If I were to recommend a time to visit Japan, it would be in the autumn. As unbelievably beautiful as cherry blossom season is, the glorious fiery hues that glow against the deep greens during the fall season are absolutely breathtaking
More posts coming very soon!
xo
Around this time last month, Bryson and I celebrated our 7 month Japanniversary, as well as our 7 year anniversary.
We chose to make this year a little more memorable by taking a seven day trip to Ishigaki Island, one of Japan’s southernmost islands.
We spent our nights at Iriwa Guest House (the most beautiful, relaxing, and cozy guest house on the planet), and our days swimming in the beautiful clear blue waters surrounding the island. The staff at Iriwa were the most friendly, inviting, and warmhearted people, and the guests visiting from all over the world, were equally as lovely.
We would spend our mornings outside drinking tea, swinging in a hammock, listening to the cicadas sing, and enjoying the view of the dancing sugar cane fields. Our afternoons would be spent ducking under banana leafs on our way to the nearest beach, where we would spend the rest of the daylight hours exploring the ocean’s reefs and shell and coral covered beaches. In the evening we ate local foods, made new friends, played card games, and learned songs on the ukulele, guitar, harmonica and bongo drums.
We were also lucky enough to spend a day visiting Taketomi Island, an island known for it’s traditional architecture and population of under 350 people.
I don’t think a day goes by where we don’t talk about picking up and moving our lives over to Ishigaki Island, to live like we did during those magical eight days.
The warmth, blue waters, and beautiful people, are memories that will never be forgotten.
At the end of this post is a little video of the first firefly Bryson and I have ever seen. We were trekking through a pitch-black sugarcane field, trying to find a fresh body of water to better our chances at seeing one. It had just started raining and we were beginning to lose hope, when all of a sudden one appeared like a little forest spirit dancing between the rain drops.
Talk soon
October 8th
The promise of autumn is in our early yellow setting sun.
It is in the morning tug-of-war of blankets, the dew, and roof frosts.
We feel the chill of the Pacific air suddenly permeating our sweaters and we look at each other and smile, knowing that this is autumn.
Taking time away from the everyday is so important. Don’t you think?
Every autumn, Bryson and I do our best to get away for a number of days. To break away from routine with small trips here and there, to focus on spending our time well.
These five days were a special time. Many plans came together, and Bryson and I found ourselves on a beach, on the open ocean, where family gathered from all corners of Canada.
This time away, was for new experiences:
For healing my broken ankle with a hike to a 1945 crashed bomber plane.
For waking up at 5am to be on the local radio with my dad.
For taking care of our three little nieces who we love so dearly.
For savouring every sunset and starry night sky.
For getting really muddy and then drying up by the fire.
For flushed cheeks, still glowing from the cold westward winds of those five days.
When you go away on holidays you always have expectations. But sometimes, the reality of it all turns out to be so much better.
Oh how I love this time of year!
A few days of work, and then off again to submerge ourselves in puppies, sage, and ponderosa pines!
Talk to you soon!
May you be loved
“I used to think I was the strangest person in the world but then I thought there are so many people in the world, there must be someone just like me who feels bizarre and flawed in the same ways I do. I would imagine her, and imagine that she must be out there thinking of me too. Well, I hope that if you are out there and read this and know that, yes, it’s true I’m here, and I’m just as strange as you.”
– Frida Kahlo
xo