We have enjoyed our stay at Tissage Hotel. Today we move on to start riding around the island of Okinawa. It has been interesting to explore the area where we are staying. Okinawa has a more laid back vibe. It is still Japan, but, but distinctly not Kyushu…lots to learn.
Breakfast has been very good here with lots of fresh items..fruit, salad fixings, Japanese dishes, 2 soups daily, and tasty buns with an unexpected option of pancakes or waffles.
We love fruit and plain yogurt … today, fresh mango, plain yogurt and this citrus fruit…very large size with green/yellow skin and a grapefruit/lemon flavour were our favourites.
Heavy winds have been a factor at times during our time in Okinawa. This morning was no exception. This little girl was walking and struggling with her umbrella….sideways and upside down most of the time. This determined little girl would unravel the umbrella while walking. Mom to the rescue…she calmly reached over and put her hand on top without missing a beat.
Okinawa is less expensive than other parts of Japan, and since it is the off season, we benefit from great prices . Comfortable room, close to the ferry and a great grocery store nearby, nice people…but time to skedaddle.
Our next stop is to visit the Tourist Office. Our tentative plan is to ride the circumference of Okinawa Island and visit some of the smaller islands as well. The trick is finding the islands that offer ferry service that accommodates our trikes and areas on the main island where we can avoid the American army bases as we prefer the quieter, less busy areas.
Lovely displays at the tourist office of local, traditional items like this kimono and the beautiful yellow robe in the rear.
The Okinawa instrument, Sanshin, is quite unique with three strings, no frets and snake skin. It is considered the soul of Okinawa folk music. Most homes have a Sanshin to be played. It is held in great respect by Ryukyuan culture and is considered to carry the voice of the deities. Typically, a Sanshin is passed down through the generations.
At the tourist office we were greeted by these fish suspended from the ceiling. These glass fish are made in the shades of blue we see in the ocean…we also liked the decor of our hotel as its decor also featured these shades blue with accents walls and wood tones.
It is a cold, gusty day. At one point, I realized that my feet were on the pedals and I wasn’t pedalling. The tailwind was pushing me along at 20 km/hr. It is one of those days we are bundled up with warm clothes and our rain jackets.
On our ride today, we were happy to stop at a Michi-no-eki and a huge farm/fish/tropical flower market. Decorations are up for Christmas, the music is playing…but most significant for people in Japan is the upcoming New Year.
This market is incredible and it attracts a huge number of people. The produce was incredible and next door is the gardening area with incredible tropical flowers and plants for sale. Gorgeous.
This swordfish has his eye on us. Our friend Yoshi, an avid fisher and recumbent bike store owner, recently emailed us to share that he had caught a swordfish. Pretty exciting for him. He makes his own sushi and sashimi.
Most homes and businesses have Shisas on their roof or gates…a female on one side and the male on the opposite side. The form of the Shisa is derived from Chinese guardian lions, resembling a cross between a lion and a dog. The female shisa on the left has a closed mouth and the male shisa on the right has an open mouth. The open mouth wards off evil spirits and the closed mouth keeps good spirits in.
While at the market, the temperature dropped quickly, the winds increased to gusts of 70+ km/hr. Time to reconsider our plan to carry on as it is now raining as well. Weather not fit for man or beast! So we regrouped and found a hotel on this side of Naha. Yes, we are returning to Naha for another night. The only unfortunate part of this plan is that we will be dealing with a headwind.
Heading back in to Naha. At times, when the gust hits you, it takes all you have to simply move forward. Looking forward to a hot shower and a warm hotel room. Yikes. The changeable weather of the sub tropics can be quite dramatic.
Charmaine RuppoltYes, very quick change of weather for you all -- sunny and warm one day, cold rain and windy the next! Reply to this comment 11 months ago
Barry, bless his heart, went out into the elements and found dinner for us at a store nearby. The burger with egg on top was unusual with seaweed replacing a bun.
