Date:  Dec 16, 2019

We have a hard time to wake up.  May be because we were too tired the day before.  So, we just bearly make it to the breakfast cut off time.  Hahaha.

The food is simple.  But enough for us to eat.

Wow, the restaurant selling Tottori crab.  I have never seen crabs has so many black dots.  This is the marker of Tottori crab.

龙见台

We start our journey by driving out towards the Sand Dunes direction.  It will takes 1 hour to go to that place.

The first stop we stopped is 龙见台.  It’s a beach, that has a car park and a coffee restaurant.

It is always fantastic feeling to see a beach.

As usual, Kay does not like direct sun light.  So, he uses his camel that he just bought at one of the highway stopover to cover his eyes.

I also wanted to take a picture here.

This is the place and the landmark.

Look at the sky.  So blue.  So, hopefully tonight has better luck to see the stars.  Later at night, I was wrong.  The clouds came in so fast and covered the whole sky around 9pm.

Let’s see what we can do here.

Let’s sky jump.

Here is the series of sky jump photos we took, and it is fantastic.

These are memorable photos.  For me and the kids.

Kay Kay is flying.

Now, it is both the kids turns.

Let’s take a group photo.

Jay Jay flying.

I am lifting off.  Naturally.

I am doing funny jump pose.

I am flying again un-naturally.

I am running in the thin air.

How about this, sticking my tongue out.  This is fun!

We end up eating ice cream and drinking coffee here at the only coffee restaurant here.

White Rabbit Beach & The Surfers

We then reach another beach.  White Rabbit beach.  白兔海滩。

And welcome Kay Kay in the picture.  He is back facing the sun.  That is why he can open his eyes.

It is a very nice sandy beach.

I made them sky jump, but the effect not so good.  Using my iPhone to do the job.

Spotted a surfer here.  Not come meh???

Oh, there are two more surfers in the water.

They were in the water for long time.  And they try to catch the wave.  And finally, he made it.

Most of the time, he just body surfing.

And here the go out to the sea again.

Finally they retired the surf and go back to the car park.  Smoking and resting.  So, they are the surfer yuppee I suppose.

Love the seas.

Love the bokeh.  I am glad that I brought along my trusted 100-400mm telephoto lens.

Why do you think I can take very close up shots of the surfers.  Of course using maximum zoom, the only regret is I forgot to bring my x2 adapter.  hahaha

Jay and the Sands.

Jay and the sea.

The back shot.

Kay Kay throwing a rock into the sea.

And the rock leaves his hand.

This trip we taken a lot of nice photos. I am satisfy with that.

Kay Kay running on the beach.

It’s my turn.  I asked my wife to take the shot.

Not too bad too.

One more.

Let’s take a photo of my wife too.

White Rabbit Shrine

Opposite the beach is the car park.  Beside the car park is the White Rabbit Shrine.

Why this shrine is there.

As this is the sand dune area.  So there is a sand sculpture here too.

Every where you can see the rabbit stone statue.

This is a nice pose.

A nice picture for the three of them.

There is a place for you to wash hand, pray and drink the holly clear stream water.

Quite nice to drink.

There are instruction to teach you how to drink.

There is this pond here too.  In Chinese it says no gain no minus pond.  Does it mean the water here always at the same water level?

Our first shrine to pay respect.  Bow two times, throw the donations coins, bow again, and pull the bell.

Here is how Kay Kay did it.  And he forgot the bow before shaking the bell.  hahaha

Don’t forget to buy the good luck charm and the study hard charm.  And the accident free charm.

Love the reflection of the pond.

Here is the reason why we are here.

But I did not take very good starry night photo yesterday because of the clouds.

There are so m any places you can see good starry sky in this province.

Really fantastic.  I wish I can stay here few more days.

Let’s hold hand and say buy buy to White Rabbit Shrine.

Sand Dune Art Museum

We continue our journey.  That is why I said, renting a car is so fun and so good.  Because you can see more things.

And we are finally here.  We have not eaten.  But let’s visit the museum first.

This is a fantastic museum.  They have different exhibit every year.

This is a nice pose.

All the sand sculpture is done by these international team.  Wow.  A lot of hard work.

Sand Sculpture of South Asians is 2019 theme.

This Gandhi sand sculpture is done by this Russian Mr. Pavel Mylinkov.  It looks so real.

Wow.

Wow.

Wow.  Look at the 3D effect of the building.

This is amazing.

I cannot believe all these were done using sands.

Wow.

It is really amazing.

My kids also cannot believe and wonder how they sculpture it.

Just look at the 3D effect of the town and roads.

More zoom in.

The facial expression is so nicely done.

The whole walls.

Even the painting on the wall are done using layers of sands.

The details of the building is sculptured using sands.

I like this one too.

It looks so real.

The city.

Look at the detail sculpture.

Some Indian figures.

Look at the face.

Lotus three face buddhas.

Just look at the eye lid.

Jay is amazed with all these.

The army.

The building. Wow!

How much time they spent to do this???

Zoom in more.

Smile or sad?

So amazing.

Elephant rider.

The temple.

The buddha.

Wow.

The apprentices.

Taking picture with the sand buddha.

Sleeping Buddha.

The followers.

The monks.

The statue.  I am sure the real thing also look similar to this.

Taj Mahal?

Nice eyes.

Unbelievable face.

Another look at the street.  In 3D mode.

Some maharajah.

Some beast?

Some goddess?

Another goddess?

The stairs

Animal kingdom.

This is how massive the studio.

bathing?

Elephant god?

Me and Gandhi behind.

Me and Jay.

From the second floor view.  There are photos of all the past 20 years sand sculpture theme too.

They also have outdoor sand sculpture too.

But because there are winds and rain.  So, they have to cover it up. And the sculpture are not that nice.

Here we can see the sand dunes.  Behind them is the sand dunes.

Is just dessert.  A very small one.

Let’s take the sand dunes picture.

Some outdoor one is nice.

The tour ended at the Bell of Happiness.

Ya, ring the bell, Kay!

Lunch Time Just opposite the Museum

We have our lunch just opposite the museum.  A fresh seafood don place.

Cheers.

Fabulous food.  Fresh and nice.

Let’s take a photo here.

Its Good!

Camel Ride

Across the road is the sand dune.  Basically it is dessert, a very small one with some dunes.

Kind of strange to find sand dune in Japan, but here you are.

Let’s sky jump here.

Sorry Kay Kay, this year we didn’t plan for a skiing trip.  So, you could not see any snow.  But we have sand.

And he loves to run on the sand.

Although it looks small, from one place to another also takes some time.

That’s the sand dune.  See how small the people are?

Now, when you walk on it, you will find it quite big actually.

So, we need to ride camel first.

And they charge for taking photo of the camel too.  So, please ask if you can take photo.

So, in order to take photo of the camel, we paid for the kids to ride a camel.

It would be cheaper for both to ride on the same camel.

And we can take picture of it.

They have ride horses before.  So, riding a camel is the first time experience for them.

And Kay insists to bring the camel soft-toy he bought just now with him on a camel.

Here they go.  Riding the camel.  For the first time.

Bye bye Jay and Kay, see you in few minutes time.

Wow, now I can see that how important a camel is to the dessert people.

They are there. On a camel.

You see that Sand Dune behind them.  Later, me and the kids will walk on the right side.  And Mommy will “climb” the left side, the actual dune that has inclination angle > 50 degree.  Hahahahah

Wow, they seems happy.

And Kay is playing with his camel soft toy.  On a camel.

That concludes the ride.

Yeah, happy.

Let’s give the camel a pad.

Sand Dunes & Climbing it

Here comes the next challenge.

And the kids can’t wait to climb it.

Oh, some couple taking wedding photo over there.

Let’s take some nice photo here.

It is a dessert but not too hot.  The sea breeze make it very pleasant.

While we are happily taking photos, the kids has already reach the middle of the sand dunes.

Really no joke.  Big.

Kids running up the sand dune hills.

See the kids already climbing.  And Jay has sit down for a short rest.

Video of the Sand Dunes.

Look to the left of the very steep hill, there are actually brave people climbing that.  It must be more than 50 degrees inclination.

Of course, I am a heart patient so I cannot climb that!!! hahaha

So, to enjoy this some one must climb it.

Boon Ching!!!!!

That is how I “con” her to climb the left path.  The very steep path and she accepted the challenge.

No joke.  Very steep.  But climbable.

She did slip a few times.  Hopefully she won’t roll down.

And Kay Kay by this time, already running on top of the sand dune.

I shouted at him, “Sky Jump”.  And he gladly jump.

Let’s jump again!

Mommy, you are almost there.  加油！

Opps, she slips.

Manage to get the foot hold.  Almost there.

The kids celebrate by doing more sky jump.  There you see mommy is almost reaching them.

Got to love the way they jumped.

Mommy quick.

Mommy, I give you a hand.  I think Mommy must be very tired.  hahahahahaha

Tired…

But joyful.

Good job, mommy.

As for me, I slowly climb la.

Luckily I bought new shoe.  And you can see the sands are quite loose.

And see how my heart beat jump up with just a short climb.  hahaha

It is totally a new scene up here.

Mommy and Kay Kay still staying there.

The other side of the sand dune is the sea.  Sea of Japan.

And I made it to the top too.

360 degree of my surrounding.

Jay Jay is sitting there playing the sands.  Let’s walk toward him.

Really love the breeze up here.  And the scenery is nice too.

More sand dunes.

More Sea of Japan.

He is playing with the sands.  And uses his iPhone camera to record all kind of slow mo.

He sit there also nice.

Mommy and Kay Kay also come.  And Jay show them how to play with the sands.

Kay playing with the sands.  Using a stick.

OK, its time to go back.

Kay Kay just love to run on the sand.

While walking, they will sit down on the sand for a while.

Playing with the soft soft sands.

So, my family loves snow, and they also love sand…..

Sun has gone down.  Let’s go back to the onsen hotel.

Before we leave, let’s take a nice picture.

Eat my favourite ice cream.

Really tasty.  Tottori is famous for its big pear.  So, it is pear soft cream.

鱼见台

Dragon in the morning, and now fish.

In the mid-way back to hotel.

They have this funny looking rock.

I cannot read that first Chinese word.  The second word is “rock”.

Let’s take another picture with Sea of Japan.

Oh nice bridge.  blue bridge.

Jay really love the scenery here.

That concludes our 2nd day.  Later, I will write what we eat and what I photograph at night.  The 2nd day is eventful.  We love the sand dunes.  The seafood don is not bad.  The Sea of Japan is nice!