day 3 in japan

this day, we visited the sapporo meiji shrine, the port city of otaru (totally charming place) and susukino street (the entertainment area in sapporo city)...

1. the pathway to enlightenment? am just about to head into the sapporo meiji shrine grounds proper...
2. one is supposed to cleanse oneself before entering (hands and mouth)
3. serenity...the air was crisp, the scenery beautiful...the sense of calmness was infectious!
4. lil in front of the shrine building
5. old-ish couple...either getting married, remarried, or perhaps reaffirming their vows to each other...lurve the traditional get-up
6. out pops the head...the trinkets in the foreground are wish-boards...people write their wishes and hang them up
7. clear blue skies...we don't get them often enough in singapore
8. stone centurions lining the pathway into the shrine
9. already in otaru...miraculously, the crowds of tourists cleared for about 5 seconds...just about enough to shoot of this photo of the tower in isolation
10. inside the otaru music box factory...these eggs are music boxes!
11. the best cheesecake ever!!! from a place called LE TAO...these are light and fluffy yet paradoxically, absolutely creamy and rich...they only last 2 hours out of the fridge before "melting"
12. through the looking glass...i had to tippy toe to take this shot through a kaleidscope
13. in the pattissier kitakaro: a pastry-lover's wetdream...fab cakes, desserts...*drool*
14. this stall was selling BBQ-d scallops in their shell, lightely flavoured with shoyu (japanese soya sauce)...each for a mere 100 Yen!!!
15. anticipation
16. the famed otaru canal lined by the old warehouses which have since been converted to leisure use (cafes, restorants, hip stores)....beautiful!
17. us
18. picture-perfect!
19. portrait
20. grouchy ole fella who was painting along the canal walkway
21. back in sapporo - the ramen at susukino...we had it at this little alley which was entirely lined with ramen shops...
22. fantastic ramen...worth every bit of the moolah paid out for it...