. End with sweet – Cendol. Both are filling together or on their own, separately.
When Ma Maison Ebisu at Lot 10, Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur opened, I was first introduced to tonkatsu. What is tonkatsu? A Japanese dish of meat coated in breadcrumbs and fried.
All set meals come with rice, tonjiru (miso soup with pork), cabbage, and pickles:
Rosu Katsu (Deep Fried Pork Loin)
Hire Katsu (Deep Fried Pork Fillet)
Okonomi Katsu (Variety Katsu)
Iroiro Katsu (Assorted Katsu)
Rosu Katsu (Deep Fried Pork Loin with Cheese)Sakana Set (Deep Fried White Fish)
If youโre coming from Lot 10 parking lot, take the escalator or lift from the 5th, 6th, 7th, or 8th floor down to the 4th floor. But if youโre coming from the Bukit Bintang MRT or monorial, take the escalator or lift from the ground floor up to the 4th floor. The 4th floor is also known as Js Gate Dining, where there are only Japanese food on this level in Lot 10.
Then in 2019, when I was holidaying in Japan, I ate the tonkatsu at Tonkatsu Wako Pole Town, Sapporo, Hokkaido.
