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2014.09.22 | 北海道夏(7A)

[Volume 9 Issue 9, #1944]
Hokkaidō Trip Summer 2014 - DAY 7A of 8
Half-day Excursion to Beautiful Otaru (小樽)
中文讀者請注意: 因為篇幅問題, 這一系列日本遊記只有英語版本, 敬請見諒..
the previous two days in Hakodate (函館) [Day 5A, 5B and 6] let us experience a "not-so-Japan" Japanese city which is quite influenced by the western culture.. on day 7, we went on a half-day excursion to Otaru (小樽), a small harbour city northwest of Sapporo (札幌), in which we enjoyed another beautiful blend of Japanese and Western, as well as the co-existence of the old and the new..
Otaru Japan - Otaru Canal
The famous Otaru Canal (小樽運河 Otaru Unga) you must not miss, very beautiful and serene
Otaru Japan - Around Otaru Canal
Beautiful buildings and shops around Otaru Canal (小樽運河 Otaru Unga) that are converted from warehouses
Otaru Japan - Sakaimachi Area
A nice stroll along Sakaimachi Street (堺町通り Sakaimachi Dōri) enjoying the very uniquely designed and built shops
Otaru Japan - Seafood and Cheesecake
Scrumptious seafood lunch, so fresh and delicious, followed by cheesecakes for desserts

alright, that's our half-day excursion to Otaru (小樽) covering major attractions in the Central Area.. despite some imperfections (no 6-layer ice-cream and Doraemon music box, haha!!), i actually enjoyed myself very much in this rather laid-back small city that somehow gave me a little nostalgic feeling, which i especially love.. next, we were back to Sapporo (札幌) to spend our final night of the trip, stay tuned for the coming up post!! :)

travelogue posts in this series:

179 comments:

  1. I miss this place very much, the time I went there was during winter, the river was all cover with snow, looks like can walk down to the river, but of coz no one do, I'm just imagine that, what a very lovely place!! =]

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    1. xiao ying - you been there ?

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    2. Oh, so you went there in winter. Must be very cold but nice too.

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    3. yeah, Otaru is indeed a very nice place to go.. winter in Hokkaido is sure a totally different experience, would like to go there for a all-white winter if possible..

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  2. I loves these place, it's a very nice place...

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    1. Plan to go there one day?

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    2. i guess she was just leaving a generic comment lah, muahahaha!! :D

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  3. Good morning bloggers! Wow! Good Morning FoongPC's comrade SK. Goodness I have been warned by pop-up and gagged now. See, I didn't mention a word of what nots...... Adoi...!
    I felt that Otaru looks like parts of old Shanghai with western buildings and rivers. Nice and tranquil place.

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    1. TM - Yeah, I also think so. I was searching for the word ... until saw your comments. It looks like old Shanghai!

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    2. But way cleaner I think.

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    3. could be, probably the Sakaimachi looks quite like a place in Shanghai that i've been, but i cannot recall the name of that place~~ :p

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    4. Those old Europeans houses were short distance from The Bunds. I walked there for a few nights, admiring at the many empty and isolated streets lined with exotic mansions.

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    5. i walked there in the day and kena picked-pocket!! KNNCCB~~

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  4. Morning bloggers..

    Oohh, have we reached day 7 already? Coz many posts in between, I also can’t really follow liao, but my mind very fast one, *ding*, suddenly can recall back liao when I think of SK!

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    1. Oohh, sekali look at your first picture, indeed, I agree with you, Otaru Is a beautiful blend of Japanses and Western, nice place.. I like that cute lil’ railway track.. Reminds me of Kz’s favourite nursery rhyme:

      Down by the station
      Early in the morning
      See the little pufferbellies
      All in a row
      See the station master
      Turn the little handle
      Chug chug puff puff
      Off they go

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    2. Oops, I’ve ran out of topic, faster back to the topic first, haha..

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    3. The Otaru Canal looks very peaceful and quiet indeed.. I would love to spend my evening here, looking a the sky, smelling the trees and water.. I saw got boat ride also wor.. Nice..

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    4. Ahhh, I see food, then I faster scroll down, and I see the word – full version.. Of course I clicked on it, just to check out, and I see pop-ups.. Wah, so canggih la.. I still layan and clicked on the options..
      You’ve taken a lot of effort so I will support you and click on whatever buttons I feel like clicking..

      Wait, *scrolls up*.. Full version also still very short wor.. Hmm, good.. Not long winded, I like..

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    5. I like that steam clock.. "Hou yau feeling" wor.. Reminds me of my ex boss who likes to buy and collect stuffs like these, then decorate it at her house.. But frankly, I wouldn't like this big clock in my condo "zhai" la, later "hak sei ngor" middle of the night come out wana make milk for G, then heard "tick tock tick tock - I'm watching you, don't you dare throw me away, if you do, I'll kill you and bye to the cruel world"..

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    6. Afternoon princess....how have you been?

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    7. Me ahh, ok lor.. Once back to work, I very ok liao.. No more depression :)

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    8. ah, Princess Ribbon, I think the steam clock, not for sale leh.

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    9. i guess Otaru Canal is the first place you cannot miss if you are going to Otaru, it's the landmark and the symbol.. and the walk along the canal slowly into the Sakaimachi area was just so beautiful and so much to see.. haha, that steam clock is too huge to be placed at home lah ladies~~ :p

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  5. Morning to all... Monday is here.. have a nice week ahead...
    Ok, back to the post, I think if I follow tours from Malaysia, they won't take us to these type of places... only DIY we can explore these towns and have a relaxing time discovering where we like to go and what to eat... Definitely not so commercialized and overpriced here too, right? hmm.. wonder when I can go to the same places you went to... So nice of your gang to arrange and organizing everything... I bet it takes time to do the "tour homework" so that the trip can run smoothly...

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    1. I think for this Hokkaido trip, Sk did all the itinerary, right SK?

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    2. yes, a very relaxing half-day spent in Otaru, but to say the place is not commercialized is not true also, afterall this place is famous with tourists leh.. but of course, you know i am very "thrifty" so enjoying the view there was already good enough for me, it's a very beautiful place..

      yes, i did the itinerary for this trip, that is why i actually remember each and every place we went~~ :D

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    3. waahhh... mm chor.. next time I can refer to the Japan sifu here if I go... can get some important information... Not easy to organize a trip, I say it again and again... cos I have been through it too! :(

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    4. errr, not that bad lah actually.. of course a lot of research to be done beforehand.. but then with the research, we actually won't feel lost later, so it's actually good..

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  6. Red light district I heard a lot, red light canal first time I see. How come this Otaru place is not famous at all?
    So Thambee, did you pay the 5000 yen to squeeze her breast? XD

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    1. RealGunners - That one in Tokyo la...

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    2. Eh, I miss this lah, got red light canal meh? Let me go back and read again.

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    3. huh?? red light canal?? since when did i write about this?? RealGunners must be in the wrong blog dei~~

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    4. I purposely one... but I still like that canal lah, actually any canal also I like :D

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    5. Aiyo!!! I already knew this RealGunners is a hamsap name for a perverted blogger. Go see all the fat cockroaches living in his bathroom! Muahahaha

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    6. muahahaha!! reading what you said above, i sense that your "canal" actually mean something else, something related to your first comment above!!! muahahahahaha~~ :D

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  7. Good afternoon, bloggers! Ok, I am back after a busy week and down with a stomach flu today. Yes, was on MC.
    Otaru ...heard about it before. Not so Japanese town ... you mean it's influence by western cultures? The place seems a bit westernised too.

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    1. Hope you are better now.

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    2. hope you are well and fully recovered, and can eat three sets of bento at once, Chris!! :p

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    3. Tomorrow. ..will whack the bentos !

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    4. yes!! go go go!! ole ole ole~~ :D

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  8. Pix 1 - The station seems quiet.. are you there by 3-5am again? hahaha.... Love the weather there , looks cooling and the place is quiet. SO, how long is the trip from Sapporo ?

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    1. haha, no lah, not as early as that.. we took the 7:34am train from Sapporo and reached Otaru at 8:23am, about 40 minutes lah..

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  9. Pix 2 - The Otaru Canal really looks serene. I guess it must be very early in the morning. Got any sampan to bring you guys around at the canal?

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    1. yes it was around 9 in the morning, errr, i think there are boat cruise you can take but we just didn't.. haha!!

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  10. Pix 3- The buildings and shops seems very old there. I think this is a small town if Im not wrong. Anyway, like those greenery growing along the corridors. It seems very comfortable there.

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    1. I guess the shops could be selling some produce from the canal ? ny fresh fishes?

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    2. yes, some of those shops are converted from warehouses and many of them are very old but still in good condition.. see how well they have preserved the properties.. err, those shops don't sell fish lah, fish only in the market~~ :p

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  11. Pix 4 - Sakaimachi street - Now, I know why you said its look like non Japanese town. The buildings seems very westernised. Got clock tower somemore. And, the main building on the left looks like some city hall building. Overall, it looks like a Cameron highlands or Fraser's Hills here but of course, this place is bigger.

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    1. yeah, you also felt the same huh?? indeed not very japanese and quite westernized.. that building you mentioned is actually the Otaru Music Box Museum..

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  12. Pix 5 - Not the chessecake but the prawns caught my eyes... Looks fresh too!!!

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    1. hahaha, you must be a fan of prawns!!

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  13. Anyway, I like today's post. It's short and fill with pixs which tells a lot of stories. Easier for us bloggers to comment..ahahaha.... I think I'm getting lazy, will fall from the chart like Manchester United or Liverpool.. :P

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    1. so you actually like many many photos with little write-ups??

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    2. Yup yup....but shorter post too else will comment like siao. ...hahaha....

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    3. okie, then i think i will write short short posts from now onwards~~ :p

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  14. Happy Monday SK!

    Wah! This post also nice.

    Got a little bit of everything.

    (Me lazy to dissect every single photos).

    Hehehe

    Am enjoying your travel post tremendously.

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    1. I agree with you that this post is nice and I enjoy reading SK travel post very much too.

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    2. nice post huh?? so makes me wonder what did you enjoy about this post?? hahaha~~

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    3. Very frankly comment from Yannie, Yannie enjoys looking at pictures. Hehehe Very nice scene indeed, i saw SK has great fashion sense. I love SK's shirt and green pants. By the way, We (YAM) did SK's signature pose when we were posing for photograph on our most recent cruise trip. It was not as easy as Yannie thinks. Hand and leg coordination has to be right then only could stand balance with only one leg. Heheheh! YAM has so much fun learning SK's signature pose. Did you see it on my FB?

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    4. By the way, April was so happy when seeing SK liked our picture on cruise. She told me, "mummy, Uncle Sherman likes our photos, he sure see we following his signature pose" Did you, SK?

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    5. haha, of course i saw!! the girls seemed to enjoy doing the pose huh?? maybe should do that in every place you go next time, that would sure be lots of fun.. but JJ wasn't doing that, haha, he was shy?? :D

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  15. Otaru looks like a very nice place. Too bad I did not go there when I was in Japan years ago. Seafood meal looks so good but the cheesecake really killer habis! So fluffy and NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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    1. Food is NICE!!!!!!! Especially the uni.

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    2. so where did you go in Japan many years ago?? and yes, those food were really very very very very sedap!!!

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  16. Good evening SK and everyone here,

    I got a shock when I clicked on the full version and get a warning before I can proceed. Wah, so canggih! Anyway I have clicked the full version because the short version I can't see the photos clearly and I love to look at the photos. Gotta click something almost like "I agree not to have a heart attack with the long version" in order to proceed, hahahaha. Ok, now I go to read the long version and comment after that. Bye! Hope all of you have eaten your dinner.

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    1. Ok, ok I understand. :D

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    2. yeah, i didn't delete or edit, i just hid the related part of the comment temporarily.. :)

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  17. I like this long version. While I am reading the text, there are links for me to click for me to display the relevant photo to the text that I have just read. Very good! Is this the first post to have this feature? I don't remember coming across this feature in previous post or did I miss out this feature in previous posts?

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    1. I understand too but what did you mask here? hehehehe, I myself also blur blur dunno what you masked here. The previous one I know what you masked.

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    2. Eh, I think you did not mask anything leh.

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    3. errr, this feature was already in a few previous post already, maybe i just put the a short number 1,2,3 instead of the complete number like #7A.1.1, hence you may not have noticed..

      the ●●●●● part is where part of your comment is masked, maybe you also forgotten what you have typed, haha!!

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    4. Yalor, I am old d so I really did forget what I typed in the masked part so gotta wait until you unmask to know, LOL.

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    5. the masked released, so you see the difference now?? did you print screen?? haha~~

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    6. Oh dear, I did not print screen of what you masked so now after release I cannot remember how it looks like when you masked it so I am none the wiser. Still don't know what you have masked! Hahahahaha! So blurry me. Oh dear sure I will be nyanyuk when 60 years old d, now already cannot remember simple things like this. :(

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  18. Ah the famous running man pose on the defunct railway. This time I notice the very bright blue (top part) of the T-shirt. As blue as the sky.

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    1. haha, must have one signature pose at every place at least~~ :D

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  19. I like the look of the other side of old warehouses (#7A-4-2). Ah, now I see that it is a shirt and not T-shirt with the top part bright blue. If it is not too expensive, I would love to join and make a glass craft to bring home but then my skill not good so my glass craft will not be pretty I guess.

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    1. ah, yes, it is a button-down shirt instead of a t-shirt.. i didn't check how much the workshop was, but i think if you really like to make your own glass, it's okay to join.. for an experience, agree??

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    2. If not too expensive then can join for experience else can use the money to eat more delicious seafood there.

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    3. That bright blue and white shirt is so nice on SK, especially matched with green short pants. Looks so youthful and fresh!

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    4. yeah, if not too expensive then really would be a nice experience..

      hihihi.. summer mah, must wear more colors~~ :D

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  20. Ooooo, food. I guess those food are not all yours alone but share amongst all of you, right? Is that Uni (Sea urchin) that I see in one of the bowls? So much, must be very tasty and creamy, creamy, creamy! The Uni here is not very fresh but very expensive so here we seldom get to eat Uni.

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    1. of course that many food can't be mine alone, we always ordered a few and shared among ourselves so that we can try more variety.. oh yeah, the uni was really very fresh and nice, and it wasn't "yucky" at all like those i tried for my very first time..

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  21. HHHhmmmmpphhhh, why Doraemon theme song is not available? They could code one for you couldn't they but I guess it will take a few days and you are not there anymore. :(

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    1. the first shop we went has just got one left, but in heart shape, too girly for my liking.. then in this larger shop, none available.. and another shop we went later has run out of stock.. hmph, really not easy getting that..

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  22. 15 minutes - not too long to wait but depending on when is the next available train should you miss the next one, then better not wait. I remember once, I waited for nearly 1 hour to see the Lady Godiva Clock in Broadgate, Coventry, UK that only comes out every hour. But can also see that in youtube now, hahaha.

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    1. 15minutes is for the chimes, and i think we kind of heard that though not attentively.. the hourly one would be the white steam smoking out from the clock, that would be nice but we didn't bother to wait.. like you said, can always watch in youtube, haha~~

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  23. Ah, finished already ah? Not that long leh this long version. I got time so I read slowly and enjoy looking at the photos and made comments in another window at the same time and without realising it, ah? Finish already.

    Thank you for sharing the photos and taking time to give so much info, especially the background information on the canal and show us the front, back and inside of the old converted warehouses. Felt like we have been to Otaru already. Thanks again!

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    1. yeah, you learned the trick.. i always open two windows if i need to spam comments.. one for reading and one for commenting, this way it's more efficient and i do not have to keep scrolling here and there to find where i stopped and to find for the comment box..

      yeah, i was quite impressed with the old warehouses along the Otaru Canal, such a harmonious blend of the old and modern.. and thank you for reading that much too!! :)

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  24. Love this place nice and pleasant sceneries of Otaru...●●●●●part of this comment has been masked...;(, haha!

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    1. Wah SK now into censorship thingy mask here mask there & mask everywhere..;),

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    2. this is not censorship, but just temporarily hide part of the contents while the original content is still intact.. come back days later, and you will see no masking but original contents shown..

      at least everyone knows what i did and why i did so, all transparent, unlike in some blogs where your comments were deleted or edited, as per the blog owner's personal please, without your knowledge at all.. :)

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  25. This is Day 7? OK I am lost!! Never mind I'll just read this post for now :)

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    1. i know lah, you said the same thing every time you come comment at a random day~~ :D

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    2. Now I know Panda uses template to comment! LOL
      Between the 2 Grandmas here, wonder who posted longest winded posts??? Wakakakaka
      I noticed Panda always leave very short & stingy comments!

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    3. he surely got a generic comment template to use lah.. just like what we did to his blog, haha!!

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  26. Love this charming Otaru city! Nice buildings and canal and the station too!

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  27. Wow! The seafood and cheesecake are making me drool...

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    1. yes, indeed they tasted really nice~~

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  28. OK will read the longer version when I plan to go to this pace next time. Your tips will be most helpful :)

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  29. 冇咗白雪做衣裳嘅小樽多咗一份平實,有另一番感覺。

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    1. 有機會我都想感受一下白雪做衣裳嘅小樽~~

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    2. 白色嘅小樽值得一游!絕對推薦。

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    3. 係呀, 夏天同冬天肯定係南轅北轍.. 有機會要感受一下不同..

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  30. If I ever get the chance, I wanna go to the glass craft workshop!

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    1. and what will Mak Glam made for herself?? a pair of glass running shoes?? like a Sporty Cinderella?? :D

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  31. Your style is nice lah for this post.

    Excellent for long-winded, photo laden posts. Must learn how to do it from you oneday. :P

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    1. Congratulations! You just earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most long winded posts and longest comments!!!

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    2. muahahaha.. yeah yeah, i know i have been very long-winded but i am sure there are more people who are more long-winded than me!!

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  32. nice view, really wish i can go too one day~

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    1. if you really wish, then start planning!! :p

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  33. Good morning SK :)

    so fast day 7 liao....travelogue going to end soon

    Otaru sounds interesting..the old and the new blending together. I wonder how will it be. guess i have to start scrolling and clicking now hahaha

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    1. yes, Otaru is a very beautiful place, i really enjoyed myself there..

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  34. Otaru Canal. I see there is a sampan at the side in the top left photo. Maybe it's for hire to carry tourist around the canal? Like the river cruise in Melaka

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    1. yeah, if not mistaken, they have boat cruise along the canal..

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  35. must be relaxing to walk around the place looking at the shops and sights. Hmm....converted from warehouses ah. Mean last time this canal is a place where ship unload their products lo

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    1. yes, those warehouses were built along the canal for unloading goods from the ships..

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  36. The top middle picture of the warehouses in the canal....full of green. Very narrow looking lane. If in Malaysia i think there will be couple snapping wedding photos there . Saw one couple in recent trengganu trip snapping wedding photos at a lane similar to this

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    1. yeah, i was also quite impressed by those plants on the wall, very beautiful leh, that's why i took photos :p

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  37. Sakaimachi Street shops and building looks very western. Cham...middle top pic reminds me of Harry Potter movie. The lamp post where the lights suddenly dimmed :p


    Bottom right blue building pulak look like cowboy town building hahaha

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    1. yalor, actually got western style and also got japanese style, all blended so well in the same street..

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  38. mak oi......torture ni...hungry liao la......i see all those food......so long never eat prawns

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    1. yalor, so fresh!! the prawns so juicy and so "sweet" lor~~

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  39. okay...am game to your challenge muhahahaha not scared.

    hmm...Otaru not that far la if it is only 40 minutes ride. am sure Fing fing will monopoly the window seat again and enjoy the view leh

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    1. seeing your tip number 1...like that ah.....tiring also leh if standing for so long. Like that hope you all managed to get a seat leh. Managed to eat the rice ball or not?

      If whole day trip or going to spend long time there then JR Otaru-Sapporo welcome card is worth it la. Otherwise if half day like then not worth lo...

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    2. haha, didn't bring Fing-Fing along this time, just a short trip only.. actually quite okay to stand for 40-minutes lah, last time we all take bus also like that.. but i was lucky, half way got people get off the train so i got a seat by the window~~ :)

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  40. central area - aiyak no seat ah...too bad

    LOL...me too will be kancheong la to buy food. so..apa macam...tarak buy the food there la?

    Nice of them to have map with a route to follow. Her our map is just name of place and sendiri cari where to go. i guess over there they are efficient la. cover all at shortest time . so that people dont waste time trying to figure out where to go first

    3rd pic no description geh. Bottom i can see like restaurant but bottom middle like an abandon building leh . Bottom left is a very nice shot.

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    1. haha, yalor, we were too kancheong to get some food, thought if got seat in the train can makan mah.. who knows, stood all the way (my other friends) and reached the Otaru station, saw a very nice bakeries, those bread so delicious~~

      that building ah, sell seafood one woh.. but near the central area, more expensive lor..

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  41. wah so nice looking leh the old Temiya Line. They decorated nicely. I love the flowers. hehehe...

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    1. that came as a surprise to us, never expect to see the railway there..

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  42. wakakaka...you ah...made me laugh...the staffs looking at me liao

    eh the pose and baju ah...you like like Doremon punya friend....was it name Siew Meng? hahaha cute. Some more the setting there really like in the cartoon show leh with the low walls and trees

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    1. muahaha!! where got Siew Meng in Doraemon?? you watched too much HK movie lah, they have "Seh Chai Meng" lor~~ :D

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  43. mak oi...didnt know this Otaru Canal so famous till if-you-missed-it-you -have-not-been-to-Otaru-attractions(fdarn it...so difficult to typre...wish got copy and paste function)

    packed with tourist? tarak pun...you edited them out ah?

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    1. the Otaru Canal is the landmark lah, i guess when you search for Otaru, sure got show you the photos of the Canal lah.. errr, not so packed until people everywhere lah.. :p

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  44. very nice contrast leh ...one side modern and one side old. Tarak campur aduk like rojak.

    Why la tarak buy the postcards? Maybe ask the artist to draw your portrait there. would be nice.

    trishaw also have uniform ah? guess they also have association like Taxi driver kot. Standard price . No bargaining.

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    1. indeed, one side modern, one side old, one side post-modern, and inside is a blend.. so special hor.. yalor, i was contemplating whether to buy those postcards or not, but friends already walked far away, so i quickly catch up lor.. those trishaw puller all professional ones, wear uniform and they charge standard rate as stated on the signboard one.. won't "chop your veggie head" lor..

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  45. Of the two photos at arhe canal i like the one without sunglass better. The one with sunglass looks like Chow Yun Fatt la. tarak see your karipap hair. Too "cool" looking

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    1. muahahaha, no karipap hair that time lah, i cut shorter already mah.. but gotta put on sunglasses leh, quite bright that day..

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  46. I am sure glad they did not fill the canal and make into a road. Less painful to the eyes. Think office worker after hard day of work or when they need some time out while waiting for the next thing they sit there can be relaxing..to unwind

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    1. yalor, the canal would be so beautiful, if filled and built road, then really looks ugly already.. lucky they didn't else won't attract tourists also..

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  47. 7A i think i know what you are talking about there. Like entering into a time tunnel. You go in one side with ancient view then come out the other side...wah....into the future. ya....hard to describe. guess those who looking at the photos will have the "feel" la

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    1. yalor, like so special right?? one side old, one side modern, but all blend so well..

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  48. I would love to go into the Taisho Glass Museum.

    hey you remember or not last time you posted about the display in Japanese restaurant and all of us debated on whether the food is real or just plastic display?.. the ones in your photo really look like real food wor. Maybe they also sell the glass food to the restaurants for display kot?

    Can see they make the glass like very easy but when sendiri wanna make very susah one leh. So got try making or not?I see two blurred faces...your friends joined is it?

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    1. errr, those food display cannot be glass lah, but plastic or some similar materials lor.. haha, those in my photo are glass lah, too expensive to be used as restaurant samples lor.. errr, no lah, we didn't join the class, those are some other local tourists..

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  49. meowwwwwww.....i see meow there! what is the cat doing up there Muhahaha. seeking for something?

    uiks ....no your special pose ka ? :p

    Your bag looks very heavy leh...

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    1. i dunno but just a big cat put on the wall, so cute.. errr, my bag big only, not heavy lah.. forgotten what i put inside also :D

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  50. hmm...nope...i would say why order so little food? wei there are several of you there wor...enough to eat or not? Think ypou all order and share to taste kot? 5 prawns...each one satu prawn also tak cukup rasa leh.

    I guess the seafood lunch with the big prawn is your bowl la..yes or not

    would love the taste of the grilled prawns ...yum

    errr...where is the crab? they put in the meat only is it?

    at the risk of sounding like someone...i would have to say "no thank you" to the cheesecake. yea yea i know....orang tak offer pun...why i no thank you leh ;p

    dehydrated fries??? err...how does it works...need to microwave it ka?

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    1. actually quite filling one woh eating those rice, haha!! somemore we also got go for other snacks mah.. we ordered and share lor, like that only can taste a bit of everything mah.. the crab, errr, tarak nampak inside the soup lah.. but two legs only, haha!!

      oh, those dehydrated fries, macam those healthy veggie chips lor.. can just eat like that like snacks.. but different from our potato chips lah, this one macam fries but crunchy de~~ very nice!!!

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  51. yahoo...music box museum...that would be fun to visit

    wah you really not joking leh when you said ones can spend half a day in there. so many choioces in the number 2 photo. how to choose? hmmm...but i cannot bring J in la...sure habis ....non-stop telling him DONT TOUCHHHHH...LOL

    hahah got sushi pattern also leh...

    hmm am surprised at your choice wor. Thought would be a Doremon shaped music box leh

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    1. muahahaha, if you bring J in there ah, you not only shout DON'T TOUCH but also gotta tarik him so that he don't go run here and there.. sekali run here and there knock something and those things fell down, susah oh, somemore not cheap orh the things inside..

      they don't have Doraemon punya leh, so sad~~

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  52. Otaru Steamed Clock...hmm...interesting leh hahaha....was going to ask mana steam when i read your comment on it.

    7 hours of walking...hmm...you can "challenge" Mak glam liao la

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    1. not really 7 hours of walking lah, we also got rest a bit inside shops and especially when we makan mah~~

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  53. 1. I just wonder whether Otaru is the only place in Japan that has the most mixed blend of Japanese and Western cultures that built so many pretty house and buildings. I was a bit baffled why the Western influence was often being popularly aped by the East like China, Thailand, Malaya and even Japan etc etc. Was that necessary? We never heard of Europeans wearing Kimono or Sarongs in their country nor built wooden huts with tatami mats. I always hurled and posed these questions to poor Letchumy. LOL!!! Just my 2 cents.

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    1. 2. This 40 mins train ride between Otarau and Sapporo is quite far considering their trains are faster than our KTM. The Welcome Pass tickets is a huge relief and welcome bonus for tourists. I find their government is smart yet thoughtful to plan happy trips to welcome tourists like you and me.
      I always have the habit to buy all my essentials from Family Mart the night before to munch on the trains. Their food often looked exciting.

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    2. 3. Now I get a clearer view of the buildings in Otaru. They really don't look like typical Japanese towns that often hang lots of heavy ads and neon signs!

      Hey, I love this Thambee's shirt with blue tones and white over the green short pants! You looked like a very happy Kueh Talam or Kueh Lapis in 3 colours!!! Muahahahahaha Wakakakakakaka Kikikikikiki

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    3. 4. Wow! I love the romantic scenes of Otaru Canals! I would go crazy and sit there for hours! This reminds me of Wuzhen or Suzhou in China in some ways except that Otaru's canals are lined with taller and newer buildings in tiers. What a pretty sight to behold. Was there anyone fishing there?

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    4. 4a. Just read the bit history and surprised that the pretty Otaru Canals were built in 1914. They cannot beat Zuhou and Wuzhen which dated back to 2,000 years ago. No wonder the water is so black in China!! LMAO!

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    5. 5. How interesting of them to convert warehouses into restaurants and business outlets. In Malaysia, it would have become a drug addicts den or homes to the Indons. I have seen similar warehouses in Singapore's former military barracks which housed trendy & high end cafes!
      I love your photos with my handsome Thambee posing so innocently in his Kueh Talam outfit. You looked like a K-Pop star!!

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    6. 5a. Well you will know by now that Anay loves such architecture where they blend the ancient and modern facades side by side. That makes life more interesting without losing their original looks.

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    7. 6. Where is your Asakusa bridge? I saw nothing.
      So we must go to Taisho Glass Museum to see their crafts! I have not seen one yet and hope the chance will come. I looked at the #7A.5.2 photo and couldn't figure out what were the items made?? i thought they were some Japanese food replicas.

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    8. 7. There are so many interesting shops along Sakaimachi and Thambee made the street scene more vibrant with his colourful Kueh Talam outfit! Wow! Anay is so proud to see handsome Thambee in nice shots. You looked so matured, hamsem and hamsap in your Rayban shades.

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    9. 8. Wow! Ichiban! So much yummy food to make me drool. I love the desserts and the first sushi photo got so many eggs!!! They looked like jewels!
      Eh, I am surprised to see the word dehydrated fries!! What was that actually?? Luckily you didn't eat the 6 layer ice cream! Your green pants will fulat and drop onto the floor! Wakakaka

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    10. 9. Otaru Music Box Museum!! What a unique place on earth! Anay will love this place and shop for the boxes. You bought a pretty frame that plays music when you admire Kamala's photo dancing in her sarees!! Does the music blare out your favourite Huch Huch Hota Hai???

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    11. 10. Cheh! Why so lazy to wait for the 15 minutes chime to see the steam shooting out? I would have done that and who knows it might ooze out hot steams of sake!!! Wakakakaka

      Walau eh, 7 hours non stop outing would kill Anay's poor legs. I think when the weather is cooler, we could easily hang outside longer. I bet you guys have covered 100% of Otaru. ありがとう!! ありがとう!!

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    12. yeah, i looked like a super kueh-talam lah.. blue, then white and green.. the blue will be the layer of glutinous rice with the blue flower, the white will be the santan layer, and the green will be the pandan layer.. where can i buy this kueh, i would like it so much!!

      oh, those dehydrated fries, macam those healthy veggie chips lor.. can just eat like that like snacks.. but different from our potato chips lah, this one macam fries but crunchy de~~ very nice!!!

      if they have the Kuch Kuch Hota Hai music, i sure will not give it a miss, muahaha!! so that i can bring it back, and then play the music for Anay to chase Letchumy around the coconut trees dei..

      it was indeed a very nice trip to Otaru, the place is beautiful and i especially enjoy looking at the designs of the buildings, so unique and special.. but of course, we didn't cover 100% of Otaru lah, we just covered a small part.. they also have other places like the Mountain, take a cable car up where you can have a bird's eye view of the city (like Hakodate), and also the Bay Area and the downtown area.. would be nice to be there again.. :)

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  54. Lovely pictures of your places of sightseeing. Pictures of food is so delicious looking.

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    1. yes, i did enjoy myself a lot there :)

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  55. The rice was fully covered with seafood, so sumptuous!

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    1. haha, seafood rice of course covered with seafood mah~~ :D

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  56. This place is indeed so beautiful and now Yannie knows why Hokkaido is such a famous tourist spot.

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    1. Hopefully, JAMY has a chance to leave some foot prints in these beautiful places.

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    2. indeed Otaru is a very beautiful place.. and actually i think Hokkaido is a very nice place to go, so many beautiful scenery to behold..

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  57. From the photos, I'll have to say that I like Otaru very much! From the canals to the buildings to the glass art and the food! You must have enjoyed quite a bit of Japanese cheesecakes too, huh? I am not much of a music box fan but I love glass art! Yeah, that would be my weak spot. Probably end up with many glass thingies to bring home hah..hah...

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    1. yes, Otaru is indeed a very beautiful place and i actually enjoyed this short trip there too.. haha, glass and music box not really my thing luckily, else i would have spent a fortune there~~ :D

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  58. Oh dear, this post is sure very long! Hmm where should I start?

    Of course I switched to full version la, wanna know and learn more things ma! ;)
    And since you already prepare this version, of course make use of it la, else wasted your effort :p

    Yala, short ride never mind, forget about food or seating.. Can take the chance to burn fat a bit, then reach destination only start to feast! :p

    So how you come to know about the welcome pass? Pre homework? Actually I think Japan is so big that their train system is also very large and may be, complicated?
    But since it's a high end country, I guess it's not strange for them to have all kinda of passes to benefit the citizen, as well as tourists (since it's also a famous tourist spot).

    Overall I love this town la, don't know how to say, the buildings might be nothing special but then the overall feeling is nice~
    Eh I love taking photo at railway one, haha! Just feel the background is nice, of course must wait when there's no train coming la! And best is like what you had there, a defunct railway, like that can pose there as long as I want, kekeke. If can pose with other half holding hand like that, lagi got feel~ Opps sorry, a bit out of topic already xD

    That Otaru canal is so beautiful! Gives me a feeling like China like that, hehe, and the canal looks clean, I am sure we cannot find canal like this in our lovely country, hoho!
    Take bridal photos there sure very nice too~
    And got rickshaw for the tourists! Hmm if I were there I won't take a ride with that, I know I am heavy, don't let puller suffer the weight, hehehe, but actually is because since we were a tourist, sure must take the chance to walk and discover the place la!
    Good to know a bit about the canal, thanks for sharing!

    That warehouse thing is nice, very clever la them, they preserved the external look but inside is very modern! Erm you mentioned about that sandwich 比喻, haha I know what you're trying to say la!
    简单的说,it's a mixture of modern and ancient combination.

    Eee those glassed sushi are so cute and beautiful! For me I'll sure buy some as a souvenir for myself. I don't think we can find something so nice here, even if got, also won't look nice and 'original', sure a bit senget or may be color wise not that nice.
    And got class craft workshops!

    By the way forgot to say, your look this day is nice, all blue, my favorite color ;)

    The seafood rice looks scrumptious, but may be not to my liking since I saw a lot of the fish eggs, I don't eat those, hehe. But grilled prawns, yes yes. King crab soup looks ok also.
    And the cheesecake, OMG! Looks so soft, must be melt-in-the-mouth type! I want I want! xD
    Milk pudding, is something like jelly? But softer I guess?
    Dehydrated fries? What's that actually?

    Got music box museum, looks cool la, and inside looks spacious! Some more can personalize our own music box? Wow, these people sure got smart brain! But why they don't have Doraemon theme song one ar? Aiyo, if got sure SK is a big happy boy! :p
    That steam clock looks interesting too!

    So you guys covered all these within half a day? Very productive I'd say, seems like a lot of places to me.

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    1. and a very long comment too, spent me five minutes to read your comment until almost pening, haha!!

      yes, overall i really like Otaru, it's a very beautiful place, laid back and there were a lot of interesting stuffs to see, the seafood were so fresh and of course you mentioned the cheesecake, haha!! it's double cheese, two different types of cheese with two different types of textures in one, very nice leh..

      and those warehouses that are converted into shops and restaurants, they are so nice.. it's like a row of modern buildings on one side of the canal, and on the other side the old buildings, but the back of it a modern touch, and inside the warehouse, it's a blend of old and new.. so unique and special..

      milk pudding, not jelly lah, it's pudding lor, haha.. like custard like that but made of milk and then they put in flavors like caramel, green tea, lavender etc lor.. and those dehydrated fries, macam those healthy veggie chips lor.. can just eat like that like snacks.. but different from our potato chips lah, this one macam fries but crunchy.. nice, once you pop you can't stop, haha~~

      yalor, cannot get any music box with Doraemon song leh, a little bit of disappointment but then overall still happy trip there lah.. :)

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