Leaving a city you’ve spent a few days in is always bitter sweet. You become familiar with your surroundings, develop a routine, and find out more things to do but the time comes to an end. It’s time to pack up to move to the next place which is new and exciting again.
Last time I was in Japan, I had plans to come to Okinawa to go scuba diving, surfing, and see the aquarium. With only 3 full days here, I only have time to dive and see the aquarium so 2/3 isn’t bad.
Today wasn’t really a picture worthy day. Woke up, packed our stuff, and took the bus from the bus station near our hostel to Haneda airport for our flight to Okinawa.
I never understand how Joanna manages to get a full night sleep but welcomes any opportunity to sleep more. The flight was about 2 hours and 30 min long, she slept for 2 hours and 20 minutes of that. Tokyo to Okinawa is the equivalent distance of going from Minneapolis to the middle of Texas. To all of our relief, it was WARM outside and sunny.
We arrived in the domestic terminal and waited at the international terminal for my sister Kimberly to arrive from Hong Kong. We got picked up and taken to the car rental place where I reserved an 8 person van thing. I guess here in okinawa a majority of people own very boxy vans that are almost like a minivan. Ours looks like this but it’s a Toyota.
Alex was my co pilot for my first time driving on the left side of the road. He caught me twice trying to turn right into the right side of the road. I’m getting the hang of it but it’s really weird and stressful fighting muscle memory. THANKFULLY I don’t need to drive stick (my car at home is manual) otherwise we’d be screwed.
The vibe I’m getting from the city here is almost 3rd worldly? It’s a slower pace, the fastest people drive around here is like 35 mph and the roads and city in general isn’t as well kept compared to Tokyo. I know it’s pretty far from the mainland but it feels sort of forgotten or is just a completely different country altogether.
The Air BnB we’re staying in is BEAUTIFUL. The owner, Ken, is a Vancouver native who has married a Japanese woman and has lived here for more than 18 years. He said it was nice speaking with fluent English speakers at a normal speed lol. I’ll have to post pictures of the house that he built himself.
We grabbed dinner at one of my favorite restaurant chains ever, Co Co Curry House. Imagine noodles and company but for Japanese curry. They don’t sell my favorite Beef hayashi but I settled for fried chicken thighs with mushrooms and veggies. Japanese curry is sweeter and it’s got a slight fruity flavor than Indian curry. It is my ultimate comfort food because it’s pretty healthy with all the veggies, you can make it quickly, and the rice makes it very filling. Everyone loved it, we may have to go again before the end of the trip.
