July 6, 2007

• NAHA (OKINAWA), JAPAN

  Naha  那覇市 is the capital city of Okinawa Prefecture in Japan. The modern city was founded on May 20, 1921. However, it had been one of the most important and populous sites in the Ryukyu Islands as the capital of the Ryukyu Kingdom from the early 15th century until its abolishment in 1879 (from other view, 1872).

  Naha is a coastal city located on the southern part of Okinawa Island, the largest of the Ryukyu Islands. Its coast is on the East China Sea. (taken from wikipedia)

  sunday, 06.17.07

   

  :: after we got our car.. we went to ASHIBINA OUTLET MALL and i had my first 'meal' upon arriving in naha.. hahaha - tacos & fries =/ ::

  

  :: the funniest name ever.. and it just so happens to be a KIDS clothing store ::

  

  :: ERRY & CHIHARU - these 2 girls were singing some okinawan songs.. they were SO good.. i ended up standing in the rain to watch them ::

   

  monday, 06.18.07

  

  :: lunch at MAKABE CHINAA in Itoman - one of rika's favorite okinawan restaurants.. it was a cute lil hidden place ::

   

  ITOMAN HAREE (DRAGONBOAT RACE)

  This festival which is held every year is one of Okinawa's traditional event. According to local history this festival is for fisherman to pray for a safe voyage, a good catch, and to thank the sea gods for its blessings.

  

  

  

  :: the final 3 teams competing for the championship title - as it was ending.. it started POURING down rain.. i dont think i've ever experienced rain as much as i did that day.. and the sad part is.. i was stuck in it ::

   

  :: afterwards the rain died down and we went on a hunt to get awamori (okinawa's special alcohol) supposedly this place is the ONLY place you can get certain types so rika was determined to get some.. we stopped to ask a man for directions.. while we were talking to him..this guy on the motorbike rode by and said he knew where it was and would take us.. the whole way there we were cracking up b/c he look back at us, smile, and point to where we needed to turn.. he was so cute! ::

  

  :: an alcholics paradise ::

  

  :: then they let us dress up in this beautiful okinawan kimonos ::

   

  KOKUSAI DORI

  

  :: goya (bittermelon) is really popular here.. they even have a goya bench! ::

  

  :: so cute! ::

  

  :: hello kitty shisa ::

  

  :: we passed by this cool looking restaurant (it's nestled up in a giganchamo tree) called AJIA SHOKUDOU so we HAD to eat there - the coconut curry was outstanding! ::

   

  tuesday, 06.19.07

  

  :: we started off at Chatan (American Village) and decided on this thai restaurant (JAI THAI) for lunch since it had a ferris wheel on top of it! ::

  

  

  :: superb pad thai (and im picky about my pad thai) & that drink there.. it's supposed to be thai ice tea.. that one.. not so good ::

  

  :: then we went to RYUUKYUU MURA & got to take a pic with this Okinawan band ::

  

  :: the BIGGEST SHISA IN THE WORLD @ Zanpa ::

   

  KAICHUU DOURO (the Road of the Ocean)

  

  :: God of the Sea ::

  

   

  

  :: driving along this was surreal ::

   

  wednesday, 06.20.07

  

  :: FUKUGI NAMIKI (tree area) - rika ended up taking this peaceful stroll by herself because within 5 minutes i got bit by mosquitos 25 times!! i couldn't handle it so i left.. ::

  

  :: BISE BEACH - I ended up here instead... I liked this much better since the mosquitos weren't here ::

  

  :: kiddos enjoying the bise ::

  

  :: we couldn't figure out what this was... or how to get there.. but i liked it.. it looks so medieval ::

  

  :: we had lunch at this really cool place hidden in the mountains called KAZE NO OKA in Motobi.. it overlooked a small city ::

  

  :: we sat outside and ate our scrumptious lunch while enjoying a beautiful view ::

  

  :: zenzai is famous in okinawa.. basically it's shaved ice with sweet red beans.. supposedly this place ARAGAKI ZANZAI  is known to have the best zenzai ever.. so we drove almost 2 hours just to see if the reviews were correct.. it was pretty darn good.. so good that although i was really full.. i had to get take out in which i had to devour within 10 minutes before the ice melted ::

  

  :: we came back to meet up anthony.. *what is wrong with this picture?* ..  he took us to DFS (Duty Free Shop) we ended up trying to beat the system by letting him use my plane ticket to buy cologne.. well the system ended up beating us when after we paid.. they gave me a ticket to pick up the cologne AFTER i check in and go through the security check point.. now i have his cologne and i have to mail it to him.. haha ::

   

  :: after DFS we went to meet up rika's friend (Masa) from when she went to school in NY.. we had yakiniku together and anthony was a bit tipsy ::

   

  thursday, 06.21.07

  HIJI FALLS

  "Hiji falls are pretty large waterfalls that feed into the Hiji river on Okinawa. The falls are tucked deep within the super humid jungle like environment around the island. The trail to the falls is well maintained, however, there are nearly 10,000 steps I assure! We were constantly climbing 10 flights of stars straight up, super steep, just to climb back down on the other side." taken from here

  

  :: in the beginning... ::

  

  :: the prettiest dragonfly i ever did see ::

  

  :: i put my camera on timer and prayed it wouldn't fall into the river ::

  

  :: coolest looking lizard ::

  

  :: oh so heavy ::

  

  :: olly didn't want to fal into the river! ::

  

  :: we had to climb through this to get to the waterfall ::

  

  :: beautiful hiji falls & ugly me ::

  

  :: the ONLY picture i have of anthony smiling. a real natural smile (he HATES pictures) ::

  

  :: these stairs make me all kinds of happy ::

  

  

  :: this dude scared me at first.. ::

  

  :: after a tiring hike.. we went to get zenzai ::

  

  :: and saw shisa on top of a house ::

  

  :: rika & i with our cute rental car ::

  

  :: japan has the darnest things! ::

  

  :: our last picture together with marilyn before rika heads back to tokyo ::

  

  :: we go to this famous sushi restaurant called YOSHIHACHI for some good ole american style sushi ::

  

  :: sashimi ::

  

  :: california roll ::

  

  :: anthony & me with his cousin chris & his wife, amy ::

  saturday, 06.23.07

  

  :: we went to MAEDA BEACH to snorkel with anthony's cousin, Chris & his wife, Amy.. i didnt get to take any pics b/c i left my camera in the car =/ ::

  

  :: later that night we dressed up in hopes of going out.. but we ended up just going to eat at a garlic restaurant and then coming back home ::

  

  :: the biggest garlic ever ::

  

  :: anthony & his cousin chris working hard to get the garlic out ::

  

  :: cute married couple - amy & chris ::

  

  :: the only foreigner in the whole building.. guess where anthony lives? ::

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