UTORO TO AKAN
At our last trip to Hokkaido, we missed the Shiretoko cruise due to the bad weather. This time, we tried our luck again and were greeted with a sunny day.
The cruise was around 1 hr and a half.
Managed to spot the bears? In this picture, there were two actively foraging for food ahead of their winter hibernation. We spotted four bears,which accordingly to the guide, it was rare to have two families of bears so close to each other. Shiretoko Peninsula is home to around 600 brown bears, one of the largest communities in Japan.
Shiretoko National Park (386 sq km) features a peninsula with a range of volcanic peaks leading out to the rugged cliffs around Cape Shiretoko-misaki. It has seen little development and remains one of the most pristine wilderness areas in Japan.
Almost half a day gone when we ended our cruise journey on board Fox-2. Leaving our hotel, we made our way to find the Minshu which we stayed before. It was quite easy to find it,as it was located just opposite the bus terminal.
Minshuku Taiyo, which opened it door in 1981 was closed when we visited it. The owner was an old lady and cooked authentic Japanese dinner. I can remember the wide window overlooking the road from the room which we stayed. I hope it is not closed for good.
Heading towards the Shiretoko Five Lakes (Shiretoko Goko), we found this deer along the road. A few of us alighted from our car and busy taking pictures of it, I was expecting the deer to be disturbed by our presence, but hardly, it just kept sniffing the ground, possibly for food.
I love trekking and I wonder how many more years I have to waited before Oliver and Heidi could walk with us. One trip that I remember very vividly was the Wilson Prom , Australia. Both of us were inexperienced, and pretty unprepared for it. We just carried our backpack, camp overnight and walked for days, over cliffs, crossing river. The place was beautiful - low vegetation, highland, white sandy beach, waterfall. Okay.. let come back. Why I am saying all these is because I wish I could take the full trail which would last two hours. But dream on.. Over here, wooden trails like those in the photo lead around the pictureque lakes. Oliver imagined himself walking on the train track.
There were wild flowers like this every where around the lake. Waterlilies?
I wonder who named the lakes. The lakes are actually named "The First Lake", "The Second Lake", and so on for the rest of the three lakes.
Heidi fell asleep after her first ride on the cruise boat. So lucky Oliver now had our full attention.
Took this picture so I could remember the size of these giantic water plants.
Caught another deer glazing away.
There were wild flowers like this every where around the lake. Waterlilies?
I wonder who named the lakes. The lakes are actually named "The First Lake", "The Second Lake", and so on for the rest of the three lakes. 
Heidi fell asleep after her first ride on the cruise boat. So lucky Oliver now had our full attention.
Took this picture so I could remember the size of these giantic water plants.
Caught another deer glazing away.
