Days in Southern Island, Light and Shadow
As I wrote in my article earlier today, I am in Okinawa, Japan right now. Far away from Tokyo, and far away even from Kyushu. It is the southernmost island, where you can finally arrive only after flying across the sea on an airplane.
This year in Okinawa, there have been so many typhoons. Lots of rain, and squalls almost every single day.
The climate is quite different from Europe where I usually live. The humidity is very high, and the strong sun pours down.
I love spending quiet, calm time, so I have lived in various countries. In each and every place, I have tried different ways, finding how to spend quiet luxury time that suits that land.
Here in Okinawa, the sunlight is very strong during the day, so how I spend time inside the house becomes very important. Right now, I am staying in an old house with a lot of atmosphere.
Using the paper screens and curtains, I find ways to let the sunlight in, or create shade. I try little things like that.
In the evening, I really love going to the sea. The humidity is often still high even in the evening, but when the sea breeze blows over me, it feels so nice.
I love looking at the sky. The day slowly slipping away, then turning into night, and gazing at the sky.
A little ways off, I can hear the lively voices of tourists. On a beach just a bit away from them, I really love relaxing at night while looking at the stars. I have taken so many pictures up until now.
Once, something really surprised me. A crescent moon actually sinks right into the sea… I didn’t know that at all. Of course, I love looking at the stars and I love looking at the sky, but until I came to Okinawa, I had not really spent night time just steadily watching the sky. So watching the crescent moon slowly sink into the sea, I was so surprised, thinking, “I can’t believe something like this really happens.”
Sudden Squall and Simple Cookie Trials
I was thinking of going to the sea again tonight, but another heavy squall came. I got changed thinking I’d go out, and just as I was about to leave—suddenly, a downpour. Naturally, I couldn’t even step outside. I could just look up at the stars from inside the car, but tonight, somehow I just felt like, “not tonight.” So I decided to stay in. And since I have this blog, I had been thinking of trying to make various matcha sweets anyway, so I think I will experiment with various things today.
With the ingredients I have bought right now, I am researching how to make cookies the easiest way—with hardly any work, and without needing any skill at all. With a really calm and relaxed feeling of everyday life, just mixing the dough, popping it into the air fryer, leaving it alone, and it’s done. I’m trying different things to see if I can make cookies like that. I’m sure I can make something delicious.
Of course I want to share the research process on the blog too, but first, I think I will make an article about the recipe, how to make them, and how they turned out.
A Sweet Little Morning Search
Oh yes, just like I wrote in today’s post—about missing out on that tiny, tiny little figure, the matcha-colored Hello Kitty, the matcha version, and feeling a bit bummed… I wrote about it in that article: Matcha for a Kawaii, Cute Life: Sweets Edition (A Matcha Beginner’s Guide).
This figure, this matcha Hello Kitty figure, is a capsule toy called “gacha-gacha” in Japan. You put in coins and turn the lever, and different kinds come out in capsules, so you never know which one you will get. I wanted it so much. But it was completely sold out, and I couldn’t get it. I’m sure it’s very popular.
Early next week, I am going to the city center for some shopping, so at that time I think I will look around various shopping malls, go around the corners with gacha-gacha, and search for it. But it’s probably so popular that it might be completely sold out everywhere. Still, I think I will look for it a bit. If I get it, I will share it here.
As I wrote in that article earlier too, after all, when I put cute things around me, my heart feels so warm and cozy. I feel so at ease, and I feel I can spend my days with a gentle, soft heart.
I like having organic furniture or solid wood slab tables, surrounded by real, genuine things. But what I actually put on them is completely different—I really love cute things.
I love collecting cute stuffed animals, and I love collecting cute bags too.
After all, I want to be surrounded by cute things.
Oh, and since this is a diary… I wonder if it’s okay to just write whatever comes to mind…
Speaking of cute versions of Hello Kitty, I really love the Lavender Kitty from Hokkaido. A lavender-colored Kitty. Long ago, someone who went to Hokkaido gave it to me as a souvenir, and it is so cute, and I treasure it very much.
Once you start collecting Hello Kitty, you just want to collect everything, don’t you.
I have bags, and I have stationery too.
I want to keep collecting various things from now on, too.
Fulfillment, Rest, and Tomorrow’s Walk
Today, to write one single article, I put everything into it, worked with all my might, and before I knew it, three and a half hours had passed. I really poured all my energy into writing it, so I am so, so tired and completely exhausted, but I feel so fulfilled.
After that, I have been spending my time relaxing. But today, I feel like, “I really gave today everything I had,” so I’m not going to write any more posts tonight.
Tomorrow, too, I want to write an article that can make someone feel warm and cozy. So someone can feel relaxed. And so they can spend their time calmly, quietly, and with a gentle heart. I hope another really good idea will come to me for what kind of article to write tomorrow.
Going out for a walk in the morning when it is still a bit dim. Feeling the breeze quietly, breathing in the clear morning air, or listening to the birds’ voices. When I do that, in most cases, good ideas come to me. Tomorrow, too, during my morning walk, I’m sure what to write next will just come floating into my mind.
I’m so looking forward to what I’ll write tomorrow.
Well then, good night.
Lina
Editorial & Reference Note
This entry is a personal lifestyle journal reflecting everyday reflections, travels, and home recipe trials. All thoughts, taste observations, and personal routines are shared for general leisure and aesthetic inspiration.
References to specific characters, regional souvenirs, or brand names (such as Hello Kitty) are included purely for nominative, cultural, and personal commentary. All respective trademarks and intellectual property rights remain the exclusive property of their rightful owners.
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