by Vince Madriaga
The annual ten-day May blur has come and gone, and the Ehime ALT community definitely understood the assignment.
We asked you to send in three snapshots and a couple of sentences defining your break. From the crowded streets of new cities to the quietest mountains of our prefecture, here is how Mikans spent their Golden Week this year.
Bobo’s Nostalgic Time Machine
Before the big travel stories begin, Bobo grounds us with a beautiful trip down memory lane.
“I went back to my childhood playground, Hunan Martyr’s Park. Here’s the lady I’ve known forever and whose pond I once fell into; and here’s the tree I used to climb a lot when it was shorter.“
John’s Non-Stop Kyushu Odyssey
John didn’t just go on a trip—he went on a tactical expedition across Kyushu. His itinerary reads like a bullet train manifest: Matsuyama ➡️ Kagoshima ➡️ Sakurajima ➡️ Yakushima ➡️ Kumamoto ➡️ Aso ➡️ Takachiho ➡️ Fukuoka.
“These photos show a Taigei-class submarine patrolling Kinko Bay, Mt. Aso Crater #2 in fog, and Yakushima’s Shiratani Unsuikyo, the inspiration for the setting of the Studio Ghibli movie Princess Mononoke.”
Zev’s Culinary Quest in Taiwan
Zev kicked off part one of the great Taiwan crossover trilogy by wandering through the Taiwanese mountains with Will and Linus… but the real adventure happened at the dinner table, where Zev braved the local delicacies.
“I wandered through the mountains of Taiwan with Will and Linus. I also ate hot and sour soup with duck’s blood, as well as snails one night for dinner.”
Will’s Journey to the Center of Anguishmaxxxing (feat. Zev & Linus)
Will, Zev, and Linus tracked down a slice of home abroad before heading south to face the soggy reality of rainy season in paradise.
“Linus, Zev, and I went to Taiwan, and then I carried on to Okinawa with Linus. We saw many wonders, including Taipei’s very own 松山 (Songshan). The second pic is Zev anguishmaxxing with a billboard uncle, and the third is an illustration of the reality of a holiday in Okinawa during tsuyu.”
Vince’s Last-Minute K-Trip
Ringing in a new year of life by doing it all. Vince spent his Golden Week in a totally new country, ruthlessly checking off every single item on his overly detailed master itinerary, all while conquering the last few final post-grad requirements in between.
“This trip almost didn’t happen, but at the start of this year, I set my mind on celebrating my birthday in a different country, and somehow we made it happen. Throughout the trip, I truly felt like Busan was my hometown and Myeongdong was the city I had just transferred to for work. It was made extra special because I got to spend it with the absolute best travel buddies, Krystel and Lui. I don’t miss them shoving all their kimchi to me, though.”
Celine’s Accidental Plot Twist
Celine proves that the best holidays are unpredictable, turning a planned staycation into a beautiful week of connection with old and new friends.
“I thought I’d be staying home all Golden Week, but it turned out to be a week well spent with friends and new friends, both in unfamiliar and familiar places.”
Verdict: We be AUdacious!
What makes scrolling through these photos so incredible is just how beautifully varied our lives here in Ehime actually are. In the span of a single ten-day block, our community was simultaneously scaling mountains in Taiwan, traversing Ghibli forests in Kyushu, hiking endless flights of stairs in Seoul, reconnecting with childhood roots, and turning accidental staycations into lifelong memories.
With all these, one thing rings true: We are a bunch of AU-dacious individuals, and only we get to decide how to put the “gold” in our Golden Week.
A huge thank you to Bobo, John, Zev, Will, and Celine for sharing their snapshots with us. Your stories keep this space vibrant and alive. Stay golden!
