Okinawa

I can’t believe that I’m already on a plane heading back to “Honto” Japan, as the Okinawans call the rest of Japan. My five days with Takeshi and his family were just fabulous. They treated me like visiting royalty and family at the same time. Takeshi took five days off from work just to show me around and what a great job he did. I saw so many spectacular places. Here are a few: 1) the worlds second largest aquarium with the worlds largest tank holding not one, but three whale sharks who they are hopeful about breeding! 2) countless beautiful beaches with coral sands and turquoise waters ( when the sun was shining), 3) the restored ancient palace of the kings of the Ryukyu Kingdom, Shurijo, as Okinawa was called before it was annexed by Japan in 1879, 4) The Peace memorial to the dead from the Battle of Okinawa that ended the Pacific War for Okinawa in 1943, this was a place to reflect on the great suffering and death caused by war, 5) the Okinawa World theme park which also had a spectacular limestone cave through which we walked for 800 meters, only a fraction of the 8 kilometers of caves there! 6) and a not be forgotten trip through a “real” Okinawan market, Makishi Public Market, which reminded me a bit of Thailand’s open air markets. Here I tasted the alcohol made with a poison snake (poison removed) fermenting at the bottom of the bottle, vat, or jar. I was also tricked by Takeshi into tasting pig ears! This was disguised as some tasty unknown substance. The vendor who was giving me samples of sea grape (umibudou) seaweed, then offered me some other things. After I ate this sort of crunchy but good tasting stuff they asked me what I thought it was. I thought might be another seaweed, but they announced with glee that it was prepared pig ears!!! I think I just escaped eating pig’s feet too!

Throughout my visit I was treated to delicious food, both at Takeshi’s home and at famous restaurants and cafes. Delicious sushi, fresh sashimi from a little restaurant 20 feet from the sea where the fish was caught, yummy udon (noodles) that only cost 200 yen, fresh fruit and Okinawa’s favorite Blue Seal ice-cream, the list goes on and on. Okinawa is full of English names and English signs, the result of years of American rule and the continued presence of thousands of American military personnel living on and off the many bases still operating here.

Shoko, Takeshi’s girlfriend, could only get off one day while I was here. She went with us on my first day on the island. Megu, Takeshi’s sister is a high-school English teacher. Her year-end vacation started on the 26th and she left on that day for Canada and a 10 day vacation! Talk about a change in climate! It was 78 F. in Okinawa today!

Here’s a link to some of the pictures I took:

Okinawa