CONTRIBUTED BY KASSIE O’DRISCOLL

You guys, I have to tell you about this love affair of mine. It’s with soup curry and, recently, I found a new restaurant that I really enjoy! I first heard about soup curry from my sister, who lived in Japan for a while, and encouraged me to learn how to make it upon finding out we were moving to Oki. It was her favorite while she was here and originated from Hokkaido, Japan’s second-largest island. That’s all she could tell me (besides all of the amazing details about how delicious it was)… so the search for the experts on the matter began.

Danian offers Sapporo soup curry and they have three options – veggie, chicken, or pork. I’ve tried the chicken twice and my sister had the veggie. I love the large pieces of veggies that they put into all of the broth and I appreciated that it doesn’t come spicy. Instead, they give you red pepper paste to add to it yourself.

I should mention that they also sell pancakes, but I haven’t tried them so I can’t speak on how good they are. I will say that if they compare at all to the soup, they’ll be oishii!

My love for soup curry first started with Ajitoya, a small soup restaurant near our house. We still frequent Ajitoya often, but I have to admit that it’s nice to have another option to give me my “fix” when I need it! Danian’s building, like many of my favorite restaurants, is old US military base housing. However, they’ve found a way to make it their own and it’s got a unique, relaxed vibe.

The restaurant is pet-friendly (there’s a small patio where, I assume, all pets and their owners can sit), they offer take out, and are close to a plethora of other restaurants. I’ve mentioned Monoca numerous times and Danian is right down the street. The view is nice, too, overlooking Ginowan!

To the left and right are the signs at the entrance to the restaurant.

Below, the sign you’ll see at the parking area for Cafe Monoca.

Directions: From Foster Legion Gate, go straight through the intersection. Go under the expressway and turn right at the first light (the CoCo intersection). Take that road up the hill. When you come to a funky curve at the Onishi Terrace Golf Course, curve to the right. Cross over 146 and, at the fork just after the intersection, stay to the right. You will pass Monoca and Cupcakes and Scones on the right. At a weird, forking intersection stay to the left. Follow the pizza signs (it actually looks like a pizza) and A Danian Cafe is next door. It will be on the right.

Address: 638-1 Adaniya, Kitanakagusuku-son, Nakagami-gun, Okinawa-ken, Japan

Map Coordinates: 26.2920162, 127.7929828

Hours: 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.; limited hours on Wednesday, closed Thursday

Payment: Yen Only

CONTRIBUTED BY MINDY MORRIS

Trekking is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Thailand. Here is a play-by-play of one of the best (and most difficult) treks that we went on in Chiang Mai, Thailand. We booked our three day/two night “elephant trek” through Family Travel, but of the eleven people on our trek, everyone had booked through a different agency. The trek itself was operated through a company called Jumbo Trekker, so it’s possible you could do your research beforehand to make sure you are getting the best price available. However, given that most packages range between 1200-1800 baht ($40-$65) for three days, including lodging and meals, my advice is to wait until you get over there to find which trek fits your schedule best. The most popular trek packages are the one, two and three-day treks, though we did hear about some people booking up to six days.

We lucked out with our group. Agencies usually promise that no more than 12 people will be in a group, and our group had eleven. It turned out to be the perfect number. We were from all over the world (America, France, Spain, Holland, Austria and Poland) but all spoke just enough English to communicate with one another.

They advertise this as a “tourist trek,” which made all of us think that the hiking would be in the beginner to intermediate range, however, I would NOT recommend this particular trek for anyone who was not already in shape. The mountains presented a challenge to even the best hikers in our group, and we often had to slow down to allow people (including me on a couple of occasions) to catch up.

The first day’s hike included a stop for lunch: fried rice wrapped in leaves that our guide had been carrying in his backpack and a banana. We ended the day early at the elephant camp that was home base for the night.

There was still plenty of daylight for the elephant rides, which were the biggest draw to this particular trek for me. All four of the girls in the group were beyond excited to arrive, and we quickly made our way over to where the elephants were eating bamboo. I was insistent that I wanted to ride ON the elephant, not on the bench seat that they strap to its back, and it took about five minutes to regret my decision to wear shorts. Imagine a very, very big horse with very, very rough skin and long prickly hairs that feel more like spines. But I still say go big or go home. Maybe just throw on some pants first!

That evening we cooked dinner together under a small hut about 100 yards away from the elephant camp. We slept in a shelter almost completely constructed out of bamboo. And let me tell you, the first guy who decided to make a floor of bamboo must have had brave friends to come over and test it out! If I hadn’t seen 20 people sleeping on it, I wouldn’t have trusted that it could hold even my own weight alone.

Day two began with my favorite line from the brochure that read: “have fun bathing your elephant.” We all jumped into the river and brushed the elephants down with giant scrub brushes while they filled their trunks and splashed us. It was exactly the way you would imagine a movie scene, albeit with more mud than soap.

After bath time we started the trek toward a couple of gorgeous waterfalls where we had the opportunity to slide down the slippery rocks, and then on to a mountain village called Lahu. Our guide’s name was “Yo” which made asking him any kind of question fun. “Yo, How much farther?” or my favorite, “Yo, I really think I might fall down this mountain!” He kept telling us today would be the hard part. After the previous day’s challenges we didn’t believe it could be harder. “Up, up, up,” he told us, smiling. We all hoped he was kidding… but he was not.

I remember having a conversation with one of the girls on the trek that when we booked the trek they did not ask us about any pre-existing medical conditions or really even inquire into our physical fitness levels. They had told us it was a “tourist trek” and to “bring good shoes.” It seemed lucky that our group was all in pretty decent shape, but we couldn’t help but wonder what happens to the groups who are not. It’s not exactly like you can get a ride back. “Do you think they ever make it?” She asked me while we were leaning on the bamboo walking sticks Yo had cut for us. I said I was sure they did, but for the rest of the trek, I couldn’t help but be on the lookout for the bodies of people who may have misstepped along the way and plunged to their inevitable deaths.  By the time we arrived in the village we were all ready to collapse onto our bamboo mats.

The Lahu village kids were thrilled to see us crest the hill. They danced along beside us, rubbing it in that they still had a spring in their step while we limped on. The women followed us to the hut, knowing exactly what we really wanted and that we would all be happy to pay for it. A one-hour Thai massage for 150 baht was the best $5.50 I had ever spent. That night all of the village kids came to sing for us… for tips.

We survived icy showers and took in the sunset, while Yo made curry and sticky rice in bamboo shoots. Similar to our first night together, we huddled around the fire and stayed up late into the night telling riddles and brainteasers, only some of which translated well enough for the whole group to understand, which made the whole thing even more fun.

The next morning Yo made us eggs and toast and we started our descent. After several hours we got to the river for the “white water rafting” portion of our trek. Always looking for ways to give paying tourists the “authentic experience”, they docked our rafts alongside several bamboo rafts and instructed us to climb out and over. Let’s just say that if I had been the original inventor of the bamboo raft, and it had worked as well as these did, I would have dismissed the idea as a failure. We immediately sank about a foot in the water before we felt any buoyancy at all. We ended up putting our air raft on top of the bamboo raft and sitting in it. The absolute epitome of tourists.

After three days of strenuous hiking and very little sleep it would have been natural to want to go our separate ways when we got done with the trek, but the whole thing had been such a bonding experience, we didn’t want to say goodbye! Before we parted ways we all exchanged information and decided we should do one last lunch together. We walked a couple of blocks before we found a place that met our qualifications: could seat eleven and had something other than rice on the menu!

CONTRIBUTED BY MARIE LEWIS

With only a few months left in Okinawa, my husband and I did not want to leave without visiting Vietnam and Cambodia. I spent hours upon hours scouring Trip Advisor and also found Kassie’s articles about traveling in Vietnam and Cambodia to be a tremendous help! I even met with Kassie over lunch to talk to her about our planned itinerary and work out all the kinks. Our final itinerary was similar to Kassie’s, but in reverse order and with a few changes. What follows is a complete breakdown of where we went and how we got there. I hope this helps you plan your Southeast Asia adventure (or at least part of it)! Over the next few weeks I will write about each of the hotels where we stayed, so you’ll have even more detailed information when planning your own trip.

SUMMARY OF ITINERARY

DAY 1 – Departed Okinawa 5:40 p.m. on China Eastern Airlines. Arrived Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 1:35 a.m. Private driver booked through hotel picked us up. Checked into Rex Hotel Saigon (hotel review to come).

DAY 2 – Full day in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Walked to Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office, Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

DAY 3 – “Glimpse of the Mekong Delta and Cooking Class” tour through Vietnam Vespa Adventures (LOVED it – review to come), booked through the Rex Hotel’s tourism desk. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

DAY 4 – Full day in Ho Chi Minh City. Hubby went golfing at a local course, all arranged by the hotel, and I treated myself to some spa treatments at the hotel. Spent the evening exploring the Saigon night scene on foot. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

DAY 5 – Phuong Trang Bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Chau Doc, Vietnam (booked through Rex Hotel). Vespa ride from bus stop to hotel. Checked into Victoria Sam Nui Lodge (hotel review to come). This was a one-night stopover on the way to Cambodia. Overnight in Chau Doc.

DAY 6 – Boat from Chau Doc, Vietnam to Phnom Penh, Cambodia (Victoria Speedboat, booked through hotel). Tuk-tuk from port to hotel. Checked into Villa Paradiso (hotel review to come). Overnight in Phnom Penh.

DAY 7 – Full day in Phnom Penh – Took a tuk-tuk to visit killing fields and genocide museum (not for the faint of heart). A very sobering day, followed by a low-key evening. Overnight Phnom Penh.

DAY 8 – Kim Seng Express Bus from Phnom Penh to Mondulkiri, (Sen Monorom), Cambodia. Booked online ahead of time through cambodiatraveltour@yahoo.com (but I would recommend letting your hotel book for you instead). Picked up at bus stop by wife of Tree Lodge owner. Checked into Tree Lodge (review to come). Overnight Mondulkiri.

DAY 9 – Full day trekking with elephants in Mondulkiri. Booked with Mondulkiri Project (project director is also owner of Tree Lodge). Kassie did this same elephant trek and wrote all about it here. Overnight Mondulkiri.

DAY 10 – Kim Seng Express Bus from Mondulkiri to Phnom Penh. Checked back into Villa Paradiso. Overnight Phnom Penh.

DAY 11 – Full day in Phnom Penh. Tuk-tuk to Russian Market, Royal Palace and Pagoda, and dinner near the river. Overnight Phnom Penh.

DAY 12 – Giant Ibis Transport Bus from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, Cambodia. Booked online ahead of time. Hotel tuk-tuk driver picked us up at bus stop. Checked into Navutu Dreams Resort (hotel review to come). Overnight in Siem Reap.

DAY 13 – Full day visiting temples with private tuk-tuk driver (free through our hotel) and English-speaking guide, booked through hotel. Temples visited included Ta Prohm, Bayon, and the astounding Angkor Wat complex. Overnight in Siem Reap. (If you are really into temples you could easily spend several days doing just this. However, my husband gets “templed out” faster than most!)

DAY 14 – “Beyond the Temples: Countryside Life” tour with Cambodia Vespa Adventures (again, LOVED it, review to come), booked through hotel. Overnight in Siem Reap.

DAY 15 – Visited markets and good-cause shops in Siem Reap’s Pub Street area via tuk-tuk. Afternoon relaxing at hotel pool. Dinner at Red Piano on Pub Street, night markets. Overnight in Siem Reap.

DAY 16 – Depart Siem Reap for Okinawa 10:45 p.m. Hotel let us check out for FREE at 8:00 p.m. Spent the whole day at the resort: yoga, spa treatments, relaxing by the pool. Private car drove us to airport (arranged by hotel.)

DAY 17 – Arrive Okinawa 4:40 p.m. Honest Airport Parking Service dropped off our car to us (this was our third time using Honest, and they are wonderful!)

HOTEL ADDRESSES

Rex Hotel, 141 Nguyen Hue Blvd., District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Victoria Nui Sam Lodge, Vinh Dong 1, Phuong Nui sam, Thanh Pho Chau Doc, An Giang, Chau Doc 70000, Vietnam

Villa Paradiso, Street 222, 25+27, Phnom Penh 0000, Cambodia

Tree Lodge, Street across the lake, Sen Monorom, Cambodia

Navutu Dreams Resort & Spa, Navutu Rd, Siem Reap 0082, Cambodia

I will share more about the places we stayed in the coming weeks. This was the trip of a lifetime, and I hope you find this sample itinerary helpful. Please comment below if you have other itinerary ideas to share. Happy traveling!

CONTRIBUTED BY KASSIE O’DRISCOLL

Oriental Place, located on highway 23, is a Chinese antique furniture store that you must visit while living in Okinawa! Yuki, the owner, goes on the buying trips herself, taking the back country roads of China, to find the best pieces to display in her store.

You’ll find anything from elaborate wedding cabinets, bright hutches, beautiful porcelain, or unique gifts for friends and family. She does have a few “non-antique” pieces, too, giving the store a nice ambiance. With the floor layout changing every few days, it’s easy to find new items that you may have missed the last time you were there – even if that was just yesterday!

Growing up during the Cultural Revolution, Yuki saw fine pieces of furniture and art destroyed. In my opinion, this gave her a greater appreciation for Chinese furniture that is unlike many other people. You can really feel that when you’re shopping!

I found a beautiful half-table for my own home, and a wonderful buffet as well.

One of the biggest perks about shopping at Oriental Place (besides the amazing furniture) is that there is a “Take-Home-Layaway” policy. That means you pay 30% down and you have 6 months to pay off the balance… all while enjoying your new piece of furniture in your home! You can pay cash, credit, check or yen and there is not a strict payment policy; as long as you pay it off within 6 months you’re good to go!

I highly recommend stopping by the store to take a look around, but beware… you will find something that you love! Also, follow the store on Facebook or visit their website for updates about new shipments and special discounts.

Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday & Wednesday-Saturday, 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Sunday, CLOSED Tuesday

Payment: Yen, Dollars, Check, Credit card

Phone: 098-926-0228

Address: (1F)543-2 Kamiseido Chatan Cho, Okinawa, Japan

Directions: From Exit 4 of the Expressway, turn right onto 23. Cross three lights and OP will be on your right. Parking is minimal.

Map Coordinates: 26.329605473683273, 127.77518829935843

CONTRIBUTED BY ELIZA GROFF

Are you a fisherman? A camper? A white sand sun-bathing fanatic? Uken Beach near Camp Courtney is a paradise for all of the above people. Some time ago, Uken beach had a reputation for being trashy. By trashy, I mean full of trash. Literally. Trash used to be dumped in the Pacific Ocean near there and collect in protected coves created by the jetties’ long arms. Now, the beach is clean, beautiful, and seldom frequented by Americans.

When we pulled up to the Uken Beach parking area for the first time, I was excited to see the jetty walkways reaching out into the ocean. These jetties host many fishermen tossing out their lines to try their luck. I loved seeing old women bundled up in defense of the sun’s harsh rays, reaching into their bait buckets, and threading their hooks with flopping sardines.

The Uken Beach office collects a fare for camping in designated campsites, which includes access to showers and restrooms. Reservations must be made in advance. You can also rent pavilions for day use, with access to a charcoal grill. The office advertises rental of various aquatic sport gear. Though we have not rented any gear from the sports office, my husband and I have stopped to pet the office owners’ adorable white dog, who is very friendly begs you not to leave her.

Uken Beach in Central Uruma City forms part of the Kinbo Bay shoreline. White sands stretch the shoreline, and jetties form two swimming areas for lazy afternoon lounging in the waters of the Pacific during the swimming season (from April through October from 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.)  Sea conditions determine whether the swimming areas will be open. The beach is open to walkers and fisherman year round.

Street parking not allowed. Parking in the beach parking lot costs 500 yen per vehicle.

To my surprise, there is a paintball arena (currently under repair from Typhoon Vongfong) near the main parking area. I am not sure when it will reopen, but it looks like a lot of fun!

Although I love the beautiful coral sands of many of Okinawa’s beaches, at times I am in the mood for the silky soft touch of fine white sand between my toes – one of the many attractions of Uken Beach. This beach is perfect for taking a short walk, and enjoying the view of bluffs on the left hand side and Miyagi Island on the eastern horizon.

Phone: 098-974-7772

Address: Uken Kaihin Koen (Uken Beach) 644-3 Uken, Uruma, Okinawa Japan

Directions: From Camp Courtney, take 224 East and follow the signs to Uken Beach. Or type 09 974 7772 into Google Maps and it will take you right to the beach!

Map Coordinates: 26.3844317, 127.87389600000006

CONTRIBUTED BY KACEY A.

Many, many thanks to Kacey for putting this calendar of events around Okinawa together for us!

January 2015 Local Events

January 1st

First Sunrise at Nakagusuku Castle Ruins

Nakagusuku Castle Ruins changes it’s opening hours on January 1st only so visitors can enjoy the first sunrise of the year.

Nakagusuku Castle Ruins, Kitanakagusuku Village

098-935-5719

¥400 Adults, ¥300 Junior High/High School Students, ¥200 Younger.

6am-5pm

Bullfighting

Northern area’s New Year’s grand tournament.

Nakijin Municipal Bullring,

Nakasone

Nakijin-son, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa (Near Nakijin Brewery)

¥2,500

1pm

My Ryukyu Dance

Volunteers from Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts Ryukyu volunteer to perform Okinawan dance.

Okinawa Prefectural Museum, Naha

Free

2pm – 2:30pm

January 1st – 3rd

Shurijo Castle Park New Year’s Celebration

Traditional Okinawan celebrations welcoming 2015

Shurijo Castle Park, Naha

8am-5pm

Some events free, others are held in paid area of park. Visit Shurijo website for details

Itoman Peaceful Illumination

350,000 LED lights.

Itoman Kanko Noen (Itoman Wine Farm), Itoman

¥250

6pm-10pm

January 1st – 12th

Hibiscus Exhibition

Approximately 160 kinds of hibiscus on display.

 Tropical Dream Center (Ocean Expo Park), Motobu

¥690 Adults, ¥350 Children. Discount if you present same day Aquarium ticket.

8:30am-5:00pm

January 1st – February 15th

Seasonal Illumination

Southeast Botanical Gardens, Chibana

098-939-2555

¥1,800 Adults, ¥500 Children

5:00pm – 10:00pm

January 1st – February 28th

Stardust Fantasia

15th annual winter light display.

Kanucha Resort, Nago

098-055-8880

¥3,000 at event, ¥2000 in advance.

7pm-11pm

Blue Ocean Christmas Garden Illumination

Illumination.

Renaissance Resort Okinawa, Onna

Free

6pm-Midnight

January 1st – June 30th

Christmas Illumination

80,000 lights commemorate the 20th anniversary of the hotel’s opening.

Hotel Nikko Alivia, Yomitan

098-982-9111

Million Fantasy

Illumination containing 1.4 million LED’s in 11 areas.

Okinawa Kariyushi Beach Resort Ocean Spa, Onna

098-967-8731

Free, Parking

¥500

6pm-Midnight

January 2nd

New Years Hatasugashi

New years celebrations with traditional Okinawan dances and hatasugashi performances to pray for peace and abundant harvests.

Nakagusuku Castle Ruins, Kitanakagusuku Village

098-935-5719

¥400 Adults, ¥300 Junior High/High School Students, ¥200 Younger.

11am

BullFighting Tournament & Concert

New Year’s bullfighting and live performances by a popular Okinawan reggae group.

Ishikawa Dome, Ishikawa

¥3,000

2:00pm

Ryukyu Golden Kings Basketball Game

Vs. Shinshu Brave Warriors

Naha City Gym, Naha

Tickets vary from ¥900 to ¥4,000 per game. Season tickets available. Tickets can be purchased at Kadena ITT, MCCS Tours+, and box office.

5:30pm doors open, 7:00pm tip off.

January 3rd

Ryukyu Dragon Pro Wrestling

Last match of season.

Naval Kadena South Building, 3F, Kadena Town

¥2,500 front row/¥2,000 general/¥1,000 junior high & high school/Free to younger/¥1,000 seniors (65+yrs old). Tickets at box office or Family Mart.

6:30pm doors open, 7:00pm begins

Ryukyu Golden Kings Basketball Game

Vs. Shinshu Brave Warriors

Naha City Gym, Naha

Tickets vary from ¥900 to ¥4,000 per game. Season tickets available. Tickets can be purchased at Kadena ITT, MCCS Tours+, and box office.

12:30pm doors open, 2:00pm tip off.

International Food Stall Village

Okinawa City International Association organizes a food stall street every Saturday.

Koza Palmyra Street, Okinawa City

098-989-6759

5:00pm-9:00pm

January 10th

International Food Stall Village

Okinawa City International Association organizes a food stall street every Saturday.

Koza Palmyra Street, Okinawa City

098-989-6759

5:00pm-9:00pm

January 11th

Haebaru Town New Year Marathon

2km, 5km, 10km races.

Koganemori Park, Kyan

098-889-2620

Free

January 11th – 16th

Art Exhibition

Photo and painting exhibit.

Gallery Art Muse, Naha

Free

11:00am-6:00pm

January 17th

Ryukyu Golden Kings Basketball Game

Vs. Bambitious Nara

Okinawa City Gym, Okinawa City

Tickets vary from ¥900 to ¥4,000 per game. Season tickets available. Tickets can be purchased at Kadena ITT, MCCS Tours+, and box office.

5:30pm doors open, 7:00pm tip off.

New Year’s Mochitsuki Taikai

Mochitsuku, a Japanese/Chinese cultural experience.

Koza International Plaza, Palmyra Street, Okinawa City

10:00am-2:00pm

International Food Stall Village

Okinawa City International Association organizes a food stall street every Saturday.

Koza Palmyra Street, Okinawa City

098-989-6759

5:00pm-9:00pm

January 17th-18th

Chura Shima Okinawa Century Run (Bicycle)

100mi/62.5mi/37.28mi courses available.

Onna-Village Community Center, Onna

098-943-365

¥10,500/¥9,500/¥7,500

Ogimi Village Eco Tour

Hiking tour and ecological viewing to top of a mountain.

Ogimi Elementary School, Ogimi Village

0980-44-3232

¥1,000 Adults

Ginowan Sangyo Festival

25th festival featuring agriculture, marine, livestock, bonsai, and other products made in Okinawa.

Ginowan Shimin Hiroba, Ginowan (public space across from Ginowan City Hall and next to Fire Department)

098-893-4411

Free

January 17th – 25th

Tulip Fair

Okinawa’s largest tulip collection with over 80,000 plants.

Tropical Dream Center (Ocean Expo Park), Motobu

¥690 Adults, ¥350 Children. Discount if you present same day Aquarium ticket.

8:30am-5:00pm

January 17th – February 1st

Mt. Yae Cherry Blossom Festival

Featuring 7,000 cherry blossom trees along a 3km mountain road.

Mt. Yae, Motobu (Follow small signs near Mt. Yae)

Free

*Date subject to change based on when trees bloom

Nakijin Gusuku Cherry Blossom Festival

Cherry blossoms in bloom, traditional Okinawan entertainment, and night illuminations

Nakijin Castle Ruins, Nakijin

098-056-4400

¥400 Adults, ¥300 Elementary to High School students.

*Date subject to change based on when trees bloom

January 18th

Tomigusuku New Year Walk & Marathon

6.1km race and walk.

Toyosaki Chura Sun Beach, Tomigusuku (Near Yone Port)

098-850-3591

¥200

Ocean Expo Park Trim Marathon

36th annual race. 10km/6 km/3.5km courses.

Ocean Expo Park, Motobu

0980-48-2741

¥2,000 Adults, ¥1,000 Children

Each race starts at different time. 9:30am/10am/10:30am

Ryukyu Golden Kings Basketball Game

Vs. Bambitious Nara

Okinawa City Gym, Okinawa City

Tickets vary from ¥900 to ¥4,000 per game. Season tickets available. Tickets can be purchased at      Kadena ITT, MCCS Tours+, and box office.

4:30pm doors open, 6:00pm tip off.

January 20th

Mammy’s Market

Flea market, eateries, massage, fortune telling, etc.

Naval Kadena, Kadena Town

11am – 4pm

January 24th

International Food Stall Village

Okinawa City International Association organizes a food stall street every Saturday.

Koza Palmyra Street, Okinawa City

098-989-6759

5:00pm-9:00pm

January 24th – 25th

Okinawa City Industrial Festival

Local product exhibition and Okinawa City business expo.

Okinawa Comprehensive Athletic Park, Hiyagon

Free

10am-6pm

January 24th – February 2nd

Sunflower Festival

7th annual Kitanakagusuku Sunflower Festival

Near Shiosai Park (new location)

2070-16 Atta, Kitanakagusuku Village

Free

10am-4pm

January 31st

Chatan Industrial Festival

Local product exhibition and Chatan business expo.

Chatan Park, Chatan (in front of baseball stadium by Aeon in American Village)

Free

10am – 7pm

January 31st – February 1st

Nago Cherry Blossom Festival

53rd annual cherry blossom festival. 2km path. Dance performances, eisa shows, folk song contest, etc.

Nago Central Park, Castle Ruins, and Sakura Park, Nago

Free

*Date subject to change based on when trees bloom

Other Events

• Whale watching season has begun!
• January 12th, Seihin-no-hi (Coming of Age Day)

For more information about annual holidays and festivals, be sure to check out our Japanese Holidays Calendar!

And then, 2015. Bam.

It’s cliche, I know, but where in the world did 2014 go? How is it possible that we’re already in the year Marty McFly traveled forward to in Doc Brown’s DeLorean? (Have I just dated myself with that reference? Blame my husband’s obsession with the entire Back To The Future franchise for that one. And I’m still waiting for my hoverboard to arrive from Amazon.)

Here’s how we grew in 2014:

At the beginning of the year we tweaked and redesigned our three existing sites – Okinawa Hai, Germany Ja and Korea Ye. More importantly, we purchased our own dedicated server to host our Overseas Yes network, and exponentially increased online safety measures for ourselves and our readers across the board.

In March we added a fourth website to our network, Turkey Tamam. Much like Okinawa Hai’s beginnings, it serves a small contingency of the military in a remote corner of the world, and has emboldened those families to get off base and explore their host country. As we all know, this is the kind of encouragement we need to help make those years away from home find a residence in the warmest spots of our hearts, and we’re so glad to have created this community for our military family in Incirlik, Turkey.

We produced another successful Okinawa Hai Calendar, sent to satisfied customers around the globe (and hand-delivered to many of you on Okinawa by our Local Manager, Marie Lewis). We could never make a product like this without the help of our island photographers, haiku masters and those of you who ask us to continue providing these each year, so a great big THANK YOU to every one of you who helped us in some way, shape or form to make it happen.

(Pssst – We have fewer calendars left for sale than I have fingers on my hands, so if you haven’t purchased yours already, now’s your moment.)

Due to requests we branched out into another form of social media; in addition to our Okinawa Hai Facebook Page – which just hit 10,000 likes on New Year’s Eve! – Kassie O’Driscoll has continued reaching out to many of you through our @Okinawa_Hai Twitter account and also through our new @Okinawa_Hai Instagram account. We love interacting with those of you who love our island as much as we do, and your comments make us warm and fuzzy inside (which we need on these chilly island days right now)! Please connect with us if you are on any of these social media sites.

As for this year, we have even bigger goals in front of us.

On a local level, we plan to bring you a mobile-friendly browser and a Google Maps experience to help you find your way around this island from the screens of your smartphones and tablets. Long overdue, we know, but these are not small projects. While incorporating these changes we’ll also be completely redoing our front landing page, and making the places and experiences you want to learn about about easier to find.

On a global scale, we will be potentially adding FIVE NEW SITES to our existing Overseas Yes network! Former (and current) readers of our existing sites have approached us about branching out to other OCONUS locations, to help families in those locales also feel more at ease with their assignments, and we want to help them. Next month we will be launching a fundraising campaign where we’ll be asking for your assistance, because these are not projects we can fund on our own. We’ll need help – lots of it – but we’re confident that those of you who have found Okinawa Hai and any of our sister sites to be helpful to your own overseas life can lend us a hand. To reach out and help others who can benefit from the experience of those who have come before, and those who will arrive later.

On a more personal note, we will be experiencing personnel changeover across all four of our sites; we’ll be saying goodbye to Local Managers, staff writers and social media managers not just here but also in Korea, Germany and Turkey. (Thanks, PCS Season, for this logistical challenge tossed our way!)

This spring Joelle Yamada will begin nursing school (!!) while juggling her duties as the Overseas Yes General, Accounting and Advertising Manager for all four sites. Heather Gelormine, the Overseas Yes Content Editor and Social Media Coordinator for all sites as well as the Submissions Manager for Korea Ye and Turkey Tamam, will make yet another PCS (emphasis on permanent this time around) to places that are still TBD but which are definitely impending.

In which Joelle & Heather somehow managed to arrange a Skype session between ourselves in Central Standard Time
and our managers in Germany, Korea, Okinawa and Turkey. This is truly an international collaboration.

We’re hoping to squeeze in our annual in-person business weekend before we embark on those new adventures, because despite our daily brainstorming sessions via email, Skype or Voxer nothing beats face-to-face conversations in order to really get stuff done.

We both left Okinawa in the summer of 2010; our 2011 meeting was held in a booth at a Chick-Fil-A in Castle Rock, CO; in San Diego, CA in 2012; in Phoenix, AZ in 2013; and in Omaha, NE in 2014 – all near one or the other of our then-current living quarters.
Perhaps 2015 will provide us with a slightly more exotic locale? Suggestions – and benefactors – welcome.

In short: we made a lot of progress last year, and have even bigger dreams for this one. We want to thank each and every one of you for joining our community and continuing to help us keep it alive and thrive. Okinawa Hai is bigger than we ever imagined it would or could have been, and we’re excited to see where it will go in the future.

Happy New Year to you all!

CONTRIBUTED BY JASON ANNIS

What was once a traditional Okinawan Tea House has been transformed into a charming restaurant called Bari Bari. For something that just opened up in late October 2014, it has quickly become the go-to taco joint. When a restaurant has only one menu item, you know it has to be good.

They serve four delicious tacos with fresh mild or hot salsa for just 550 yen. Your choices of beverages include Orion beer for 300 yen or Pepsi, orange soda, or tea for 150 yen. They also brought us a complimentary dish of fried dough sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar.

With comfortable seating and a great view, I think this place will soon be one of Ginowan’s best places to eat.

Bari Bari is conveniently located only one mile from the Futenma main gate. The Ginowan Convention Center & Tropical Beach are just a few blocks away.

Hours: Open daily 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Payment: Yen or dollars accepted, no cards. Takeout available.

Phone: 098-898-9889

Directions: From Foster go out gate 5 (the commissary gate) and take a left onto Highway 58. Go down 3.2 Kilometers. After passing Nitori furniture store (on your right) turn right at the next stop light with a large purple, green and white Onishi Housing Company apartment building on your left side. Drive down 180 meters and the restaurant will be on your right side at the first stop light you come to. There is parking for up to four cars in front of the building, and limited street parking.

Address: 6 Chome-9-6 Ōyama, Ginowan-shi, Okinawa-ken, Japan

Map Coordinates: 26.27523158282226, 127.73940274603274

In June 2014 we published a post by an anonymous writer about her experience with military retention boards, and waiting to hear about her family’s future with the military. Today we offer you a follow-up piece by another anonymous writer.

CONTRIBUTED BY “JENNIFER”

click photo for source

It was a Tuesday in the middle of the summer. It was our thirteenth wedding anniversary, to be precise, but I hadn’t planned to see my husband for another two days; his extended shift work would have us celebrating belatedly. We’d been a military couple for every single one of those thirteen years, so this was nothing we hadn’t experienced before.

I saw his car pull into our driveway and he entered the house; my heart skipped a few beats when he handed me a bouquet of flowers. “Did they let you off for a few hours to come see me?” I asked, incredulous. His current unit is a really great one; though it remains mission-focused at every moment the command is also very family-friendly; a few hours’ furlough was not outside the realm of possibility.

“No,” he said quietly, as our children hung from his limbs like monkeys. “They let me off for the rest of the week. I had a meeting with the general today…” As his voice trailed off and his eyes glistened, I knew.

He’d been cut.

I had thought I would be prepared for this moment. I’d thought I would be okay, that I could take it easily and with a sense of acceptance. I’d thought I could be the rock in the relationship if this moment came to pass, but as usual I crumbled. I always do. Eventually the children let go of their daddy and went back to the activities they’d been working on, and he came to find me.

We sat and talked… and talked, and talked, and talked. Five months later we are STILL talking about it.

click photo for source

Late in 2013 we received word that my husband – along with thousands of his peers – would have their profiles go up in front of retention boards. Cuts would be made; careers would be ending prematurely. He was instructed to go over his records with a fine-toothed comb, gather up all his performance evaluations, and make sure his new official photo was perfect – all awards in the correct order and aligned just so, shoes shined, and the appropriate expression on his face. He submitted his packet in the spring, and then we waited.

Rumors flew everywhere: online, in his office, among my own friends. “They’re telling people this week”, “This is how long he’ll have to outprocess if it’s him”, and whispers of other various odds and ends. I read every article that came across my path, and with each new discovery I made my stomach rolled again. He knew the number of others he was directly up against; he was among a small pool with not great odds. Still, when word came down, it was like a punch to the gut.

I’m a military spouse, and though I don’t participate in public online military spouse forums, I do follow quite a few blogs and websites geared at others like me. One that I follow has a pop-up when opening the site; a picture of a pair of desert boots and ACUs fills the screen with the words, “It’s transition, not termination.” I’m calling their bluff: No matter how tinted those rose colored glasses might be, my husband has been terminated.

It’s not about me – it’s about him. This is his career that’s ending, not mine. I have tried to keep this in mind all these months, because he needs my support. He needs to know that I still find value in him, even when a panel of people has apparently decided he’s no longer worthy of serving.

But this affects me, too.

We married two months after he joined the military and before I graduated college; two weeks after I walked across the stage to collect my diploma we moved to Germany. I have been by my husband’s side for every milestone in his career: when he made the decision to join, when he took that oath for the first time and then again at each of his promotions, at his graduations from all the various schools he’s attended over the years. I’ve made six moves – two for OCONUS tours – in the past thirteen years. I’ve supported him long distance through long deployments and shorter TDY trips that total about a third of our marriage. I’m one of those spouses who say “We’re military”, because he may be the one serving but I’ve been with him the entire way. The military has been a part of MY entire adult life, too.

I’ve made a lot of friends in the military community over the years; some have been older and acted as mentors to me; some have been peers who are at the same stage in their (husbands’) careers; others are newer and have looked to me for advice. I’ve learned that transitioning out of military life and into the civilian world is tricky no matter the circumstances.

But my friends whose spouses had retired or made the decision to get out on their own all seemed to handle it better than I was taking this news. I couldn’t figure out why. And then I realized that, once again, the military had made a decision for us.

In the beginning, my husband told me he wanted to try it out. He’d work for a few years, see if he enjoyed what he was doing, and if he found that he liked it he’d stay for a few more years. If not, he’d get out. We reached the four-year mark and we were happy. By the time he had seven years under his belt he’d stopped being happy, but the military made us a deal we just couldn’t refuse. Accepting it meant by the time his obligation was up he’d be over halfway there; for us, the ten-year mark was the point of no return, so to speak. If we could get that far, we’d go all the way. We’d planned to reevaluate once again at the twenty-year mark. If he was still happy and finding fulfillment, we’d keep going. If not, he’d retire.

click photo for source

I’d always assumed that the getting out would be on our terms. That it would be our decision. That throughout a career’s worth of being told where to go and what to do, we’d have this one thing that was up to us. And suddenly that, too, has been stripped from us. Worse, we don’t even know why. Those handed down this edict have been given no guidance as to why some will be leaving at this almost three-quarters-of-the-way-there point, and others get to stay. We don’t know what the deciding criteria were or how they judged everyone in these various groups against one another. All we know is from the date of our thirteenth anniversary we had nine months to figure out what was next.

We have four months to go before we surrender our IDs. Four months to figure out where to move. Four months left for him to decide what he wants to do next. We had thought we’d have seven more years before we needed to think about these things, and all of a sudden we had nine months; we’re now more than halfway through it and we are no closer to knowing what the next step is for us than we were on that summer Tuesday.

But as quickly as it’s passing, nine months is a long time. Ask any expecting mother and she’ll tell you it feels like it takes forever. Ask a transitioning servicemember and they’ll tell you it’s enough time to get their affairs in order – to start getting the paperwork ready, gathering their gear to turn back over, squeezing in those last few medical and dental appointments for their family members while they still have full coverage.

(Ironically, my husband already has the paperwork in hand to get his DD 214. He’s had six different assignments and even with two overseas moves to coordinate we’ve never had orders this far in advance; our last set came through just a week before we PCSd! Yet here we are with discharge papers in hand while he still goes to work each day, even with over a month left before he goes on terminal leave.)

click photo for source

We’re coping as best we can.

My husband and I have attended the week-long federally mandated TAP class, and as the only spouse present at our session I feel others missed out. Two sets of ears are always better than one, and what I learned from the Veterans Administration and Department of Labor representatives was no small amount of valuable information. The days were long and the coffee was lukewarm, but it was worth every moment of my time. My advice: if you can, go with your transitioning spouse.

He’s applying for jobs within the military sector, in the world of federal GS jobs and at public and private civilian companies. He is leaving the military with a full resume and options for future employment, and with family still living in our hometowns (and friends that we’ve left behind in various parts of the country) we are not without cheerleaders pulling for us to move closer to them. We’re not worried if there will be a satisfactory next stage of life for us; we just want to know what that will look like.

For my part, I’m working my way through the stages of grief. I’ve been sad, angry, in denial that this is our reality, and I’ve come up with alternate (yet implausible) solutions. I vacillate between sadness and anger on an almost daily basis, and my right eye twitches uncontrollably whenever I think ahead to the unknown. I cope by compulsively cleaning my house during the day and drinking a single glass of wine with dinner each night.

And I work. I’ve thrown myself into my own job, which I do from home and have transported with me from duty station to duty station. It doesn’t pay the bills and won’t provide for our family, but it gives me an outlet to put my particular set of skills to use in a way that makes me happy and feel useful while also allowing me to be present for our kids when my husband travels for work, as he does frequently. I’ll bring this job with me when we move again this spring, and am prepared to take on a full-time position outside the house if that’s what my family needs.

We’ll adjust our budget, tighten up our personal spending and postpone vacation plans for another few years. We’ll cut back on our retirement contributions until we can continue funding our IRAs and other investment accounts without needing those dollars to buy groceries and pay the electric bill. In hindsight, we’re thankful we received advice to take our retirement into our own hands; we’ll have fourteen years of our own retirement savings to help fill in the gap left behind from losing his anticipated military pension. (He’ll separate at thirteen years, eleven months and ten days. One more year and he’d have been eligible for early retirement.)

click photo for source

I have just one friend who has been through this exact same process. I’ve been leaning on her heavily: for advice, for logistical support, and just to have at least one person who gets it. Our other friends are supportive, too, but mostly I see in my fellow military spouses’ eyes a sense of relief that this isn’t their own reality, with an underlying fear that it could be in the years ahead.

I’m not angry that cuts are being made. As we’ve said over and over these past thirteen years – and as we continue to say as a means of explanation – “It all depends on the needs of the military”. I’m just sad that after all these years of dedicated service from our entire family, we’re among those who are no longer needed.

Our situation is not unique; I am certain there are others out there facing this same situation, whether a retention board has told you to leave, your request to reenlist was denied, or you’ve found yourself staring down the barrel of early retirement years before you’d planned. My goal in sharing this story is not to incite negative feelings towards those who make decisions about our military’s future, but to reach out to let those of you in this same situation know: you’re not alone.

CONTRIBUTED BY LAURA SNELL

You may have seen the shirts and sweatshirts around town; the Run Oki logo is so distinct and eye-catching. I remember seeing one and trying to figure out what it was (I thought it was an actual running club at first). Finally, I found the store in American Village and asked. Run Oki is a clothing line that was developed to embrace all things wonderful about Okinawa. The full story behind the brand is posted on Run Oki’s website.

Run Oki offers everything from t-shirts, hoodies and hats, to backpacks, keychains and stickers. You name it, they probably have it, with a cute little “Run Oki” logo on there! The logo was inspired by that of famed hip hop group Run DMC.

I will say that the sizing is definitely on the smaller size. I got a MEN’S size large sweatshirt (they do shrink a little in the wash) and I definitely wouldn’t want it to be any smaller (I’m an average size medium in women’s if that helps with size referencing).

The Run Oki wear is an awesome gift for your friends and family back home, giving them a taste of this wonderful little island, or for yourself! My only problem when entering the store was trying to figure out which t-shirt and sweatshirt to get. Now, of course, I want to go back for more!

Happy Shopping!

Hours: Open daily 12:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Phone: 098-936-9022 (American Village store number. There is also a smaller store on Gate 2 Street)

Payment: Yen, Credit Card (for an 8% fee)

Address: 9-18 Mihama, Chatan-chō, Nakagami-gun, Okinawa-ken, Japan (Located in American Village, in Depot Island, in the back) Secondary Location: Gate 2 Street (next to Oki Vapes)

Directions: From Kadena Gate 1,  turn left on 58. Turn right at the light after A&W and head into American Village toward the sea. Run Oki is in Depot Island on the back side (closer to the water). The gate 2 location is next to Oki Vapes.

Map Coordinates: 26.3162208, 127.7546178 (American Village location)

Website: Run Oki

CONTRIBUTED BY MINDY MORRIS

This adorable little village is comprised of a series of small houses, kilns and shops that sprawl over a small hill in Yomitan, just north of Kadena Air Base. Upon arriving, you park in a well-marked lot, and then meander by foot along the single paved path that connects all of the shops and studios.

There are about 45 practicing potters and glass artists who work in this little district. Near the bottom of the hill is a glass blowing studio. Visitors can watch as these glass artists turn old bottles (and all kinds of other things) into beautiful works of art that are then sold in one of the shops. I could have stood there taking pictures all day. It’s hypnotizing to watch them work.

As you continue along, you pass lots of little shops and several red-roofed kilns, including one unique looking structure in the center of the village that we joked resembled a dragon, crawling down the hill. After further research, we discovered there is a pretty good reason for that. This building is actually an old style “climbing kiln” or Noborigama. Several times a year they still fire it up, and the glow produced as it works its glazing magic only serves to enhance its dragon-like appearance. These glazed pieces are sold alongside the more traditional Tsuboya pottery, which is the signature Okinawan unglazed pottery, so the more shops you explore, the more you will find something for every taste.

Pottery prices start around $10 and go up (and up, and up) from there. I found a darling little tea cup and saucer that I just couldn’t walk away from for 2800 yen. All three of us had said we were on the look out for Shisa, but didn’t find any that were quite in our price ranges, although I put considerable pressure on one friend to spend upward of 5,000 USD on a pair that were pretty magnificent.

Hours: Yomitan Pottery Village is open daily from 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., though certain shops may vary their particular schedules.

Phone: 098-958-4468

Directions: From Kadena Gate 1, turn right on Highway 58, heading north toward Nago. Turn left on Route 12 at the Kina crossroad. There is a small sign that says “Village of Potter’s,” but it is tucked inconveniently behind a tree when you are headed North. (We had to loop around). Drive down a few blocks (it’s tucked away in a residential area but is decently marked) and turn right at the next sign for the village. There is a paved road that leads to a well-marked parking lot.

Address: 2653-1 Zakimi, Yomitan-son, Nakagami-gun, Okinawa Prefecture 904-0301, Japan

Map Coordinates: 26.4026833, 127.74434289999999

The 2015 calendar was available for purchase in November and December of 2014; as of January 12th we have officially SOLD OUT of all our inventory for this year.

This was January’s page:

Murasaki Mura

Photo credit: Haylee Rogers
Haylee Rogers Photography Facebook Page

“Shisas please guard me
One mouth open while I sleep
One closed like my eyes” — Bill Enyart

Murasaki Mura

Photo credit: Haylee Rogers
Haylee Rogers Photography Facebook Page

Ryukyu Mura

Photo credit: Meredith Novario
Meredith Novario Photography Facebook Page

CONTRIBUTED BY ELIZA GROFF

If you find yourself on Hamahiga for a day of kayaking, kite surfing, or other adventures, I recommend that you splurge and spend 500 yen on Okinawa soba from this local restaurant. They don’t have an English menu or an English speaking staff, but the food was phenomenal.

My husband and I ordered two bowls of Okinawa soba by pointing to a photo advertisement of the special feature at the outdoor ordering window, and then plopped down on a comfy vinyl loveseat overlooking the café’s fish farm and the bridge looking back towards Henza Island. Our Okinawa soba was topped with green onions, pickled ginger, and three different kinds of succulent pork – one canned, one sausage, and one cut. They also had fresh fried butterfish, and several other pictures features to choose from – for the non-Japanese speaking adventurer.

This café boasts a great location with indoor or outdoor seating, both western-style and Japanese-style. They also sell locally pickled seaweed, three types of brown sugar, salt, and local wares such as hand-crafted key chains. It was very casual, cheap and delicious. Our food came out within minutes, and we were amazed by the sweet and tangy flavor of the broth. It was the best Okinawa soba that I’ve had in my year here in Okinawa thus far!

This place is not frequented by many tourists, indicated by the lack of English everything; Japanese menu, Japanese-speaking only staff – no subtitles to be found anywhere. That was part of the charm of the whole place. It reminded me of a sea-side café in Newport, Oregon, with the raw wood, casual patio seating and smiling staff. I immediately felt at home while devouring my tasty soba noodles!

Hours: Unknown (Editor’s Note: if you know, please comment below and we will add them!)

Phone: 098-977-7905

Address: 72-2 Katsurenhama, Uruma, Okinawa

Directions: From Yonashiro, take 10 towards Hensa Island. Before you get to Hamahiga, take a right on 238. When you get to Hamahiga, the road comes to a T. Take a right and follow that around until the road is about to take a hard left. The café is across from the fish farm and dock on the left hand side. You can also find this café by typing in the phone number 098-977-7905 into Google Maps.

Map Coordinates: 26.3270064, 127.95190809999997

CONTRIBUTED BY QUENTIN RICHARDSON

Sueyoshi Koen is a large park along the southern edge of Urasoe and the northern edge of Naha. It provides a large space for different types of activities, but ultimately, provides a serious break from the nearby congestion.

This park was on my Okinawa bucket list for some time. I actually missed the opportunity to visit there when I was stationed in Okinawa, but had the chance to revisit and take a break here. The park is well worth the visit.

If you are using the main entrance from Prefectural Highway 82, expect most of the park to be downhill from the parking forward. There is a creek in the middle that splits the park into two steep hills. Numerous ramps and stairways lead you into the center to the other side of the park.

Inside the park, you will definitely see beautiful tropical plants, palm gardens, and various species of local trees. The place is always quiet with the exception of traffic noise in the distance and the natural sound of wind, water and small animals. There are mixtures of open spaces for the heat as well as shaded areas to cool off.

Interesting enough, there in a shrine you can hike to along the northern end of the park.

You will find the stone signpost in front of the trail (pictured right).

There were not many locals here except the grounds keeper, but plenty of interesting things to see.

Finally, you can get a nice view of upper Naha from this area. You can sit and watch the Yui monorail trains pass by, see the nearby skyline and rest in the shade.

Address: 1 Chome-152-27 Shurisueyoshichō, Naha-shi, Okinawa-ken, Japan

Directions: You can drive to this park by using Prefectural Route 82. Look for the small brown sign with the park’s name pointing north. As an alternative, you could also use the monorail. The park is located between Gibo and Shiritsu Byoinmae (Naha City Hospital) stations.

Map Coordinates: 26.226345, 127.713996

Editor’s Note: This is one of several hotels/lodges Marie visited in Vietnam and Cambodia. Click here to read her full itinerary.

CONTRIBUTED BY MARIE LEWIS

After leaving the Rex Hotel in Saigon, we took a bus to Chau Doc, Vietnam, a town close to the border with Cambodia. We checked into the Victoria Nui Sam Lodge for just one night. Our plan was to get up early the next morning to take the Victoria Speedboat into Cambodia, and this turned out to be the perfect place for a relaxing stopover. The major selling point for me was the view, and it did not disappoint!

Rooms: Small and basic, but immaculately clean and just my style. I loved the tile flooring. There was a small TV and shower only (no tub), but it was everything we needed. The property is on the top of a mountain, and the rooms each have a private terrace overlooking the lush grounds. It was so, so quiet! This was a welcome change from the hustle and bustle of Saigon.

Location: The lodge is not really close to anything, and you have to ride up Sam Mountain to get there (we did it on the back of vespas, which was a little scary but memorable!) However, all we really wanted was a quiet night and an amazing view, and we got both. The property grounds reminded me of the buildings and roads we saw in Assisi, Italy. The restaurant and lounge open up to an outside area that is MADE for postcards!

Service: You should know that this boutique hotel is a training ground for hospitality workers. That said, we were impressed by the level of care and courtesy we received at every turn. The front desk staff arranged our boat reservation and our transportation to the Victoria Chau Doc Hotel (a sister property, and much more expensive) upon checkout, where the boat to Cambodia would depart. They were all kind and wonderful.

Food & Drink: Mostly great, although the drinks were a little strong (but I’m not one to complain about a strong cocktail.) I ordered a fish dish which was fantastic! My husband ordered beef, which he liked but did not love. Dessert was simple and delicious, and I loved the cute little umbrellas.

Pool: It is hard to put into words just how breathtaking the view is from the pool, and the photo below doesn’t even do it justice. As we walked to the pool we literally stopped in our tracks just to take it all in. There were only two other couples there at the time, and they were silently reading in lounge chairs and just staring out at the rice paddies, like us. I felt like I should whisper, it was that peaceful and quiet. It was perfection.

Spa: There isn’t one here, but the whole place is relaxing, so we didn’t miss it.

Other Amenities : There is a “health trail” around the property, and it is charming but short. There were also mountain bikes available to rent, although we didn’t use them. Oh, and the WIFI was good!

Value: With a price tag of about $70 USD per night, we thought this was a great value. The view alone was worth it for us. A breakfast buffet was included, with standard Western and Asian fare. Our dinner, cocktails and dessert total came to around $40 USD, which we felt was reasonable.

Hotel Website: Victoria Nui Sam Lodge

CONTRIBUTED BY LAURA SNELL

I’ve never had so many pancakes as I have here in Okinawa. I’m used to the ones at Coffee Casa, small perfect sized pancakes that don’t leave you super full. The experience at the Hawaiian pancake house was much different.

First, I recommend going early. The first time I went and tried to order the most popular dish (the Macadamia Nut Cream Pancakes) they had already sold out of them for the day! I settled for some chocolate chip pancakes that were pretty amazing! When I finally went back I was able to get the Macadamia nut ones. They didn’t disappoint (even for a non-pancake lover like myself)!

The portions are good, you can also get things added on such as Spam, bacon, an egg, and typical breakfast items. This is a great stop on your way to Nago for the day, or just as a special occasion to get in the car and drive for some pancakes!

If you go during “peak” hours there will likely be a wait, so you sign your name in the book and wait on the benches that they have outside.

As is with most things here in Japan, presentation is key. They leave no detail overlooked. The plating is beautiful but not complex. The Macadamia Nut Cream Pancakes are plated with sliced banana, just the right amount!

Hours: 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Phone: 098-966-1154

Payment: Yen

Address: 698 Serakaki, Onna-son, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa Prefecture 904-0404, Japan

Directions: From Kadena gate 1, turn right on 58 heading north along the coastline toward Nago. When you pass the ANA hotel it will be on your left hand side (parking is a lot on the left hand side of the street). Very easy to see and park.

Map Coordinates: 26.5089792, 127.87232470000004

Website: Paanilani: Hawaiian Pancake House

CONTRIBUTED BY KASSIE O’DRISCOLL

A few weekends ago, I was finally able to indulge in some delicious breakfast food at C&C Breakfast. It was my sister-in-law’s birthday and we wanted to go explore. Best place to start? How about some french toast with fresh fruit, homemade whipped cream, and strawberry syrup?!

I had first heard about this place from a blogger friend, Carola, who had written about a great vegan meal she’d had from there with some friends. I put it on my “must eat” least and, weeks later, stumbled upon it one day while exploring Kokusai Street. I didn’t have time to actually eat that day, but I now knew where it was and vowed to return!

When Jenn and I made it there for brunch, I was so excited! Everything on the menu looks absolutely delicious. We had a little trouble narrowing down our favorites, but ultimately decided on the french toast and salmon eggs benedict. We definitely let our eyes speak instead of our stomachs and also got an order of pancakes and a green smoothie for each of us. I wasn’t kidding when I said I was able to indulge!!

Photo from C&C’s website

We were not disappointed! The pancakes had blueberries in the batter and the french toast had raisins (I think they were raisins – regardless… delish!). Each of these dishes came smothered in fresh fruit and had maple syrup in the tiniest little “pitcher” on the side.

The eggs benedict was just as tasty as it was beautiful, from what Jenn told me. As for the green smoothies, they were really good. I’m very picky when it comes to healthy “green stuff” and I would order this if I went back tomorrow.

Photo from C&C’s website

The restaurant is small, yet charming. Naturally, seating is limited. We were lucky to get a table right away (the last one available), despite the fact that we were there on a Saturday. If you do have to wait, be patient… it’ll be worth it! Also, if you’re not a breakfast person or looking for more lunch-ish options, they have plenty of that on their menu.

The service was spectacular and, like so many of my favorite cafes, you barely hear any noise coming from the kitchen. How do they do that?! This is such a welcomed change from the fast-paced, gimmicky restaurants that you find so often on Kokusai St. and I definitely recommend it the next time you’re in the area or if you’re looking for a comforting, “feels-like-home” kind of meal!

Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, Closed Tuesdays. 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Weekends & Holidays

Payment: Yen Only

Address: Japan, Okinawa Prefecture, Naha, Matsuo, 2 Chome−9−6

Directions: Take Expressway to Exit 1. Turn right onto 82 after exiting the Expressway. Turn left on 29. Take 29 to Kokusai Street and turn left. At the 4th light, turn left. It’s a small street so be careful! Drive down a small hill and you’ll turn left again. You’ll be right by a playground and school. You’ll see a parking lot on the left. Park there. Then, walk out of the parking lot and turn left. C&C Breakfast will be just before you reach the covered road and it’ll be on the right.

Map Coordinates: 26.215054, 127.68799490000004

Editor’s Note: An article about Eagle hardware was originally published on Okinawa Hai on January 20, 2008; you can read a PDF copy of that original review HERE. The post below is an updated take on this housing self-help store, published January 13, 2015.

CONTRIBUTED BY KACEY A.

The information in this post is based off of a conversation I had recently with Eagle Hardware on Kadena AB. All locations will offer similar services. Please contact your local Eagle Hardware for specific issues (contact information at bottom of post). Eagle Hardware is a great resource for base residents needing basic supplies for their home. Supplies stocked depend on needs of homes (based on what the contractors need when cleaning/fixing homes after PCSs) and budgets.

Some items such as lightbulbs, drip pans for stoves and horizontal blinds are available for a one for one swap. Simply bring in those non-working items, pick up the same item on the shelf, and bring both to the counter for check out.

Items are ‘bought’ without money, but by showing your military ID card, providing which base neighborhood you live in, and your housing number. The staff at Eagle Hardware will provide an invoice that you’ll sign and be on your merry way!

Items available to ‘buy’ include (but which are always subject to change due to availability and location): letters for the outside of house, door stoppers, kitchen vents, shelf pegs, furniture coasters, hose adapters, sandbags, replacement outdoor garbage cans, small blue recycle bins, air conditioner filters.

Eagle Hardware also offers rental equipment. Tools are free to rent for 3 working days. The tools must be cleaned before returning them. Tools for rental include: a variety of rakes, sledge hammers, shovels, lawn edgers, brooms, industrial driers, hammers, saws, power drills, shop vacuums, extension cords, leaf blower, hedge trimmers, ladders, etc.

You are also able to cut sheets of screening to fix your damaged screens. Just measure your door/window frame and bring it in to Eagle Hardware, they’ll show you where to cut the screen, and let you borrow a tool to install it in your own home.

Another service that Eagle Hardware offers is a recycling center for light bulbs, all types of batteries and drip pans for stoves.

They also offer a paint and cleaning supply drop-off/pick-up center. In hazardous material cabinets you can find different kinds of paints, lawn care products and cleaning supplies that you are free to take. You can also drop off supplies that you no longer need that will be added to this cabinet.

Contact Information

Kadena Air Base

Phone: 634-3469

Hours: Monday-Friday 0800-1700

Saturday 0900-1300

*Closed last Saturday of month, Sundays & holidays

Camp Kinser

Phone: 637-2533

Hours: Monday-Friday 0800-1700 (Closed for lunch 1300-1400)

Saturday 0900-1300

*Closed last Saturday of month, Sundays & holidays

Camp Foster

Phone: 645-3099

Hours: Monday-Friday 0800-1700

Saturday 0900-1300

*Closed last Saturday of month, Sundays & holidays

Camp Courtney

Phone: 622-5003

Hours: Monday-Friday 0800-1700 (Closed for lunch 1300-1400)

Saturday 0900-1300

*Closed last Saturday of month, Sundays & holidays

CONTRIBUTED BY ELIZA GROFF

Okinawa Hai has long had a write-up on Café Natura near Camp Foster Legion Gate, but there is another Café Natura worth a visit much nearer to Torii Station. This Café Natura is under different ownership, and thus the feel of the café is very different.

When you walk in the door, there is a gate that stretches across a small inner doorway to ensure that none of the three kitty cats escape into the street. Air filtering plants like pothos hang from the walls, and flowers, fish, driftwood and coral pieces make up most of the décor. Each table is adorned with Ryukyu glass holding napkins and toothpicks.

The one room dining area is tiny, seating maybe 15 people. The largest table size seats four people. It is perfect for an intimate lunch date, or for conversation with a few friends, but not a great place for a big party, unless you plan to arrive early and take up the whole place.

Café Natura specializes in hamburger steaks and pancakes, with homemade delicious drinks such as their hot shiquasa juice. My husband and I are not big meat eaters, so we opted for the pancakes.

I chose the pancakes topped with homemade apple butter and cinnamon confiture. My husband had the daily special, which was made with dragon fruit sauce and ice cream. The pancakes were typical of the Okinawan style – two light and fluffy pancakes near seven inches in diameter with a light creamy texture. On the side, they include a dollop of decadent whipped cream, my favorite part of the pancakes!

This corner café is unique because it is run out of an Okinawan family’s home. They have converted the front room and the kitchen into a café, with taste and ingenuity.

Menu – click to enlarge

Hours: 11:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Monday-Saturday, closed Sundays

Phone: 098-989-9755

Address: 904-0314 Okinawa, Nakagami district, Yomitan, Furugen, 868-2

Directions: Café Natura is near the Starbucks on the 58 bypass and 16. From Starbucks, go east on 16 for about two blocks until you come to a stoplight. Café Natura is on the corner on the left hand side at the stoplight. Follow the signs for parking around the corner. You can also type their phone number, 098-989-9755 into Google Maps and it will take you directly to the café.

Menu – click to enlarge

Map Coordinates: 26.3709274, 127.74988039999994