Okinawa…
It was amazing. Beautiful, relaxing, fun and just really really nice. I had a great time! And so did Shumpei! I can not wait to go back to Okinawa!!
We have lots of photos, altogether over 200 I think, but for a bit of a preview of our trip see my flickr album here. Be warned, lots of photos of me without makeup and also lots of photos of water and trees and Shisa’s (Or Seaser’s…depending on how you like to spell it…basically a lion dog that keeps away bad spirits or demons in Okinawa and is actually part of their religious beliefs)
The early flight was a bit of a killer but the flight went well and we soon had our little rental car and were on our way to our hotel. Which was bloody awesome!!! It was on a cliff overlooking the ocean and was about an hour and a half from the airport up near NAGO for those who know the area.
First two days were spent just lounging around, reading my book while Shumpei tanned (and I took cover under giant umbrellas and extra sunscreen!). We also spent a whole day at the beach pretty much on the second day, at Manza Beach (You have to pay to go to beaches in Okinawa for some reason, I haven’t quite figured out how they manage to do that but it seems the way with most of them…can anyone tell me why?) which had cool floaty things that you could lounge around on while in the ocean. The food was great and I enjoyed quite a few tropical cocktails!!!
The third day we got up early, ate breakfast and headed back towards Naha, stopping at Nakamura House and Nakagusuku Castle ruins before going on into Naha. Our handy little car computer GPS told us the way. Nakamura House was really cool actually. It is the typical style house from the early 1700’s but used housing styles from way earlier and while it has obviously been restored it was still really cool to see all the tatami and cool trinkets! My apartment now does not have tatami but it makes me want to have it in our next place…When I was living at Shumpei’s house approximately half the rooms were Tatami and I always love it when we go back there.
Back in Naha we did our souvenir shopping, saw lots of goya and cupie dolls!!! Oh and pineapple lollies, biscuits, chips, anything pineapple! Here are a couple of photos from the trip! One of Okinawa’s biggest attractions is Shuri-jo (Shuri castle) so while Shumpei had visited it before we went to have a bit of a look. I could not beleive how many kids from Tokyo and Osaka that were on school trips to Okinawa. Shuri-jo was also pretty cool and while also restored (like most things after the Battle of Okinawa) I am lead to beleive they did a pretty good job of it. The gardens surrounding and the gate leading into the park were also really cool. I am a sucker for gates (mon’s)!
I think my explanation of everything is a little dull but check out some of the photos and see for youself. It is a shame I did not do the place justice. Can’t wait to go back again!!!
Lots of Wikipedia links for you history buffs. I learnt a lot while I was there but can not explain it very eloquently (or probably correctly!) and plus I have discovered a new found love of Wikipedia. Any questions, please ask and while I can’t be sure to know the answer I probably will know a Wikipedia link!
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Eeeee, those Kewpie dolls are so freaking cute!!
Sounds like you had a super awesome time, I shall be stopping by your Flickr very soon to preview the pics, it sounds exactly like the holiday you needed
hey lulu, sounds as though you had a lovely time, which you described very eloquently! like the delightful jen, i’ll also check out your photos a bit later, i.e., when the clown is not peering over my shoulder.
and wikipedia does indeed rock!
Lovely!
You are a super good photo taker!! Glad you loved it.
hey there cherry girl, thanks for the lil note
your okinawa adventure looks very very lush - just what your body and mind was calling for i would say - hope that nasty flu has flown
zume is doing tops he is working like a dog to get his business up and running should be very hot very soon - oooh and its online so you can hang out there too!
no karaoke for me this weekend as i have completely lost my voice and can’t seem to find it anywhere!
have a top weekend hope the sun comes out for ya!
ps are you on myspace?
your pics look amazing - you are a very good photographer! omg, and it’s so nice to see the sun. it must have been so hard to come back to this (freakin’ typhoon-like tokes) after being in that paradise.
Jen- They were everywhere! I wanted to buy one but I only have limited space in my current apartment but definitely next time.
GG- Thanks for stopping by and checking out the shots. Have you been to Okinawa before? You have to go before you head back home…The typhoon weather is terrible. I had meetings today to so in and out of the office all day with crappy plastic umbrellas! ARGHH! Have a wedding Monday so hope it fines up before then.
Adam- Thank you Adam! I am glad you approve darling!
Sushi- Hey!! How are you? I am all better now, just still have a slight cough but a three day weekend last weekend for Okinawa and again this weekend is just what I need! Yes I have been noticing the tokyomade posts over at sushizume but am obviously not in the loop. Email me and let me know what is going on with that!! I want to be in the loop!! I would love to meet up one day!!
I am not on myspace…Are you? I just keep this blog and am not entirely sure I know how myspace works?!?
Tell zume not to work too hard!
Everyone-
I always thought I was a really crappy photographer? Yet others have said otherwise so i am surprised?mmm…will have to take some more shots to make sure it wasn’t just luck last weekend!
myspace is alot of fun but another huge time sucker
you can check us out here
http://www.myspace.com/sushizume
and here
http://www.myspace.com/tokyomade
yep lets meet up - i often do a ‘ladies lunch’ (but not very lady like i should warn you) with a few girlfriends - will keep you posted
http://www.tokyomade.com is coming soon you will have to check it out - it is masao’s project to support and promote tokyo designers and their very cool products - it will be an ultra slick online space selling style from the streets of tokyo - we thought it about time we share the coolness
also any friends of yours shaking and making in this crazy city keen on getting their products out there can contact us for consignment or wholesale information - we are happy to consider all creations from anyone in tokyo/japan
yay for creative souls - we shall do our best to help keep them creating
It looks like a magical place! I had a look at your photos and I love those vivid blue colours in the water and the castle shots.
Looks and sounds like you had a great time
THe photos are fantastic.
Wow! Those pic’s are fantastic!
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