Green Island: Island Chronicle Issue 2, Hokkaido Railway Journey

"Green Island: Island Chronicle" Embark on the farthest journey, letting the earth's soil cling to the soles of your shoes and your soul. We are draped in sea breeze and starlight, we cross oceans and mountains, finally arriving at that most distant destination. It is the place where the heart yearns, a poem resounds from the vast expanse, a poem from the world and from the depths of the heart. A true arrival. / Arriving in Hokkaido, we board a train and leave the city, the long railway lines traverse the vast land, Hokkaido's secluded atmosphere begins to fill the air. The train sometimes runs by the sea, sometimes through forests, sometimes crossing streams, sometimes traversing golden pastures. Due to its sparse population and vastness, Hokkaido has many secluded, unmanned stations. These stations are so beautiful, and so lonely. The railway is Hokkaido's most romantic scenery. This chronicle records a journey circumnavigating Hokkaido by train in October 2016. / This is a romantic autumn arrival. A slow and serene railway journey, those days in Hokkaido. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBiKCC9yTJs&feature=youtu.be https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3940/33857340302_2013ef3670_b.jpg The railway heading into the distance, takes you away, and brings you to your destination. The railway brings the sea, brings the distant mountains, brings winding wilderness paths, brings the autumnal ochre carpet of the land. And, and the tranquil forests and verdant rivers, the rolling pastures and golden rice fields; and, and the loneliest, unmanned stations. https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3935/34031498385_6c84f46649_o.png Please join me on that train heading into the distance, to visit the loneliest unmanned station, one you'll only visit once in a lifetime. It will be a place you visit only once in your life, this will be the most romantic journey of a lifetime. https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4669/39673648872_40a68671b1_b.jpg / In the second issue of Island Chronicle, in addition to the actual travel experiences, there is a new section: "N Versions of Imaginary Life". The book includes three pieces, representing three different imagined lifestyles. This content came about because the days spent in Hokkaido and the local scenery inspired many thoughts and imaginings about different ways of living. **Table of Contents:** https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2911/33188459394_c921c867e0_b.jpg 1. The Most Romantic Journey in the World 2. First Arrival in Hakodate 3. Cape Chikyu. Muroran Main Line 4. Sleeping by the Sea. Hidaka Main Line 5. Never Meet Again. Rumoi Main Line 6. N Versions of Imaginary Life 1: Unmanned Stations 7. 45 Degrees North Latitude. Sōya Main Line 8. Collecting Footsteps into Memories. 9. Baikai: Days of Traveling by Train 10. Sea of Okhotsk. Kitahama 11. Poetic Scenery. Shiretoko Peninsula 12. N Versions of Imaginary Life 2: Seaside Cottages 13. Three Lakes of Eastern Hokkaido. Kushiro 14. An Unexpected Sapporo 15. Scenery Discovered by Foot 1: Biei 16. Scenery Discovered by Foot 2: Bibaushi 17. N Versions of Imaginary Life 3: About the Seasons 18. An Elegant City by the Sea. Otaru 19. Returning to Hakodate. Next Stop: Home 20. Postscript: "Goodbye, Someday" 21. Postscript 2: Traveling Within Words A total of 206 pages. https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4743/24836110737_20e0f54770_b.jpg / Excerpt Preview: https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4695/26661041588_8ab21a15c7_b.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4626/39821607794_972a277bce_b.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2831/33901884791_3833080faf_b.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2922/33646471430_e192675985_b.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2940/33901883001_b9f3c84f18_b.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4723/38721814310_cbc22d012e_b.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4669/26661075758_e83364bb1b_b.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4760/39821638044_b9f4c9f728_b.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2831/33902020701_dbc6364b7c_b.jpg https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3951/33902019311_8e19a2f817_b.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2835/33902018471_58b9676a3d_b.jpg https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3953/34031847915_d091d1f415_b.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4752/38721861620_f88260351c_b.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4669/38721862000_0618cb0898_b.jpg https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3927/33219433083_566d316bfd_b.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2847/33646603100_f5022f7206_b.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4609/39673647842_e2294a697a_b.jpg / https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2920/33219589053_304b319bc9_b.jpg Do you like it too? Do you like the scenery that flows by every second outside the train window, Do you like the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees, Do you like the quiet, unmanned stations where you can almost hear time passing, Do you like the sea and sky dyed orange as the sun slowly sinks below the horizon. If you like these things too, please pack your bags and set off again after leaving Green Island. / **My Diary** October 2016 The railway journey began in Hakodate and will end upon returning to Hakodate. The day before flying back to Taiwan, we returned to this seaside city. Twenty days had passed, and late autumn in Hakodate was considerably colder, with the sea breeze being particularly biting. I recall the sunset that day was exceptionally beautiful, with the clear sky filled with gradient colors, the sunset's glow painting the distant mountains red. After dark, we sought refuge from the cold in a nearby Starbucks, ordering a warm latte. Suddenly, I noticed they sold Hokkaido-exclusive merchandise, and a sense of being in a faraway place washed over me. Hey, don't you think moments like these always feel like traveling? **After Hokkaido** In October 2016, I left a message on a postcard on the bulletin board of Kiyohata Station. I had long forgotten what I had written on the station's bulletin board, only remembering it was a message for future travelers. But I suppose it has likely been removed by now, no longer existing. It wasn't really about wanting to tell someone something, but in that quiet afternoon, by the shimmering sea, in that soft, gentle time, there was a tender feeling, a desire to entrust a part of my soul to words, and leave them at this unmanned station. / Book Back Cover: https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2827/33874560662_8fc3dfe7ce_b.jpg / A total of 206 pages. Material: Art paper Size: A5 / **About Island Chronicle:** **Q: Why is it called "Island Chronicle"?** **Q: Which island does the "Island" in "Island Chronicle" refer to?** The island in Island Chronicle refers to "Green Island". And Green Island is the personification of all my life's journeys. "Your life is an island in the vast sea, each island has its own unique scenery. I wish my island to be a Green Island." Life is composed of fragments of various encounters, and life itself is a long journey. If each person's life is an island, then no two islands are the same. Therefore, I wish my island to be a "Green Island," full of vitality and abundant greenery. And "Island Chronicle," as the name suggests, is a chronicle recording "Green Island." Thus, all that I have felt and experienced during my travels, I will write down and publish under the name Island Chronicle. Origin/Manufacturing Method Taiwan