Bentonkoreajapan: September 2013

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Day 19 Tue 24/9 - From Tokyo to Atsubetsu, Hokkaido

Today Distance :47.0 km Total: 790.5 km

Today weather :19 -24c cooling all day

Time on Bike :2 hr 49 min

Ave speed :16.6 kmh Max 49.5 kmh

Ave Climb : 2% Max 6%

Trip Altitude : 242m Max : 124 m

Today spend : 700 yen Total : 700 yen

The flight from Busan landed in Tokyo Narita at 2100 hr and clearing the immigration is very strict, all my stuffs had to went thru the scanning machine again before i am being allowed to enter Japan. Once everything is clear, the next thing on my to do list is to find a sleeping corner, and i saw many people already occupying some of the seating chairs as bed. So i guess it should be ok for me to do the same, i will have 5-6 hr of sleep before my next flight to Hokkaido on Airasiajapan scheduled on next day 0715hr. When i woke up at 5.30 am, I saw many people already started checking in, so quickly i have to prepare myself for another check in process of weighing the bike box, scanning...again, luckily everything was ok though a bit of troublesome,but overall Japanese staffs are well trained and always serving with a smile. The flight took less than 2 hrs and I was already in Hokkaido Chitose Airport by 9 morning, now come the time to assemble the bike, and i wheeled the trolley to one quiet corner outside the airport, I have enough time as my warmshower in Atsubetsu, near Sapporo, told me to come after 3 pm and his house is only 45 km away from the airport. After a solid 2.5 hr of assembling, tested and fine tuning, finally I am set to ride off at 12 30pm. My warmshower host Kenichi did provide a link to show the road to his house, but without a gps and a hardcopy map, it was not and easy job, I lost count of how many times i had to confirm and reconfirm by stopping to ask for direction, and i really appreciate the Japanese attitude in helping a foreign cyclist with their very limited english. Nevertheless, I still managed to arrive Kenichi and Hsiu-Hsia house in Atsutbetsu by 4.30pm, and Hsiu-Hsia was at home to welcome me while Kenichi still not back from work. They have a cute little girl named Aki. Hsiu-Hsia original from Taiwan cooked a delicious dinner for me,and a nice bedroom.Thank you so much for your hospitality.

From Kimchi now to Sushi

Welcome to Hokkaido, certainly all the way from Malaysia

Bike assembling outside the Chitose airport

On the way to Atsubesu,near Sapporo

Lawson convenient shop

Park toilet to ease myself

Nice park

My warmshower in Atsubesu Kenichi,Hsiu-Hsia and daughter Aki

My room so clean and warm

Monday, September 23, 2013

Day 18 Mon 23/9 - Goodbye Korea and Welcome to Japan

Today weather : 24 -32c Sunny all day

Today spend : 20000 won Total : 414100 won

It is so nice that my warmshower host Seok Syeong-kyun drive me to the Gimhae International Airport which is about 30 min drive from Jungang Stn where we stayed, despite he had to go to the hospital to treat his swollen leg in the morning. He also prepared breakfast but said that was brought over from her mom house. He drop me off at the airport at noon and have to rush back for work. So we say goodbye and hope one day he will visit Malaysia to look for me. My flight is schedule at 7.30pm ,so again have lots of time to kill at the airport. I had my Korean Won of 50000, so I ordered a good set lunch of stir fried beef in hot plate,with rice and 5-6 side dishes for 13000 won, and the balance i changed it to Japanese Yen. The check-in was smooth and efficient, with just 2 hours, I am already in Japan Narita Airport, and i will stay and sleep at the lobby before my next flight to Citose Airport Hokkaido.

My last set of Korean meal at the Gimhae airport 13000 won Stir fried beef in hot plate with rice and side dishes

Gimhae In'ter Airport in Busan

Arriving at Narita Airport Tokyo

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Day 17 Sun 22/9 - Busan City Bike Tour with Warmshower stay

Today Distance : 9.0 km Total: 743.5 km

Today weather : 24 -32c Sunny all day

Time on Bike :1 hr 34 min

Ave speed : 5.7 kmh Max :23 kmh

Ave Climb : 4% Max 15%

Trip Altitude : 86 m Max : 36 m

Today spend : 20900 won Total : 394100 won

Seok Seung-Kyun is my warmshower host today,a young handsome young man replied to my request, and also able to secure a bike box for my flight tomorrow from Busan to Tokyo.SSK need to go to the church in the morning so can only meet me at the port at 5 pm, he stay alone in a rented studio unit about 200 m away. So I have plenty of time to hang around, I went to the nearby Jagaichi market and Yongdusan Park where The Busan Tower located at the top, but the park looks more like the elderly to spend their time resting,meeting up with old friend, and to play chess,I spent sometimes up there and watch their activity, very refreshing with the wind blowing from the sea coast, the younger generations were more attached to the busy shopping streets. SSK is a social worker,so i paid for my own share at the dinner of pollack fish cooked with long beam sprout with source like spaghetti source.He helped me to pack up my bike in the box, cos' tomorrow he has to see a doctor to treat his swollen right leg stung by a bee, but he promise to return by noon to send me to airport on his car, such a nice guy where you can only meet on bike touring.Well, I will see you all in Japan, but I guess won't be that often as free WiFi is hardly available in Japan as compared to Korea.

The ferry will sail under this bridge in Busan

Bike firmly secured with all the ropes available but self service

Typical Korean street lunch 5000 won

Saw someone bike saddle

Pushing my bike go window shopping

Busan Tower on top of Yongdusan Park

Yongdusan Park

On top of Yongdusan Park

Yes, I love you too

Giant drum of Yongdusan Park

Life on a slow lane

Chess to keep the mind active

Full concentration in order to win

Shopping streets where the young ones goes

My warmshower host in Busan - Seok Seung-Kyun

His rented studio uint on 15th floor

Lovely cat he kept

Dinner of pollack fish

Dinner Seok Seung - kyun

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Day 16 Sat 21/9 - Sehwa Pagoda Roof Hut Camp and Back On the Ferry to Busan

Today Distance : 45.0 km Total: 734.5 km
Today weather : 24 -32c Sunny all day
Time on Bike : 3 hr 14 min
Ave speed : 13.9 kmh Max : 42 kmh
Ave Climb : 2% Max :9%
Trip Altitude : 278 m Max : 59 m
Today spend : 64600 won Total : 373200 wo

Yesterday by far was my worse night sleep in Korea. I thought with the local cyclist as a company,thing should look better. I was totally relying on him to find a good campsite,and i really don't know how much he understood of me,neither do i understand of him, we are like chicken and duck talk. The Pagoda hut had a toilet but was under repair, so we have no water to wash up, another mistake of not setting up the tent make us the easy target by the hungry sand flies, if these were not miserable enough, then one funny,inconsiderate Korean van driver,stop his van just beside the pagoda hut and making all sort of noise at 4 am wanted to sleep together,and this had woken us up, and my Korean friend started to scold the intruder, of course i don't understand a word of what they argue. The funny part is, there is another pagoda hut over the other end with no people,why he purposely want to share our pagoda already with 2 cyclists occupying? The argument lasted about 20 min, luckily no physical fighting, ended up my friend had given up hope and started to pack his stuffs , while i continue to half asleep as to keep an eye on this strange fella.We did not want to stay any longer here, so we packed up and started riding by 7 am .We stop at the CU convenient store for breakfast. As today distance to Jeju city only about 40 km, so our ride is a bit more relaxing, at one stage, i purposely avoiding him by going into the coastal road, as he is very much like to stick to the busy 1132 road. By the time I arrived at the coastal terminal, he was already waiting for me there. I felt so guilty to left him and now he is so concern of me, making sure i arrive at the right place and all the helps that i might be needed.I spent him a lunch of a grill fish and sharing a pear with him. We finally bid farewell and good bye as he will continue to ride the Hallasan. While i have lots of time to kill waiting to board the ferry at 7 pm back to Busan.