Okinawan Amazingness: Day 1

Here we go, folks: I'm going to attempt to recreate the awesomeness that was my Okinawan vacation, day by day. Let's be honest-- this will inevitably pale in comparison to the real thing, but I'll do my best. Photos will help.

DAY 1: Wednesday, March 26th

Ann, Kelly and I woke at the buttcrack of dawn to get to Kansai Airport for our 9:05am flight. Dressed in our tropical best, lugging our suitcases up and down the stairs at Osaka station, we were quite the spectacle-- a theme that would only intensify as we headed farther and farther south in the Japan islands chain. We catnapped through our two hour flight, and arrived at Naha Airport a little after 11am.

The minute we stepped off the plane, I knew life was infinitely better in Okinawa. Fragrant white and purple orchids adorned the airport from the arrival gate to the baggage claim terminal. We could see the ocean from the airport windows. The sun was smiling and shining. Basically, Okinawa was everything Toyama was not. I loved it instantly.

We picked up our bags, and marveled at the assortment of other gaijin dotting the airport. (Actually, in truth, we judged them, in classic Japanese style: "Ew, gaijin, what are THEY doing here?" Haha. Japan has clearly touched us in more ways than one.) A quick ride on the monorail that soars on concrete pillars high above Naha city, and we were downtown. After claiming some coin lockers to store our belongings (LOVE that about Japan), we headed out into the sunshine to begin exploring.

Downtown Naha, Kokusai-dori: A lot like downtown Waikiki, but smaller and cleaner. A touristy strip of specialty and souvenir shops, restaurants, and gaudy lifesize statues of everything from anthropomorphic hotdogs to colorful shiisa, the guard dog-esque mascot and good luck symobol of Okinawan ryukyu culture. The weather was lovely, sunny with a slight breeze, and being outside in a tanktop and flip-flops felt like the best thing since sliced bread.






After siting some habu (Okinawan snakes) in jars, purses made out of taxidermied frogs, and penis-shaped ashtrays, we had worked up quite the appetite, so we headed to a covered corridor marketplace to find some grinds. It was quite the overwhelming experience, let me tell you-- fish, crustaceans, and other various sea creatures (dead and alive) spilled out of every ice box, containers of pickles covered all the tables, and a number of skinned pig faces hung ever so nonchalantly from pegs on the walls.


Apparently, we had the option of buying our own fresh seafood and having the restaurant chefs on the second floor cook it for us, but it was all a little too confusing for us to handle. We headed upstairs to one of said restaurants and went about ordering our lunch the normal way, from a menu. Sometimes simplicity is everything. I believe we had Okinawan soba, goya champuru (signature Okinawan dish made with tofu, egg, bittermelon, and pork), and spring rolls. It was all very oishikatta (delicious), yum!

Ok. This is taking way longer than planned. More to come tomorrow.