Kourankei - revisited

Dec 4 - 2008

The is our 2nd visit here, well it's some kind of a revenge? due to last time we didn't enjoy the coloured leaves very well. This time we pick a weekday for the trip, and guess what..last time was on the weekend and the parking was 1000yen (10USD) per day, but in weekdays it becomes 500yen only at the same place that we parked before. There is also much cheaper place to park but it's kind of inconvenience such as the washroom is too far or need to walk a bit until the attraction point. At this parking area all are near, even there is a convenience store just across the road.


Just before we arrived to Kourankei we stopped here for the view. Seems that Yuri is sleeping in the car only Eirfan & Eiqmal got their shot here. On the other side of this river there is some kind of a small dam. I really like the red bridge there, this kind of view cannot be seen back in Malaysia... well never seen it yet in Malaysia.

This rest area is just a small parking area just beside the road and only can be fit with 3 to 4 cars at a time. No shop or vending machine, just a place to rest, strech or to take picture.

After arrived at Kourankei we had a small picnic for the lunch. Then just snap snap snap all the way.

All the food we bought at the convenience store on the way to this place

Eirfan, Eiqmal & Yuri blends with the autumn leaves

Their happy faces

Eiqmal doesn't look so happy though

Maybe he was still hungry.

Another close up on Eirfan

We already took pictures at this spot on our last visit, that time was already night time and we are on the way back to the car park and Eiqmal also was asleep that time...

Eiqmal got his bear cap just for this trip

They love picking the leaves and it's everywhere.

Yuri was tired and got on Eiqmal's stroller..on this bridge Eirfan got his head stuck between the bridge's bar. Luckily we manage to make him out from there without any help...

After reach at the food stalls and survenirs shops, we had a grilled ayu fish & baked-rice (mochi). Ayu fish is also know as sweetfish. (Read more about the fish at wikipedia)

Grilled Ayu fish : 450yen per fish.

Godaira mochi (五平餅） ,,, forgot the price.. but sure it's cheaper that the grilled ayu

Orange juice from the near by vending machine. Well they do serve free Japanese tea

After we spend some time at the shop area, it's time to get back to the car. Eiqmal also feeling sleepy already.

Just like walking in a coloured leaves tunnel

Eirfan & Yuri played with the fallen leaves on the way back to the car

A pose from Yuri & Eirfan ( Eiqmal was sleeping in his stroller already )

Taken by my wife while I'm pushing Eiqmal's stroller.

A lot more shots taken here some of it are in this slideshow.

The Port of Nagoya

Dec 1 - 2008

Another walk around in Nagoya... this time is the Nagoya Port... There is a lot of places to go here..but this time we just spend the evening at the garden only and wait for the big cristmas tree to be lighten up. There is a big aquarium here in Nagoya Port, a Shipping Museum as seen at the top picture, the "Fuji" icebreaker exploration ship, a playland with a big ferris wheel and an Italian Village that just being closed down due to the safety requirement failure...that's what is said in wikipedia.

We were planning to viisit here ..but...bankruped already

Us with thee X-mas tree, on the right can see the ferris whell and the aquarium is behind the X-mas tree.

Actually here in Japan they enjoyed celebrating Cristmas as a modern cultural thing... there will be a lot of X-mas tree everywhere + the colourful illumination too. Unfortunately Cristmas day is not even a public holiday here.

Everyone got thier shot with the lighten up tree

And while waiting for the sun to go down i just do some random shots with the views

Only can see some small tankers only.

Also the birds ... can't get closer that this one

Seasonal flowers perhaps... they will change it time to time

The bridge that reminds me of Yokohama

Finally the sun went down..but the ship is blocking my view for the sunset....

Eirfan & Yuri didn't want to pose for me, so only got Eiqmal for the shots...well he still can't walk yet this time.

Nagoya's Trademark

Nov 23 - 2008

This was our 1st time visiting the Nagoya Castle. We decided to go there because our friends from Tokyo came and pay us a visit here in Nagoya. So what else is more Nagoya than the Nagoya Castle. Actually Nagoya Castle was rebuild after it being burn down during the world war bombing. It's an actual size replica.
The ticket was 500yen ( about 5USD ) and free for kids.
It was nice to that we also can see the autumn leaves in the castle's area too.

Just after arrived at the parking area.. we took a walk at the near by park before entering the castle's area.

Thanks to Alang & Azam for visiting us!!

Well nothing else to say about this castle..hahaha....i just enjoyed taking pictures only

This kind of "face fitting" thing is available in most places here in Japan

Yuri attracted with the "momiji" (coloured leaves)

Just before we entered the main building.. the lower floors are full with replicas and historical display and the top level is the observation floor. Can see the cityscape of Nagoya

View towards Sakae from Nagoya Castle

Unfortunately the castle close at 4:30pm, feels some kind of early but it's autumn and the sun sets early...during the sunset the castle shines in golden colour.

On the way out from the castle are we enjoyed the flowers display that being held there

And of course we did bring our friends to see the lights illumination at "Nabana No Sato" but it was on weekend and very very crowded.

Winter Illumination

Nov 19 - 2008

We noticed this place after read it in "Tokai Walker" magazine and also seen the commercial on TV. The place is called "Nabana No Sato" and it's a flower farm.
For winter the farm doing the light illumination. The place is in another "ken" (state) but it's only about 30km from our place.


大きな地図で見る

The ticket is little expensive ( 2000yen per person but free for kids ) this ticket includes a 1000yen coupon for sourvenir or food to be buy at the in house shops.

My kids just after entered the place


The temperature that night was 4℃ + it was very windy too. So with all covered up we explored the place!!


Eirfan enjoyed the blue lights


Attraction No.1 the 100m long light tunnel

The main attraction for the day


My kids with the lights

Enjoying autumn

15 Nov - 2008

Finally we got a car... it's a 1995's Nissan Laurel... lil bit old fashion but inside is big enough to set 3 child seats at the back seat.
As our first long(?) ride with the car, few other Malaysians at Nagoya University & Nagoya Institute of Technology student invited us to join them on a driving trip + picnic at Kourankei to enjoy the autumn leaves.


大きな地図で見る
Actually the location was only 40km++ from our place
The place that we went is at point B & A

After a couple hours of delay, all sets up for the trip with 5 cars. At the meeting point I checked the location in my map with the other guys then the drive started....
but.... in Toyota City, the 4th & our car( the 5th ) was separated with the other 3 cars at the front and we also missed the turn to Kourankei.
After arrived at the place we called the other team and they already went to the parking at point A in the map and asked us to go there too..but myself and the other car member also first time at Kourankei and the road also very crowded...we decided to park at point B and asked them to pick us up from there with other car.


At the waiting point


Finally we met with all the members.. due to it's already about 2:30pm so everyone preparing for the food

After the meal, everyone enjoyed the view and also snapping the moments here.

Eirfan playing with the sand + also trowing the stones into the river

Yuri also happy

Family picture also a must

After the group photo being shot, we decided to return to the car by foot and enjoy the rest of the view on the way back to the parking area. It's already getting dark and all the trees being lighted up. The view was superb

Walking back to the parking

And... my personal best views of the day