Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Friday, February 09, 2007

Day Three, Ishiya Chocolate Factory at Shiroi Koibito

Treking through the snow to go to the Chocolate Factory


Production Line



Make your own Chocolate Creation Studio
Leaving the Chocolate Factory

This place was pretty cool! It reminded me of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. There were all kinds of cool chocolate snacks! The museum explained how chocolate was discovered and how it got to Japan. We also got to see how it was made and we got to see the production line. At the end of the self-guided tour, there was a restaurant. Me and Soco enjoyed a sip of hot chocolate, chocolate cake and muffins. We didn't get a chance to make our own chocolate creation because Nayeli is too young to enjoy an activity like that. It was really fun!

Link to The Ishiya Chocolate Factory

Nayeli was attacked by a Seahawk!

Wound on her hand

Last weekend, Soco took Nayeli out in town on the stroller. Somehow, a greedy seahawk (Umitaka) swooped down and fought her for her cookie! Nayeli cried and cried! Poor Nayeli :(

She is okay now.

Thursday, February 08, 2007

Day Two, Snow Festival and Beer Garden in Sapporo

Sapporo's Beer Museum - How they make beer display.

Old Sapporo Beer Factory

Me and Nayeli inside an Igloo
Disney's Snow Sculpture


From what I hear, the Sapporo Snow Festival all started mid-1900s when a bunch of college students started sculpting figures in the snow. It got so popular that it became commercialized to what it is today. Now, some of the spectacular snow sculptures were funded and built by corporations such as Disney. It turns out that most of them are so big, that they double as a stage. I missed out on the Disney show because it was too darn cold and snowy.

Japan's Imperial Palace

Nayeli is having fun looking at snow sculptures

Monday, February 05, 2007

Day One, The Snow Festival in Sapporo

Nayeli has no idea that she will be riding on an airplane for the first time in her life.
Outside the JR Sapporo Station. Feb 05, 2007
That trip wore Nayeli out!
TV Tower at night
Susukino Site, the most urbanized area north of Tokyo.
We're about to enjoy some good ole' Ramen from Sapporo's Famous Ramen Alley. It was delicious!

Legend of Sapporo Ramen:
Sapporo is undergoing an age of civil strife over ramen. There are more than 1,000 ramen restaurants in the same area! Now there's two Ramen Alleys. They are just a few blocks away from each other. One in Susukino and the other one at Menkoi Street.

I can't really tell the difference between many of the ramens. The advertisements look cool though!

Ice Sculptures at Susukino


Friday, February 02, 2007

Nayeli's Ear Infection



Nayeli got her first ear infection last weekend. She was very miserable and we took her to the emergency room for her fever of 103. They gave her Tylenol and Motrin and her temperature was under control. Soon after that, she got an ear infection. We took her back to the doctor and they prescribed antibiotics. She is all better now. :)


Exion at Shizuoka near Mt. Fuji, Off Exit 7 Gotemba Rest Area


Mt. Fuji from Camp Fuji