I see online that it says that only the female screw pines produce fruit that is edible...though you need to cook it before you try to eat it.

There's a restaurant similar to this with all the quirky toys, etc. in Baltimore, MD, called The Paper Moon Diner. :)

Great that Barry's brakes are fixed - - you definitely need to have good brakes with the big hills you are all doing.

You can see the whitecaps on the water out there...pretty windy conditions!

You all are certainly eating well on your trip! :)

Interesting that they don't let you into the public baths with tattoos - - but nice that they offer a band-aid looking item to cover a tattoo... However, some people have tattoos that cover a lot of their bodies....I guess they couldn't go in at all --

Wow, lovely view with the floor to ceiling windows!

Interesting - staying in a shipping container!

I didn't know that the Japanese really like baseball. :) Great that older people enjoy playing it!

Yes, very quick change of weather for you all -- sunny and warm one day, cold rain and windy the next!

Lucky you to enjoy such nice warm weather! :)

Thank you for your most interesting journal. I love all the photos and detailed descriptions of the food. Your travels in Okinawa reminded me of the book "The Okinawa Program" written in 2001. At that time Okinawans were considered the healthiest, longest-lived population in the world because of their diet, exercise and lifestyle practices. I wonder if that is still true. Happy Boxing Day!

I wonder what the history is of this statue?

The habu is the most dangerous snake on Okinawa. A friend who had a 2 year tour there got nicknamed Habu because he was big and tough looking.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protobothrops_flavoviridis

I see a pretty nice ginseng root on the right too!

Too right. You can count on Japan for humour and fun touches.