2018 北海道之秋 (1)－札幌
十月八日清晨飞到北海道，小叮当和大花球在札幌的机场欢迎我们。
札幌是日本北海道的首府，主要的商店街有那一公里长，有盖的狸小街。而二条市场是海鲜街。这扁扁的蟹包500日元，马币18零吉，肉馅没广告海报中的一半，游客变成水鱼。乌贼套餐马币40零吉，倒是实惠。最贵的是帝王蟹套餐，约130零吉，因为我们不是帝王，不敢试。图示的帝王蟹一只7,500日元，马币270零吉，富良野甜瓜一粒，马币90零吉，天价。
2018 Autumn in Hokkaido (1)－Sapporo
In the early morning of 8 October we came to Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan, greeted by Doraemon and a giant flower ball at the airport. Sapporo is the capital of the state.
The main shopping street of Sapporo is the 1 km long covered Tanukikoji Street, while the Nijo Street is the seafood centre. The crab dumpling cost 500 ¥ each, just over RM 18. Size and filling way short of the sample portrayed in the poster. The Japanese also cheat. The squid dinner set at RM 40 is value for money while the more exclusive is the king crab set (no photo here) at RM 130. Since I am not a king, can forget about that crab. The ready-to-be-cooked king crab is sold at 7,500 ¥ each, or RM 270. The popular Furano melon, a Hokkaido special, sells for 2,500 ¥ each, or RM 90. The first lessen in what is expensive in Japan.
2018 北海道之秋 (2)－富良野
今天我们开始驾车自助游，从札幌出发。十六个人，三辆车，轮班驾。我是团中最老的，不必轮班，或是他们不敢让我驾。首先团长训话：“记得哦，我是boss..."。
第一站是富良野，北海道中部的平原，自然风景优美，也是花卉农场。现在还是初秋，树叶才开始变黄，有棵早熟的枫树已有两位暗恋者。
观赏了一个池，名字是“蓝池”，却是青的，原来是青出于蓝。还有一个峡谷的小瀑布，秋色宜人。团长说好戏还在后头！奇怪，希盟的团长也这么说。
2018 Autumn in Hokkaido (2) - Furano
First day on self-drive，starting from Sapporo, first stop Furano. 16 people, 3 cars (2 are 7-seaters). Members take turns to drive. I am the oldest, exempted from active duty or may be they don't trust me. First: briefing by the Leader, "remember, I am the boss....".
Furano in central Hokkaido is famous for flower farms and scenic landscape. Autumn still early, not too much yellow and red yet, but this early-maturing maple has 2 serious admirers.
Visited the Blue Pond, which looks more greenish. And the Shirahige-no-taki Fall over a gorge. Beautiful settings, with better days to come, our Leader says. Coincidently, the leaders of PH parties say the same thing.
2018 北海道之秋 (3)－富良野/美瑛
富良野/美瑛是北海道中部的花卉农场。第一张照片所示的是路边一个农场的青春幼苗，接下来的是“Tomita” 花园的花，它的薰衣草和薰衣草冰淇淋名满北海道。另两张是“四季彩丘”花园里的彩景和一棵叶牡丹(包菜)。
傍晚去Ningle Terrace，这里有十四间小木屋，卖小工艺品。把落叶扫成一个心型，别出心裁。
2018 Autumn in Hokkaido (3) - Furano/Biei
These 2 areas in central Hokkaido are famous for flower farms. Shown a roadside farm with young shoots, 3 shots of "Farm Tomita", where their lavender field and lavender ice cream are most famous. And lastly the colourful field in the "Farm Shikisai-no-oka" and the ornamental cabbage.
Went to Ningle Terrace in the early evening. It is a collection of 14 timber cottages for arts and crafts, nestled among pine trees. Leaves are creatively swept into a heart-shaped heap.
2018 北海道之秋 (4)－大雪山国家公园
早上路过菊花园和向日葵园。续去旭岳市的大雪山国家公园，这是北海道最大的国家公园，岛上最高的山峰，2,291米高的旭岳峰就在此。
我们在公园的索道的上站走了一圈，约三公里。这里风大，松树竹子都变成盆栽，只有一米高。可惜天不作美，阴天雾大，景色若隐若现，拍不到艳照，有几分遗憾。站外还有供游客洗鞋的刷和小水箱，服务周到，大家的鞋都沾有泥。
2018 Autumn in Hokkaido (4) - Daisetsuzan National Park
Early morning visited a chrysanthemum farm and a sunflower farm. Then proceed to the town of Asahidake in the Daisetsuzan National Park, the largest national park in Hokkaido where the island's highest mountain, Mt Asahidake is located. The height is 2,291 m.
We went to the upper ropewalk station of the park and hiked for 3 km. Because of high wind, pines and bamboos here turn into dwarf species, not more than a meter tall. A cloudy and misty afternoon, with a glimpse of clear sky now and then. Very few clear shots of the scenery. Outside the station there is cleaning facility for the dirty shoes. Excellent service, only in Japan.
2018 北海道之秋 (5)－层云峡
今天从旭岳出发，去层云峡，大雪山国家公园的北面，沿途秋色渐浓，真是金秋十月，红叶满山。
层云峡是个峡谷，主峰是黑岳，1984米高，我们乘缆车而上，接近峰顶。可惜天又不作美，今午阴天细雨，不能盡兴游览。山上的树，有的叶已落盡，瞬眼已深秋。
2018 Autumn in Hokkaido (5) - Sounkyo
Sounkyo is a valley in the northern part of the Daisetsuzan National Park. Along the journey from Asahidake to Sounkyo the autumn colours are getting stronger by the kilometre. A forest of red.
The main peak here is Mt Kurodake, 1984 m in height, reachable by ropeway. We went near to the top. Weather today is still not helpful, mostly cloudy with drizzles. No stunning scenery shots to show. Nevertheless, the full range of autumn weather is exhibited, from trees with red leaves to no leaves.
2018 北海道之秋 (6)－網走
今天在網走，北海道北部近海的一个市镇。目标是網走国家公园，想看一种独特的沼泽红草，可惜红草生长期已过，扫兴无奈。后来去了能取岬，一个景色优美的岬，是著名拍戏和拍广告的地方。
下午去参观網走监狱博物馆，由一个旧监狱改成，这单人房的囚犯是不是有点像那鸡哥？也在一个梨子园作短暂停留，见识几种温带水果的果树。
2018 Autumn in Hokkaido (6) - Abashiri
Abashiri is a town in northern Hokkaido. Went to the Abashiri National Park to admire the unique red glasswort plant but the season was over. Nothing to see. Later went to the scenic coast and Cape Notoro, which is a famous shooting location for filming movies and advertisements.
In the afternoon visited the niche Abashiri Prison Museum, converted from an old prison at the site. Isn't the inmate in this high security single cell look like Ahjib Ko? Had a brief stop at a pear orchard to look at a few temperate fruit trees.
2018 北海道之秋 (7)－知床国家公园
知床是北海道东北知床半岛的小镇。这里的国家公园是个联合国教科文组织的世界遗产。到公园的途中看了几处小景点，最先两张照片。在国家公园走了两个半小时，看看停停，观赏知名的知床五湖。这里连长青的松树的叶子也变黄，真奇怪。
今晚享用帝王蟹，当作小吃，蟹蒸熟后，蟹肉点酱油吃，就是这么简单。一只约三百零吉，贵过猫山王，原来海王贵过山王！
2018 Autumn in Hokkaido (7) - Shirotoko National Park
Shirotoko is a town in the Shirotoko Peninsula in north-east Hokkaido. Stopped at several scenic spots along the journey, first 2 photos, but the main attraction is the Shirotoko National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Spent 2+ hours hiking along the famous 5-lake route. Strange that the evergreen pine tree's leaves also turn yellow..
Had king crab as appetizer for dinner. Freshly steamed crab, just dip the meat in soya sauce. Each cost near to RM 300, certainly more expensive than our musang king. Sea king costlier than mountain king.
2018 北海道之秋 (8)－北海道东部，从北到中
今天从北部的清里南下到帯広市。途中经过摩周湖，那是一个破火山口。中午在阿寒町吃午餐，这是个原住民小镇，猫头鹰是他们的神。下午去参观釧路的丹顶鹤公园和一个赛马会。这不是普通的赛马，这里的马不只比拼速度，也比拼力气，马儿要拉一个重一公吨的铁撬，跑两百米。
2018 Autumn in Hokkaido (8) - eastern Hokkaido from north to central.
Today driving from Kiyosato in the north down to Obihiro in centre-south, in eastern Hokkaido. Stopped at Mashu Lake, a caldera. Had lunch at Akan, home town of the original natives, the Ainu people. The owl is their god. Visited the Japanese crane park at Kushiro and a special horse racing course on a unique racing format. The horses here compete for speed and power, pulling a one-ton sled and run for 200 meters.
