It's time to travel!

After a cold winter, April has arrived with spring flowers in full bloom. At the end of April, there is a long vacation called Golden Week in Japan, and many other countries also celebrate International Labor Day on May 1. Doesn't the warm season stir your desire to travel? In this issue, we interview two NAKAMAs who love to travel and take a look at their travel memories and their beautiful moments together!

Do you have any travel plans this year? What is your favorite destination? Please write in the comments section!

Yukiko Kasai
UNIVA Corporation
Group Management Section
Accounting Team Manager

Lee Wen Kai
Naturally Plus Malaysia
Business Development Dept.

Miyako Island, a healing paradise

Ms. Kasai, who loves hot springs and the sea, traveled in and out of Japan once a month from last March to November. The routine on the trip is to watch the sunrise and stargaze. She says her interact with locals and visit local places of interest and good food. She enjoys her excursions as if they were power-charged retreats.

"Of all the places I have been to, Mongolia and Croatia have left the greatest impression on me." She was surprised to learn that Asa Shoryu was a hero in Mongolia, just like Genghis Khan! She stated that she was impressed by the nomadic tribe's ger living experience and the magnificent grasslands. In Croatia, on the other hand, the beauty of the Adriatic Sea took her breath away.

Of all the trips she took last year, her favorite was to Miyako Island, which she visited in October.
"The ocean is cobalt blue, there are plenty of spots for diving and snorkeling, and the coral reefs are beautiful!" says Kasai, looking back with a smile.

After arriving at the airport, 30 minutes later she was in the ocean! On days when the weather was bad, she enjoyed the routine of sightseeing and tent saunas and jumping into the ocean instead of taking a bath in the water. She visited more than 20 spots during their short three-day, two-night stay.

The islanders of "Ogamijima," about 15 minutes from Miyako Island and visited by boat, have about 30 inhabitants. Kasai said that the nature was still intact, butterflies were dancing all over the island. Friendly butterflies came close to her, making her feel as if she was taking a walk with them. The island had many sanctuaries and was very mysterious.

NAKAMA, who has been to Miyako Island, please write about your experience on Miyako Island in the comments section!

LOB experience on Komodo Island, the last unexplored island in Asia

Lee's love of diving drives him to embark on an adventure trip every year, both domestically and internationally. One of the most memorable adventures last year was the Liveaboard (LOB) experience on Komodo Island. Komodo Island is an Indonesian National Park and a World Heritage Site at the same time. Here, as many as 2,000 to 3,000 Komodo dragons inhabit the entire island, and as a protected area, the nearby waters provide excellent diving spots. During these five days in Komodo Island, Lee spent luxurious time on the boat and enjoyed a dream-like diving experience.

The boat used is a converted former fishing boat, which looks like a pirate ship. There are four rooms for two people and three rooms for four people, and the room for two that Lee used was equipped with a shower and air conditioning for a comfortable stay. There were lively parties at night, and they felt as if they were on a small cruiser.

And then there is the Komodo dragon. It is truly the most powerful lizard in the world, and the venom from the venom glands in its lower jaw has an unstoppable effect on bleeding, and its bite can cause death. Lee followed the guide's instructions and worked up the courage to take a close-up photo of a Komodo dragon. At the time, he was scared out of his mind, but he was able to get a precious shot with one of the Komodo dragons. 😂

On this diving trip with four friends from elementary school, he dived to the deepest depth of 30 meters and encountered a school of manta rays which are not seen in Malaysian waters. These docile but curious creatures came up to the divers, making it an extremely valuable experience.

Golden Week does not exist in Malaysia, but the high season for travel is the Muslim Raya (April 10 and 11) and the Chinese New Year (February 10 and 11 this year) for overseas Chinese. To avoid crowds and high costs, Li basically avoids traveling during this time of year. In late June of this year, he plans to go diving on the Malaysian island of Sipadan, and at the end of the year he is planning a trip to Ise Shrine, which is known as the "spiritual home" for Japanese people.

What kind of travel plans are you making?