2009 道東之旅 (最終回 – 阿寒湖、小樽) East Hokkaido Trip Feb 2009 (Final Part – Lake Akan, Otaru)

 

▼ 阿奴族人是阿寒湖一帶的原住民。阿奴村的主街兩旁滿是售賣原住民手工藝品的商店。

The Ainu people are the indigenous people of the Lake Akan area.  The main street of the Ainu Village is lined with shops selling Ainu folk handicrafts.  

 

 

▼ 這個手工藝家聚精會神用木頭雕刻，不知他是為客人還是自已雕。

An artist concentrates on carving out Ainu folk crafts. 

 

▼ 鶴雅酒店 (http://www.tsuruga-g.com/english/01tsuruga/index.html) 是阿寒湖最豪華的酒店之一。我們入住這酒店來享受一下。他們的殷勤招待無械可擊：我們一踏進酒店，一隊穿上和服的auntie即來歡迎我們，他們甚有默契，有的送上熱毛巾、有的送茶。完成check-in，兩位年輕服務員（包括一位來自青島操普通話的研修生）帶我們到我們的房間，一路那位青島同胞為我們介紹酒店各項設施。

 Tsuruga Hotel (http://www.tsuruga-g.com/english/01tsuruga/index.html) is one of the most luxurious hotels in Lake Akan.  We booked ourselves into this hotel to pamper ourselves.  Its impeccable hospitality is absolutely impressive – As we arrived at the hotel lobby to check in, we were greeted by an army of middle-aged ladies in beautiful kimonos.  They helped us with hot towels and tea.  After the check-in formalities, two younger staff walked us to our rooms.  They grasped the opportunity to gently explain the directions of the various facilities of the hotel. 

 

 

▼ 雪中的鶴雅酒店。

Tsuruga Hotel in the snow. 

 

▼ 冰封的阿寒湖面上每晚都舉行吸引遊客的文化節目，活動主題圍繞阿努族原住民的儀式和生活方式。

A cultural festival is staged on the frozen Lake Akan every night.  Rituals and lifestyles of the Ainu people are the theme of many of the festival activities. 

 

▼ 天寒湖凍，大家圍著火堆取暖。

People gather around a bonfire to keep themselves warm at that freezing cold night. 

 

▼ 貪過癮，來試試這項少見的冬季運動—冰壺。

People try out this rather unusual winter sport – curling. 

 

▼ 我就來試試鋸冰塊，鋸得太差，造不成冰屋。

I try out sawing up a big ice cube. 

 

▼一早，鶴雅酒店的auntie服務員，在酒店門前冒著風雪，為即將上路的旅客，掃走他們車子上的積雪。日本人的無微不致的服務態度及那份堅持，問你服未？

A Tsuruga hotel staff braves the snow to wipe off the snow on the guests’ cars as the guests are getting ready to set off in the morning.  Japanese hearty service and perseverence. 

 

▼ 離開阿寒湖，我們折返這次旅程的出發點—札幌。我們在午飯時間特別在帶廣作短暫逗留，一嘗馳名的元祖豬扒飯。門口是大部份出名食肆的生招牌—人龍。

We left Lake Akan to return to Sapporo, where we started our journey.  We made a deliberate stop-over at Obihiro during lunchtime to sample the famous pork chop rice.  The restaurant has the trademark of many renowned eating places – a long queue. 

 

▼ 爭相品嘗的元祖豬扒飯。嫩肉被美味燒汁重重包圍，好味。

Here’s the much sought-after pork chop rice.  It is absolutely delicious – nice tender lean pork braised with a rich-flavoured sauce. 

 

▼ 在札幌的最後一夜，我們去了小樽參觀「小樽雪光之路」。

On our last night at Sapporo, we made a trip to the neigbouring city Otaru to catch the ice-lights festival. 

 

 

▼ 「小樽雪光之路」跟札幌雪祭大不相同。札幌雪祭的冰雕以大及務求令你嘩一聲取勝，「小樽雪光之路」走小情小趣路線，展品規模小巧，有些由當地市民製作，當中不乏甜密溫馨作品。這十一天的道東之旅亦告一段落。

Otaru’s ice lights festival is characterised by the small-scaled romantic ice lighting installation.  Many of them look very amateruish as they are made by amateurs of the local community.  But some of them look really sweet.  This also marks the end of this 11-day East Hokkaido journey.