Manta Ray in Ishigaki

Photo Credit: Viking Scuba

I’ve waited a long time for this moment, finally got to see a manta ray fly above me! Like many of the remote islands, Ishigaki is very beautiful. Even on a cloudy day, the water was crystal clear blue. After the sun went down, I was dazzled by the countless glittering stars decorating the night sky. Our itinerary was simple, meeting mantas was our only goal.

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Scuba Diving

Viking Scuba
https://www.facebook.com/vikingscubakabira/

Dining

Ishigaki Beef Maru
https://ishigaki-maru.com/food-menu/

Kabira Tei
https://goo.gl/maps/Hd82uWwMWonhosWD9

Pinacolada Bakery
https://goo.gl/maps/7XvA9DH6sfEpLZny5

Hau Tree Gelato
http://www.hautree.net/

Sightseeing

Kabira Bay

Come here at night to see meteors. Zero light pollution here.
The starlit sky with late summer breeze, how I wish we could camp here overnight!

Ishigaki Yaima Village

An obasan performer of traditional Ishigaki dance and culture shocked us with her hospitality. She unselfishly taught us how to play an instrument made out of small wooden planks, and performed folk dancing for us. Featured in this park are also golden monkeys from South America. They are very friendly and do not shy away from interacting with visitors.

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Ishigaki is full of flowers and other green plants. Some of the houses are furnished with stone walls in their front yard. Ishigaki translates to stone wall. According to my friend E, snakes love to hide in the cracks inside these stone walls (k bye)!

Due to the weather, we weren’t able to visit other islands surrounding Ishigaki, but luckily we got to scuba dive and see manta rays the day before the typhoon landed. Crossed another one off my list. Hopefully I can visit the other islands next time!

P.S. If you get a rental car, FILL UP the gas and KEEP THE RECEIPT before you return the car!!!

Ishigaki Yaima Village Lookout

PC: Viking Scuba

PC: Viking Scuba

PC: Viking Scuba

PC: Viking Scuba

PC: Viking Scuba

PC: Viking Scuba

Shooting star at Kabira Bay

Starry night at Kabira Bay

Ishigaki Yaima Village

Ishigaki Yaima Village

Ishigaki Yaima Village

Ishigaki Yaima Village

Traditional Ishigaki Dance

Ishigaki Yaima Village

Dance performance at Yaima Village

Ishigaki- Stone Wall

Ishigaki

Group Photo at Kabira Tei

Chicken Gyoza from Kabira Tei

Ishigaki Beef Mura

Chinese Translation

這一刻等了好久，終於親眼看到鬼蝠魟從頭上游（飛）過去！和許多離島一樣，石垣島真是漂亮極了。即使陰天，海水還是無比藍，晚上的星空更是無話可說！沒有安排行程，唯獨只想見到鬼蝠魟。

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潛水店家

Viking Scuba
https://www.facebook.com/vikingscubakabira/

餐廳清單

Ishigaki Beef Maru
https://ishigaki-maru.com/food-menu/

Kabira Tei
https://goo.gl/maps/Hd82uWwMWonhosWD9

Pinacolada Bakery
https://goo.gl/maps/7XvA9DH6sfEpLZny5

Hau Tree Gelato
http://www.hautree.net/

景點清單

Kabira Bay

晚上來這能看到流星！完全沒有光害，整片星星加上微風，真希望能這露營！

Ishigaki Yaima Village

園區阿嬤非常熱情且不吝嗇的展示各種石垣島文化，教我們用石垣島響板打拍子，還特別表演當地舞蹈！這裡還有很有名來自中南美洲的金色小猴子，非常好客也很愛和人打成一片。

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在石垣島上，舖滿扶桑花與各式綠色植物，有些房子外圍用大塊石頭堆砌而成。石垣意思石頭牆，朋友E說蛇最喜歡躲在這些石頭牆的縫隙裡（馬上逃走）。因天氣關係，我們沒機會到鄰近小島，但很幸運的我們能在颱風直擊石垣島前潛水，並且看到鬼蝠魟，完成住在沖繩的一大清單。希望之後能再去石垣島附近的小島參觀！

備註：如果有租車，換車前切記要把油箱加滿且留好收據！

Golden Monkey

Shisa!

Yamai Village

Ready to see manta rays!

3 Days in Tokashiki Island | 三日遊渡嘉敷島

Kerama blue is truly beautiful no matter on cloudy or sunny days. Tokashiki is the biggest of the Kerama islands, but has only 400 residents. Life is simpler than the other Kerama islands. Blessed with beautiful beaches and scenes, but it also has a dark history. On the eve of Battle of Okinawa, American troops were getting ready to land on Tokashiki, the 315 residents were afraid of a massacre, decided to commit mass suicide by grenade instead. A tower and monument was erected to remember them. 

收集完慶良間藍，真的是陰天晴天都好美。渡嘉敷島是慶良間諸島裡最大島，但島上只有約四百多位居民，島上也比其他慶良間諸島更加純樸。渡嘉敷島有許多美麗海灘和風景，但也有一段非常黑暗的歷史，在Battle of Okinawa前夕，美軍準備登入島上備戰，但三百一十五位當地居民因擔心美軍的襲擊而決定集體自殺，在島上的北邊設立白玉之塔和集體自決跡地作為紀念。

Transportation | 交通

We didn’t book ferry ticket beforehand, purchased them on the day of. Not that many travelers during the week. From Tomarin port is only about an hour. 

我們沒預先訂船票，當天到港口買票。週間沒有很多人，所以我們不擔心船票會售光。和座間味島一樣在那霸Tamarin Port搭船，約一小時就能到。

Dining | 食

Thanks to my friend C for recommending restaurants to us. There aren’t many food options here. Most google searches turn out to be restaurants in Zamami or Naha. 

感謝朋友C介紹幾家餐廳，讓我們這趟旅行不用煩惱。這裡食物選項真的不多，在手機上找餐廳，出現的全是座間味島和那霸一帶。

Half 1/2 Time 
122 Aharen, Tokashiki, Shimajiri District, Okinawa 901-3502

An instagrammable restaurant, known for their steaks and giant (40 cm) hot dog. An American themed restaurant that is a rarity in Tokashiki. Eccentric is probably how I would describe it. 

離島還有網美餐廳，也有牛排和超大份熱狗。美式風格參雜一些很妙的裝飾品，小鎮上很難想像會有一間這樣的餐廳。

居酒屋 丸二
86 Aharen, Tokashiki, Shimajiri District, Okinawa 901-3502

Affordable and delicious. Each dish is around ¥500, generous portions, perfect for hungry scuba divers. Will definitely return. 

便宜又好吃！每盤幾乎只要500元日幣上下，份量也不小氣，很適合潛水完肚子餓來。下次來一定會再回來的店。

Sea Friend居酒屋
155 Aharen, Tokashiki, Shimajiri District, Okinawa 901-3502

Not satisfied with your first meal? Come here for some late night eats. Right next to our bed and breakfast. We came right before closing. Thankfully we were still served yakitori! 

前一頓吃不過癮，我們來民宿附設的居酒屋。謝謝老闆雖然關店了還是讓我們硬凹進去吃串燒，感謝感謝！

Cafe Sea Friend Jr. 
346 Tokashiki, 字 Tokashiki, Shimajiri District, Okinawa 901-3501

Is Tokashiki owned by Sea Friend? One of two restaurants near Tokashiki port, but quality is top notch! Oi-shi! 

這島被Sea Friend佔領了嗎，連島北邊也能看到他們！這是島北邊唯二的餐廳吧，即使如此食物還是很不錯，算是島上好吃的餐廳！

Accommodation | 住宿

Sea Friend
155 Aharen, Tokashiki, Shimajiri District, Okinawa 901-3502

My friend C helped us book lodging and diving! All in one dive shop and bed and breakfast. They also provide free shuttle to and from Tokashiki port. 

感謝朋友C幫我們訂住宿和潛水行程！潛店附設民宿還包自助式早餐，也有接駁車在港口接送。

Day One | 第一天

Aharen Beach 阿波連ビーチ

Didn’t plan much to do at Tokashiki. Just want to chill and relax! Aharen Beach is just 10 minutes walk from where we stayed. Came here to snorkel. Fishes are big, water crystal clear. But beware, UN saw Titan Trigger Fish again! Maybe it’s winter time in Okinawa, not that many tourists, which also means less restrictions at the beach. The whole beach was our playground. 

來渡嘉敷島沒特別安排行程，就想耍廢！民宿離阿波連海灘非常近，走路不到10分鐘。我們來這裡浮潛，魚一樣大隻，水一樣清澈。小心，UN又見到那會咬人的魚（Titan Trigger Fish）！可能是沖繩進入冬天了，人特別少，也沒有游泳管轄範圍，讓我們在大海裡到處游泳找魚玩。

Day Two | 第二天

Sea Friend Diving

Boat dive is so convenient (I probably said this many times!) After our guide briefed us on the dive plan, we jumped right in. First dive was near Tokashiku Beach, and second dive we went to a shipwreck. 

船潛就是方便（好像我說了很多次）！船到潛點後，教練Gin解釋海底下的狀況，我們馬上跳水下去。這次教練第一潛帶我們到Tokashiku 看魚，第二潛到南邊看一艘沉在水裡的船。

Day Three | 第三天

We rented a car to explore the rest of the island, drove from south to north and back. Although we didn’t plan out much details, we snorkeled the first day, scuba the second day, and hiked the last day. Quite productive wouldn’t you say!

這天我們租車遊遍整座島，從南開到北，還留了幾個景點下次來看。雖然說是耍廢行程，但我們第一天在海裡浮潛，第二天潛水，第三天爬山，不太軟爛吧！

After visiting two main islands of the Kerama, it’s hard to say which one is better. We like the food selection on Zamami, and the site seeing. Tokashiki is less commercial, preserved much of its remote island culture. Next time you can plan a four day three night trip to Kerama!

拜訪慶良間諸島的兩大島後，實在很難分勝負。我們喜歡座間味島的多種食物選項，完整的景點規劃。渡嘉敷島則非常不商業化，保有離島該有的風格。下次可以來個四天三夜慶良間諸島遊！

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！