Elton | Hello from the Five Star Vagabond

Niseko Ski Resort Japan

February 13, 2020 by David Herd

Niseko Ski Resort Japan

Niseko Ski Resort Japan is the most famous and popular of the all of the Japanese ski resorts, offering a variety of accommodation, fantastic restaurants and modern facilities to complement the epic mountain.

Mt. Niseko-Annupuri

Not a bad view. 🙂

Coronaviris

As you can see my friend Hamish Elton is in contact with the Coronavirus. Hamish took all the photos for this blog, but it seems he spent more time in the wonderful restaurants than on the slopes. 🙂

See what I mean

Hokkaido is like a crab-lovers fairy-tale with its coastal waters containing some of the biggest and most delicious crab in the world. Famous hairy crab, snow crab and king crab are abundant, and each morning in the markets of Hakodate and Otaru, buyers and sellers trade the best crab available. Many of these crabs are purchased by Niseko restaurant owners, and within just a few hours, could be on your plate!

Hokkaido is famous for seafood

Make sure you take your platinum credit card. 🙂

Komagatake Single Malt

This will help keep you warm in the snow.

Single Malt Komagatake Limited Edition 2018 is a blend of "nicely aged" whiskies that have spent at least 3 years in either a Bourbon cask or an American White Oak cask. Unlike the Double Cellars and Yakushima Aging releases, the Limited Edition 2018 is aged entirely in Shinshu.

Ezo Seafood Oyster Bar

Salmon roe is another Hokkaido favourite that you simply must try in Niseko. Often marinated or soaked in soy sauce to add a rich, savoury element to the flavour, the 'popping' sensation when eating Ikura is a fun experience when dining with friends. You will commonly find ikura served with uni in a rice bowl or salad.

Little girl, big crab

She had to struggle to get it out of the tank. 🙂

Team Hamish

On the final night the mob decided to have Indian food instead of seafood, I can't imagine why? 🙂

Magic mountain

The team from Healthcert

They provide medical and Patient Education: In collaboration with universities and other teaching institutions, Min focus is to teach GPs how to diagnose and treat various medical conditions.

Steak Rosso Rosso restaurant

These Hokkaido scallops look good enough to eat. 🙂

The main course

TripAdvisor rating is # 19 of 252 Restaurants in Kutchan-cho.

Niseko Prince Hotel Hirafutei

Very close to the snow with an Onsen on the bbalcony. A short ski to the main lift. Hamish stayed here & was very pleased with cleanliness& location. Get an excellent room discount through THIS LINK.

Niseko Ski Resort Japan

Thanks for visiting my Niseko Ski Resort Japan photo blog.

For an excellent room rate sround $80 USD at the Niseko Grand Hotel just use THIS LINK.

For London & UK hotels there are great discounts through this link.

Counter only started February 16 2020.

This gallery contains 2 photos

Hamish Elton visits Portugal

June 8, 2019 by David Herd

Hamish Elton visits Portugal

Hamish Elton visits Portugal on one of his many overseas junkets, he is a member of the worldwide Entrepreneurs Organisation, whose goal is “to provide learning and networking opportunities for its members”. If you would like more information just follow THIS LINK.

Nobody I know travels more than Hamish does, he is a director of a company called HealthCert who train doctors in Australia & overseas on the treatment of skin cancer. Hamish is based in Thailand & travels to Australia several times a year to assist with HealthCert seminars.

Hamish is the selfie king.

No male in the northern hemisphere takes more selfies than Hamish, if you want proof just follow THIS LINK.

Great photo

Having a beer with Rodrigo Koxa, world record holder, largest wave ever surfed at the famous Nazare break in Portugal.

Have a look at this wave.

Brazil's Rodrigo Koxa sets record for biggest wave ever surfed

Watch this video on YouTube

Rodrigo ‘Koxa’ Augusto do Espírito Santo is a Brazilian professional big wave surfer and extreme water-man who broke the world record for largest wave ever surfed at Nazaré, Portugal, in November 8, 2017.

Time to check out some food.

As well as the selfie king & a world traveller, Hamish certainly is a bon vivant who has the ability to eat huge amounts of food without putting on any weight. 🙂

Fabulous restaurants & delicatessens

One of the many mouth watering venues.

Bar Terraco de Santa Luzia

TripAdvisor rating of #1,798 of 4,476 Restaurants in Lisbon.

Restaurant Row Lisbon

No shortage of places to eat in this fascinating city.

You gotta love the terracotta roof.

Roof, what roof? I don’t see any roof.

OK, now I see them.

One of the interesting things about Lisbon is the lack of high rise buildings.

Here are Hamish’s comments on Lisbon.

“First impression of Lisbon was the Taxi from the airport to my hotel in the city centre. The airport is very close the city – it was about a 15 minute drive, and there was no traffic at midday on a Sunday. First thing you notice is the lack of high rise buildings. There is still some 10-15 story buildings so it’s not a flat city like Vientiane but nothing much taller. Certainly not that you would call “high-rise”.

In the old city there is nothing more than about 6 stories tall – and most of those have rooftop bars.

This is the view from the number one rated rooftop bar at the Hotel Mundial.

Make sure you take time to explore the Alfama district which is an old part of the city set on a steep hill leading up from the riverside with a lot of hidden small shops, restaurants and bars.”

Tuk Tuks.

“The old city is quite compact and you can walk to most places, however there are now many Tuk-Tuks available to run your from place to place – as it is quite hilly. Don’t worry – the Tuk-tuks are all electrics so there is none of the noise or small you get form the ones in Bangkok. IT’s a great idea and I think many more cities will start to introduce them – especially where there are narrow streets. They are also a great resource for finding good local sights or places to eat.”