We spoke a foreign student from India (on bicycle) who advised us to visit Maruyama. He said that we will find a lot more cherry blossoms there. On his advice, we made our way there again. This time, I rented a wheelchair as I had knee pains and Tim gently pushed me to see the cherry blossoms. It was beautiful. One particular tree really stood out. It was simply blooming white and pink flowers among all the other trees.
There is something biblical about cherry blossoms. The Bible talks about the flowers that bloom for a while and the next day is thrown into the fire. Yet despite the flowers being temporarily growing in the field, God still clothe them with many colors and make them beautiful. In Hokkaido, they bloom only a week in May and for one day in that week, the flowers reach its full bloom. After that the flowers begin to shed the petals and fall to the ground.
God spoke to me that my life is like the cherry blossoms, it is only temporary. However I will surely peak in this life and bloom in full color and splendor. God says that yet in this short life when I bloom, I must really bloom for the Lord in whatever seasons or age. I must really shine for His glory that others may see the beauty in me like the cherry blossoms.
After Maruyama, we decided to visit Shiroi Kobita, chocolate factory. Here we encountered Japanese discipline like no other. The Japanese are simply discipline and they expect others to do the same. From separating their trash to combustible, non combustible and plastics, they lined up patiently to go into car parks. The morning we were at Shiroi we tried to jump the queue. In Malaysia, our habit is to cut into the parking lots from the other side of the road without regard to the cars that had already lined up to go into the parking.
Tim tried to drive the car to the other side of the road and got the coldest glare from the extremely well dressed parking attendant. Not only that he put out his hands like a X indicating a big NO!
We had to dutifully follow the snaking line of cars and follow instructions. Tim dropped us at the entrance and we waited for him while he parked a distance away.
The chocolate factory is interesting. We took a tour of the floors and watched how deliciously thin cookies were made sandwiched with Hokkaido milk. They were delicious. Japanese cookies at Shiroi Kobito tasted light with a melt in the mouth goodness. Here I bought many gifts for friends and family.
This place reminded us of the movie Charlie & the Chocolate factory. Shiroi has some amazing and beautiful landscapes for photo taking. At 5 pm when the clock tower sounds, figurines of chefs and animals will show on the clock tower and play the closing music for us!
After Shiroi (we had lunch at the cafe), we then made our way to Esta for dinner. We heard from P and G that in Esta there were shops after shops of ramen. Indeed we saw a group of shops selling ramen and soba. We were spoilt for choice!
End of day 6.
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