{"id":104103,"date":"2024-08-23T10:10:50","date_gmt":"2024-08-23T01:10:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/?p=104103"},"modified":"2024-09-03T09:15:25","modified_gmt":"2024-09-03T00:15:25","slug":"my-japan-my-travel-writing-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/my-japan-my-travel-writing-life\/","title":{"rendered":"My Japan: The Ordinary and Extraordinary of My Travel Writing Life"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>When I was asked if I\u2019d like to contribute to the Voyapon <a href=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/my-japan-a-window-into-ordinary-lives\/\">My Japan<\/a> series, I faced a dilemma. The idea of the series is to give an insight into everyday lives in Japan, <strong>but<\/strong> <strong>as a freelance writer, each day for me is either extraordinary, or extraordinarily mundane!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, when I came across a week where I had a three-day coverage trip planned, I thought that would be the perfect balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ht-block-toc  is-style-outline htoc htoc--position-wide toc-list-style-plain\" data-htoc-state=\"expanded\"><span class=\"htoc__title\"><span class=\"ht_toc_title\">Table of Contents<\/span><span class=\"htoc__toggle\"><\/span><\/span><div class=\"htoc__itemswrap\"><ul class=\"ht_toc_list\"><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#htoc-monday\">Monday<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#htoc-tuesday\">Tuesday<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#htoc-wednesday\">Wednesday<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#htoc-thursday\">Thursday<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#htoc-friday\">Friday<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#htoc-saturday\">Saturday<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#htoc-sunday\">Sunday<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019m Cassandra, and here I\u2019ll share with you both the exciting, <strong>adventurous side of being a travel writer, alongside the more mundane side of the remote work that follows.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"htoc-monday\"><strong>Monday<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Today I\u2019m heading off for <strong>three days around Tochigi and Fukushima for an <a href=\"https:\/\/iglooo.net\/\">Iglooo<\/a> project<\/strong>, the company that heads Voyapon. I pick up my rental car and set off towards <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ashikaga.co.jp\/english\/\">Ashikaga Flower Park<\/a><\/strong> in the 33\u00b0C heat, sweating but glad there\u2019s some sun for my day of photography.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105604\/MyJapan_Cassie_001-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"Purple and white water lilies with a green lily pad background\" class=\"wp-image-104105\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105604\/MyJapan_Cassie_001-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105604\/MyJapan_Cassie_001-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105604\/MyJapan_Cassie_001-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105604\/MyJapan_Cassie_001-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105604\/MyJapan_Cassie_001-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105604\/MyJapan_Cassie_001.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>I\u2019m visiting Ashikaga Flower Park for the first time. It\u2019s mainly known for its hanging purple wisteria in May. But right now it\u2019s August, so it\u2019s mostly water lilies. I\u2019ve always wanted to see the wisteria here, and if anything, my visit this time has only cemented that wish. One day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After visiting my other two spots for the day, taking pictures and video along the way, I head to the <em>ryokan <\/em>(traditional inn) where I&#8217;ll be staying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery aligncenter has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" data-id=\"104107\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105632\/MyJapan_Cassie_002-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"A white lantern with Japanese text amid greenery\" class=\"wp-image-104107\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105632\/MyJapan_Cassie_002-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105632\/MyJapan_Cassie_002-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105632\/MyJapan_Cassie_002-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105632\/MyJapan_Cassie_002-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105632\/MyJapan_Cassie_002-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105632\/MyJapan_Cassie_002.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" data-id=\"104106\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105632\/MyJapan_Cassie_003-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"A traditional Japanese dinner on a dark wood table with a window in the back\" class=\"wp-image-104106\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105632\/MyJapan_Cassie_003-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105632\/MyJapan_Cassie_003-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105632\/MyJapan_Cassie_003-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105632\/MyJapan_Cassie_003-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105632\/MyJapan_Cassie_003-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105632\/MyJapan_Cassie_003.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"104108\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105633\/MyJapan_Cassie_004-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"A small laptop on a table in a traditional Japanese tatami room\" class=\"wp-image-104108\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105633\/MyJapan_Cassie_004-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105633\/MyJapan_Cassie_004-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105633\/MyJapan_Cassie_004-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105633\/MyJapan_Cassie_004.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption wp-element-caption\">The ryokan and my little work setup in my room<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>I take my photos and head down for my traditional dinner. My first ever dinner at a ryokan a few years back surprised me, because you start with a full tray of different small dishes, but throughout the meal they keep on adding things. This is no different, with a small pot and flame at the table cooking wild boar, among other things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I come back to my room to see my futon has appeared as if by magic (the staff prepare your bed during dinner), and go down to the shared baths. I have the baths all to myself, so I spend a while there relaxing and listening to the cicadas chirping in the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"htoc-tuesday\"><strong>Tuesday<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, breakfast is downstairs at the ryokan, and is a selection of fish and vegetables, with a single half a boar sausage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I return my car, hop on the Shinkansen to Fukushima, and get in my next rental car. I head to a delightful caf\u00e9 that harvests its own peaches and apples to sell as sweet treats. After taking my pictures and talking to the owner,<strong> I dig into the <a href=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/kakigori-japanese-shaved-ice-is-more-than-a-summer-treat\/\"><em>kakigori<\/em> shaved ice<\/a> to find fresh peaches at the bottom<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105740\/MyJapan_Cassie_005-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"A woman's hand holding a spoonful of kakigori shaved ice in front of the plate\" class=\"wp-image-104109\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105740\/MyJapan_Cassie_005-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105740\/MyJapan_Cassie_005-375x500.jpg 375w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105740\/MyJapan_Cassie_005-640x853.jpg 640w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105740\/MyJapan_Cassie_005-150x200.jpg 150w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105740\/MyJapan_Cassie_005.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Want a bite?<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>I get back on the road and make my main stop of the day at a local crafts museum, where I learn about the art of grass and <em>yama budo <\/em>(a type of grape) stalk weaving. I drive to my final stop, my next ryokan, battling my way through torrential rain that stops and starts as I go. At some points, I can barely see two feet ahead because of the rain.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105800\/MyJapan_Cassie_006-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"A woman's hand holding a craft keychain made out of dried leaf\" class=\"wp-image-104110\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105800\/MyJapan_Cassie_006-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105800\/MyJapan_Cassie_006-375x500.jpg 375w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105800\/MyJapan_Cassie_006-640x853.jpg 640w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105800\/MyJapan_Cassie_006-150x200.jpg 150w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105800\/MyJapan_Cassie_006.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A keychain made with grape stalk<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>At the ryokan, during my dinner, I join a conversation the table next to me is having with the waitress. They\u2019re discussing the <em>zashiki warashi <\/em>that live here. Zashiki warashi are mischievous but good-natured child spirits that supposedly bring luck to those who see them. All this talk of spirits haunting the halls and unexplained children\u2019s laughter at two in the morning doesn\u2019t fill me with a feeling of luck heading down the moodily-lit staircase towards the shared bath. Thankfully, I see no apparitions, and safely come back to rest my head on my futon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"htoc-wednesday\"><strong>Wednesday<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I wake up at 2am, confused about why I\u2019m awake. I turn the air conditioning down a little and close my eyes. About 10 minutes later, I suddenly hear a loud voice, clear as day, coming from the air conditioning. It lets out a sound like a combination of a giggle and a tape recorder rewinding, then says \u201c<em>rei fuu ni<\/em>\u201d which has no particular meaning.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105840\/MyJapan_Cassie_007-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"A traditional Japanese tatami room and futon warmly lit by the sunset\" class=\"wp-image-104111\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105840\/MyJapan_Cassie_007-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105840\/MyJapan_Cassie_007-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105840\/MyJapan_Cassie_007-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105840\/MyJapan_Cassie_007.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The room where I didn&#8217;t get much sleep!<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>I am startled more awake than I have ever felt, my whole body covered in goosebumps. The sound definitely came from the air conditioning. It must be faulty. Even so, with the creaking sounds of the old building sounding like footsteps, it takes me a long time to get back to sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the morning, the owner leads me around to take a few more pictures and video, and I tell her about my encounter. She tells me that a zashiki warashi only shows itself to kind-hearted people, and that I will have good luck. I just wish that good luck came with good sleep!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery aligncenter has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"104112\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105901\/MyJapan_Cassie_008-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"A white car in front of a Japanese building\" class=\"wp-image-104112\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105901\/MyJapan_Cassie_008-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105901\/MyJapan_Cassie_008-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105901\/MyJapan_Cassie_008-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105901\/MyJapan_Cassie_008.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"906\" data-id=\"104215\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/23100421\/MyJapan_Cassie_009-1-1024x906.jpg\" alt=\"A weather forecast screenshot showing lightning all day\" class=\"wp-image-104215\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/23100421\/MyJapan_Cassie_009-1-1024x906.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/23100421\/MyJapan_Cassie_009-1-500x442.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/23100421\/MyJapan_Cassie_009-1-150x133.jpg 150w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/23100421\/MyJapan_Cassie_009-1.jpg 1179w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"104113\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105901\/MyJapan_Cassie_010-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Rain falling sideways across a window\" class=\"wp-image-104113\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105901\/MyJapan_Cassie_010-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105901\/MyJapan_Cassie_010-375x500.jpg 375w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105901\/MyJapan_Cassie_010-640x853.jpg 640w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105901\/MyJapan_Cassie_010-150x200.jpg 150w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105901\/MyJapan_Cassie_010.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>I hop in my car and head towards Goshiki Numa, where I\u2019m meant to go hiking. But as I approach the area, rain starts bucketing down on my windshield. I get to the car park and can barely hear my podcast over the sound of the rain. I contact my itinerary organizer, and we decide to call off this portion of the trip, so I head back home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"htoc-thursday\"><strong>Thursday<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>After my lack of sleep the previous night, I sleep like a baby in my own bed and get up for a day of remote work. I always start the day with a quick walk around the block to get my body moving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then I start by responding to a few messages that piled up in my absence, and then by finishing off an article I had started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I always make sure to have an hour\u2019s break at lunch to make sure I don\u2019t overwork myself. Usually, I\u2019d eat leftovers for lunch, but as there aren\u2019t any today I cobble together a pizza toast with cheese and frozen pepperoni.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105916\/MyJapan_Cassie_011-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"A piece of toast topped with pizza toppings\" class=\"wp-image-104115\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105916\/MyJapan_Cassie_011-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105916\/MyJapan_Cassie_011-375x500.jpg 375w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105916\/MyJapan_Cassie_011-640x853.jpg 640w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105916\/MyJapan_Cassie_011-150x200.jpg 150w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105916\/MyJapan_Cassie_011.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>After lunch, most of today is just admin \u2014 messaging clients and doing some research to figure out what to write about next. I finish at around 7pm and head out for a quick run. I come back and make a dinner of tomato pasta with pork and eggplant, watch some YouTube videos and head to bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"htoc-friday\"><strong>Friday<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Today is another mundane day, starting with my morning walk, feeding the degus, and having breakfast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Everything is much the same as the day before. I work on admin tasks and respond to requests, send in an article pitch. Tired from the week\u2019s antics, I ended up taking a long lunch, so I head to my kickboxing gym in the hopes of sparking some energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I cycle back in the 32\u00b0C heat, take a quick shower and come back to my desk. The degus are fighting, and in the midst of a scramble I get bitten, a rarity, and have to separate them for a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I boil up some more pasta to eat with the leftover sauce, and head to bed, excited for a leisurely lie-in tomorrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"htoc-saturday\"><strong>Saturday<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I have my lie-in and a slow morning doing laundry and chores. There are some clothes I\u2019ve been wanting to buy from Uniqlo, so I get in the car and drive to the shopping mall. The traffic is always pretty bad around this particular mall on the weekend. I head straight to Uniqlo and come out with some trousers and a few tops to go with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then I pop my head out to check if the kebab truck is here today, and it is! I nab myself a beef kebab pita before moving on to do my groceries for the week.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105927\/MyJapan_Cassie_012-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"A woman's hand holding a pita kebab sandwich in front of an orange kebab truck\" class=\"wp-image-104116\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105927\/MyJapan_Cassie_012-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105927\/MyJapan_Cassie_012-375x500.jpg 375w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105927\/MyJapan_Cassie_012-640x853.jpg 640w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105927\/MyJapan_Cassie_012-150x200.jpg 150w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20105927\/MyJapan_Cassie_012.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>I come home and before I know it I\u2019m already hungry again, so I make a soba salad, topped with avocado and tomato. Lately it seems I\u2019ve been eating more western-inspired food than Japanese, perhaps it\u2019s because I\u2019ve had <em>such<\/em> Japanese food at the beginning of the week!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"htoc-sunday\"><strong>Sunday<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>On Sunday it\u2019s time to clean the degu cage. They\u2019ve been fighting the past couple of days so I had to separate them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I reintroduce them in the bath \u2014 neutral territory \u2014 and they seem to get on, so I feel like it\u2019s safe to put them back in the cleaned cage. They disappear to snooze together in their little house after days of separation.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1079\" height=\"813\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20110014\/MyJapan_Cassie_013-edited.jpg\" alt=\"A white degu and a brown degu sitting on a windowsill in the sun\" class=\"wp-image-104118\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20110014\/MyJapan_Cassie_013-edited.jpg 1079w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20110014\/MyJapan_Cassie_013-edited-500x377.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20110014\/MyJapan_Cassie_013-edited-1024x772.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20110014\/MyJapan_Cassie_013-edited-150x113.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1079px) 100vw, 1079px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">My degus, Nibbles and Houdini, when they&#8217;re not fighting<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>I spend the rest of the day doing a bit of painting, working on my YouTube channel, and making a chili. It turns out the chili was not the best idea as today is 35\u00b0C and I need it to simmer for two hours, but I spend time in an air-conditioned room while it\u2019s bubbling away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I head to bed, ready to start it all again tomorrow.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When I was asked if I\u2019d like to contribute to the Voyapon My Japan series, I faced a dilemma. 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