Freezing Cold on Otowa Bridge at 4am

When we arrived at our first birding location around 4am, it was already packed with visitors with all the long lens. I am not surprise at all as this is one of the most popular photography spot in the world.

It is a bridge that across Setsuri River which provide a glimpse of the roosting place of one of the world's rarest crane in the world.

The temperature on the bridge is about -16 degrees Celsius. This is my very first time shooting in such a low temperature. My camera still work as per normal but not my lens. The motor of the hyper-sonic drives just not working as per normal. This result in photos taken are out of focus.

The best time to shoot is during sun rise where the mist from the river with snowy background turn orange.

Otowa Bridge, where the Setsuri River flows through Tsurui Village.

The bridge offers spectacular views of the red-crowned cranes shrouded in river mist. More than half of the world's population of Red Crown Crane can be found here in Hokkaido, Japan.

Red Crown cranes are monogamous and pair for life.

Is just too cold to stay on the bridge, so we cut short our trip and head to convenient shop for breakfast.

Hidden Message on the snow Part 2

After leaving Chitose Airport, we are heading east to Kushiro about 4 hours drive under normal circumstances.

Is our very first winter trip and just can't help to make so many stop just to take some shot which we never get to experience in tropical country.

We also bought this brown sugar bubble tea ice cream during our toilet break.

Eating ice cream during winter is such an enjoying experience. For once I don't have to rush and take my own sweet time as it just won't melt and drip all over the place.

 This is very common here but definitely not happening in Singapore... 🙂

 Still remember the secret arrow sign in my last post?

 Is the foot prints leave behind by the Red Crown Crane!

Following the prints...Bingo! Saw the Red Crown Crane for the very first time! It looks so pure with the snowy white background.

If you are thinking of sharing your joy with you friends more than just photos, you can even buy some of this special edition mochi.

The sun almost set when we arrive at Kushiro. We are told to get ready and depart from our hotel at 4am tomorrow morning! Too excited to sleep early. First night in the sub-zero climate. Can't wait for what is waiting for us tomorrow...

Hidden message on the snow

Out exploring on a snow field for the very first time is like a kid going to a theme park for the very first time. Everything is new and just waiting to be discovered.

I don't remember I ever lie down flat on the ground and took a photo of a grass field. The feeling is so different here perhaps it is covered with snow instead of mud.

 Hmmmmm... who leave behind this direction mark on the snow? What will I see if I follow these marks?

 More marks on the snow and of different shape and types.

 These are different from the earlier marks that looks like arrow.

 This looks like there are more than one individual cross here.

I leave my 2 foot prints here too. It seem that this is the popular crossing. 4 types of marks can be seen crossing here.

One of the marks are leave behind by none other than red fox! How cool could that be. The minute I finish my writing on the snow, this red fox appear just a meter away from me!

My Dream Come True in Hokkaido

Of my years of traveling oversea taking beautiful scenery and wildlife photos. After checking my bucket list of taking wildlife photo in Africa, my next item to check will be taking photo in sub-zero climate.

Hokkaido became my place of choice to check all the related bucket list off from taking snow picture to taking wildlife in snow field and frozen sea surface.

I started my travel plan right after my trip to Africa (Masai Mara, Kenya.) Even with all the preparation and early planning, this trip is not without obstacles. The initial group member pull out from the trip and the plan was almost cancel. I am so determine to go for this trip and prepare to go even if is a solo trip. Luckily, manage to find more travel partners to share the costs 😅 . After years of shopping for winter clothing and items that I think I will be using for my this maiden trip including hand gloves, heat pack, clamp-on spikes, additional spare batteries, etc. As always, not all goes with the plan, will talk about it later in my following posts.

Just before my trip, the news of new infectious virus get me re-think of the trip. It was later re-named as COVID-19. I was telling myself, Japan so far have it under control and no risk to travel there especially Hokkaido, didn't hear any case recorded there. It turn out to be another big scares. Hokkaido declared emergency and became the more recorded cases in Japan just when I arrived there.

Taken this photo on the way there with temperature still at 29 Celsius. There is no direct flight to Hokkaido from Singapore, so we are taking a transit in Bangkok.

 When the pilot announcing that the plane starting the descend to Hokkaido, with the blind opened. OMG, snow field! I will soon be able to play in the snow field!

 I have been dreaming of this moment for the longest time and is just a few minutes away!

After health screening, I quickly get out of the terminal and get WOW by the white scenery. Everything is blanketed with snow. From vehicles, lamp pole to building. So happy taking photos with my phone until my fingers is too numb to continue then I realise that I was just wearing a t-shirt in this sub-zero environment.

 After meet up with our guide, off we go to our first destination which is 5 to 6 hours away. In Singapore, we turn on air-con while in Hokkaido we turn on heater. I was overwhelmed with this winter wonderland! Everything is white!

 Snow field with building covered in snow.

 For years, I only been able to see this in calendar and documentaries.

 For people like me who came from tropical country, the temptation to get out and be showered by snow is just too strong.

 Photos after photos, selfies after selfies.

 I can stand here for the whole day!

 Another photo that I could only see it on post card!

The snow just won't melt like our 'ice kachang' or ice ball back in Singapore. Haha... am I dreaming?