Travel with Contiki. Save with Contiki. #NoRegrets
>> 14 December 2012
Travel with Contiki. Save with Contiki. #NoRegrets For more information, visit http://www.newshan.com/land-tours/contiki.html or call 5646 7333.
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Travel with Contiki. Save with Contiki. #NoRegrets For more information, visit http://www.newshan.com/land-tours/contiki.html or call 5646 7333.
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USA & Europe
>> 06 December 2012
Heading to USA or Europe? Hope this help! Visit www.newshan.com or call 6546 7333 for more information about USA & Europe tour!
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Year-End Holidays Promotion
>> 04 December 2012
Last minutes decision for a year-end holiday or planning for a next year holiday? Hope this help!
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For more information, call 6481 1181 or visit www.newshan.com Read more...
Weekly Giveaway - Complete the sentence
>> 03 December 2012
It’s Monday again! Fill in the blanks and complete the sentence above. Send us your answers, along with your name, contact numbers, IC no. to contests@newshan.com.sg. Two lucky winners will walk away with a $20 FairPrice Vouchers! Keep Sending!
For more information, visit our Facebook Page now.
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Highlight of the Week!
>> 29 November 2012
To find out more, visit http://www.newshan.com/tour/PackageTour/Australia/07OOLT.html
Explore the beauty of Korea in our 7 Days Korea Touches of Winter tour where you can enjoy skiing, and a shopping spree at Yeoju Premium Outlets, Myeongdong Street and Dongdaemun. Not to mention, visit South Korea’s largest theme park – Eve rland. It is one of the most popular places in Korea for families, friends and couples.
For more information, visit http://www.newshan.com/tour/PackageTour/South_Korea/07KORW.html or call 6481 1181
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Weekly Giveaway - Spot 'N' Win
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For this Weekly Giveaway, we are back to Spot ‘N’ Win Contest! Spot the number of differences between these two pictures? (Hint: More than 5). Send us your answers, along with your name, contact numbers, IC no. to contests@newshan.com.sg. Two lucky winners will walk away with a $20 FairPrice Vouchers!Contest starts from 26 November 2012 to 03 December 2012, 12pm. Keep Sending! 
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Highlights of the week!
>> 23 November 2012
To find out more, visit http://www.newshan.com/tour/PackageTour/Japan/7DDYNRI.html now!
To find out more, visit http://www.newshan.com/tour/PackageTour/Turkey/16DPCR.html
To find out more, visit http://www.newshan.com/tour/PackageTour/Taiwan/8DTWNEVA.html or http://www.newshan.com/tour/PackageTour/Taiwan/8DTWCI.html Read more...
Year-End Promotion
>> 22 November 2012
Have you booked your year-end holiday? If you have not, hope this help! (Click to view the larger version)
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The Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe
>> 21 November 2012
Victoria Falls is one of the seven wonders of the world, stretching 1.7 kilometres wide and shared by the countries of Zambia and Zimbabwe. The falls are formed as the full width of the Zambezi river plummets into a 108 metre high cleft. During the wet season, the spray from the falls can be seen nearly 50 kilometres away, hence the name Mosi-oa-Tunya (the ‘Smoke that Thunders’). The falls drop into a deep, narrow chasm, which is connected to a long series of gorges. This unique form allows the falls to be viewed face-on 60 metres away from the opposite side of the gorges.
Such a beautiful scenery, don't you want to visit there? Read more...
E3 Escape, Explore & Excite - Let's go skiing!
>> 07 November 2012
It's nearing the end of the year again. School's out, Christmas season is in and spirits are high.
In tropical Singapore, one may lament the year-round summer. But elsewhere in the Northern Hemisphere, white powder starts to fall from the skies, coating mountain tops, slopes and trees with a layer of white, silky snow, gradually forming a postcard-worthy picturesque scene. The ski resort at the foot of these mountains stir to life, welcoming the early birds - skiers, snowboarders, or just about anyone else who is itching to surf down the dreamy landscape.
If you think the above scenario is only available on the far-flung continents of Europe and North America, think again. There are plenty of worthy candidates closer to home too, and some are even internationally acclaimed and play host to world championships. One of them is even hosting the 2013 Winter Olympics!
Intrigued? Then follow us, in this issue of E3, as we scout around North Asia to bring you the region's best ski resort. See what's on offer in Hokkaido in Japan, Gangwon in South Korea and Northern China. Skiing is not the only activity on the menu; check out the unique winter festivities of each region as well. Finally, don't miss our dressing tips for you, so that you can look your best when you glide down that ski slope in world championship fashion.
Enough said! Let's go skiing. Read more Read more...
Berne, Switzerland
>> 02 November 2012
Bern (Berne in French), the capital of Switzerland, is tiny city with a population of about 130,000 in the city proper and roughly 350,000 in the agglomeration area.
Of all Swiss ties, Bern is perhaps the most charming. Crammed onto a steep-sided peninsula in a crook of the fast-flowing River Aare, its quiet, cobbled lanes, lined with sandstone arcaded buildings straddling the pavement, have changed barely at all in over five hundred years but for the adornment of modern shop signs and the odd car or tram rattling past. The hills all around, and the steep banks of the river, are still liberally wooded. Views, both of the Old Town’s clustered roofs and of the majestic Alps on the horizon, are breathtaking. The remarkable design coherence of the Berne's old town has earned it a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Such a charming city, it is no doubt that Bern was once voted Europe’s most floral city – is the nation’s capital, home of the Swiss parliament and wielder of final federal authority.
Would you love to visit this city? Read more...
I ♥ Phuket
>> 01 March 2012
Sawadeeka~
The island of Phuket, although small, has much to offer with its crystal clear seas, sandy beaches and the warm sun. Residing in the southern part of Thailand, the island streets bustle with people, mostly casually dressed tourists. Some of them would even be spotted wearing t-shirts imprinted with the words “I ♥ Phuket”!
DAY 1. On 24 Nov 2011, I left my house with excitement. I was going on a business + holiday trip to Phuket. This would be my first independent trip overseas, and with a group of unfamiliar faces, no less.
My flight touched down at Phuket International Airport at around 10:45am. We were given free SIM cards to use during our stay in Phuket. These SIM cards can be easily topped up at any 7-Eleven stores around the island at our own expense. Our tour guide for this 4-day trip would be Prapatsorn Intayot, whom we affectionately call Cat. Cat picked us up at the arrival hall of the airport and we transferred by a minibus to Patong Resort. The journey took approximately 1 hour. After checking in at the resort, we started off the sightseeing tour with a scenic drive along Patong beach, Karon beach and Kata beach, eventually arriving at our first stop – Karon View Point.
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| Free SIM cards given to us upon arrival at Phuket |
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| Karon View Point |
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| Magnificent view of Kata Noi, Kata and Karon Beach |
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| Beautiful backdrop for a group photo |
After visiting Karon View Point, everyone was hungry. Cat brought us to Phong Phang Seafood to have our lunch. Located near the Phuket Zoo, Phong Phang Seafood is very famous among the locals for its affordable seafood and local dishes. It has a large outdoor seating area with a pleasant view of the sea. At Phong Phang, one can enjoy the gentle breeze while savoring the delicious Thai delicacies.
After lunch, we visited Wat Chalong, a Buddhist temple. Wat Chalong is a three-storey tall building in shimmering gold, and is one of the most renowned temples in Phuket. On the first and second level, there were many golden Buddha statues covering the floor area and paintings depicting the life of Buddha on the walls and ceilings. As I continued the climb to the topmost level, our guide told us that the realm contained fragmented pieces of Lord Buddha’s bones in the glass display.
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| Wat Chalong, renowned temple in Phuket |
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| Countless golden Buddha statues |
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| Locals and tourists come here to pray |
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| Fragmented pieces of Lord Buddha’s bones are kept in the glass display |
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| The Shooting Range |
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| Are you ready for a game? |
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| Arrow shooting |
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| Put on these ear muffs and get ready for a shoot! |
The last stop of the day was Laem Promthep, a picturesque viewpoint at the southern tip of Phuket. According to Cat, that was the best place to catch the sunset. However, soon after we reached the cape, it started to pour suddenly and all of us rushed back to the minibus for cover.
After the brief stop at Laem Promthep, we headed back to the resort. We were given 1.5 hours to rest before heading out for dinner at Merlyn Beach Resort. Being my first trip to Phuket, not one minute was to be wasted, hence, I took a walk down to Patong Beach, which was a mere 5 minutes away. Once there, the sight of tourists reclining on deck chairs greeted me. There were also others playing water sports and beach balls. While enjoying the sound of the waves on the beach, I was momentarily distracted by some screaming in the distance. I lifted up my head in the direction of the screams and saw that there were people parasailing, ‘flying’ high up in the sky!
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| Relaxing on the deck chairs at Patong Beach |
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| Jet-skiing, the water sport that I have always wanted to try |
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| The bustling road with many tourists |
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| Cute signage warning about drunken people crossing the road |
DAY 2. It’s time to get some work done today. ¾ of the day had been allocated for the Andaman Travel Trade Show, a buyers-meet-sellers session held at the Rajahbat University Convention Hall. Notwithstanding, we managed to find time for shopping after the trade fair at the Phuket Premium Outlet. The weather was unpredictable though, as it started to pour when we reached there. Rainy weather did spoil the fun of shopping, especially when the walkways weren’t sheltered, but that did not deter us from some serious card swiping. It was indeed a challenge to move from one store to another, but almost everyone came back with a bundle of shopping bags and big wide smiles.
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| Phuket Premium Outlet |
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| Shopping is my greatest love |
DAY 3. A conversation on Phuket never deviates from the sun, the sand and the sea. Apart from the main island of Phuket, there are many other small islands surrounding Phuket, each with its own attractiveness. The island of Koh Khai was where we headed out for early in the morning. Our means of transport: a 20-minute speedboat ride from the main shore. The journey to Koh Khai is an adventure in itself, with the boat rocking vigorously due to the high tide. It was as if we were taking a roller-coaster ride at a theme park, albeit on water. Adventure soon gave way to excitement as the sandy beach came into view. As soon as we alighted from the boat, we parked our belongings on the deck chairs reserved for us, and went snorkeling in the crystal clear waters. I had always wanted to try snorkeling and now was the chance! I had great fun despite the fear of water. It was a beautiful experience getting up close with the fishes and corals and being surrounded by all the colorful fishes. We also brought some bread to feed the fishes and the more we fed, the larger the number of fishes that surrounded us! I would call these fish ‘Happy Fish’ with their endless supply of food from the tourists, won’t you agree? After swimming with the fishes, I took a break and relaxed on the deck chair, enjoyed the windy breeze and the warm sun.
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| Koh Khai Island |
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| Fun time feeding the fish |
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| The soft sandy beaches of Koh Khai |
Everyone felt tired when we got back from Koh Khai island, so it was a godsend when we were offered a complimentary spa at the Rarinjinda Wellness Spa . A big ‘Thank You’ to the organizer of this trip for that! The spa was conveniently located adjacent to the back of Jungceylon Shopping Centre. Its services and facilities included foot massage, body massage, facial, colon cleansing and detoxifying infrared sauna. We chose to take up the aromatherapy oil massage. The therapist was really good and the massage was excellent and very relaxing. I felt so refreshed and rejuvenated after the massage.
After sundown, we went to Phuket FantaSea, located on Kamala Beach. Phuket FantaSea is a 140-arce entertainment theme park showcasing the charm and beauty of Thailand and its rich traditional culture. When I entered the theme park, it seemed as if the clock had been rewound. The games at the theme park reminded me of the Uncle Ringo Amusement Park back in Singapore. It was like an old-school fun fair where you’d find games like throwing a ball to hit the cans placed a distance away. And the prize: cuddly soft toys that come in various shapes and sizes, just like the good old days. However, there are no adventurous or adrenaline-pumping roller-coaster rides of the modern world here so don’t get your expectations up too high when you hear the words ‘theme park’.
We had dinner at Golden Kinnaree, one of the restaurants in Phuket FantaSea offering Thai and International buffet. When I walked into the restaurant, my jaws dropped. The restaurant was majestically huge, with a seating capacity of up to 4000, and it shimmered in gold with its exquisite and intricate architecture. After the buffet dinner, we took a stroll around the park. The park turned into a mini Carnival Village at night with performances and souvenir stores. One of the attractions – Tiger Jungle Adventure – awed me with the animals I saw in there. Walking through a magical adventure and catching glimpses of exotic animals right in your face, it really made me wonder if the animals were real. This enchanting wonderland also boasts of the white tigers living in the grand white palace. After visiting the white tigers and some photo-taking around the park, we made our way to the much-anticipated theatrical performance, the main highlight of the theme park. The rules were strict here: the gate only opens at 8:30pm and we were required to surrender our handphones and cameras as recording or photo-taking of the show was not allowed. The performance was overwhelming, to say the least. The daring stunts, magical illusions, acrobatics, special effects and much more had the audience transfixed. What amazed me most were the animal performances, and I was even startled by the elephant show! The elephants, birds, chickens and goats all seemed to know how to do the tricks, and knew where to enter and exit the stage, just like a human performer. It totally left us wanting for more when it ended.
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| Entrance of Phuket FantaSea |
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| Welcome to wonderland! |
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| The main stage at Carnival Village |
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| The majestic, shimmering Golden Kinnaree |
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| Are the animals real? |
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| White tigers living in the majestic kingdom |
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| All ready for some spectacular performance |
DAY 4. My last day in Phuket. The morning would be spent tidying up work-related matters and after lunch, we would have some free time for more shopping. Junggeylon, the shopping mall with more than 200 stores, is a place where you can find almost everything you need. I simply love shopping in the hypermarket, Big C, for candies and food stuff for my dog. Besides this huge shopping complex, there were also a number of shopping bazaars across the road, where I bought most of my spoils. We checked out of the resort at around 4:30pm and headed to the airport for our flight back to Singapore.
Goodbye, Phuket!
My Kyushu Self-Drive Adventure
>> 06 February 2012
When tourists think of holidaying in Japan, they usually think of Honshu (Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto etc.), and Hokkaido. Few people would have heard of Kyushu, let alone consider Kyushu. In recent times, I have heard so much of Kyushu being an “Undiscovered Gem”. People who had been there highly recommended Kyushu as a holiday destination and regaled me with exciting adventures of self-drive trips. Therefore, when the invitation came to embark on a self-drive trip to Kyushu, I grabbed it with both hands.
Day 1. On 14 December 2011, I landed at Fukuoka Airport at 11.35am. There, we were welcomed by our guides and tourism authority officials. We were led to our three rented cars. I was assigned a Toyota Wish for the first day. The friendly rental company staff explained to us how to use the GPS set. All the driver had to do was to key in either the map code or the phone number of the destination. Our first stop was Beppu, a two-hour drive away. Beppu is famous for its onsens.
We visited Beppu Umijigoku (“Beppu Hells”). You will see spectacular hot springs that are more for viewing than for bathing, because the water is boiling hot. Each hot spring has its peculiar features and names, such as “Sea Hell” and “Blood Hell”. The latter is the most visually arresting and scary, because the minerals in the water make the water red.
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| Red hot springs at Beppu Hells |
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| Breakfast of fishes |
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| Car rental for self-drive |
It was very windy when I crossed the bridge. The bridge swayed a little, but it was built this way to counter the windy conditions and it felt reliable and solid. With the winds, it felt like below-zero temperature. Luckily, there were friendly vending machines waiting at the both ends of the bridge, where I bought a can of warm Pokka sweet red bean drink!
Today’s drive was especially therapeutic. We drove on the Yamanami Highway, a scenic route that connects Aso with Beppu. The roads were very wide. I felt like I was driving across continental Australia. On the way to Mt. Aso, we enjoyed sweeping views of rolling hills, great plains, snowy mountains, and the occasional deers and cows. One important stop was the Daikanbo Peak. It is situated on the caldera rim of the north of Aso Caldera. It is a vantage point to look out to the Aso Valley, the Aso Five-Peaks, and all the northern rims of Aso Caldera. The Aso Five-Peaks resembles a sleeping Buddha and is admired by many.
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| The awesome views at Daikanbo Peak |
Next stop, El Rancho Grande. It is a Western-style horse-riding ground where you can rent a horse for 20 minutes or more for a ride around the surrounding fields. I counted five horses on standby, of which some were white and some were brown. All were very handsome horses. I was assigned a white one, albeit the oldest among them. Two Japanese cowboys taught us how to mount and control the horse. It was all too easy: a soft foot-tap on the horse’s belly would be to tell the horse to move forward; a left tug of the leash would be to turn left, and a soft pulling back of the leash would be to slow down or stop. The two cowboys led us on a ride of the countryside and we admired the farms and nature. Initially, the horse was not used to my riding style. After a while, we gelled! I felt like I could gallop down the fields like a champion jockey.
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| A handsome horse at El Rancho Grande |
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| Enjoying the horse ride |
We hit the Yamanami Highway again to set off for Mt. Aso crater. To get to the smoking crater of Nakadake, one has to take the Mt. Aso Ropeway to the top. Nakadake is an active crater with turquoise-green water at 60 degrees Celsius at times of moderate activity. The water turns grey as its temperature rises. I saw many emergency shelters made of solid rock, and they served to protect visitors from the volcanic rocks that might suddenly fly out from the crater during unexpected volcanic activity. There were many sensors and alarms installed around the crater to warn visitors of an increase in volcanic activity. The area was filled with sulphuric fumes and the crater lake was incessantly bubbling.
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| Mt Aso Ropeway |
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| Active Nakadake crater lake
The ‘Mysterious Road’ phenomenon does not only appear in known places such as Korea and Shenyang. It also appeared along the Yamanami Highway! As I was driving, the tour guide suddenly told me to stop the car and asked me if I could detect a phenomenon. To my surprise, our vehicle appeared to climb uphill in the neutral gear! Drivers of many vehicles around ours were also testing out the phenomenon. If you were to be on the opposite side, your vehicle would apparently be rolling backwards even though the down slope was in front of you! Mysterious indeed.
At nightfall, we arrived at Kumamoto City, a beautiful city known for its Kumamoto Castle. After returning our car at the rental shop, we took a tram to our dinner place, which offered a fantastic view of Kumamoto Castle. Kumamoto Castle is a major landmark of Kumamoto City, and is regarded as one of the most impressive castles in Japan, together with the white-walled Hijemi Castle and the black-walled Matsumoto Castle. In addition, Kumamoto Castle is considered a most impregnable fortress even until today. Its main defensive features include very high stone walls with wooden overhangs (originally designed as protection against the ninja), and a wide moat. There are many escape passageways within the castle. At night, the castle is illuminated and the view breathtaking.
Kumamoto Castle
Day 3. We drove our cars to Kumamoto Port to take an express ferry to Shimabara Port enroute to Nagasaki. We drove into the ferry, parked and went onto the ferry deck to feed the seagulls! It was an exhilarating experience. You hold up the bread crumbs, and the nearest or fastest seagull would grab the crumbs within the next few seconds without hurting your fingers! I was hesitant of being bitten initially, but after seeing my fellow traveller use his lips to hold the crumbs up and a seagull swooping in for the kill with nary any injury, my fear dissipated. The view of Shimabara Bay was fantastic. We reached the opposite shore in half an hour, and drove off the ferry.
 
We drove up the mountain to Nita Pass (1,080m above sea level), where we took a ropeway to the summit of Mt. Myoken. On a clear day, one can enjoy a commanding view of Shimabara Peninsula and Bay. However, it was snowing that day and the summit was fogged. At the Nita Pass, we could see the lava dome of Heisei Shinzan. It had been newly created in 1990 when Mt. Fugen erupted.
Next stop was Unzen Hell. There were many pools of bubbling springs dotted around the area, and the whole area was covered with white clay. The white clay is called ‘solfataric clay’. The clay had been altered and decolourised by fumarolic gas, hot spring heat and acidic water. The energy source is assumed to be the magma reservoir under the seabed of the Tachibana Bay. The highest temperature of the fumarolic gas, blown out with hissing noises, can be 120°C. White and light yellow sinter deposits were attached on the ground around the fumaroles. We bought hard-boiled eggs cooked by the bubbling water and ate them with a dash of salt. More delicious than usual!  
We drove on to Nagasaki. Nagasaki, capital of Nagasaki Prefecture and the fifth largest city in Kyushu, is an important port city with more than four centuries of history. It prospered as Japan’s sole “window” to Western culture during its 300 years of national isolation. Nagasaki has thriving shipbuilding and fisheries industries and is especially noted for its marine products, such as cultured pearls, tortoiseshell and coral works. To the world, it was also known the second city in Japan, after Hiroshima, to experience an atomic explosion during the Second World War.
We headed for the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum and Peace Park. The Atomic Bomb Museum was built to show the world the horror of the 1945 atomic bombing of Nagasaki and the need to eliminate all nuclear weapons. The Peace Statue in the Peace Park was constructed in 1955 by donations from all over the world, and is highly symbolic. The right hand pointing skyward warns about the threat of the atomic bomb. The left hand stretching out horizontally symbolizes world peace. The gently-closed eyes represent a prayer for the repose of the souls of all atomic bomb victims. At the Hypocenter Park, a memorial monolith marks the exact spot below the center of the atomic bomb explosion, which occurred at 11.02am, August 9, 1945. Looking at the exhibits, I could not help but felt stunned by the horrific nature of wars and was deeply saddened by the plight of the innocent victims.
 
Pictures showing the horrors of an atomic explosion
   
The right hand pointing skyward warns about the threat of the atomic bomb. The left hand stretching out horizontally symbolizes world peace. The gently-closed eyes represent a prayer for the repose of the souls of all atomic bomb victims.
Next, we headed for Mt. Inasa to enjoy the night view of Nagasaki City, the spot proclaimed to be “One of the top three night views of Japan”. We took the Nagasaki Ropeway, an all-transparent gondola, to the summit of Mt. Inasa (333m above ground). The journey up was spectacular. The sweeping views from Mt. Inasa Lookout were even better. I could see why it lived up to its name; the amazing glittering lights of Nagasaki City that is situated on undulating mountain slopes. At the Lookout, you would see many triangles lit up on the ground, and amongst the hundreds of triangles, there was a love-shaped symbol. According to a popular saying, one would find love if one could find the symbol. I found it in 3 minutes. A good sign indeed!
Night view of Nagasaki atop Mt. Inasa
Day 4. After breakfast, we headed back to Fukuoka. It was going to be a two-hour drive. Our first stop was Dazaifu Tenman-gu Shrine. Dazaifu Tenman-gu Shrine enshrines Sugawara Michizane (845-903) as the god of academic achievement. Before the entrance examination each year, young people from all parts of Japan come to the shrine to pray for success in the examination. The approach to the shrine is lined with teahouses selling 'umegae-mochi,' a local specialty rice-cake that is believed to ward off illness. There are many shops selling food. We went to a particular shop famous for its red bean desserts and mocha. The venerable boss was at the shop front busy making red bean cakes. His dedication to perfection was there for all to see.
At the shrine, there was a blessing session going on. The devotees were immaculately dressed in suits or kimonos. A newborn baby was being blessed by the priest. Good luck charms were sold at the stalls. For lunch, our tour guide led us to a secluded path off the main thoroughfare into a small residential neighbourhood. Suddenly, she turned into a huge compound that looked like a residence, only to discover that it was actually a Japanese restaurant nestled in a Japanese garden setting. This restaurant specializes in serving many variants of tofu dishes. We sat tatami-style and were fussed about by a kimono-clad waitress, whilst enjoying the Japanese garden setting and delicious food.
   
Chef making red bean cakes
Authentic mocha with red bean dessert
We headed to Hakata Machiya Folk Museum. Formerly, Hakata was an independent city. From Heian period (AD 794-1185) to Azuchi-Momoyama period (AD 1568–1600), Hakata's merchants traded with Chinese, Korean, and other overseas merchants. The life and culture of Hakata, mainly of the Meiji and Taisho eras (AD 1868–1926), are introduced from various perspectives at this Museum.
  
Kushida Shrine was just across the road. Kushida Shrine has a long history as the village shrine in Fukuoka City. Shrines for each of Shinto’s three gods (Amaterasu Omikami, Ohatanushi no-Omikami, and Susano no-Omikami) were built in 757 AD and 941 AD. The shrine is fervently revered as “Okushida-sama” or “God of Immortality and Success in Business”. It is also the starting point of Fukuoka’s most famous festival, “Hakata Gion Yamakasa”, which is held on 1st to 15th of July. You will see tens of men carrying a float or “Oi-Yama” weighing as heavy as one ton racing down the roads in the early hours of the morning on the 15th day.
   Next stop is the Canal City Hakata. Most ladies will like this place. Other than the Tenjin shopping area, Canal City Hakata is the place to be for food, shopping and entertainment. On the fifth storey, you can find cinemas and many restaurants. There is a Ramen stadium on the sixth storey serving different types of Ramen from all parts of Japan. At the basement, you can find open areas to relax and admire the musical fountain as the water sways to the music. The recently-opened annex contains a huge Uniqlo store and several international brands. I find the quaint cafes especially interesting. One can literally spend a whole day in Canal City. After shopping, you may walk along the Naka River situated just beside Canal City and enjoy the romantic scenery. You can even try the “Yatai”, which are standalone sheds dotted along the riverside and serving authentic Fukuoka cuisine.     
A “Yatai” serving authentic Fukuoka cuisine by the Naka River, the main river of Fukuoka.
After wrapping up our shopping at Canal City Hakata, we took the Velotaxis, a form of human-peddled modern trishaw, for a tour around the city. Many shoppers were amused by our mode of transportation and waved at and posed with us. It was thirty-minute ride and we alighted at the Tenjin shopping area. 
Velotaxi
 Day 5 to 7. I extended my trip by another 3 days to take in more sights of Kyushu and to visit and relax at some of the best onsens in Japan. No more driving from now on. However, I did miss all the driving because it felt so therapeutic to drive on such wide roads and be accompanied by wonderful sights, not to mention the utmost courtesy and driving etiquettes displayed by Japanese drivers.
I visited Yufuin, one of the best-known onsen towns in Japan. From Tenjin station, I took a two-hour bus ride to eastern Kyushu. I have heard so much about this place from the locals. Yufuin is a quiet little town situated in a valley and blessed with numerous onsens. The main thoroughfare is located five minutes away from the bus terminal and is lined with many shops selling food, gifts, local produce and drinks. If you are tired, a café is never more than a stone’s throw away. I asked the Tourist Information Centre to recommend an onsen, and they recommended one that required a fifteen-minute walk. The onsen has two pools, and both overlook a mountain. The outdoor temperature was ten degrees Celsius and the skies were clear, perfect conditions to relax in an open-air onsen. I had both the pools to myself. Water in one pool was really hot, and water in the other was more acceptable to a less-seasoned onsen goer like me. After thirty minutes of soaking and enjoying the mountain scenery, I felt thoroughly detoxified. With renewed appetite, I headed down to the main thoroughfare in search of food and desserts. Along the way, I experienced “Japan Hour” - picturesque mountains surrounding me; crystal-clear fresh water gushing down the stream on my left; refreshing mountain air oxygenating my mind; living in my own world. Surreal.
    To me, visiting Japan means going to onsens, eat, and going to more onsens, so I visited another the following day. A friend recommended this onsen called清渑, located in the suburbs of Fukuoka. There is a complimentary hourly shuttle bus that picks you up in the city near Tenjin Station. The ride took fifty minutes, and you would probably sit next to an obasan (‘auntie’ in Japanese) or ojisan (‘uncle’ in Japanese). Elderly Japanese and retirees are probably the most frequent visitors to onsens. Upon reaching the destination, it gave me another “Japan Hour” experience. 清渑 is located in a valley and is blessed with excellent hot spring waters. The sprawling complex consisted of several traditional wooden structure interlinked together. Facilities include separate hot spring baths for men and women, a restaurant serving delicious Japanese food, massage services, sleeping area and bathing facilities. For the male onsen, there were six different types of hot springs, including a waterfall, cold water pool, hydrosonic pool and mini electric-current pool. I felt reinvigorated and hungry again. I took a refreshing bath and napped a bit before tucking into a sumptuous lunch. The whole experience lasted a little less than three hours, and I boarded the shuttle bus back to the city. 
Shuttle bus to 清渑
清渑 onsen
I will like to wrap up this article by sharing some delicious food pictures, and other non-food pictures which I think are interesting. After this trip, I was left in no doubt that I would go back again and do another round of self-drive. The next time, it shall be Southern Kyushu, leading to Kagoshima.
Vending machine at Matsuya (“松屋”), one of the three leading Japanese fast-food chains selling beef rice or “gyudon”. The other two chains are Yoshinoya and Sukiya. The vending machine’s options are mind-boggling, isn’t it?
Beef portions were more generous and tastier than those in Singapore!
Three types of raw chicken meat!
Raw horsemeat, popular in Kyushu. Tasted like beef.
Silky smooth tofu dish served at a restaurant in Dazaifu Shrine.
  
Cute sand drawing on the beach in front of the tower.
View of Fukuoka city from the top of Fukuoka Tower.
That's me taking a break from driving and posing with the Aso mountain ranges.
Hakata Excel Hotel Tokyu in Fukuoka. This was the hotel I stayed in. I liked it for its superb location. By foot: Nakasu subway station- 3 mins; Canal City Hakata- 15 mins; Tenjin Station- 10 mins; Naka River- just in front.
My comfortable room.
 Fukuoka Tower, the tallest structure in Kyushu at 234m.  "Yi-Lan" Ramen, one of the most famous ramen chains in Kyushu  Their signature Ramen dish. Notice the thick and delicious broth. |
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