Okinawa Nuchi du takara (Life is the very thing we treasure)

We have now been in the tropical paradise of Okinawa for over a week. Since our data roaming and the weak Wi-Fi stations presented a small challenge, this blog entry is only coming now.

After we got used to solid (not swaying) ground again, we were finally able to properly explore the island.

The capital, Haha, has its own personal charm. A colorful mix of knick-knack shops, Seven Elevens, sushi stalls, and that 60s vibe of the USA can be found everywhere.

Our first serious task was to acquire a means of transportation. After 15 different informational videos and several checks and signatures, we took the small but nice Toyota Yaris into our travel family.

With which we then navigated to our first longer stay in Motobu. The slight unease of driving on the left side of the road + having to activate the windshield wipers with every turn signal made it an adventure, but we arrived safely. 😅

Our Airbnb was just a few minutes' walk from the beach. Also, we finally had the luxury of having separate rooms. 😁 Although we still heard each other’s nocturnal foresting in glorious symphony.

And if it got too quiet, we still had our personal opera singer, Miauziano Purrarotti, who whistled his songs at full volume.

The next 2-3 days were spent typically at the numerous beaches of the island.

Unfortunately, the Pacific Ocean was colder than expected... we only managed to get in up to our knees.

I'm not exactly sure which day it was, but one time while driving along the coast, Tomi suddenly stopped. We were at a harbor section, fenced off by tall fences. It seemed to be private property in my opinion. One thing became clear to me there: With Tomi, you experience things that you wouldn't otherwise. So we drove in. 😅

After we parked there and Tomi exchanged a word or two, we suddenly received a private tour of traditional boat building. 😁✌🏻 Fun fact: the total working time until the boats are finished is 3 months.

One more day we visited the Neo Zoo in the interior of the island. The park is slightly aged and not everything was open anymore.

The special thing was that you could go directly into many enclosures.

Finally, we arrived at the lemurs. Well, when the female saw me behind the glass and noticed that I was taking her picture, she changed her pose and expressed her displeasure fully. Additionally, she proceeded to wet the entire glass. 🙈

The aquarium in Motobu was still on our to-do list. I had previously only known the one in Monterey, USA, and I must say, this one impressed me more than the general tanks.

To do Tomi a little favor, we also went on a small mountain hike; although it was only 345 meters of elevation, the trail went through the Japanese jungle. 😅

Upon reaching the top, unfortunately the weather played against us, but see for yourself! 🙈

So we mostly scoured Motobu. Now it was time to move north, all the way to Cape Hedo. There we visited the local stone museum. A little hike that took us to exotic regions.

Our conclusion for the day, as mentioned, was to reach Cape Hedo, the northernmost point of the island. Perfect for wonderful photo opportunities.