October 09, 2020

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

October 09, 2020/ Brandy C.

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!

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!

September 19, 2020

Labor Day Weekend 2020 | 勞動節長週末

September 19, 2020/ Brandy C.

Shelter in place seems like it’s coming to an end. We can now dine out where outdoor seating is available, and we can do non-essential shopping. We can even travel by commercial ferry or airplane to nearby islands. This has gotta be the most awesome birthday gift for me. This past long weekend we were expecting the “storm of the decade”, so we made sure we went snorkeling before the typhoon hits. But the typhoon didn’t hit us straight on, and we even got to eat hot pot and watch Mulan.

自主隔離終於到一段落，能在餐廳室外座位用餐，也能到商場逛街，還能坐飛機和船到沖繩離島。我的天啊，這根本是生日前最好的禮物！這長週末，有堪稱最強颱風來沖繩，我們把握能到海邊玩的時間去浮潛，但颱風路線走歪沒什麼太大影響。週日還吃火鍋看花木蘭。

Okuma Resort

Have you ever gotten dizzy from SUP and kayak? Have you ever seen anyone capsize while riding jet ski? Even though we only stayed here one night, this weekend was very extreme and entertaining. Our staycation at Okuma started with meeting up with our pastor’s family, who happened to be at northern Okinawa too, for dinner. UN and I went looking for stars at night, something we don’t get to see very often. I wish I had brought my tripod.

你有聽過玩SUP和獨木舟玩到暈船過嗎？你有親眼看到水上摩托車翻船嗎？雖然只待一晚，但這週末也太刺激太好玩了！開啟完美Okuma Staycation，我們先是和剛好也在沖繩北邊的牧師一家人一起吃晚餐！晚上和UN在海邊追星，整片星星是我們在住家附近看不到的畫面，真希望那時有帶腳架！

On the second day, sea conditions improved a lot. We signed up for a couple aquatic activities. I finally got to do SUP! Still the waves after typhoon was a bit choppy, we got a little bit seasick from kayaking and SUP.

第二天海況改善許多，我們排滿水上活動，我也終於能玩到SUP！但由於颱風過後，海況還不太穩定，我們划著SUP和獨木舟到暈船，一度需要跳下水裡清醒一下。

Our favorite and most impressionable activity has got to be jet ski. What an adrenaline rush. Another couple who started the same time as us flipped and capsized as they were attempting a sharp turn. That didn’t deter our racing spirit. We pedaled to the metal. Jet ski is a must try activity when you are at Okuma. Before leaving Okuma, we made reservation for the one room there that is so hard to make reservation for. Most ppl say you have to book it 6 months in advance. It’s the Ai Cottage, and it has its own private beach!

整個行程我們印象最深（也是最愛）是玩水上摩托車，超刺激超瘋狂。和我們同時間出發的另一對情侶，在我們還在研究如何飆車時竟然翻車。但完全不影響我們想當飆仔的心情，我們開始狂飆狂撞海浪，來Okuma一定又玩水上摩托車！離開Okuma前，我們訂到最難訂的房間，就是傳說需要六個月前訂好的AI Cottage，聽說有私人海灘！

Kouri Shrimp

Time flies when you are having fun! After leaving Okuma, we stopped by a tourist favorite Kouri Shrimp over rice. They only do takeouts right now. You must wash your hands and wear your mask when ordering. We ate the Kouri Shrimp over rice by the beach and watched the sun set to end our long weekend.

美好的時光總是過得特別快，下午離開Okuma後我們到觀光客必吃、疫情之前總是大排長龍的超有名蝦仁飯。目前只提供外帶，入店時必須戴口罩和擦乾洗手。我們帶著蝦仁飯到海邊欣賞黃昏，結束好玩的長週末。

Thanks to COVID-19 we are able to truly enjoy Okinawa. But I still wish COVID-19 would go away soon!

現在能好好認識沖繩這美麗的小島得感謝COVID-19，但COVID-19可以快點離開嗎？感謝感謝！

July 16, 2020

One Year Japan-iversary | 日本一週年

July 16, 2020/ Brandy C.

Today marks our one year anniversary of living in Japan. It was always my dream to live in Japan, and I got emotional when the moment we got the orders to move here! From the journey moving to Okinawa until today, we are grateful for every day that we get to live here. We’ve found a loving church, met many friends, and started serving in youth ministry (they taught me TikTok!). I’ve also become the VP of Naval Officer Spouse Club Okinawa (NOSCO), UN became the VP of Officer Wardroom, and he received great remarks on his job performance. Despite being extra busy this past year, but we count every minute and every second as a blessing from God. Thank you God for leading us on this amazing life journey, and with this next year here, we are prayerful for more of God’s guidance.

一年前的今天，我和UN搬來日本！從小我一直夢寐以求能住日本，對日本相關的大小事我都非常感興趣，所以UN一告訴我能住日本，我感動到哭！從搬來沖繩的過程到現在大部分時間宅在家，每分每秒都是感恩和感謝。我們找到很照顧我們的教會，認識很多非常要好的朋友們，我們也在教會的青少年團契裡服侍（就是他們介紹我TikTok的！）我在軍眷團裡成為副會長，UN也擔任單位裡的副會長，工作上拿到很棒的成績。雖然這一年來很忙，但每次回家裡細數過程，滿滿都是神的恩典。感謝神讓我們這一年來經歷許多人生從未想到的事，接下來的這一年，我們期待神的帶領。