It’s another weekend here in Rumoi City. It’s still cold but once in a while, the sun peeks to share its warmth.
Kawakami Internal Medicine Clinic
My family and I woke up early today as it is my COVID-19 vaccination schedule at Kawakami Internal Medicine Clinic in Rumoi City. I’ll be having my 3rd shot of Pfizer. However, in reality, this is my 5th COVID-19 vax as I had 2 Sinovac shots back in the Philippines. After my vaccination, we were thinking of resting at home in case there were side effects. However, since it was a beautiful morning and I felt well, I told my wife that we should go somewhere instead.
Hamanakaundo Park
Can you guess what we are doing?
Here's the view from the park
We drove to Hamanakaundo Park on the southwestern side of Rumoi City. Sadly, a large part of the park was still closed to the public so we did some stretching in one of the open areas instead.
From there, we decided to drive somewhere else, while thinking about where to go, we first went home to get some food and drinks. We ultimately decided to revisit the town of Chippubetsu.
These are the places that we visited in Chippubetsu:
We left Chippubetsu at around 4 PM. Before going home, we did a quick grocery shopping at COOP in Rumoi City. We got home a little after 6 PM. Before calling it a day, we watched the Netflix documentary "MH370 The Plane That Disappeared". We only managed to watch the first episode. I wanted to binge-watch it but was already sleepy after the first one.
Day 496: March 12, 2023
Sunday – Rumoi Moekko Haru Matsuri
Today is one of the days that I am looking forward to. It`s the annual Rumoi Moekko Haru Matsuri. It's also a big day for the people of Rumoi, as the last time this event was last held was 4 years ago and was canceled due to several reasons, particularly the pandemic. This year, I am one of the members of the Rumoi High School Team "Chimidoro" who will compete in the Moekko Banba Race, which is the highlight of the festival.
We had a group huddle before the start of the Moekko Banba Race
For the event, my family and I drove to Rumoi Roadside Station. Once there, I went to bond with the 10-man Rumoi High School Team "Chimidoro", composed of my co-teachers and our school staff, Sekiguchi-san. My wife covered the event while my daughter went around the festival grounds with her best friend from Midorigaoka Elementary School.
Competition time!
The Moekko Banba Race was the highlight of the festival and it was held at Senba Park behind the roadside station. During the event, we managed to win twice but were too tired to win our third match against the Firefighter team. Regardless, it was a very memorable event as it made us closer not only as a faculty of the same high school but as a team.
Here's the result. We failed to make it to the top 3 but technically we're in 4th place
We lost but we were super happy with our accomplishment
Next year we will surely come back stronger and hopefully win the competition. Overall, winter is slowly ending. My family and I are now resuming our #Hokkaido179 road trips by revisiting nearby places. Hopefully, I get my driver`s license next month, which will allow us to drive farther to visit new destinations.
Located in the municipality of Nasugbu in the province of Batangas, Munting Buhangin Beach Camp is one of the few privately owned resorts in the area that doesn't really require memberships for visitors to enjoy. Munting Buhangin Beach Camp Munting Buhangin Beach Camp Details Although Munting Buhangin Beach Camp doesn't have white sand to boast, it's quite an isolated place which makes the resort stand out. Its light brown sand, sprinkled with different kinds of shells, is cleaned daily by the dedicated staff of the resort. Sadly, during my visit, a broken piece of glass buried in the sand gave one of my toes a deep cut but I know that it's just a rare case (no one needs to be fired) and nobody wanted that to happen. Munting Buhangin Beach - Nasugbu, Batangas One of the best places to go camping... ...or rent nipa huts and treehouse You might want to try kayaking here too Going up: parking / Going down: beach Munting Buhangin Beach Camp is ide...
Located in Santa Maria Street in the municipality of Daraga in the province of Albay, Daraga Church is the crowning glory of religious architecture in Albay. Daraga Church Daraga Church History Daraga Church is also known as the Our Lady of the Gate Church . It was declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum on October 29, 2007. Daraga Church - Daraga, Albay Daraga Church NHI marker Daraga Church facade Daraga Church bell tower Team Nicerio visits Daraga Church Daraga Church was built by Franciscan missionaries in Daraga which was then a barrio of the older town of Cagsawa. However, after Mayon Volcano's 1814 eruption which buried the majority of the town of Cagsawa, survivors relocated to Daraga. The barrio was then formally organized as a town in 1815. Afterward, the town became the center of trade and commerce in the province of Albay. A view of Mayon from inside Daraga Church Daraga Church interior Daraga Church baptismal ...
First Timer's Guide to Kyoto City Bus One-Day Pass Kyoto City is one of the most touristy destinations in Japan . There are numerous tourist destinations scattered around this 827.8 square kilometer city that commuting sometimes becomes too costly and stressful particularly for travelers who are on a tight budget. As of 2018 , the fixed rate for city buses is 230 yen for adults and 120 yen for children per ride. Now, imagine riding the bus 5 times a day or more... Luckily, there is something that can remove this concern from the equation. First Timer's Guide to Kyoto City Bus One-Day Pass The Kyoto City Bus One-Day Pass gives you that hassle-free and cost-efficient commuting experience during your visit. For just 600 yen for adults and 300 yen for children , tourists can get that unlimited bus ride for a day. However, before availing of the Kyoto City Bus One-Day Pass , one should keep these in mind first... This one's for daddy and mommy This one's fo...
The last time I visited Daraga Church was during the 4th day of our CamSur - Albay Road Trip last 2014. Since that's almost a decade ago, I made sure to include it in our itinerary for the 8th day of our 2021 Bicol Road Trip . Daraga Church Revisited 2021 Daraga Church details For those who are unfamiliar with Daraga Church , it is located in Santa Maria Street, Daraga in the province of Albay. The church is formally called Nuestra Senora de la Porteria Parish Church ( Our Lady of the Gate Parish Church ). Daraga Church - Daraga, Albay Daraga Church was built under the supervision of the Franciscans sometime in 1773. the church was placed under the patronage of the Our Lady of the Gate. Daraga Church Facade Sadly, Mayon Volcano was not visible during our visit Daraga Church NHI Marker Can you spot the scary tarsier? The church facade is known for its Churrigueresque architectural style. It was built using materials that are abundant in the area like volcanic rock, wood, and...
Months prior to our visit to Japan , my wife tagged me to a trending post on Facebook about this unique Starbucks store in Kyoto City. This Starbucks branch was dubbed the " Edo-style Starbucks ." Kyoto's Edo-style Starbucks The said post piqued my interest as I was crafting our Kyoto City itinerary during that time. I then made sure to include it in the said itinerary and as a matter of fact, I placed it on our first-day plans. Before I write about what happened next, let's first discover the good-to-know information about this Starbucks store. You'd surely miss it if you don't know where it is... I had to ask around to find it. Yup, I'm in the right place! Kyoto's Edo-style Starbucks - Kyoto City Edo-Style Starbucks History The Starbucks Coffee Kyoto Ninenzaka Yasaka Chaya , better known as the tatami-styled Starbucks is located at Kyoto-shi Higashiyama-ku Kodaiji Minami-dori Shimogawara Higashi Ino Masuya-cho 349, Masayacho, H...
Located in Barangay Sta. Mercedes (Patungan) in Maragondon , Cavite, Patungan Beach is one of the province's little-known beach destinations. It is situated inside Patungang Cove which is south of Mt. Palay Palay which is also known as Pico de Loro . Patungan Beach Patungan Beach Details The area near Patungan Beach is home to about 100 - 200 families, most of which are fishermen hence the alternate name of the barangay - Patungan Fishing Village . According to the locals that I interviewed, their place was once an isolated barangay , reachable only by boat, horse, or foot. Thankfully, with the completion of the Nasugbu - Ternate Highway and Kaybiang Tunnel , the barangay was finally connected to the province. However, there is still no direct public transportation system that serves the area coming from Manila. Patungan Beach - Maragondon, Cavite The beach from a distance Check out these photos of Patungan Beach: Just a heads up, ...
Learning Kanji - Numbers At first, learning kanji felt pretty overwhelming —all those complex characters and meanings! But now that I’m preparing for the JLPT N5 , I’ve come to see it as a challenge worth taking on. I’ve already got a good grasp of hiragana and katakana, and now I’m slowly adding basic kanji to my study routine. There’s something incredibly rewarding about recognizing a character on a sign, a menu, or in anime—it makes me feel like I’m actually starting to understand real Japanese. Since the JLPT N5 covers essential and frequently used kanji , I’m tackling them little by little. And where better to begin than with numbers ? You see them everywhere—on prices, dates, times, and more. They’re also some of the first kanji learners encounter, and for good reason. So today, we’re focusing on the kanji for 1 to 10, 100, and 1,000 . They’re straightforward in structure, but once you learn them, you’ll start noticing them all around you. Let’s get started! 一: 1 二: 2 三: 3 四: 4 五...
Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse ( 金森赤レンガ倉庫 ) is the general name for a group of red brick warehouses that now operate as a shopping mall along the bay area of Hakodate City. It is located at 14-12 Suehirocho, Hakodate City, in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan . Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse Details The Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse is a captivating historical site located in the bay area of Hakodate City, Hokkaido. These iconic red brick buildings, which once served as warehouses, now function as a vibrant shopping mall, offering a blend of history, culture, and modern commerce. But the story behind the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse is as fascinating as the destination itself. Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse - Hakodate City, Hokkaido Prefecture The current location of the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse is on reclaimed land that once housed a shipyard and a foreign settlement during the Edo period. This area, initially called " Jizo-cho Tsukishima ,"...
Starbucks Hakodate Bayside ( スターバックス函館ベイサイド店 ) is one of the branches of the popular coffee chain. It is located at Suehirocho 24-6, Hakodate West Wharf, Hakodate City in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan . Starbucks Hakodate Bayside Starbucks Hakodate Bayside Details Starbucks Coffee Japan opened its Hakodate Bayside Store on October 29, 2010, at Hakodate Nishi Wharf . This charming store, located in the heart of Hakodate's stunning bay area, seamlessly blends the natural beauty of the cityscape with Starbucks’ signature design. Utilizing the existing building, the new store provides a cozy and inviting atmosphere, making it a must-visit spot for locals and tourists alike. Starbucks Hakodate Bayside - Hakodate City, Hokkaido Prefecture Hakodate shares several characteristics with Seattle, the birthplace of Starbucks, making it a perfect location for the company’s first store in the city. Both are vibrant port towns with scenic hills and bustling morning markets, whil...
Shin Hakodate-Hokuto Station ( 新函館北斗駅 ) is a station of Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido). It is located at 1-chome-1-1 Ichinowatari in Hokuto City in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan . Shin Hakodate-Hokuto Station Shin Hakodate-Hokuto Station Details Shin Hakodate-Hokuto Station , located in Hokuto City, Hokkaido, is a key stop on the Hokkaido Shinkansen line, offering convenient access to the region’s stunning landscapes and historical sites. Opened on March 26, 2016, this station serves as a crucial transfer point between conventional rail lines and the high-speed Shinkansen, connecting travelers to Hakodate Station, which the Shinkansen does not directly serve. Shin Hakodate-Hokuto Station - Hokuto City, Hokkaido Prefecture The history of the station dates back to the opening of a railway station in the Ichinowatari area in 1902. Originally named " Hongo ," the station was renamed in 1942 to " Oshima Ono " after local villages merged. The station’s name w...
That looks like a fun festival. I'm happy you were invited to such events.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Yes it was fun.
Delete