Blog turned 8, and temporary closed till further notice

Hi readers :), 

This is the first post in the past eight months. It is also the longest break that I had in the past eight years being a blogger. 

I started this blog when I was doing my degree in Liverpool, UK. I need a channel to records my first ever oversea experiences and it slowly turned to be a blog that recorded my experiences in travelling to other countries.

For the past eight years, I considered myself a good blogger despite sometimes I still received harsh comments on my English. Hey, being a Chinese educated Asian likes me, blog in other language than Chinese was not easy, and I never gave up because I know what doesn't kill you will eventually makes you stronger. 

I got lesser harsh comments nowadays, and same goes to I got lesser blog updates in recent years after I joined a mainstream paper as a writer. 

However, the changing of job was not the reason of lesser updates, nor that i didn't travel as much as i used to. 

The "why do I continue" and "does anyone really care" feelings made me stop and think, should i continue to blog? 

I can't think an answer. I thought maybe I should just end this and make this blog a memory. 

But my heart aches whenever i wanted to press delete blog. Building a blog is hard, terminate it is as easy as a click. 

No, I do not have a decision yet. I hope someday in the future i found the reason to continue blog. But for time being, here is temporary closed. 

I hope someday I will be motivated to share some interesting places that i went and experiences that i gained in my journey of travelling. 

In fact after Japan in July 2014, I went to Taiwan (again), Sydney (two times in half year), Bandung, Medan, Samui (again), Krabi (two times in a year), Bangkok and ChiangRai. 

But yeah, till we meet again through my words in the future. 

Thank you for reading, see you again. 


Rachel
wingrachel2002@yahoo.com  

  

Nago, Okinawa: Yugaf Inn Okinawa Hotel, Nago-shi review

As mentioned in the previous post, this blog is about the review of our second stay in Okinawa.  

To recap, I divided Okinawa in three parts when planning the trip, and stayed one night per part except Naha for two night, the capital of the island and where the airport is located. 

Click me to see how did i planned Okinawa 5d4n trip and the first night stay review. If you want to know how we rented a car and picked up sim pack in airport after we booked it online in Malaysia, as well as how to go to Narita airport from Haneda airport to catch the local flight midnight, you may click me. 

Ok, we stay at Hotel Yugaf Inn Okinawa second night in Nago-shi, Okinawa. This is also where the world-famous aquarium located.

We stay in green circle in the first night, red for second and third and forth in blue. 

Map to give you a rough idea how Okinawa map looks like and the attractive each part.

Blue: 

The capital city of Okinawa, shopping mall, fish market, port to remote islands for day trip, old kingdom castle 

Green:
American army village, more castles (=.=), sugar cane field, awesome beachside, dive sites, capes. 

Red: 

VIrgin forest + mountains (on the north tip, not liveable), awesome aquarium (whale shark & great white!), resident city, long bridge to small island, more local / traditional Japanese restaurant. 

In the red part aka Nago, we chose to stay with Hotel Yugaf Inn Okinawa, a three-star hotel. 

We took a deluxe double bedroom and asked for a bright, non-smoking room. We got a corner room with 20% sea view (yes, this hotel is located just next to the see, but no beach), non-smoking room, but two single beds room. We did not bother to change the room given to this is a room that slight bigger and lotsa windows due to it is a corner room. 

Bathroom & toilet is on the left after entering the room. Small but very clean

Next to washroom is where the two single beds were. 

Opposite of the beds. Fridge (under the table), cupboard, dressing table and sitting area. 

Small tv on the table. 

Surprise! Kimono included

Safe, extra pillow, toilet paper roll and clothe hang inside the cupboard.

Tidy and neat 

If you ask where the 20% sea view is, click the video below. Mind the shaken'

Ok, what are good about this hotel 
1. Reasonable charge (About RM250 per night)
2. Not in the heart of Nago, yet not too far. Quite place. 
3. Friendly (but not well English speaking) staff (gave us Okinawa sand bottle as souvenir!)
4. Awesome, many choices buffet breakfast (included in the rent) with sea view! 
5. Clean, tidy and peaceful hotel. 
6. Comfortable room size 
7. Free on-site parking
8. Mere 3km away from aquarium

Right, so what is the not-so-good? 
1. Old hotel. You can tell from the room settings. 
2. Soft mattress, like really soft. 
3. Old, tore quilt that did not really kept warm. 
4. Lack of entertainment 
5. Nothing much, eg: supper place, convenience stall, around the hotel

Will I go back?
Maybe yes, this is not a bad hotel at this price anyway. Of course if there are any better deal, I would give a try.

Overall, if you want a bigger room (and awesome breakfast buffet!) at budget of RM200 to RM250, this is the good choice. 

Details of this hotel as below: FYI, i booked the room thru Agoda. 


Hotel Yugaf Inn Okinawa
905-0011 453-1
Miyazato, Nago-shi,
Okinawa-ken 
http://www.yugaf.com/international/english/

The next post is world-famous aquarium in Okinawa! 






Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
0904, 0334pm
Rach in slow saturday mood!

Okinawa, Japan: Zanpa Cape, Manzomo and Ufuya Agu Pork Restaurant for lunch!

It has been four months since the last post. The long-delay blog update was because I lost the access of gmail /  blog account after i change from yahoo to gmail. 

Of course, it was also because my new job since last March was very occupied, i do not have as much spare times like last time to do my blog. 

Will try to do as much as possible in the future. 

Alright, this post is about places that we visited in the second day of the 5d4n trip in Okinawa. 

A simple itinerary of second day: 
- Check out from apartment
- Zanpa Cape
- Manzomo 

- Lunch in Ufuya Pork Rice
- Check into Hotel Yugaf Inn Okinawa
- Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
- Okinawa Perfecture BBQ Buffet dinner 

Travel map of the day 

This post is about Zanpa Cape, Manzomo Cape and lunch in the long history restaurant. Aquarium and hotel review are the next! 

Here we go!  

First stop is Zanpa Cape. Fantastic weather (but hot as hell) so no filter / adjustment needed at all! 

Pure white cape and blue sky and sea. 

Taken from another angle.

Mr. J

Our white horse in Okinawa!

Second stop is Manzomo, cliff shaped like elephant. 

Manzomo 

If you can see how clear is the sea. 

Me and Mr. J

Note:
Both locations are admission fees 

Weather was hot and we decided to eat! Random searched in the Internet and we found this traditional restaurant, Ufuya Agu (local pig specious) Restaurant (大家百年古家), which hiding in the deep mountain. No one can guess there are a restaurant there. 

Very limited choice, slight expensive but nice environment and delicious foods. 

Arrived before lunch hour but two or three groups of guests were in the line already 

So J and i decided to walked around

Like what i've seen in the Japanese Ninja movie 

I said right, vending machine everywhere!

Servant leaded us to our seat, this is the private dining room 

Lucky! We got seat just nice too very nice landscape and real small waterfall 

Our meals! 

His: Ginger Agu pork bowl

Mine: Noodle with Agu Pork 

Each set cost 1650 yen, about RM45 as at July 2014. Both set came with pickle and soup. Slight expensive in Okinawa, but really nice pork. 

Worth to try! 

Ufuya Restaurant (Agu Pork)
Add: 90 Nakayama, Nago City, Okinawa
No: 0980-53-0280
Operation time: 11am to 4 pm and 6pm to 10pm http://www.ufuya.com/ 

Aright will get the next post done soonest possible! 

Stay tuned! 









Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 
20160403, 0430pm
Rach in wanna take a nap mood!