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?

Dragon's Teeth Gate

Labrador Nature Reserve certainly a very unique nature spot in Singapore. Other than being the only natural rocky shore in mainland Singapore, this reserve also comprises mangrove, secondary forest,  inter-tidal and picturesque view of the sea. Not forgetting the very famous Dragon's Teeth Gate.

Dragon's Teeth Gate or Long Ya Men in mandarin was once a famous hideout for pirates.

During 1940's, Zheng He use Long Ya Men as landmark in his navigation chart when he sailed by with 300 ships and 28,000 men. However, the British blew up the original Long Ya Men in 1848 to widen the gateway of the channel to Keppel Harbour. This was re-created using historical record at the same location.

Little heron was hunting for food before the tide come in at the rocky shore.

Looking at this seaweed remind me is time to plan for my next dive trip perhaps.

Even today, the maritime trade along Straits of Singapore still need to pass through Long Ya Men.

Pulau Bukum where Singapore refineries located is just a stone threw away too.

Wooden boardwalk to minimise the impact of visitors at the mangrove area.

In another month's time, this pond heron will change to breeding plumage before returning to their place of origin.

Originally import as pet bird, Tanimbar corella is now can be found island wide.

Dollar bird at the vantage point waiting for his meal.

White throated kingfisher with a centipede.

Pin-striped tit-babbler right above my head.

An Olive-backed sunbird is seen collecting nesting material from this palm tree.

Common myna usually can be found near coastal area and now have been taken over by Javan myna.

Plantain Squirrel came to say hello or may be to ask for food?

Another exotic bird originally brought in as pet and have no fear of human traffic. Perhaps someone is feeding it regularly here at the car park.

Annoying Crows

Crows make noise that, unlike most bird song, can be extremely irritating. They are also known to harass other birds. From large raptor to smaller birds. 

Whimbrels are no exception became the target of crows harassment. 

Despite no direct competition of food between Whimbrels and crows, they get targeted too.

The crow really chase the whimbrel in full speed.

Not sure if the missing tail feather is the result of last harassment.

At one point, the whimbrel almost fell to the ground.

The victorious flight?