Set out early to Lake Toya where the G8 summit was held couple of weeks ago
Because we were taking photos, we missed the bus thats supposed to take us to the Ryokan, so we had to take the cab.. Whats new?
Google told us that weather would be shit, but what else can we do? Check into the Ryokan, rest our feets slightly, and off we went.There's this 100yen bus that goes a few times a day in a loop around lake toya. We managed to catch one and decided within minutes on the bus where to go. We only have 1 day here, so we got to choose CAREFULLY. Precious time.
So we chose this Showa Shinzan stop,
This is the park where we will supposedly see Showa Shizan, one of the youngest mountains in Japan. It was created between 1943 and 1945. This whole area is an active volcanic area anyway. But see shit with the fog and rain.I get irritated easily, like when my birks are wet.. haha
Couple of shops around the area, selling some handicrafts and snacks
This should be Usuzan, not sure, cant rem... doesnt matter.. we are going up.
via the ropeway...
This means Showa Shizan, i think, volcanic village the characters mean in chinese. should be the same for Kanji?
See how bad the weather is. Only 4 people in the ropeway car. 2 stupid couples.
Such a bully!!
Mount Usu (Usuzan) is a volcano which has erupted four times in the past 100 years. Its most recent eruption occurred in the year 2000. Thats how recent this thing is!
A short walk to see the crater
I thought that was just clouds, realised its the emission of steam.. I think so, cos i asked google later on in the room.
I couldnt even set up the tripod cos I dont have umbrella for my canon. 2 Friends of Usu helped us instead.
And the clouds started to drift in, I very scared leh...
quickly run!!
run to the other side of the ropeway station where we can see lake toya ( can see from our room anyway.. ) and showa shinzan
thats showa shinzan from above
there... we can actually walk to the west crater which was formed in the 2000 eruption. that would take an hour one way.. so... haha.. crazy... in the rain?
just below, theres the bear farm or bear park. Had a quick bite and off we go.
where the kiddos are, but they very fierce and smelly. The older they get, the less hostility. Looking at the kiddos they really look damn fierce and scary. These bears are not to be messed with. called Higuma in japanese.
The older ones. 10 yrs old. these are the funny ones..
mixed too much with human already....
You can either throw from above or come down here, and throw the food in through a pipe. These bears keep sucking at the pipe. Quite pitiful. Imagine if they are in the wild, they would be awesome. In captive, haizz...
After being in captive for years, they evolve... at least thats what i thought to myself. like i mentioned, the younger ones are more like their wild and fearsome nature. As they grow old in this park, its survival of the fittest. Meaning, those who act cute gets the most food.See how hard they try to please...
real skin
very cold and miserable. need some hot and juicy corn
done with outside, took cab back to our room. anyway in lake toya should rent car.. transport is a problem...
traditional japanese room
try the green tea she made. very bitter..
wear the Yukata and go around. thats the way..
time for onsen...all ready.
1 big towel for drying up, 1 small towel to bring into the onsen.. anyway i did read the rules and traditions of onsen carefully... im a good boy
but when i go there, i realised the other 3 boys there aint japanese, means they DO NOT know the rules. and i couldnt stand it. i had to interfere, like when the boy tried to pour cold water into my pool. wtf.. F off.
I spent an hour in and out of the onsen, feeling my blood circulation really improving. and im sweating like crazy as well. thats me after the onsen. i had the key but i took damn long. poor hoh.. i love onsen...
meanwhile, she prepares our traditional dinner
tucked in baby
but as usual, do it her way, must take photos
