25 December 2017 . Monday.
Woke up to a snowy Christmas morning.
Enjoying the snow fall while we make our way to Hakodate Morning Market.
Arriving at Hakodate Morning market…. snowfall continued.
Video recording
The market was crowded.
Goodies on sale in the market…. almost every stall is selling scallop.
Dinning Bench at the center of market hall
We ordered a scallop and observed the processing…
oops …. succulent !
We surveyed the market for Crabs. The price seemed a little higher than that of Otaru. The seller were more flexible in pricing as it approached noon time… And our pick.
We were guided up the stairs to second floor restaurant. While waiting for our crab, we had a seafood rice bowl. The Sashimi (raw fish slides) were exceptionally fresh !
Then came our crab Sashimi.
It took a little longer for our BBQ Crab. It was really worth the waiting…. juicy and we were overwhelmed by the superb aroma from BBQ of crab.
After lunch, we made our way to the tram station for ride to Goryokaku. The snow fall turned more aggressive.
Outside Goryokaku (Hakodate Star Fort). The sparse forest with bare trees…. it gave me a cold ancient feeling. I especially love how the empty branches spreading out like bare bonsai.
“Aren’t you cold and won’t you freeze,
With branches bare, you winter trees?”….George Szirtes
We had our tickets and made our way up the Observatory Tower…. Looking out, we had a complete view of the Star Fort. I am extremely impressed.
It is a big deal to build such a complex in year 2000 when we had modern machinery, electrically powered tools and petrol driven vehicles. I cannot imagine how the Japanese designed and built this complex in 1855 using raw manpower and primitive tools available in those days. I think it should be a world wonder equivalent to Eiffel Tower.
Incidentally we noticed something extraordinary…. believe it or not …. this is Ninja in action.
A little clip on the aggressive snowfall outside the observatory tower.
Our pictures….
Enough lingering …. we made our way down to the visitor lobby.
Tea time with Hokkaido sweet potatoes….it is always tasty…. Oop ! picture taken after one bite !
Exit and passing by the sparse forest beside Goryokaku again. We had taken a number of pictures and I love these three pictures very much because of its strong resemblance to pencil shading.
Snowy walk to Tram station.
Snapshot of icy vegetation along the pavement.
Pounded by aggressive snowfall on the snowy pathway…. the distance appeared to be exceptionally long.
At last, we made it to Tram station.
Alighting at Jiujigai (十字街) station, it was quiet and freezing with snow piled on pavement.
Hakodate Muncipal Community Planning Center (函館市地域交流まちづくりセンター) – A warm and cosy building standing at the cross-street. We thought it was a good place to defrost with a cup of warm coffee.
Entering the building…. we were greeted by a local Christmas tree.
I love the very studious ambient, smoothing music, artistic and antique setting
Small candle light on the bench facing the street….. very soothing Christmas touch.
Lovely Christmas feeling…. I hope to capture the superb ambient through the little clip.
Car park outside the community planning center.
A short walk and we were at Nijukken Zaka Slope
Our pictures….
Stepping towards Hachiman Zaka slope.
Looking up on Hachiman Saka Slope
The quiet charm of Hachiman Zaka slope
Looking down from the top of Hachiman Saka Slope…It gave me a feeling of dazzling silent (灿烂耀眼的宁静）…. or perhaps I am making too much association with Holy Night, Silent Night…..
A short walk to Anglican Church.
Blue Christmas lighting blinked quietly in still cold air.
Everything else appeared to be standing still…. I had a gulp of Cold air and the tune of chinese song lingers in my ear – little girls selling matches in cold winter night)
走在寒冷下雪的夜空 卖着火柴温饱我的梦
一步步冰冻 一步步寂寞 人情寒冷冰冻我的手
一包火柴燃烧我的心 寒冷夜里挡不住前行
风刺我的脸 雪割我的口 拖着脚步还能走多久 （lyrics from 火柴天堂)
Orthodox Church is further down the slope.
Heading towards Orthodox Church.
Suddenly, the cold night sky turned alive.
At Orthodox Church.
On the quiet street towards Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse.
Lovely Romantic Orange Lighting…at the lower end of the street.
This motel caught our attention…we stayed here in Summer 2008….
Arriving at Kanemori warehouse complex.
The same Waterfront … the same Christmas Kiosks.
and Santa Claus scaling the warehouse.
The snow fall turned more aggressive.
We took refuge in the warehouse, had an ice cream. Not a bad idea to enjoy ice cream on a snowy night.
Approaching the central stage… performers and crowd were boisterous.
I went with the music and was joined by friendly Santa.
Our pictures…
The quiet sides on this Christmas night.
On our way back to hotel, stopover at this restaurant for dinner.
Start with Icy Cold beer…
Cheers….. Merry Christmas to everyone !
Cold beer simply matched well with BBQ squid.
Our Christmas Dinner…. Hot boiled Hairy Crabs.
and the very rich soup feast our palate.
End of Day 5 : We started the day with Hakodate Morning market, had a sumptuous BBQ Crab meal and wonderful time at the very impressive Goryokaku Star Fort.
We had taste of snowy winter and enjoyed our journey – snowy path to tram station, the very sentimental Community Planning Center, the dazzling silent night around the Hachiman Zaka slope, very quiet churches and romantic orange lighted street.
Boisterous atmosphere ruled the air at Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse and we were in tune with the vibrant under the heavy snow fall. Cheers for the very rich flavored soup based Hairy Crabs …. Cheers to a wonderful white Christmas.
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