Weekly List: Happy Moon Festival | 本週清單：中秋節快樂

Okinawa weather changed so suddenly. It was super hot just a few days ago, but after one day of raining, all of a sudden it’s getting a little chilly now. The temperature right now is in the 70s, and I fell cold. So much that I’ve gotten out my Fall clothes. This post is a few weeks delayed, please excuse my tardiness.

沖繩天氣一日變天，前幾天還熱到出門立刻流汗，但有天下雨後，天氣馬上變涼。最近溫度降到70度，我竟然覺得好冷，已經把秋天的衣服拿出來。雖然是本週日誌，但已經是好幾週前發生的事了。希望各位讀者別介意！

Kudaka Island | 久高島

OMG, I saw snakes here! Snakes in the wild, not the kind you see in museum. We got up at 6 am to meet up at Azama Port, got on the ferry to Kudaka Island. It only takes 20 minutes to get here, faster ferry takes only 15. Okinawan people believe that their ancestors Amaikiyo landed on Kudaka Island, therefore, there remains many places of worship here. Priestess would host ceremonies at these worship places.  Please know that these are considered scared places of worship and are not accessible to visitors. You can see Kudaka Island from Sefa-Utaki. Both Sefa-Utaki and Kudaka Island are considered sacred. Kudaka Island is not big, recommend to do a bike tour after you get off from the ferries. 

我要崩潰了！我竟然看到蛇，不是在博物館那種標本，是野外蛇！一群朋友早上六點集合出發到位在東南邊的Azama Port坐船到久高島，只要20分鐘（快船約15分鐘）就能到這小島。沖繩人相信他們的祖先Amamikiyo降臨在久高島地方，因此這裡還保留許多祭拜的場地，而祝女會來這裡辦儀式和祈禱。切記，這些地點是不能進去的！從Sefa-Utaki能看到久高島，這兩個地點也是沖繩最神聖的地方。整個島不大，下船後建議能租台腳踏車環島，非常方便。

Moon Festival BBQ | 中秋節烤肉

Originally was planning to go back to Taiwan for Moon Festival, but you know! I can’t believe my friend K was able to order some pomelos. My mom also sent us some moon cakes from Taiwan. A group of us Taiwanese friends gathered together for a BBQ, to bring some Taiwanese festivity to Okinawa. Is it just me or why do I associate fireworks with Moon Festival?

今年原本想回台灣過中秋節，但你也知道的！朋友K竟然訂到文旦，我媽從台灣寄月餅來，還有朋友準備烤肉，把台灣中秋節氣氛帶到沖繩。為什麼我印象中秋節耶要放煙火？

Scuba Diving at Mermaid Grotto | 沖繩潛水景點

UN went deep sea fishing with some friends, I went scuba diving instead. Thanks to my friend C for letting me be the third wheel. This time I captured 2 green sea turtles, one shark, and Nemo and family. My friend C is getting ready to move to Europe, so this was the last dive before they leave. Thank you for never giving up on me despite my many panic attacks while scuba diving. Thank you for taking care of me. 

UN和朋友一起去海釣，我和朋友們去潛水！感謝朋友C讓我當電燈泡，這次收服兩隻綠蠵龜、一隻鯊魚和Nemo一家人！朋友C要準備搬到歐洲了，這算是他們離開前一起的最後一潛。感謝朋友C不放棄我，記得第一次和她潛水時，我整個人panic attack還被浪吹的像瘋子，但他還是願意和我做朋友，邀我一起潛水，照顧我，由心感謝！

2 Jerks

Eh, it actually tastes pretty good! This reminds me of two years ago when we went to Jamaica. When can we travel again?! The meat is not dry, sauce is on point. It’s not as spicy as the ones we had in Jamaica, but it definitely exceeded my expection!

哎唷，竟然還不錯！讓我們好想念兩年前去牙買加狂吃Jerk Chicken的時候，什麼時候能出國旅行啊？肉質不乾，醬也不錯，雖然不像在牙買加吃到的那麼辣，但在異國食物沙漠的沖繩裡，這水平還是讓我有點嚇到！

Blue Seal Ice Cream Flavor Guide | 沖繩 Blue Seal 口味清單攻略版

We finished all Blue Seal flavors! I could’ve crossed this off my list earlier if it wasn’t for COVID, but I can finally share this with you now! Blue Seal is the most iconic ice cream chain in Okinawa. You can’t miss the big neon signs when you are driving along the 58 main road. “Born in America, raised in Okinawa”, Blue Seal opened its first on-base store in 1948 in Okinawa to sell American ice cream to American troops. In 1963, Blue Seal opened its first off-base store and became a local and tourist favorite. On the 10th and 20th of every month is Big Scoop Day, you get three scoops for the price of one! Just ¥350! If you forget it’s Big Scoop Day, you’ll be reminded by the long lines of people outside of Blue Seal. This flavor guide took over a year to compile, hopefully you find it useful the next time you visit Blue Seal! Use #BrandysBlueSealList to let me know your favorites!

我們吃完全部口味啦！要不是疫情關係，我們原訂年初就能達成這項計畫，但延遲了幾個月，現在終於能分享給你們了！Blue Seal是整個沖繩最有名的冰淇淋連鎖店，從機場小攤到沖繩路上Blue Seal超大霓虹燈招牌在路上閃爍，你絕不可能錯過這家冰淇淋店。”Born in America, raised in Okinawa”，原先是美國公司在1948年來沖繩美軍基地開店，當時只賣給美軍相關人士。到了1963年，Blue Seal開始在基地外開店，也變成沖繩必去景點之一。每個月10、20號 Big Dip Day 都有買一球送兩球的活動，只要350元日幣。在美軍基地附近的Blue Seal也能看到許多美國人排隊買冰淇淋。花了將近一整年的時間，我們終於能把Blue Seal口味清單送給你們！下次去Blue Seal吃冰時，可以參考一下！吃完記得在IG用#BrandysBlueSealList，讓我知道你們的想法！以下是我和UN的個人意見，希望你們會喜歡，Enjoy!

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BEST

• Ryukyu Royal Milk Tea: if blue seal offers boba, this will be the best combination.

• Okinawa Ta-Imo Cheesecake: ta-imo flavor overpowers the cheesecake flavor, but it has cheesecake chunks.

• Coffee Affogato: right amount of Kahlua and coffee flavor. Exceeded our expectation! Perfecto!

• Okinawa Salt Cookies: you have to try this Okinawa exclusive flavor!

• Almond Pistachio: has almond chunks. The color looks artificial, but the flavor reminds me of Filipino Pandan.

• Swiss Chocolate: tastes like Kit Kat! What do you think?

• Mocha Almond Fudge: limited time offering. Has rich mocha flavor. Definitely worth the hype, and hopefully they can bring it back again!

• Sugar cane: surprisingly good!

• Chocolate Cookies Swirl: this is a yes, especially if you are a chocoholic, and my friends agree with me!

• Beni-imo: if you never had taro in your life before, this is what taro tastes like. Perfect balance, and dose not taste artificial!

• Ube: on the sweeter side, but this satisfies my palate.

• Chocolate Chip: this one can be a bit controversial. A definite “best” for me, a “better” for UN.

• Mango Tango: when it’s hot and humid, this one will be your best friend.

• Chura Ichigo Milk: limited time offering! It tastes like my breakfast smoothie.

• San Francisco Mint Chocolate: all right Blue Seal, I’ll give you the permission to claim it “San Francisco.”

• Foremost Chocolate: less milk chocolate, more dark chocolate.

• Foremost Strawberry: one of their original flavors. Didn’t disappoint us.

• Foremost Vanilla: can'never go wrong with vanilla, right?

BETTER

• Matcha: that dependable AYCE matcha ice cream.

• Creme Brûlée: limited time offering. This is more like egg pudding than creme brûlée.

• Vanilla and Cookies: where should I start? It’s a bit ringard.

• Baked Sweet Potato: limited time offering. Tastes exactly like baked sweet potato with marshmallow bites. The reason we categorized this as “better” was because it tasted like cold sweet potato fries.

• Strawberry Cheesecake: is it too cliche if I say “I try to like it, but…”

• Sakura Annin: limited time offering. A bit too much almond extract. Creamy, and has pink flakes.

• Ganache: limited time offering. So close to a ‘“best”! Chunky texture and good ol’ chocolate flavor, reminds us of Rocky Road.

• Tiramisu: it’s good, but doesn’t have that wow effect. More like chocolate fudge with coffee ice cream instead of tiramisu.

• Chocolate: can’t go wrong. good ol’ chocolate.

• Shiquassa Sorbet: Okinawa lime. I’m curious about your opinion on this one!

• Pineapple Sorbet: cane of frozen dole pineapple blended into icy.

• Coconut: between “best” and “better”. Very creamy!

• Tropical Marble: this is what guava juice should taste like. I guess blood orange, kiwi, and banana mixed together would taste like guava.

• Vanilla: similar to foremost vanilla.

• Strawberry: typical strawberry flavor.

GOOD

• Blue Wave: kids’ favorite! Taste like marble soda.

• Mango: sorbet texture. Not creamy, and has artificial taste.

• Banana Susannah: taste like overripe banana.

• Neapolitan: 3 flavors in one, I’m not so sure about this!

• Passion Fruit Sorbet: is this hi-chew or ice cream? I’m confused!

• Soy Cafe Au Lait: limited time offering. I’d say, you can skip this one!

Birthday Adventure 2020

This year felt like a really long vacation, now it’s finally time to get back to a not so normal normal. My calendar is filling up with events again, lots of activities back in action, even military spouse clubs are getting busier. I’m glad that restrictions are gradually getting lifted before my birthday! 

今年好像放了一個大長假，現在開始收心恢復（不太一般的）正常生活。看著日曆上從空白到漸漸塞滿行程，每個地方開始辦起活動，連軍眷團也開始忙起來，很開心生日前限制放鬆了！

Warumi Bise | 備瀬のワルミ

2278 Bise, Motobu, Kunigami District, Okinawa 905-0207

To get to this place, I must first tell you what happened that day. Originally we had planned to hike Tataki Falls for my birthday, and it would be the second time that I attempt to hike there. The weather was very nice on the entire ride there, blue sky and beautiful white clouds. But as soon as we started entering the parking lot of Tataki Falls, it started pouring. We were denied access. So we changed our plan to go to Warumi Bise instead. It was high tide when we got here. The beach that you can normally walk disappeared, and we had to swim to Warumi Bise.

能來到這個點，我必須解釋一下當天發生情形。其實我們原本打算在我生日當天到Tadaki Falls爬山，這是第二次試著要來這瀑布。一路天氣無敵好，整個西海岸一片藍，但抵達瀑布停車場時開始下雨，管理員也禁止我們進入。我們改來Warumi Bise（千萬別跟著Google Maps走），但遇到漲潮，原本能走到的點改成游泳。

長老ラーメン

1 Chome-12-4 Chatan, Nakagami District, Okinawa 904-0116

Must know that the ramen here comes with an egg already. This street ramen place may not look like much with its simple setup of wooden tables underneath some tents, but its food is quite the opposite. High recommend their gyoza! 

切記這裡的拉麵已放蛋，除非你是蛋的愛好者。這屋台式的拉麵店，用幾根木頭搭建和帆布遮風，賣的食物一目瞭然。雖然簡陋，但食物非常優秀。很推薦餃子！可以追蹤我的Instagram，看看我們吃些什麼喔！

Shiro Kuma

304 Toya, Yomitan, Nakagami District, Okinawa 904-0305

Before loosening of restrictions, my friends and I have already made a list of restaurants that we want to go to when we can dine out. Our first choice is by reservation only, our second choice doesn’t offer outdoor dining. But third time is the charm I guess, we came to this Thai restaurant that offers outdoor seating. Okinawa summer outdoor dining has its challenges. It can get hot and humid, then there is lightning, and lastly, swarms of mosquitos. This establishment is cash only, offers lunch sets, and is quite easy to find.

解放前晚已經和朋友約好，等不及出門吃飯！這餐吃得不容易，原本選定的餐廳竟然是預約制（Little Greek Kitchen），第二家餐廳沒開放戶外用餐，但為了享受這好久好久沒得到的自由，我們不能放棄！英文裡說的”third time is the charm”，我們找到這家泰國料理，提供戶外用餐。但沖繩夏天在外吃飯狀況特別多，一開始超悶熱，然後開始打雷，最後我們狂被蚊子狂盯。這家餐廳只收現金，中午有套餐，位置也非常好找。

Double Tree by Chatan

43 Mihama, Chatan, Nakagami District, Okinawa 904-0115

Military base signed an exclusive deal with the Double Tree in American Village, it costs just $58 per night to stay here. You can get a room that faces the ocean, great for watching the sunset with UN! Going on the waterslide at the pool is probably my favorite activity to do here! 

基地和在美國村的Double Tree合作，推出一晚只要$58的超低價住宿。而且房間朝海，和UN欣賞夕陽適合不過！這裡還有泳池溜滑梯，大概是我最愛的一項活動了！玩瘋了我們！

Osteria La Pesciolina

https://lapesciolina.com/menu

This Italian restaurant opened in American Village in June. Very much appeals to the palates of me and UN. We ordered oysters on the half shell and a fish for late dinner. We were very satisfied and will definitely return to try their pasta.

在美國村六月時開的的義大利餐廳非常符合我和UN的胃口，我們點了生蠔和一條魚當宵夜。非常滿意當晚的食物，期待下次的義大利麵。

Thank you to all of the birthday wishes I received! Hope everyone stays healthy, and cheers to a better rest of 2020!

謝謝朋友們的生日祝福，希望大家健康快樂，也希望2020能越來越好！