January 10, 2022

2022 Happy New Year

January 10, 2022/ Brandy C.

We start strong in 2022! Finally checked off our bucket list: see the first sunrise in Northern Okinawa. I’m grateful that the UN was well disciplined, he made sure we didn’t over-commit our NYE plans so that we didn’t have to pull an all-nighter as if we were still in college. We kicked off the start of 2022 by watching the first sunrise at Cape Hedo, visited Daisekirinzan, barbecued and played board games with friends, and even went fishing on New Year’s Day!

During the first week of the new year, it is customary for Japanese to visit different temples to pray for blessings for the year. We visited 2 out of the 8 Ryukyu Hashas - Sueyoshigu and Shikina Shrine, as well as two very popular shrines in Okinawa. As always, we didn’t worship at these shrines, we went to simply be immersed in Japanese New Year celebrations and surrounded by delicious food stalls outside of some of these shrines.

Gokoku Shrine

We were looking for Oki-gu, one of the Ryukyu Hashas, but saw the bigger crowd flooding to Gokoku Shrine. Only when we were purchasing omamori did we realize that Oki-gu is different from Gokoku Shrine. LOL Gokoku Shrine is very busy during the New Year, outside of the Shrine there are many good food options!

Sueyoshigu

Remember to bring bug spray! Hiking wasn’t part of our original plan, but we trekked through mossy stone paths and climbed flights of stairs to get to Sueyoshigu. This particular shrine is a bit hidden, if it weren’t for the New Year flags, we probably wouldn’t have found it. Direction: park here, there are stairways on the right, and another trail on the left. Don’t turn on either side, just go straight! Not far away, you will see a sign “Sueyoshigu” on the left.

Sairaiin (Daruma Temple)

I’ve long wanted to come here to see the many darumas. There are different sizes and colors darumas that you can purchase according to your wish.

Shikina Shrine

One of the Ryukyu Hashas! If you would like a Goshuin, you need to notify a shrine clerk ahead of time.

As per usual, I set a few new year’s goals for myself, hoping this year I can be even more focused on the things I set out to do, and spend more time doing things that are interesting and important to me. I wish a blessed and healthy 2022 to everyone!

Chinese Translation

2022年絕對有好的開始！我們終於完成2020年時想來沖繩北邊看日出的心願，也謝謝UN把我控制好，沒有爆肝趕場這種自以為還在身體能承受熬夜不睡覺的生活！2022年，我們不但看到日出，到沖繩本島最北邊的辺戸岬、大石林山，和好朋友們一起烤肉玩桌遊，隔天我們還去釣魚！

新年第一週，依照日本人到神社祈福的習俗，我們參觀了琉球八社裡的兩間神社，末吉宮和識名宮，和兩間在沖繩非常有名的神社。雖然我們沒在神社拜拜，濃厚的日本新年祈福裝飾和神社外好多小吃攤讓我們也好興奮。

護國神社

原訂計畫是參觀沖宮，也是琉球八社其中之一，但我們被人潮帶到護國神社。選御守時才發現我們在沖宮旁的護國神社，哈哈哈！新年的護國神社非常忙，神社外有許多小吃選項。

末吉宮

記得帶上防蚊液！原本沒計畫健行登山，但我們又爬山又走一堆樓梯才找到末吉宮。位置有點偏僻，要不是有新年旗子和標示，我們還真的找不到！（UN一開始以為我又晃點他了！）

西來院達摩寺

一間我非常想來參觀的寺廟！寺裡有好多達摩，大的小的，還有販售不同達摩來許願。

識名宮

琉球八社其中一社！如果想要御朱印，需要預先通知識名宮的工作人員。

不免俗還是訂了幾樣目標，希望新的一年能更專心做每件事，也希望能有更多充裕的時間來專研自己喜歡的事。希望大家2022一切順利，世界能更健康！

January 13, 2021

2021 Unplugged Travel Experience

January 13, 2021/ Brandy C.

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。

January 04, 2021

2021: Be Consistent and Committed

January 04, 2021/ Brandy C.

I’m excited to share our unplugged vacation to mainland Japan, but I’ll save it for the next post. First, I want to say HAPPY NEW YEAR! I’ve been looking forward to 2021 since Thanksgiving, so many great plans and goals I want to achieve this year like run 100 miles in one month, pass N4 Japanese exam, and many more.

My theme for this year is to be consistent and be committed. Anything you want to work on this year? What’s your goals? Let me know!