• Travel

    Snaking around Shuri Castle

    The first time I went to Shuri Castle, I was exhausted. While Yui Rail has a stop at Shuri Station, it’s not in front of Shuri Castle. You need to walk a bit from the stop. I thought I had it all figured out until I had to hike.

  • Travel

    My Airbnb Experience in Japan

    When airbnb first came to play in Japan, it wasn’t yet legit. I say this because while airbnbs existed, most weren’t legal. And if they somehow met the standards to be legal, most were looked down upon by Japanese natives.

  • Nature,  Travel

    Iwatayama Monkey Park

    There is an attraction in Kyoto, not far from the famed bridge that people flock to. It’s somewhat touristy but not all that touristy, either. I say this because you have to actually walk quite a distance before you can get to Arashiyama’s Iwatayama Monkey Park. And once here, you’ll see that there are less tourists around compared to the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove or any other popular Kyoto destination.

  • Travel

    What I Didn’t Buy in Okinawa

    What comes to mind when Okinawa is brought up? Is it beaches? Hot weather? Island life? Or shisas? I bet it’s all of the above with an emphasis on the shisas. I say this because you can not be in Okinawa without encountering shisas. What are shisas? They’re basically cute “lion dog” statues that come in a variety of sizes. Some are huge; others are tiny. And the tiny ones make great gifts for yourself and others. So, did yours truly buy one?

  • Art,  Event,  Spirituality,  Travel

    The Cave Temples of Dunhuang

    There’s a place I’d like to see in real life if I could. It’s known as the cave temples of Dunhuang. Located in northwestern China, I’ve heard it’s a bit difficult to get to but well worth the difficulty. For now, I’m content with coming as close as I can to experiencing the caves of Dunhuang.