The road for the last stretch of the Mt. Baker Highway was completely clear. The sun had been shining for the past two days. With avalanche danger being low, Monday was a perfect day to head up to Artist Point.
Tag: Winter
Hiking: Oyster Dome
There’s a 3-mile uphill gravel road between the freeway and Samish Overlook. With a low clearance vehicle, we drove very carefully . Continue reading “Hiking: Oyster Dome”
Christmas in Seattle
It is true I don’t write enough about Seattle. I figured everyone else has already done that. Only this past Sunday when the rain finally stopped, I decided to venture out and play tourist for a day.
First things first, a good lunch at the Pike Place Market Atrium Kitchen.
Assortment of Appetizer: Chirashi sushi, Pinecone shaped taro
Assortment of Appetizer: Chirashi sushi, Pinecone shaped taro
Appetizer: Japanese egg omelet in crab sauce
Grilled Dish: Braised duck breast with Miso and red wine sauce
Noodle Dish: Buckwheat noodle (Toshikoshi Soba)
Dessert: Mochi stuffed with sweet red bean paste and strawberry
Shirakawa-go in the Snow
After spending a bitter-cold and somewhat uncomfortable night in our farmhouse, we woke up to a pleasant surprise!
Looking out the window
The snow was coming down like down feathers… Continue reading “Shirakawa-go in the Snow”
Japanese Farmhouse Stay
The best way to experience Shirakawa-go is to stay overnight at one of the farmhouses.
A Foodie’s Day in Takayama
The best street food I had in Takayama is Hida Beef Sushi
Hida Beef comes from the black-haired cattle of Gifu Prefecture. It is known for its beautiful marble pattern, luscious color and delicate texture. Continue reading “A Foodie’s Day in Takayama”
Sake Brewery Gathering
Sometimes the best moment of a trip comes from spontaneity.
While touring a sake brewery in Takayama, we found a flyer for the “Hida Region Sake Brewery Gathering” 藏元試飲會. We decided to check it out.
Takayama in a Day – Afternoon
Next to the float museum, Sakurayama Hachiman-gū (桜山八幡宮), dates back to the fourth century.
An Afternoon to Remember
Traveling – It leaves you speechless , then turns you into a storyteller.
-Ibn Battuta
Before exiting the snow monkey park, we made a brief stop along the running creek and found a big cluster of ice formation next to a steaming pool.
A rainbow appeared…… Continue reading “An Afternoon to Remember”
Red-crowned Cranes -Part 1
Japanese red-crowned cranes(丹頂鶴 Tancho) were almost hunted to extinction at the beginning of the 20th century for their stunning plumage. Miraculously, in 1926, a group of 20 resident cranes was discovered in the marshes around Kushiro. Since then, various conservation efforts, including artificial feeding during winter, hunting prohibition, and habitat conservation, have brought the population back to over a thousand.
We arrived at Akan International Crane Center one hour before feeding time. A dozen photographers had already set up their equipment along the two level observation desk.
Juvenile crane resembles adults but had brownish head and neck Continue reading “Red-crowned Cranes -Part 1”
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