Impulsive Christmas Trip to Aso | 聖誕節直衝熊本阿蘇

我和UN一如往常，坐飛機前會到那霸機場國內入境大廳旁的Pork Tamago Onigiri買豆腐口味和原味飯糰。拿好食物，一出店門口有位先生從店裡出來超貼心幫我們照相。當下沒太多交流，幾句日文表達謝意。我們到隔壁便利商店買牛奶，我嚷嚷著怎麼剛才沒和那人自我介紹多聊幾句。這位先生就突然出現，以為他也是來買飲料，結果竟然是幫我們付飲料錢。我和UN都驚呆了，完全不知道如何報答這位先生。我們聊了一下，知道彼此名字。非常感謝Shimizu San！

Getting Pork Tamago Onigiri (tofu and pork is our fav) at Naha Airport has become our travel routine. As we got out of the shop this time, a nice gentleman followed us out and offered to take our photos for us.  We had a brief conversation and said our “arigato” and went on our way next door to buy some milk at Family Mart. Just as I was regretting not having more conversation with that gentleman, he showed up again next to us. We thought he also came to buy something to drink, but instead he came to buy us our drinks. His kindness surprised us in this holiday season. We chatted a little longer and exchanged names. Thank you very much Shimizu-San!

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(Please scroll down for English translation!)

最近沖繩好冷（大概華氏65度，我的東岸朋友們應該會殺我），我們衝動訂好機票來福岡泡溫泉！原本說好12月待在沖繩，但實在是經不起誘惑，懷念九州溫泉生活！朋友K一家人大推阿蘇，加上我們家常買阿蘇牛乳和阿蘇水，你覺得不來看一下怎麼行呢！這次自駕到熊本阿蘇，下雨過後的風景美呆了，簡直是在夢幻仙境裡開車。

大觀峰

UN每次設計的網美行程都會被我打槍。原先計畫在溫泉旅館裡悠閒泡溫泉和參觀一些不需腳力的景點，我卻在收拾行李時臨時提議去爬山。這類事每次旅行一定發生，我就是傳說中的難搞旅伴吧！好險UN人好願意奉陪！

阿蘇山

阿蘇山，世界最大活火山之一。2016因火山爆發，阿蘇五岳關起來，世界唯一能近距離看到火山口因火山隨時可能爆發禁止遊客進入。雖然往阿蘇山路上已知道此事，我們還是堅持一路開到被擋住的心態上山。直到距離火山口一公里處被擋住，畫面像是世界末日般被火山灰覆蓋。入口佈滿警告牌，反覆廣播警告遊客注意安全，警察車也擋住禁止民眾。僅有一家非常冷清的紀念品店開著，店外被黑灰蓋住，想像Stranger Things被underworld的怪物侵襲，就是那種感覺。

溫泉旅館

UN此行主要目標：泡溫泉！但最吸引我的是旅館提供的懷石料理，好吃到讓我每餐必吃兩碗飯。非常喜歡傳統和室，睡前工作人員會把床鋪好。我們好像小丸子、多啦a夢，實在是太可愛了！

馬肉

熊本是馬肉發源地。雖然不是第一次吃馬肉，但吃馬肉時旁邊有人騎馬還真的是第一次。那感覺太怪了，我們還是想騎馬的啊！

Lately it’s been getting kinda chilly here in Okinawa (~65F, my east coast friends please don’t kill me). Originally we agreed to stay in Okinawa for Christmas and New Year, but we impulsively purchased tickets to visit onsen in Fukuoka, because Kyushu onsen life is irresistible! Our friend K is from Fukuoka and highly recommended Aso to us! We love buying Aso water and Aso milk, so it’s destined that we visit Aso. We rented a car and drove to Aso, Kumamoto. Driving in the misty mountain roads after the rain is beyond magical. 

Daikanbo

UN’s planned insta-friendly itinerary inevitably will be amended by me. His original goal for this trip is to soak in hot spring at our onsen ryokan and visit a couple easily accessible sites. But as we were packing, I suggested we go hiking. Yes, this happens all the time. I guess I’m the annoying travel partner. Good thing UN is nice and accommodates my spontaneity!

Mount Aso 

Mount Aso, one of the largest active volcanoes in the world. Due to volcanic eruption in 2016, Mount Aso is now closed off-limits to visitors. The only place on earth where you can be within 1 km away from an active volcano that can erupt any minute. Although we already knew about the closure, we still wanted to get as far as possible. When we got to the entrance of the volcano, it looked like a scene from the apocalypse; the sun is obscured from the clouds, and everything is covered in black volcanic ash. The entrance is fenced off with lots of warning signs cautioning visitors from trespassing the fence. There is also recorded announcement on megaphones with similar warning messages in multiple languages. Police cars with flashing sirens patrol the area to ensure visitors follow the rules. The only place that is opened is the lone souvenir shop, which is also covered in black volcanic soot. It literally looks like the place is in the underworld in Stranger Things under attack by monsters. 

Ryukan

UN’s main goal for this trip: soak in onsen! But I’m more interested in the delicious traditional Japanese keiseki meals provided by the ryokan. So delicious that I asked for two bowls of rice every meal! I absolutely love our Japanese style room. The staff will make our bed for us every night and morning. I feel like we are in a Japanese comic book, super kawaii! 

Horse Meat 

Kumamoto is known for horse meats. Although it’s not my first time having horse meats, it is my first time eating it while people do horse riding right outside. What an eerie feeling. Is it weird I still want to ride horses?