Days with my family o(^_^)o

July 29th Thursday

Today it was just pouring rain. But that didn`t stop us from going to the Shiroi-koibito Park/Ishiya Chocolate factory. We made our way over there in the rain and walked around the museum and everything and saw how the chocolate and the cookies came to be so delicious. We then went to eat at the cafe and I ordered some of their special hot chocolate. Sooo good and creamy. We also ate some rose soft cream which actually tasted pretty good! We also were able to see the special every hour show since we were there for so long. It was so cute and bubbly and magical. Just really rainy.

Actually, before we headed over to the chocolate factory, we went over to the Hokkaido Jingu (shrine). It was a lot of trekking through a wet soggy park and along a little hill. But I was glad to allow my family the shrine experience as all must see and do while in Japan or any of the Buddhist countries. Well, the shrine was Shinto….but, eh.

After the factroy we went to the Sapporo station and ate at one of the ramen shops. For my family it was the first time they`ve had Hokkaido ramen and were very surprised by the fattiness of it; all the oil and salt and deliciously yummy things that are so incredibly terrible for you. We shopped around the area for a bit buying Marimo (the algae ball that`s so famous here in Hokkaido) and then went on back to our hotel in the partying/red light district. Yup, that`s right, I got my family and I a room in the partying district. But the hotel is mainly for tourists and families, so it wasn`t bad. It`s just that when you get out of the subway to the surface streets there`s hosts and bars and club s everywhere. Eheh, which my friend and I totally didn`t mind because the host boys were pretty hot.

July 30th Friday

Today was Otaru day. We got over to Minami-Otaru and walked over to the music box museum. No one bought anything, though I was sorely tempted to get this cute giant Japanese cat kneeling on a zabuton. It cost about 8000yen though….>.< Blargh…maybe when I get a boyfriend, I`ll get him to buy it for me. >D

Afterwards we walked along the path looking at various things on our way to go eat at a sushi-ya-san since we`re right next to the ocean. We ate some wonderful sushi and extra other things and then went on our way to the Otaru canal area to find the Otaru beer factory to drink some German beer. Beer`s not my favorite thing to drink, but I figured that since we`re here, we should get some, especially since my mother really likes beer. I got this fruity herby dark green colored beer cocktail of sorts. It was okay, I still didn`t like the lingering taste of the hops.

We also got some bakudan-yaki which is a giant takoyaki ball of goodness. I ate majority of it…We got back to Sapporo and bought dinner at a Lawson`s conbini that night. Cheap, yes.

July 31st Saturday

Got up early, checked out of our hotel and went to Odori Koen. They were having their beer festival thing going on there that day and even though it was only 11am in the morning, I got myself a mojito. Eheh. I couldn`t resist! And it was so cheap and rare to see. There`s barely and mojitos here. Plus, it was a hot day well worth the drink. Ah, fresh, minty, and alcoholic.

We then went to get some yummy tonkatsu for lunch and then left for the train back to my town. At my town, after settling in to my apartment, I took my family and Linda out to eat superb Genghis khan (lamb bbq). They absolutely loved it and wanted to eat it one more time.

My apt, was barely big enough to fit everyone. Lol But, sleeping wise, the arrangement was good.

August 1st Sunday

This morning I took my family over to the next city for lunch at the hot springs hotel there and then took them to eat some awesome softcream at "The Hillside Box". At 4pm I had to head over to the activities hall to practice taiko because today was the Kembuchi festival. And my taiko group and I were going to play in it. I took my family along with me to practice and then over to the lakeside for the performance. I`m glad they were able to come at a good time to make it for the festival and see my perform.

We stayed at the festival meeting all my students and their parents there until 8pm when the fireworks started. This was actually my first time seeing the fireworks show at the lakeside because last year I didn`t stay long enough for it. You could go right up to the lake`s edge (where the steps descend into the water) and sit there and watch the fireworks being launched on the other side of the lake. The fireworks were absolutely beautiful and magical. And I`m very glad my family was there with me to see it.

August 2nd Monday

I drove to the Asahiyama zoo today. Since it`s the most famous in all of Japan, people flock from all over to go see it. And we`re one of the few zoos in Japan that has an Orangutan and Kapibara. My family thoroughly enjoyed the zoo. Afterwards we went to go eat soup curry. We then went home to go sing karaoke in Shibetsu. My family, being American, wanted to get their all-you-can-drink money`s worth so ended up drinking a lot of alcohol and drinks causing them to have to constantly go to the bathroom…lol It was quite funny actually. =P

August 3rd Tuesday

Was super tired this morning after all the activities in Tokyo, Sapporo, and the other days in Kembuchi. So, my mom told me that today, I don`t need to take them to Furano. I`ll take them on Saturday instead. So today we just hung around the house in the morning and then headed over to AEON JUSCO to go shopping. We got there, did some shopping, and then went to go eat okonomiyaki and monja. Yummers! Afterwards, we got some takoyaki and shaved ice to eat as well. Hehe

August 4th Wednesday

Went to work today…had absolutely nothing to do as I figured. But I left a little earlier today to pick up my family to bring them around the schools and stuff for people to meet. Then left to go home early. Yay! Mom cooked ba hoc! I missed Cambodian food hardcore, so my mom had said she would cook for me. Yes! Sooooo good!!!!!

August 5th Thursday

Work again. For dinner, Mom cooked Cambodian curry!!! Wee again!!

August 6th Friday.
Left work early today to go home and chill and do nothing. Took my family to Don Quixote in the evening after eating at Myu. Did lotsa shopping and then went home.

August 7th Saturday

Furano day! Went to Furano today on the Norokko train, but it was a rainy day today. Absolutely terrible. But we were still able to eat good foods, lotsa different flavored ice cream and see the Lavenders. I bought some nice smelling soap.

After Furano, we came back to eat at Kohrinboh, the really good miso ramen shop.

August 8th Sunday

We ate lunch at Ibushiya today. We got free drinks because the manager knows me and wanted to get something for my family. So free drinks it was. Yay! Then we went shopping and lazed around town.