Today, I tried Kirin Nodogoshi Strong.
This is low-malt beer, introduced on 23 January 2018 and already sold 20 million cans in a week!
Yes, it’s smoothly running through throat (nodogoshi).
It contains 7% alcohol and delicious.
I enjoy its sharpness.
This is not categorized as beer, but I don’t mind having it again!
Order a box of crab (2kg) on Amazon.
These are frozen and pre-cut.
Defrost them.
Cook them in a pot; we call it, Nabe (pot).
This is Kani Nabe (crab pot).
At last, cook rice with this crab soup: Zosui.
I watched a Japanese movie, Inori no Maku ga Oriru Toki (When Lower the Curtain of Prayer) at Toho Roppongi.
This movie is the last case of TV series, Shinzanmono (New Comer).
It’s a dramatic detective movie with great sadness, very touching story.
After the movie, I had nice okonomiyaki (Japanese-style pizza or pancake) for early dinner.
This okonomiyaki is sauce flavor with buta (pork), kyabetsu (cabbage), negi (leeks) and tamago (egg).
It might look the same; however, this okonomiyaki is called negiyaki: soy sauce flavor with a lots of negi, buta and tamago.
I opened Japanese design Coca-Cola for late dessert.
I had a nice lunch at the Manhattan Fish Market, Shibuya today.
I had grilled mayonnaise shrimp, fried fish, French fries, rice and brownie.
I also had bites of fried chicken and mud pie. Yammy
Somehow, I’m lucky these days.
I received many goodies yesterday and today.
These are from different countries.
Lovely Japanese confectionery
Japanese traditional rice topping and seasoning.
Pineapple cakes from Taiwan
Water bottle from Malaysia.
These two days were early Valentine for me.
Thank you my friends for your thoughts!
I love to dine out with friends; but I cannot dine at a restaurant alone.
When I’m lazy to cook, I buy take out dinner.
Well, it’s not healthy and some are not welcomed such as rice or other carbohydrates.
Nowadays I cook at home.
Unfortunately, most of time, dishes that I cook are not photogenic enough to be posted and these are not my own recipe; I search from internet, mostly from COOKPAD.
I cooked Oyakodon (Family Rice Bowl: Chicken, Egg and Rice) tonight.
I made a minor modification by using chicken tenderloin and with brown rice.
I try to make it healthier.
2.8 million recipes are introduced at COOKPAD.
About a month ago, I consulted how to lose weight with my physical therapist.
He advised me to cycle for 20 minutes 2 – 3 times in a week.
Before exercising or starting a day/waking up, I was advised to take amino acid to recover from muscle fatigue quickly or prevent from any muscle fatigue.
I searched for the product and started taking Ajinomoto’s Amino Vital Pro which contains 3600 mg of amino acid.
I regularly take one sachet in the morning and before exercise; sometimes even in the evening because I can take as many as three sachets in a day.
It is recommended to take amino acid because our body cannot produce it; we need to obtain it from food.
After exercise, I was advised to take a lot of protein.
The quickest way to obtain protein is by drinking a protein drink.
Again, I searched for it; then start taking Meiji’s SAVAS Whey Protein 100.
This is my first protein to try and image of protein wasn’t good then.
I picked Meiji brand because Meiji is a major confectionery manufacturer in Japan and good in making chocolates.
This SAVAS Whey Protein 100 is a chocolate flavor.
When I start going to gym regularly for 20 mins bicycle ride, I became very hungry, and I mean, VERY hungry.
I was scared about my huge appetite which I couldn’t control at that time.
Well, I found out about a week later that I need to make a protein drink with three scopes of protein powder.
Since a scope is big, I thought it requires only one scope to make a protein drink.
Actually, I was making a watery protein drink then.
Now I don’t mind to replace my breakfast with a protein drink and I am fine with it.
Today, I finished my first pack of protein.
There are some days that I had a difficulty to control the appetite, but now I’m doing better.
I bought a new package: Meiji’s SAVAS Soy Protein with a yogurt flavor.
According to the package, it states “Weight Down” and “for Losing Weight”.
It also contains Garcinia, a popular weight-loss supplement.
It supposed to help me controlling my appetite and prevent from making fat – sound absolutely great!
I hope I would experience these effects.
I cook rice and brown rice in a pot.
Cooking rice in a pot is very easy.
This time, I cook brown rice.
I wash two cups of brown rice and add 120% of rice of water.
First, cook with strong fire to bring it up to boiling, then lower the fire to the lowest to cook till all water is absorbed.
Add 120% of rice of water again; then cook brown rice the same way again.
Cook with strong fire till boiling; then lower the fire to the lowest to cook till all water is absorbed.
Turn on the fire to maximum for 10 seconds; then turn off the fire to steam it for 10 mins.
I cannot eat all at once so I quickly pack them individually to make a ready-to-eat instant rice pack.
You need to pack immediately after finishing steaming it for 10 mins.
If you leave it long, rice won’t be moist enough when you heat it up by microwave.
Now these are ready to be frozen.
I can easily heat it up by microwave to enjoy steaming brown rice anytime.
I woke early to go for Onsen (hot spring).
It’s quiet; air is crispy but Onsen keeps me warm.
I love this moment in open air onsen.
I took a quick breakfast.
I picked all bad combination: carbohydrates…but these are nice…
I want to try Wakasagi Tsuri (pond smelt fishing) on the frozen pond.
Today, Wakasagi Tsuri is available only at Kairaku Koen (Kairaku Park), Tsukigata Town, Hokkaido.
We set the car navigation to Tsukigata Onsen.
It’s about one hour from Sapporo and two hours from Jozankei Onsen.
Yes, there are many beautiful sceneries.
Arrived at Kairaku Koen.
We got ready at Mizube no Ie (Water Front House).
Wore a rubber boots then walk on the lake.
There are tents on the lake.
There is a stove in the tent; therefore, it’s very warm inside.
Place a bait (warm) on hooks.
Then start fishing.
Obviously, I’m not good at fishing.
I caught a total of three Wakasagi only.
The weather is nice so we tried to fish at outside.
We drilled our own hole.
I tried for a while, but I caught none. Boo Hoo.
Time’s up.
The shop cooked Wakasagi Tempura for us.
There are only eight (8) and enjoyed each bites because they are very very very fresh.
After fishing, enjoyed Tsukigata Onsen.
I really enjoyed my short stay in Hokkaido.
I’ll plan to come back again.
I forgot to post the view from my room last night.
It was snowing so looked romantic like this.
When I woke up, the view is this.
This hotel has a nice view overlooking Onsen-gai (Hot Spring Town).
Of course, I went for morning Onsen (Hot Spring) before breakfast.
The breakfast is buffet style.
After breakfast, departed hotel for Otaru.
On the way to Otaru, there are few cars parked on the street.
We stopped to see what’s there.
There are tents…they are doing Wakasagi Tsuri (pond smelt fishing) in nature! Wow!
Reached Otaru.
Otaru is known as port city and famous for canal and glass!
I tried making a tumbler by blowing glass at Taisho Glass Kan (Taisho Glass House).
Hon-kan (Main Shop)
Blow Glass Studio
Sensei (teacher) helped me greatly so I could make a tumbler.
After making a tumbler, also made a marble bead at Taisho Glass Beads Kan (Taisho Glass Beads House).
After making crafts, went for lunch.
Walked on Otaru Sushiya-dori (Otaru Sushi Restaurant Street).
There are many Sushi Restaurants on both sides of this street.
Picked and went in Asahi Zushi Honten (Asahi Zushi Main Store) among sushi restaurants on the street.
And ordered Special Sushi.
We continued for Foodie Hunting in Otaru.
Hokkaido is famous for Ramen; looked for a nice ramen in Otaru.
The chef of Tokai-Ya is former French chef.
According to the web, Ramen tastes sensitive and sophisticated and comments are right.
Ordered a bowl of Shoyu (soy sauce) ramen, Ninniku (garlic) Chasiu Miso Ramen and Katsuo-meshi (bonito rice).
After walking in Otaru, stopped for coffee at Cafe Deco, Otaru Roman-Kan (Romance House).
Otaru is nice town to walk.
Now time to go back to our hotel: Sankeien, Jozankei Onsen.
One hour drive back to hotel is breath taking.
Snow is thick and heavy; I won’t see these sceneries in Tokyo.
Its cold out; therefore, it’s very nice to dip in Onsen.
I love to dip in open air bath in cold.
Ate dinner and relaxing on Futon.
Plan to wake up early tomorrow for Wakasagi Tsuri (Pond Smelt Fishing). hehehe
Depart Haneda International Airport (Tokyo) for Chitose International Airport (Sapporo, Hokkaido).
There are many buildings and houses in Tokyo.
After 1.5 hours journey; it’s snowing in Sapporo, Hokkaido.
Hokkaido is huge; we need to rely on cars.
We didn’t make a reservation, but there are many counters for rent a car service providers at the arrival hall of Chitose Airport.
I just picked Nippon Rent a Car.
The number of rent a car is large in Hokkaido; these cars are all rent a car service cars.
The counter is also huge.
While waiting for a car, I found Hokkaido Exclusive Drink: Hokkaido Tokibi-cha (Corn Tea).
This is nice roasted taste.
There is a departure gate as well.
My Hokkaido Car is cute Toyota Vitz.
First, we went to Shokotsu-Ko (Shikotsu Lake) for lunch or snacks.
These snacks are nice.
Yaki Tokibi (Grilled Corn)
Imomochi (Potato Mochi (potato mixed with pounded rice))
The scenery is beautiful with snow and sun setting.
Driving in snow is also beautiful.
Finally, arrived at Jozankei Onsen (Hot Spring) Sankeien (Hotel Sankeien).
Hotel room is washitsu (Japanese style).
Before dinner, went to Onsen to fresh up and warm up.
Then dinner.
Now I’m watching TV from Futon. fufufu
sonokotchi 