Japan To and Fro II

Mood


Noooo....... Why is the black slacks tighter... I just lost 2kg only to gain it back again...


Tour officially started on Day 2 after a great Onsen soak early in the morning and a sumptuous breakfast. I tried the Hokkaido Cow milk literally coming from Hokaiddo cows which ate some of the best grass in the world. Smooth as silk and taste like water. Even though I my stomach can't take much diary products, I have decided to paid whatever price I have to pay for at least drinking Hokaiddo milk. The price? 'La sai' around 5 times for the day. Well it could have been worst.

Our vacation bus.. easily seat 30 but we only got about 20+

First trip to visit the Fish market. When one talk about Fish Market, one imagine wet, smelly area with fish scales and innards lying around and lots of flies and aunties walking around with loud voices bargaining with fish mongers. Instead, we get is 2 rows of shops selling crabs, some fish, dried scallops, sotong, mostly scallops, very clean, very quiet and no bargaining. Well, one can bargain but the taukeh don't lower the price much only bout 100.00 yen or so. Ask to lower some more and they will refuse to sell to you.

Fish market... somewhat different from what I imagine...

One of the things you must eat there is the Japan melon. We bought one for about 2000 yen, that is SGD30.00, more expensive than any durian that I ever ate. Luckily we can share the melon among 6 of us, so each one get a slice. The average price of a melon is around 5000 - 8000 yen, no joke. Why ours is so cheap is because it is going to rot soon. We also bought the Hokkaido corn, which you can eat it on its own (like Gardenia). No cooking required. I loved both very much! We ate it as supper on the same night.

Japanese Orange colour melon

Highlight of the day is the eating of sea urchin. Sea urchin taste absolutely FANTASTIC. The orange stuff just melts in the mouth, it kinda felt like eating brains though I have not eaten anyone or any thing's brain. We had to to pay for this separately as it's not included in our lunch. The white stuff is life scallop.

One sea urchin and 2 scallops.

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What is a tour without factory visits right. We get to go to Asahi beer factory, the largest beer producer in Japan. They bring you around and explain how beer is made and at the end of the tour, free flow beer! There are 2 types, one just out of brewery and the other one more mature. The perfect beer must be 70% beer and 30% foam. Takes an expert to achieve that kind of perfection. I am not much of a beer lover, so i ask for a tiny bit to try only. Think the beer lady was a bit unhappy that i only want a bit, so the beer look flat and no foam.

My flat beer on the far left.

Although my beer doesn't look appealing I have no problem finishing it. After that I go and get their free flow juices which is more to my taste. The rest who got a full glass of beer can only look at me with envy until they finish their beer. Ha ha ha....