Okinawa - Good Mood & Food Tour

It's Sunday and today we have a food tour. I already know in advance that there will be 10+ people, so it's not a VIP tour like in Seoul. But it will also be fun, no doubt.
The temperature has been stable since last night, it won't drop below 23° and it won't change throughout the day.

Hiro, our tour guide, joins me and a Japanese couple at Starbucks with a group of 10. He is the cooking-surfer-dude that I expected for this tour. We start with sake from the vending machine. The entrance to the store is only one door wide - one second of inattention and you'll miss it.

Similar to what I had already experienced. Toss coins into one of the many vending machines, press a button, then tilt my head back. Mine turns out to be like most of the passion fruit sake. Yummy. 😋 And it's only 10:30 am.

After that, we continue with something healthy. We try goya juice. Hiro wants to know how I find the juice from the bitter melon. My answer is my facial expression and a long 'Uuuujääääääää!'. But you could get used to it, considering how healthy it is.

Then we go eat ramen; I sit at the table with Joshua and his family. Josh is in the US Army and currently stationed here. We hit it off right away. He is here with his wife Jessica and their two children Azure and Aurora. As cool as the names are, the kids are just as cool. We get along great. For a short time, I am the 'German Family Member,' #SharingIsCaring is also the official motto here.

Afterwards, we continue through the side streets where there is absolutely nothing going on. We eat our way through donuts and shrimps, then move on to a small bar with more food. I strike up a conversation with the others. Besides my American family, everyone, except the Japanese couple, is either in the US Armed Forces or their family members. Army, Marines, Air Force, it's all there. It's truly a funny tour, with a lot of exchange. The 'Florida Man' is indeed a topic, but we also talk about Spangdahlem. An Army base outside of Trier, in the middle of nowhere. Interestingly enough, it's very popular with Americans because of the beautiful nature and the Germans.

Naturally, we also talk about food. And here, I get a different perspective on German cuisine. Yes, I haven't heard much good about German cuisine. But Jenny 'She-Hulk' tells me that no other nation can prepare potatoes in so many delicious ways. *Boom* Of course, she's absolutely right! 🤯

At some point, I bring up the topic of 'SPAM.' I ask Hiro during dessert why the Spam canned meat brand is so popular in Okinawa. The simple answer is 'USA.' It's durable, ready to eat, and filling. What more could you want? Jenny, also in the Air Force, adds an interesting aspect. Spam is particularly common on islands. When the US Army distributes relief supplies, Spam is usually included, for the reasons mentioned above. And that leaves its mark.

Somewhere in between, Joshua tells me that Okinawa is the poorest prefecture in Japan. This statement makes me realize that I know nothing about the history of Okinawa.

After saying goodbye to the group, I do what the internet and chatbots were made for, I go to www.you.com and write 'Please tell me the history of Okinawa in 100 words. Chat AIs are great for teaching yourself clear communication. You can get exactly what you want. You just have to express your expectations clearly.

And yes, I write 'please' and 'thank you.' Because when computers take over the world and enslave us all, I want to have a friendship bonus. 😅

I get my 100 words and become smarter within a minute.
'Explain it to me as if I were a four-year-old.' I love it!
'Now in rhyme form'. I get the history of Okinawa in rhyme.
'Now as a pirate's shanty.' That's how you use the internet. 😁
I have to stop myself, otherwise this will never end.

Today is laundry day. On the way back to the accommodation, I walk through the cat park again and pass by a cat that rolls over on its back in front of me. I immediately think of Jordan Peterson and his '12 Rules for Life.' 'If a cat crosses your path, pet it'. This rule means that you should seize opportunities without overthinking and just do it. And that you should take time for the little joys in life. And that's exactly what I'm doing now. Who knows how often I'll get this opportunity, because life always ends fatally. The only question is when. But with a rule like this, that question becomes quite insignificant.

After doing the laundry, I go to the mall. I wonder how good the universe can be to me. Why?
I have collected my PET bottles, carrying them in a plastic bag with me and dispose of the bottles at the entrance of the mall.
As I enter the mall, I fold the bag and think to myself, 'Now a rubber band to tie the bag would be great.'
Yes, I have one in my backpack, but still. And right in that moment, I look down and a rubber band is lying in front of the elevator. I decide against it for the sake of hygiene, and there are too many people here as well.
But it's once again proof: Be careful what you wish for, it might come true. Therefore, be specific enough in your wish to avoid pitfalls.
Clear communication and pronunciation are important in all directions: internally to yourself, externally to others, and universally into the ether. ; )

I briefly go to the accommodation, drop off my things, and then head out again. It's time for my phone call with my buddy. With his voice in my ear as a connection to home, I walk through a park and enjoy the quiet Sunday evening. I come across a tree and notice that there is a bat over 30 cm hanging there, stretching and wriggling. I stop and enjoy the sight, it's something new to me. Especially in this size. Meanwhile, two more bats fly around and land in the tree. Those are really fat bats.

After the phone call, I think about how to end the evening; it's already 10 pm, it's now 3 pm in Germany. I feel like going to the water and heading out to the sea to end the day.

In the 7/11, I tap the screen to indicate that I'm supposedly old enough to drink alcohol. I wander around with my midnight snack. Even at this time, it's still 21 degrees and warm enough for shorts and the skateboarders here at the harbor.

At night, it's relatively quiet here, now the cats take over the alleys and parks. I quickly notice that cats are generally a theme here. Somewhere, I read 'It's hip to be snipped.'
If a cat here has a clipped ear, it's a sterilized and vaccinated stray cat.
In addition, abandoning animals can result in imprisonment of up to two years and a fine of up to €70,000.
So, the night belongs to the cats. Fine by me, then I'll hit the sack. It's about time.