Okinawa - Thank god it's Fahrradday

🎶 I want to rent a bicycle 🚴‍♀️

I have a rental e-bike for four hours today. It's 9 o'clock and it's already 25 degrees. The perfect time to ride a bike in the open air - not.

The bike is actually pretty good. It has well-sprung tires, so the potholes here aren't very noticeable. However, the Okinawans haven't invented cycling. I read a post somewhere on the internet that suggested this. Naha, Okinawa's capital, was called the city of cement there. I can confirm that. Either you only have city and cement, or you have lots of nature. There is very little in between. That's why I see a lot of car rental companies along the roadside.

I'm heading south to finally see a nicer sandy beach than last time. It can't be that I fly to an island and don't even see the beach.
When I arrive at the beach, there are speakers everywhere that are playing non-stop. It seems to be some kind of radio program. There is no peace here. Not to mention that the beach is right in the flight path of the airport.
Even though I put on swim trunks today, I don't feel like going into the water. Besides, the rental is limited to four hours. Instead, I will go to the nearby mall, go shopping, and eat.

Respect is not a one-way street 🙇‍♂️

I arrive at the mall, pushing my bike towards the parking lot. If the sign says so in a foreign country, I better do it. I am only a guest here and there are plenty of other Gajin who behave like a bull in a china shop. I pass an old security guard, he looks for eye contact with me. I give him the look and bow slightly. Especially the older generation here is still super friendly and respectable. Old school.

Actually, I expected to receive more rejection from the elderly. According to the motto: 'The foreigners come to our country and ...' For the most part, it was curious without judgment. But of course, it always depends on several factors. In which part of the country am I? Is it urban or rural? Is the person younger or older? But the most important thing: Does the foreigner treat me and my country with respect?

In the train, you strap your backpack in front of your belly so as not to bump into people.
You take your trash with you instead of throwing it on the street.
You don't stand in the way, so that the flow of people can flow undisturbed.

And you push your bike if a sign tells you so, so you don't collide with other people. I bow back with a friendly look.

Thomas and the little locomotives 🚂

When I enter the mall, I notice: 'Oh yes, it's Children's Day!'
The entrance area is filled with people, tall and especially small. In the middle, there is a playground that revolves around trains. There is even a train with a live camera attached to the front. Sitting in front of the screen, you can really feel like a train conductor.

I'm curious; why are the Japanese so obsessed with trains. One of the reasons is Thomas the Tank Engine, which is so popular here. Somehow it has something very German. I ask my chat AI.

Trains are an important part of Japanese culture and daily life, and many Japanese people have a great interest in trains. Trains in Japan are known for their efficiency, punctuality, and safety, and are a popular mode of transportation for commuters and tourists.

Well, a little German after all. Except for the efficiency part. And the punctuality. Well, the DB is also not known for its safety.

Trains are also considered a symbol of technological progress and national pride, as Japan has a long history of innovation and development of the railway.

Overall, trains are an important and cherished part of Japanese culture, and the fascination with trains can be attributed to a combination of efficiency, innovation, and aesthetic appeal.

Yeah, sounds German. Although in the past, but still.

Generation Golf 🏌️‍♂️

I'm getting tired of it. I knew that baseball is so popular here, but apparently it's even more the case with golf. 'But why?', I ask my AI friend.
There are several reasons for that. Firstly, the usual reasons for managers and doctors - relationship building.
The abundance of green spaces.
To connect young people with outdoor activities and friends.
And the opportunity to increase concentration and discipline, two values highly appreciated in Japan.

Way back 🚴‍♀️

After a quick meal, I decide to stay away from burgers for the rest of my stay in Japan. Why bother when the bento boxes are superior in everything.

I make my way to return the bike. No matter where you are in the world, where there are cracks, children play the crack game - you are not allowed to step on two tiles at the same time or you will experience .
How childish... How pointless... As if I could exempt myself from it. 😅

I drop off the bike, take a shower at the accommodation, and then take a 20-minute nap. At the end of my nap, the universe nudges me again. Because my inner gremlin wants another 10 minutes, but as soon as I start the alarm, the residents come in through the door at exactly that second. 🔮

Check-out at the cash registers 🤑

I go back to the Starbucks to work. I am tired of mentioning this place, but it can't be helped. I can use it perfectly for myself. New experiences require energy. There are more than enough new experiences here, and I need the energy for work.
After a while, I take a break, go over to the food market, and get myself a baked sweet potato. It's the season right now, you can get them on every corner. And they are suuuuuuuper delicious. 🤩

I haven't talked about the checkout area so far. Either you do the self-checkout and scan everything yourself. Or there is a cashier with staff. So far, so familiar. In larger markets like this one, you then leave the basket with the cashier, and she takes care of it. Afterwards, you are directed to one of the two to four payment machines assigned to you. There you can pay the corresponding amount with cards or in cash.
Quite clever, you don't hold up the entire operation.

Watch out, bomb dive! 💣

I am sitting outside the mall on a bench, eating and thinking, observing the people. I notice three teenagers about 15 meters away from me, they must be around 12 years old. One of them stomps on the ground twice to scare away the pigeons. Some things seem to have their appeal everywhere. Suddenly, he runs towards me and does a forward somersault right in front of me. Then he looks at me with a joyful smile, bows slightly in front of me. Then the second one does the same, somersault and bow. My attention increases more and more. Then the third one starts, he has a little more weight. But he lands on his butt, and I visibly empathize with him. He happily gets up again, bows in front of me, and salutes. While I'm writing this down, I start laughing again because it's so surreal.

Cash check 🤑

So, what do 8 nights in Okinawa, the South Sea island of Japan, cost?

Transportation - €17Flight (including PCR) - €250Accommodation - €390Excursions - €83Everyday Expenses - €170

Total: €910 ~ €114 / day