Day 1: Cousins' Summer Drive Away

Taking a red eye flight at our age isn't a joke...we had to walk to stay awake, if it helped at all. :))) This summer, we cousins are exploring Hokkaido. We picked up our car at Chitose Airport Poplar Shop and arrived in Sapporo city slightly after lunch.

We took Charlotte and Lydia to Ramen Alley for some comforting bowls of ramen. :) There are many ramen stalls in this alley and we just picked one we fancied. It's called Ichikura.

For corn lovers...

Beer & ramen... :D

I love checking out floral shops wherever we go. :D It makes me happy. 

Our stamina for the first day of our summer vacay puts us to shame!  :))) We checked into a random bookstore for a cuppa. :)

And after which, we went in search of kani (crabs)! We are in Hokkaido afterall! :D

We ended up at Hokkaido Kani Shogun Sapporo Honten.

First, sake... ;)

And finally crabs! :D

We love hotpots! :D Look at all the crabby goodness in one pot. :)))

Crab congee tastes so good!!! 

That's about our first day in Sapporo. :) We didn't seem to do much but filling up our bellies. :)

Details of Hokkaido Kani Shogun Sapporo Honten:
2 Chome-14-6 Minami 4 Jonishi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 064-0804, Japan
T: +81 11-222-2588
W: http://www.kani-ya.co.jp/shogun/sapporo/

Peking Duck for the Birthday Girl :)

Lin and I are sentimental beings. We treasure people around us very much. It's becos we had lost a few closed ones over the years. And partly becos it's diffcult to find close friends as we age. They are such rare gems. Tina is one of our precious gem. :) 

This evening we celebrate Tina's birthday! :D An early celebration this year as Tina would be away for business trip and Angie would be in Niseko. 

The birthday gal requested we do Chinese. :) Hence we went Peking. :))) Strangely, we have never eaten Peking duck together before. I wonder why? :))) Anyway we are going to savor it together tonite. :D

The first cut was to be eaten with sugar. :)

Yeah to soup! :) We had crab meat with winter melon soup. 

Wendy requested for roasted pork. :D

Drunken prawns made tonite's dinner a less meaty affair. :D

Tofu with spinach and mushrooms balance our meal :)

Noodles are an essential during birthdays. We are pretty traditional in this aspect eh? :)))

We weren't planning to have desserts but the aroma of durian from one of the tables made us caved in for a bowl of durian pudding. :))) 

Hehehe (rub my nose)...share the guilt. That's what friends are for. :)))

Wishing Tina a happy happy birthday, stay healthy and chirpy and may more fats come your way! ;)