View of Uluru from the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park cultural centre
This was another one of those unexpected trips which occurred due to the timing of certain events. Jetstar was having a sale (50% off!), I was pretty stressed out at work and needed something not related to work to look forward to, my parents also wanted to visit Uluru and it was just announced that the Uluru climb was closing on Oct 2019. So off we went!
View of Sapporo looking west
It was my final day in Japan. I said bye to Adrian as he left early for his morning flight back to his hometown via Sendai.
City Hall of Sapporo
Our first day in Sapporo and it was time for Adrian and I to hit the streets!
Maruyama Park in Winter
New Years Day in Japan is one of the most important times of the year for the Japanese people. Many use this time to go visit their ancestors and pray for good luck.
Snowy Streets of Hakodate
The day after Christmas and we were due for our road trip across the island to the ski town of Kutchan.
View of Goryokaku from Goryukaku tower
It's Christmas morning in Hakodate and we have a bunch of stuff to do today. Me and Adrian woke up nice and early to go take a tram to the Hakodate morning market for some fresh seafood.
Night view of Hakodate from Mount Hakodate
Today I was going to catch a train to Hakodate, Hokkaido. But I woke up a bit late unfortunately.
Mount Iwaki overlooking Hirosaki
I woke up a bit late and decided to go check out the Hirosaki castle. The castle grounds were covered in ice and snow and I believe in other months there's an entry fee to enter the inner castle grounds but it's free in winter. Probably a good thing as there were barely any people around except for joggers and a small amount of tourists.
Tohoku Countryside
I woke up at about 8am and had breakfast. Breakfast today was more local ingredients and mushrooms. I was alos given a fish that seemed to be coated in a sweet soy sauce. The fish was alright but again, I struggled to eat many of the items given. Interestingly, the westerners next to me seemed to have been delivered a special breakfast consisting of some smoked salmon and eggs and ham and other items that seems more palatable. I snuck out after eating only 1/4 of my breakfast in shame again and hurriedly tried to take one last quick bath in the outside pool.
Hinokinai River from Kakunodate
Today I planned to visit the old Samurai town of Kakunodate then later the famous Nyuto Onsens.
To do this required a really really early morning start.
