Oh time in this city, how do I maximize thee? – 03.26-27.16
Prior to Macau this year, this is probably the shortest that I have been somewhere else. Squeezed in as much in the evening despite my airbnb hosts’ 11PM curfew – from trying out the only ramen that did not leave me feeling guilty full to some awkward but memorable beer-drinking at a cramped food stall called yatai. Next morning about parks, almost sakura in a temple, lunch with danger-if-not-properly-prepared fugu with day and trip ending with realization that hey, those face masks actually help with the cold.
Repeat wander on Naha’s busiest streets – 03.25-26.16
Spent my remaining day in the city (late afternoon after ZAMAMIday trip and half morning before my flight to Fukuoka) revisiting the areas of KOKUSAI and MITSUMIBASHI and in this entry I share with you my random discoveries on souvenirs, beer and food.
Having missed my scheduled trip to ZAMAMI ISLAND the day before due to bad weather, the following day I took my chance at a ride to the island. It was off the original plan of having the night to stay but I was still happy with this decision as I got myself an entire strip of beach with one of the best kind of blue. It was off-season for swimming so I just walked around with my coat on and played with cats who were approaching me as they were probably hungry.
I told myself I would come back and fortunately had the chance a few months after this trip – same spot but totally different vibe as that was summer.
~ First in one Japan’s less busy cities – 03.24.2016
After my Manila misadventure which led to spending the night in Taipei Airport, it was finally Okinawa early the following morning. Trying to make most of an already shortened trip, I was out as soon as I checked in bag in my capsule hotel. My day then mostly spent walking around shopping strip KOKUSAI DORI (also called International Road) until that discovery of a monument of a GIANT ROPE used during the city’s yearly tug-of-war event. Unhappy with a cancelled ferry ride to Zamami, I pushed for a quick trip to the nearest beach in the city called NAMINOUE.
Airport beyond departures and arrivals – 03.23-24.16
With Japan being more known for things other than beaches, my trip to Okinawa last year was something I looked forward to more. It was also a gift to self as I turn 3-0. But life sometimes has an odd play with us that this trip had its rough parts – from being a shortened one to unexpected delays and mishaps as I was checking in at the airport which made me miss my flight that I had to take a reroute.
That reroute took me back to Taiwan for a night – the very same airport I was in just the previous month – except that I had more time to discover that there can be more to this space beyond departures and arrivals.
At around the same time as last year, this was a weekend I fought for as Baguio has always been a family tradition with this being Mother Goose’ (my mother, obviously) favorite plus the fact that I missed celebration last year because of some unforeseen situation at the terminal.
We had no specific itinerary so day but spent time at the BOTANICAL GARDEN because it was closed the last time that we were there, meet with that big dog at MINES VIEW and ending the day with people at the “ukay-ukay” stalls at this NIGHT MARKET which closed a major road until the parents slept that my brother and I grabbed some beer at BOHEMIAN CAFE which was location shoot for a local film called That Thing Called Tadhana.
For this day will always be one of my what-ifs – 02.22.16
In general, I have always been fine with my lack of solid plans because it allows me to be impulsive and just go where that ‘itch’ takes me. For my last day in Taiwan though, this disposition backfired on me.
The overall plan that day was to go see the lantern festival in PINGXI for a few hours and make it back in time for my early morning flight the following day. Badly surprised by the crowd and the complex, limited train schedule, that plan suddenly became a bad and/or too risky one. I ended up chickening out and not pushing thru. I then stayed in this ‘in-between’ town called RUI FANG – walking past through homes, street food stalls until that now-just-funny-but-then-depressing moment at a bench in front of the station.
I’ve been to many beaches but this was first when I am in no swimsuit. I’ve been to many bars but this was first I was tucked in a blanket -02.21-22.16
After braving the chill in YEHLIU GEOPARK, I again hopped on the tour bus on the way to another destination which is the kind of place I consider my sanctuary – the beach. It was different from most kinds I have been in though because it was on its off-peak season the only people I was with was two kite-flyers and small group of friends who waded in the water for a few minutes then left. After beach is beer again on that spot behind the Red House. It was the usual beer night except another first that I was in a blanket as comfort from the cold.
A day of firsts then followed by my last in the country. But before that was xiao long bao someplace in the city.
It was a visit to this landscape formed by sea and wind – 02.21.16
My second day in Taipei was spent upnorth as I visited a park structured by nature. It was a walk around a place filled with interesting shapes – as I hold on tightly to my coat during that rather chilly and windy midday – one that almost did not happen should my wallet has not been lost and found.
When I saw too many lights in a nighlife – 02.20.16
After a day that is packed with tourist spots and random discoveries, what followed was a night as filled – with a LANTERN FESTIVAL, more MARKET and STREET FOOD finds and beer in XIMENDING and all else random in between.
![[Japan] ~ Fukuoka in Night and Day](https://iamnotravelplanner.files.wordpress.com/2017/07/30768253521_51a4490b50_o.jpg?w=672&h=372&crop=1)
![[Okinawa] ~ Finding Naha](https://iamnotravelplanner.files.wordpress.com/2017/07/30222966424_74bf311520_o.jpg?w=672&h=372&crop=1)
![[Okinawa] ~ Hours to and in Zamami Island](https://iamnotravelplanner.files.wordpress.com/2017/07/30766722551_156a3d5dbf_o.jpg?w=672&h=372&crop=1)
![[Okinawa] ~ Discoveries within Naha City](https://iamnotravelplanner.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/30218909393_ecbfd275b2_o.jpg?w=672&h=372&crop=1)
![[Philippines x Taiwan] ~ Airport (Mis)adventures](https://iamnotravelplanner.files.wordpress.com/2017/04/30817833256_13c2f72fc8_o.jpg?w=672&h=372&crop=1)
![[Baguio]~ (Our) place of family tradition](https://iamnotravelplanner.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/13237749_10153955093200100_2383941906605066233_n.jpg?w=672&h=372&crop=1)
![[Ruifang District, Taiwan] ~ An almost lantern festival](https://iamnotravelplanner.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/30533776340_2478f0a859_o.jpg?w=672&h=372&crop=1)
![[Taiwan] ~ Hours of Firsts and Goodbye](https://iamnotravelplanner.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/30798236356_c8df95d38e_o.jpg?w=672&h=372&crop=1)
![[Northern Taiwan]~Braved the Cold in Yehliu](https://iamnotravelplanner.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/30798299596_31b413d61d_o.jpg?w=672&h=372&crop=1)
![[Taipei, Taiwan] ~ City at night](https://iamnotravelplanner.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/30834397115_0842660853_o.jpg?w=672&h=372&crop=1)
I am no travel planner. 