Weekly List: MLK Weekend to Daisekirinzan

Northern Okinawa is not so densely populated, full of picturesque scenery, making it a frequent weekend escape for me and UN. My friends and I stayed overnight in Kunigami Town over MLK weekend. The town seemingly entered a day’s rest immediately following sunset. Melody of babbling brooks and howling winds filled the night. For dinner, we charcoal-grilled freshly caught fish wrapped in getto leaves. We might have disturbed the town’s quietness with our rambunctious chatters and laughters over board games and movies. 

Daisekirinzan

https://www.sekirinzan.com/
Tickets: 1200 yen (adults), 550 yen (children), 900 yen (elders)
Address: 1241 Ginama, Kunigami, Kunigami District, Okinawa 905-1422

It is believed that the goddess who created Okinawa first landed here, therefore considered by locals a sacred site. The outline of Daisekirinzan (mountain), when viewed from a distance, resembles that of the Bddhist goddess Guanyin lying down. This area is part of Yanbaru National Park. Cape Hedo, the northernmost point of Okinawa, is visible from the observatory here. Here is also the home of the biggest Banyan tree in Japan. Along the hiking route, you will discover hoof tracks of Okinawa wild boars, you may even spot Yanbaru chicken! Special thanks to Park Manager of Daisekirinzan, our friend E and her friendly coworkers for the educational guided tour. This March you can join the “Seven Mysteries of Daisekirinzan'' guided tour led by the Park Manager himself, see the intertwining Irukanda, naturally-forming crystals and learn about Okinawa geography, culture, and history! Come here to clear your mind, and also for a chance to meet Japanese celebrity!

Okinawa Cacao Factory & Stand

http://okinawacacao.com/
Address: 521-1 Hama, Kunigami, Kunigami District, Okinawa 905-1415

We must have driven up and down Route 58 at least a dozen times in the last year and a half, but this is our first time stopping here. Never knew there is a chocolate shop here. They sell Okinawa flavored chocolates such as getto leaves and Awamori (snake sake). 

Shimabukuro Meat Shop

http://shimabukuroseinikuten.com
Address: 93 Oyakawa, Nago, Okinawa 905-1146

In this butcher shop you may find sausage, skewers, and various organs. Additionally, you can purchase horse meat and deer meat. There’s a similar butcher shop nearby where we live, but the clean freak in me always hesitated going in. Plus I don’t know how to order what I want in Japanese. This time I went with my friends and I loved it! It’s a lot cleaner than I imagined, and doesn't smell like raw meat. I especially recommend their goat soup, not very gamy, and the portion is very generous. We purchased three people’s serving, but fed five and with plenty of leftovers. Writing this post makes me crave for goat soup again!

This long weekend trip to Northern Okinawa with friends made up for not being able to travel to mainland Japan. Okinawa is now in a state of emergency again, the Governor of Okinawa recommended everyone to refrain from staying out past 8pm, and all of the restaurants and shops comply by closing at 8. Praying that everyone stays safe, until next time!

Chinese Translation

沖繩北部依山傍水，是我和UN週末很喜歡來的地方。人口不像北谷和那霸擁擠，大多以務農為主。長週末和朋友們一起到北部國頭村一帶，太陽下山後非常安靜，村裡的人似乎已進入休息狀態，幾乎聽不到任何吵雜聲。我們在住宿的陽台烤肉，朋友E帶來沖繩食材月桃葉（getto leaves））烤魚，大家聚在一起吃飯看電影。

大石林山

https://www.sekirinzan.com/
門票：1200日幣（大人）, 550日幣（小孩）, 900日幣（敬老）
〒905-1422 沖縄県国頭郡国頭村宜名真1241

那裡有川普石，快去找吧！沖繩有名的聖地之一，據說是沖繩女神最初降臨的地點。山形從遠方看去像是觀音躺著的圖像，也分成地上界和天上界。這區是山原（やんばる）國家公園，從大石林山展望台能眺望到最北邊的辺戸岬，還有日本最大的榕樹。照著路線走能看到沖繩山豬走過痕跡，聽說還能看到山原雞！這次行程非常感謝大石林山所長、朋友E和同事們的詳細解說和翻譯，讓我們一起探討古人在大石林山這帶的生活習性。有許多至今還無法解答像是正對東邊的朝拜石頭是人為還是自然現象、石頭排列像是古人在進行某種儀式等等的景象。今年三月會推出”大石林山的七種不可思議”導覽，大石林山所長會帶你去看血藤、天然水晶，讓你在這不止看風景拍拍照，還能學到好多沖繩地理文化歷史！除了陶冶身心靈，另一個一定要來的原因：有機會見到日本超紅明星！

Okinawa Cacao Factory & Stand

http://okinawacacao.com/
〒905-1415 沖縄県国頭郡国頭村浜521-1

遊走58號路上一年多，第一次在這裡停下。從來不知道這裡有家超有名巧克力專賣店，客人源源不斷。賣的是沖繩限有口味像是我們拿來烤魚的月桃葉和玻璃缸一定有一隻蛇的泡盛口味。我們買了月桃葉口味黑巧克力，現在邊寫日誌邊吃。

島袋精肉店

http://shimabukuroseinikuten.com/
〒905-1146 沖縄県名護市親川93

精肉店有點像是台灣菜市場裡的肉舖或是美國butcher shop，和名字一樣專賣和肉相關的食物，有香腸、烤串、內臟類，也有比較特別的馬肉和鹿肉。每次經過家附近的精肉店都好想進去，卻很怕味道重，也不知道如何買。這次和朋友一起，我愛到不行！沒有印象中肉店的餿味，凌亂但乾淨，愛喝沖繩羊汁的我非常推薦這家精肉店賣的羊汁，不會有太濃腥味，而且份量大到誇張。三人份的羊汁多到能餵飽五人還吃不完。寫完好想吃羊汁啊！

能和一群朋友到沖繩北邊當觀光客，過了一個悠閒又充實的長週末，彌補我們不能到本島旅行的失落感。現在沖繩又進入疫情警戒，政府建議大家八點後別在外遊蕩，店家超配合晚上8點準時休業，路上也明顯少了許多人。希望大家都平安無事，我們下次見！

Weekly List: Fishing Trip

Found my first hobby of 2021 - raft fishing (ikadatsuri). I used to think that fishing is an activity that you get to sit around and doze off all day, I was gravely mistaken. From fishing prep to cleaning and cooking fish, my whole day was gone. Didn’t even have a minute to sit down and rest, let alone open the book that I had brought with me to fishing.

We left before dawn, and headed north towards Motobu. The ride to the raft fishing shop is about an hour. My friends W and A are experienced fisherman and fisherwoman, they prepared all our fishing gear for us. My friend K and I could only stand on the side and watch and learn (fall asleep?) Once everything was packed, we embarked on our fishing trip. (Hooray!!!!)

It was a cold and windy day, there weren’t that many people at the rafts. The four of us roamed everywhere we could. It was my first time fishing, and every time we caught something, I cheered with excitement! My friend A patiently taught me how to put bait on the hook and pick a fishing spot. The rafts are exactly what you imagined them to be, made from pieces of wood. But like everywhere in Japan, the restroom there is clean. Only that sea water keeps flooding in, I thought I was gonna drown (dramatic much?) Raft fishing isn’t as scary as I thought it’d be, actually quite spacious when there aren’t many people around. The connecting bridge/catwalk is quite shaky, I held my breath every time I had to cross between rafts. 

Of the many highlights of this trip was when my friend W caught an octopus! We thought she caught a big fish at first, but when she reeled in the octopus I could only scream “OMG, OMG!” while my friends hurried to grab whatever they could to catch the octopus. This huge, slimy, and agile escape artist nearly got away from us! We had a bountiful fishing trip, went home with 32 fish and one octopus! Mission accomplished!

Raft Fishing Information
Store Name: 海生活 https://marine-life.jp
Price: ~5500yen (included ferry ticket and fishing gear)
Address: 〒905-0213 Okinawa, Kunigami District, Motobu, 谷茶29-72

Chinese Translation

2021年找到第一個新興趣：筏釣（いかだつり！）以前總覺得釣魚是個能發呆一整天的活動，但完全大錯特錯。釣魚的事前準備和幫魚兒們備餐就忙了我們一整天，幾乎沒時間坐下來好好休息。連準備的書，一個字也沒讀。

天亮前7點不到，我們一群人往北邊本部方向開，約一小時車程抵達提供筏釣的店家。朋友W和A以熟練且不倉促的速度把我們的釣具準備好，我和朋友K則是在旁觀學習（發呆？）就緒後，我們大包小包拿到小船上後立刻出發。

當天可能天冷風大釣魚的人不多，我們四人能亂走亂跑。由於第一次釣魚，每釣到一隻魚，我們一定拍手歡呼。抵達筏釣地點後卸下裝備，A開始教我和K如何把魚鈎、飼料弄好，選好地盤開始釣魚。筏釣的區域偏簡陋，看得出是用幾塊木板訂製組裝。廁所意外乾淨但設計很特別，一直有海水衝進來，一度以為我會被海水淹到（內心戲有點多。）其實在木筏上釣魚一點也不恐怖，人不多時活動空間非常寬廣，但連接木筏的小橋好晃，每次過橋必須先深呼吸做好心理準備才能走。

這次釣魚最精彩的部分就是朋友W釣到章魚！一開始大家以為是一隻大魚，把各種可能性喊出來時，章魚突然浮出水面。第一次釣魚的我，完全沒預料到章魚會出現，當大家到處搜刮能抓章魚的器具時，我一直喊Oh my God, oh my God! 就像在我的IG Reel裡看到的，章魚無敵大隻超滑還超會鑽，差點從網子裡逃脫。這次釣魚四人大豐收，共釣到32隻魚和一隻章魚！

筏釣資訊
店名：海生活 https://marine-life.jp
用費：約5500日幣（包括船票、漁具、飼料）
地址：〒905-0213 沖縄県国頭郡本部町 谷茶29-72

2021 Unplugged Travel Experience

Our first trip in 2021 was an “unplugged” one to Shiga. For most families in Japan, New Year’s Eve is a night of solemn gratitude and reflection for all that has happened in this past year. Instead of the flamboyant fireworks and spirited countdown, Japanese relish time with loved ones and approach the new year with hope and prayers. As the New Year festivities around the world became more toned down this year, we found it an opportune time to say goodbye to 2020 quietly, and furthermore make this an “unplugged trip”, to truly immerse ourselves in the streets of Shiga, appreciate the culture, and enjoy the company of one another.

We made a few rules, such as only emergency cell phone use. We could use our phones to talk/FaceTime with family, or if we get lost for more than 30 minutes (good thing our rental car came equipped with GPS), and we can’t take pictures when we are sightseeing. UN almost convinced me to not even use my camera, but taking pictures of food before meal has become a part of my life (for self-improvement purposes obviously!)

• Prior Planning

Because we couldn’t use our cell phone to Google search, so we needed to plan everything out and write them down.

• Meeting New Friends

I’m usually on my phone when I’m waiting and sitting at the hotel lobby, scrolling through social media and browsing news, but without my phone, I could only look around me. For this reason, we started striking up interesting conversations with the ryokan staff and other ryokan guests.

• Clearly list out “no cell phone use” rules

The best way to do this is leaving our phones inside the lockbox in our ryokan room. But we still needed to write out the rules. 

• Bring paper and pen

Not having a cell phone is equivalent to the feeling of hunger, my brain just comes up with a million things that I need to remember to do. Having paper and pen allows me to jot down my thoughts and cross off my to-do list.

• Focus on the travel and slow living

The few days that I was without my phone, life seemed slower, and yet lighter at the same time. Especially when I didn’t stress to “check in” at every place we visited. The surprise adventures that occurred when we got lost (and yes we got lost quite a few times). The only urge to use my phone came whenever I was eating delicious foods.

At the beginning of our trip, we felt like an “unplugged trip” would be easier said than done, since cell phones are now a huge part of everyday life. This is true especially when we desperately try to look up places to go. But our detour in the winding streets of rural Japan, meeting other Taiwanese living in Japan, conversing with vendors and restaurant owners in our broken Japanese, these are experiences that wouldn’t have been possible if we let our faces be glued to our phones.

Chinese Translation

2021年第一場旅行，我們以”不用手機”的方式在滋賀縣玩。許多日本家庭在除夕夜這晚，會一起回顧這一年來值得感恩的事情。與其在絢爛的煙花下倒數，日本人會和家人一起團聚過新年，期許新的一年有好的開始。尤其是疫情關係，許多國家都以比較低調的方式來慶祝新年，我們也利用這個機會與2020說再見，展開在滋賀縣平穩又安靜的2021年”不用手機”旅行，讓我們能好好體驗當地特色，也能和UN一起約會旅行！

我們訂了一些規則，像是除非緊急狀況都不能用手機、唯獨和家人通話、迷路超過30分鐘（好險車上有GPS），還有到景點時不能拍照。UN原本想更狠一點，連相機都不用，但吃飯前拍照已經是生活一部份了啊（至少回家後我能學習餐廳裡的食物）！

• 先前規劃

因為無法隨時打開手機查景點，先把行程大致列好是非常重要的。可以把一些想去的路線圖大致記一下，確保不會因找不到點而放棄開始用手機。

• 認識朋友

平時一人坐在旅館大廳時一定會拿起手機滑幾下，可能是看一下社群網站或是上網讀新聞，但這次只能看書或東張西望。也因這個原因，我們認識旅館工作人員。

• 清楚列出”不用手機”規則

其實最棒的方法是把手機留在房間裡別拿出來！為了防止賴皮，規則當然要列出來。

• 準備紙筆

沒帶手機的焦慮像是肚子餓想吃東西，頭腦出現幾百樣代辦事項。紙筆備好，把待辦事項和頭腦閃過去的靈感寫下來。

• 專心旅行、慢生活

不知道為什麼不用手機的這幾天，生活步調變慢也變得輕快。尤其是到每個景點不會逼自己一定要哪個地方打卡照相深怕遺漏一些地方。迷路時走在鄉間小路絕對是旅途中最棒的驚喜。但吃到好吃食物時，我好想拿出手機紀錄過程（忍住忍住）。

旅行一開始覺得做比說難，畢竟手機已成為生活一部分。尤其是想上網找景點時特別想放棄，但能和UN一起迷路找餐廳（日本小巷好美）、路上遇到台灣人幫忙（不需拿出翻譯app）、店家熱情招待我們（帶我們到想去景點），這些經驗都是用手機無法遇到的。