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

CONTRIBUTED BY MARIE LEWIS

The Villa Paradiso is a boutique hotel where we stayed during the Phnom Penh leg of our journey. After a long boat ride through the Mekong Delta into Cambodia, we were welcomed with delicious drinks and cold towels. We actually stayed here two times, before and after our rustic adventure into Mondulkiri, and this hotel was a much-needed haven from the chaos of Phnom Penh. We could not have picked a more wonderful place to stay. At times I thought, “Why go out?” It was that great an experience; we had to, at times, force ourselves to get out and see the city.

Rooms: If you are looking for something truly unique, this place is IT. There are only 14 rooms, and each has its own theme (i.e. Balinese Garden Suite, The Music Room, The Island, etc.) The décor is gorgeous and perfectly suited to each theme. You can browse them on the hotel website to find the perfect room for you.

During our first two nights here, we stayed in The Sheikh room. We loved its rich furnishings and antique accessories.

During our second two nights, we stayed in the Balinese Garden Suite. This was one of the two most expensive rooms, but it was worth the splurge! It was incredibly romantic, and we loved lounging on the Balinese platform seating area.

In addition to a well-stocked minibar, the rooms came with a huge selection of free movies on-demand, as well as free documentaries about Cambodia’s tragic history (namely, the genocide committed by the Khmer Rouge). We found these to be a valuable history lesson in preparation for our visit to the former S-21 prison and the killing fields.

Location: The hotel is centrally located in Phnom Penh and a short tuk-tuk ride away from all of the major sights. It is tucked behind a tall wall on a quiet street, and easy to miss if you are not paying attention. I thought it was easier to spot at night (see below, daytime photo as compared to night).

It’s within walking distance to the Royal Palace, but I would not recommend walking as Phnom Penh is NOT a pedestrian-friendly city! Tuk-tuks are readily available outside the hotel (but they do not work with the hotel, so make sure you agree on the price before getting in.)

Service: Each and every member of the staff here went above and beyond to take care of EVERYTHING for us. Check-in was a breeze. When we left for Mondulkiri, the hotel stored our luggage for free since we would be returning for a second stay. The wait staff in the restaurant and poolside were always attentive and courteous.

Once of the things that really made this place stand out was the personal attention paid to us by the hotel owners, Sandra and Philipp. We saw them regularly in the restaurant and around the property, and if they were not deep in conversation with another guest, they were asking us about our stay and suggesting places to see and logistical tips. Philipp came to help us personally when we had trouble figuring out how to use the air conditioner remote in our room. Sandra checked our bus tickets when our driver to Mondulkiri was running late, and made a quick phone call to confirm he was on his way. Little courtesies like this really made us feel like we could totally relax – we were in good hands!

Food & Drink: In a word: superb. The food is served in an open-air restaurant overlooking the pool.

Everything was incredibly fresh, and while I was always satisfied it never left me feeling overstuffed. The food and drinks were reasonably priced (most cocktails were about $4 USD) and we also took advantage of the poolside cocktail and snack service (easily the best chicken tenders I have ever had – even though they were technically my husband’s. Good thing he doesn’t mind sharing)!

I devoured the exotic fresh fruit that was offered at breakfast every morning.

One of my favorite meals during our entire trip was a mango salad with sesame seeds and a homemade yogurt-based dressing. It was AMAZING!

Pool: The pool was never crowded and the perfect place to unwind after our sightseeing trips. There was a canopy overhead to shield us from the oppressive sun. We also enjoyed the Jacuzzi adjacent to the pool. I felt especially spoiled by the little buttons we were given to summon a waiter whenever we wanted to order a drink or snack. We never even had to get up!

Spa: The spa is divided into five individual cabins tucked inside the greenery surrounding the pool. They offer a full range of massages and beauty treatments. I had a 60-minute aromatherapy massage for $26 USD. They offered me a choice of essential oils focused on relaxing, toning, or purifying. The massage was among the best I have had. I like medium pressure, and the therapist was careful to ask if I wanted more or less once we got started. Afterward, I enjoyed complimentary hot tea and fresh fruit at my favorite table overlooking the pool. I would highly recommend this spa even if you are not staying at the hotel. If I ever re-visit Phnom Penh, I will be back!

Other Amenities: There was not a gym here but I really didn’t miss it. Between the pool, spa, Jacuzzi, free movies on demand, and an array of books and magazines to borrow, there was more than enough to keep us entertained. Excellent free WiFi too!

Value: This place truly was a paradise for us and while there are cheaper hotels in Phnom Penh, this place was worth every penny spent. If you want tranquility, quality and personalized service, I don’t think you need to look anywhere else. Rooms range from $70-$180 per night depending on the type of room.

Know Before You Book: Only children older than 10 are allowed to stay at the hotel. As such, you will see mostly couples and adults-only groups here. For us, this was exactly what we wanted, but if you have young children you’ll want to look elsewhere.

Hotel Website: The Villa Paradiso

CONTRIBUTED BY MICHELLE CAMINA

When we think of caves on Okinawa, most of us are familiar with the Gyokusendo Cave of Okinawa World in Nanjō-shi, situated along the island’s southeastern tip. However, it may surprise many of you to learn that there is just as an impressive cave system within Matsuda, Ginoza-son (between Camp Hansen and Camp Schwab) that will quite possibly rival any previous cave experiences you may have had before.

The Matsuda Mēgā Gama Cave was formally opened to the general public in 2013 for guided tours. There are two separate tours offered (at the time of this writing) by the Matsuda Taiken Kouryu Center that focus on the history of Matsuda and the significance of the Mēgā Gama Cave before and during WWII. They are the Mēgā Gama Cave Tour and the Mēgā Gama Cave and Remains Tour. (For the purpose of this article, I will be focusing on the Mēgā Gama Cave Tour.)

The Mēgā Gama Cave Tour offers visitors an opportunity to go spelunking with tour guides along a precarious but well-mapped area of cave that stretches one kilometer long and takes approximately one hour to complete. For a nominal fee of 500¥ (in addition to the regular admission fee) visitors are encouraged to rent a jumpsuit, boots, and gloves to protect one’s clothing and hands. However, if you are a cheapskate–like my husband–you may bring your own jumpsuit and boots to avoid the 500¥ fee.

Take some time though to consider that the consequence of wearing your own suit and boots is you have to travel with guano soiled clothing in your car that you are responsible for washing (or burning) at the end of the day, as opposed to having the Taiken Kouryu Center take care of that for you. Unless you require a jumpsuit that exceeds a Japanese size XXL, I would strongly advise you to rent your clothing from the Taiken Kouryu Center. The tour guides provide each visitor use of a hard hat and attached headlamp free of charge. They also provide a water bottle holder for you, should you wish to bring water along.

From the Taiken Kouryu Center parking lot our tour guides, Shinobu-san and Ken-san, led us on a short walk through a small residential area to the cave entrance. I cannot emphasize enough how access to the cave may only be attained by taking a tour. (The cave entrance is surrounded by fencing and a locked gate.)

Unlike Okinawa World’s Gyokusendo Cave, the Mēgā Gama Cave is not lit from within by harsh fluorescent lamps (although, there is emergency lighting wired throughout the cave path). This is to preserve the continued growth of the cave’s delicate limestone formations and the habitat of some of its rarer cave dwellers, such as Kuroiwa’s ground gecko (Goniurosaurus kuroiwae) and cave centipede (Thereuopoda clunifera).

There are also small bats known as the lesser horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus cornutus) present in the cave. These are not the Okinawan fruit bats you are most likely familiar with. At one point during our tour, Shinobu-san shone a light up onto the cave ceiling and bats flew out in droves all around us, but never once bumped into anyone. Evidence that millions of years’ worth of bat echolocation evolution was still hard at work!

Visitors descend into the cave by means of a series of strategically placed ladders and limestone rocks. Even with boots on, your footing can easily slip on the rungs of the ladders if you choose to unwisely rush through the tour.

Though the tour is estimated to take only an hour’s worth of your time, your guides will encourage you to take as much time as needed for you to make your way through the cave. The tour guides’ patience with you is also demonstrated by their reminding you to duck under tight spots where stalactites obstruct your way. My own initial impatience got me knocked in the head a few times (I learned eventually)! Thankfully the hardhat I was provided with shielded me from any potential concussions I was sure to have suffered without one on—though, it did not shield me from embarrassment or my husband’s laughter!

Along the tour route, you will spy remnants of human activity (e.g. writing, a copper pot, sake bottles, etc.) in the cave. Our tour guides informed us that during the Second World War, Okinawans from surrounding villages came to Matsuda and took refuge in the Mēgā Gama Cave away from the bombing and fighting taking place elsewhere on island.

Historians estimate that as many as fifty to one hundred thousand Okinawans hid in the cave for a period of several weeks during the war. Though no lives were lost in Matsuda due to combat and bombings, many people died of disease and starvation. However, since the end of the war the Mēgā Gama Cave–which has always played an integral part in the day to day lives of its people for centuries–stands as both a testament and a memorial representing the resilience of the Okinawans that took refuge in its caverns.

Address: 78 Matsuda Ginoza-son, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa-ken, Japan

Directions: Driving north towards Nago on the Okinawa Expressway, exit the Ginoza 9 Toll Road and make a left onto Route 329. After passing Gallivant Bakery on the right hand side of the road, you will see a large blue billboard indicating that Highway 224 is up ahead within 300 m. This billboard serves only as a marker. (Do not take the 224 to Maehara!) Immediately after seeing this first billboard you will take a right onto the next street with a large outdoor bulletin board posted on the corner and a white street sign pointing the way towards the Taiken Kouryu Center. The Taiken Kouryu Center is the cheery yellow painted building with a red terracotta roof and flags posted outside.

Map Coordinates: 26.4931305, 127.99271820000001

Parking: Visitors are asked to use the parking lot behind the Taiken Kouryu Center. Parking your vehicle along the narrow streets of this residential area is prohibited.

Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. every day (Closed December 27-January 5 for New Year’s holiday.)

Admission: For the Mēgā Gama Cave Tour admission is 3000¥ per person; 2800¥ per person for a groups of 5-7 people; 2700¥ per person for groups of 8-9 people; and 2500¥ for groups of 10 or more people. An additional fee of 500¥ per person if one chooses to rent a jumpsuit and boots to protect his or her clothing (highly recommended).

Phone: 098-968-8787 (The full-time staff does not speak English. Please read further.)

Tours are scheduled three times a day. Those times are 10:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m. It is imperative that you not be late to your tour appointment time and that if you are a non-Japanese speaker you reserve a tour through the Taiken Kouryu Center website a few days before you plan to visit.

Tour Reservation Website: http://ginozanavi.com/inquiry/  The first box you see on the form is for your name; the second box is for your cell number; and the third and fourth boxes ask for your email address twice. If the email addresses are not the same, the reservation will not go through. So be sure to check how you type your email address for accuracy! Finally, the large comment box at the bottom of the page is where you make your reservation request. Indicate the Mēgā Gama Cave Tour as the one you wish to go on. English is okay!

I would personally try to schedule a tour at least a couple of days—if not a week before—I plan to visit. This gives the English-speaking tour guide an opportunity to plan for your visit and comes at absolutely no additional cost to you. How about that! Ken Matsuda (the English-speaking tour guide) works for the Taiken Kouryu Center only part time. He owns Embroidery Rich (a medal mounting and name tape shop in Ginoza) and cannot leave his shop unattended on short notice. So please reserve your tour online beforehand.

General Website: http://ginozanavi.com/

Facebook Page: Matsuda Mēgā Gama Cave

Additional Notes: Due to high levels of humidity in the cave, visitors are advised not to bring cameras with them on the tour. This is not to say that you are forbidden to bring your camera to take pictures if you choose to do so, but merely as a warning that unless you have a professional grade waterproof camera, you risk ruining any electronic equipment you have on you. However, our guide was kind enough to take pictures of us during our tour with his own camera and provided us with a CD containing our pictures afterwards before we left the center. I cannot emphasize enough how accommodating and friendly the entire staff at Taiken Kouryu Center are! They are absolutely the best and go out of their way to answer all of your questions and even show you extra places along the tour route area not directly related to the cave. Matsuda is truly an amazing place to explore!

CONTRIBUTED BY KYLE

Burrito lovers rejoice! If you are anything like me, one of the main food items you miss from the States is good burritos, or more specifically Qdoba and/or Chipotle. A large helping of meat and rice with fresh veggies piled on top and all wrapped up in a layer of goodness that is the flour tortilla. So you can imagine my joy in discovering Rollup. My wife and I have been on this island for two years already, and having already tried Tortilla Factory, I swear that Rollup is the closest thing we have found to the aforementioned restaurants on all of Okinawa. Located a short drive from Kadena on the Sunabe Seawall, Rollup is sure to satisfy all of your burrito cravings in a quick and cheap way!

Though I have always ordered my food to go at Rollup, there is seating for “ten” inside, though it would probably be a squeeze for all ten seats to be occupied. The owner, Hide, though camera-shy, is hard to miss with his big smile and tell-tale goatee. He speaks very good English and is happy to answer any questions you may have. The menu is very simple; you have a choice of eight different types of burritos, with the option to upgrade to a combo with a drink, (midly) spicy chicken nuggets, or both. My favorite burrito to get at Chipotle was always the steak, and the story is no different here, while my wife is loyal to the chicken teriyaki burrito, both of which are delicious.

A comparison of the 12-inch and 9-inch burrito

Piled high with fresh veggies!

Once a burrito selection is made, you are given a choice of different types of rice, salsa, and sauces to top your burrito. The burritos are then loaded with cheese, lettuce, red cabbage, corn, tomatoes, and cilantro. Each burrito is, of course, fully customizable, although some ingredients of the topping bar, such as sour cream and guacamole will cost you an extra 100 yen. You can also make use of a small selection of hot sauces to accompany your burrito, with spiciness ranging from mild to deadly.

Oishii!

A word on the chicken nuggets: They are all-white meat, mildly spicy, and very delicious! They go perfectly with the burritos served here.

Menu – click to enlarge

And that’s it! You are now ready to enjoy the best burritos on Okinawa. While Rollup is currently closed on Mondays, Hide tells me that they plan on moving to a seven days a week schedule in early 2015, and they plan on introducing a breakfast burrito to the menu. I for one cannot wait!

Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.; CLOSED Mondays although that should change soon!

Payment: Yen and cash currently accepted. (Hide is in the works of getting a card machine.)

Phone: 098-926-5068

Address: 2-198 Miyagi Chatan-Cho Okinawa 904-0113

Menu – click to enlarge

Directions: From Kadena Gate 1, go straight through the light and weave around Family Mart to continue to the Seawall. Go straight until you hit the Seawall (By Sidelines) and make a right. You will see Rollup a few blocks down on your right.

Map Coordinates: 26.3303679, 127.74341779999997

Facebook Page: Rollup Burrito

CONTRIBUTED BY ANTHONY CAMINA

Ground zero during cherry blossom season, this majestic 71.1 hectare park sits high above the urban skyline on Mt. Nago. Once the residence of the great Nago Aji, the remains of the castle (chiefly experienced in the tall staircase and sacred Haka) are but one of the many attractions at this site. In late January the annual Nago Cherry Blossom Festival is hosted here as the lovely pink sakura (cherry blossoms) of Okinawa are the first to bloom in all of Japan.

First understand that this park is huge and will probably take an entire day if you plan on visiting every area in the park, not counting all the hiking trails. The areas all have names and are designated with a specific alphabet letter. This article will describe most of the areas from the ground up but not necessarily in alphabetical order.

At the main entrance of the park you will find a small parking lot, restroom, informational signs, large maps, the start of the staircase, and during the Cherry Blossom Festival many food vendors.  I do not recommend parking here if you intend on going up the stairs and exploring the park, especially if you have kids. You will wind up doing what I did and have to run back to the car from the top of the staircase to pick up/rescue your exhausted crew, and these stairs my friends are only the start of the park.

The first actual lettered area is “I,” the Creek (Small River) Area. This part of the site is actually more like a side park with a creek, picnic tables, vending machines, restrooms, and a manmade Koi pond with waterfall. Behind the green bridge is a very interesting area that looks like a stage. It is nicely kept up with and a good place to spend time if you have little ones.

The next area is the “A” Tall Palms Picnic Area. Again there are tables and pavilions which provide the first impressive views of the Nago skyline. There is a somewhat narrow parking area here that you can use. Paved footpaths around art sculptures will eventually lead you to an impressive and picture-worthy suspension bridge.

Just beyond the suspension bridge and through a vine-covered archway is area “B,” or the Umaku Children’s Playground. If you have little ones, then this is where you are going to spend quite a bit of time. The layout, size, and array of equipment for the kids to play on are quite impressive.

The area has also been recently completely renovated (causing some to mistakenly think this park had been closed). There are zip lines, monkey bars, roller slides, bathrooms, vending machines, and grassy hills which are great for sliding down. If you are perceptive you will see stairs and a cobblestone path leading off to other pavilions.

If you are adventurous and follow the back paths leading away from the playground, you will find the often overlooked Ijdouaru Park, or area “K.” This little park is truly a gem as it has one of the most unique slides on the island. It is well worth checking out but basically takes you back down to ground level, which means…yup, you are walking back up some serious stairs to get back to where you were.

To explore the next area, I highly recommend you get back to your vehicle. It will take a minute and some twisty turns to get to the “J,” The Ganju Hiking Area. This is where the really breathtaking views in the park really start to show themselves. If you are lucky you can claim a spot in the large covered pavilion which has spectacular views of the East China Sea.

This park has a large grassy field surrounded by a walking path. It is not uncommon to see people playing Frisbee, flying a kite, or the older generation playing ground golf. Periodically spaced on the path are exercise stations which range from dip bars, abdominal benches, and pull-up bars to balance/flexibility equipment.

At the rear of area “J” is the hiking trail mentioned in the title of the park. They are beautiful and long but if I go into what they are all about, this article will be a major novel so I will just move on.

Next up the road is Sunshine Mound, aka area “H.” This little park is quite charming as the artistic statues are as impressive as the view. Like most of the areas the vending machines, benches, and restrooms are easily accessible.

Area “D” is figuratively and literally the pinnacle of the park. Appropriately named “Cherry Blossom Area,” the views do not disappoint. This area also has one of the largest parking lots in the entire park. I highly suggest visiting the three-story observatory. It is a great place to eat a packed lunch and provides one of the most impressive panoramas of Mt. Nago. The smart park visitor will go to this place first and then work your way down.

Descending from the Cherry Blossom Area, you will notice a very beautiful pavilion with breathtaking views you may not have noticed on the way up. One of the Ganju hiking trails also ends up at a well manicured path just below the roadside pavilion.

While this guide covers the main areas at Nago Castle Park, it by no means covers everything the site has to offer. There are stone lantern paths, shrines, and a king’s tomb who await those willing to explore this ancient enchanted mountain. Grab a camera, pack a lunch, and head out with a good pair of walking shoes to one of my favorite places on Okinawa and one of the top 100 cherry blossom sites in all of Japan.

Address: 2 Chome-2-1 Ōhigashi, Nago-shi, Okinawa-ken 905-0016, Japan

Directions: From the Expressway 10 exit (Kyoda):  travel north on Highway 58 along the seawall. After passing MacDonald’s new building on the right you will see a white point of interest sign over the road which reads “Nago Central Park.” Nago Castle Park and Nago Central Park are basically the same place. Turn right just after this sign and pass the San A and Orion beer factory. Take a left at the first light past Agarie Elementary School and an immediate right. The parking lot which has the start of the Castle Staircase will be on your left.

Map Coordinates: 26.587690, 127.990220

CONTRIBUTED BY KASSIE O’DRISCOLL

From 2 Jerks’ Facebook Page

A few weeks ago, I participated in the NIOSC Amazing Race with my husband, Mark, and our friends, John and Alisha. One of the destinations was 2 Jerks, a Caribbean restaurant that took me back to my days spent in Priory, Jamaica with the old Rend Lake College crew!

From 2 Jerks’ Facebook Page

We were skillful (or lucky, you decide) enough to win two dinner certificates to … you guessed it, 2 Jerks! Mark and I, eagerly, went back the following weekend with a friend. We weren’t disappointed! The restaurant is cozy with an island feel and the owners make you feel welcomed from the time you walk in until you leave.

I ordered jerk chicken and Mark ordered the combo meal, which was jerk chicken and chicken curry with rice and beans. Incredibly flavorful and delicious!  He also makes his own spiced rum. Seriously, imagine this place on a nice day… sitting on the patio, enjoying a cocktail, and having some spicy jerk chicken.

From 2 Jerks’ Facebook Page

All this restaurant needs is Jamaican Festival and it would be complete, but don’t be confused … I have no complaints! I will be back and I will continue to brag for them. It’s good food, people!

Photo from Courtney Fest

Hours: Wednesday & Thursday 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., Friday – Sunday: 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Payment: Yen or Dollars Accepted

Phone: 098-989-9563

Address: 103 Enobi, Uruma-shi, Okinawa-ken 904-2205, Japan

Directions: From Kadena Gate 2, go straight on 20, then left on 330. Take 330 to 329 and turn left on 329. When 329 splits, take the right turn. Shortly after passing over the 8 intersection, 2 Jerks will be on the left. If you come to the light after 8, you’ve gone too far.

Map Coordinates: 26.3933352, 127.8323514

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

Tree Lodge was our base from which to explore Cambodia’s “wild east” and trek with elephants in support of The Mondulkiri Project. It’s an organization run by a local Cambodian family that provides an income to the impoverished people in the community by renting their land, while at the same time protecting the environment of the two female elephants in its care.

Before I launch into my review of the lodge, it’s worth noting that the Mondulkiri Project does NOT allow tourists to ride elephants. We learned through Mr. Tree, the founder of the project and owner of Tree Lodge, that elephants used for tourist rides suffer a great deal of bodily harm over time from the way they are worked, and the rides ultimately shorten the animals’ life span. I’m not an elephant doctor, but I’d rather err on the side of caution and stay away from anything that might be potentially harmful to animals. That said, we were more than happy to follow the elephants’ lead on a trek and give them a bath in the river, always mindful that they were running the show. In the words of Mr. Tree, “You don’t make my elephant do anything she doesn’t want to do.” For more on elephant trekking with the Mondulkiri Project, read Kassie’s review HERE.

Rooms: Tree Lodge is essentially a cluster of very basic cabins in the woods.

Our room consisted of a bed with a mosquito net, and a small bathroom with a toilet and a shower head. Rooms are $5 USD per night, or $10 USD if you want hot running water. It was surprisingly cool in this area of the country so we opted for the hot water.

The bed was quite hard (you’re sleeping on a thin mat rather than a thick mattress) and while I found it uncomfortable, it was all part of the experience. The simplicity of the room is part of its charm. If you don’t mind roughing it a little, you’d love it. (Oh, and there are roosters outside that can’t tell time, I’m afraid. They were cock-a-doodle-dooing all night!) But again, it was all part of the experience.

Location: The lodge is just a few minutes’ ride from the center of town. From the bus stop, a man working there called Tree Lodge for us. All we said was “Tree Lodge” and he knew who to call! Mr. Tree’s wife showed up not five minutes later to pick us up in the family car. She drove us to the Lodge, which is on the same property as their family’s house. The family’s living room actually serves as the lodge’s reception area, restaurant and common lounge.

There is a porch out back overlooking the jungle, and it was the perfect spot to catch a wild Cambodian sunset.

Service: The service is as personal as it gets, because you are being served by members of the Tree family. As I already mentioned, Mrs. Tree picked us up at the bus stop and drove us to the lodge (free of charge). She also arranged for a couple of vespa drivers to pick us up upon checkout and take us back to the bus stop (that ride was only $1 USD). Mr. and Mrs. Tree were there to help with anything we needed. It felt more like we were guests in someone’s home than guests at a hotel. And in reality, we were guests in their home. We ate meals in the same room together, and had easy conversation during the day. They are lovely people who really seem to care about improving their own community.

Food & Drink: The food was simple and delicious, and nothing cost more than $4 USD. The House Vegetable Curry with fish was hands down the best meal I had during the entire trip. It cost a whopping $2.50 and left me so full my husband had to roll me out of there.

The menu consists of traditional Cambodian curries and stir-fried dishes, but they also had snacks like onion rings and French fries. For breakfast they have omelets, pancakes, and cereals. I also highly recommend the iced coffee with sweetened condensed milk – a local favorite that was an instant hit with us!

Pool: There isn’t one here. But if you’re trekking with elephants, you’ll be chilling out in the river while you bathe one of them, so I think that’s a decent alternative!

Spa: Again, not one here. Folks come here for the adventure, not pampering.

Value: Can’t be beat. As I mentioned earlier, rooms are just $5 USD per night with cold running water, and $10 if you want hot running water. Nothing on the food and drink menu is more than $4 USD. At the time of this writing, the elephant trek is $50 USD per person. You can read HERE to find out exactly where that money goes. We were happy to support what we feel is a worthy cause in Cambodia, and one that is environmentally sustainable.

Lodge/Organization Website: Tree Lodge Cambodia and The Mondulkiri Project

CONTRIBUTED BY ELIZA GROFF

Several weeks ago, I went to Kokusai Street in Naha with some friends. We stumbled upon an art exhibition featuring a Japanese calligraphy artist by the name of Soyamax, or Naoyuki Soyama. First we were moved by his beautiful art, and then by the story of his life.

Soyamax often uses bright colors and Kanji symbols to create compilations of artwork; sometimes he uses traditional Okinawan paper, sometimes black canvas, and other times whatever he feels is a perfect background for the image in his head. We loved his use of bright colors, and traditional Japanese symbolic figures like dragons and bamboo, artfully woven together with elegant Kanji symbols.

We wandered into his exhibition, where Soyamax greeted us with great energy and s bright smile. He had us write our names on a clipboard in English, and then he translated the syllables to the Kanji equivalent, and then painted the calligraphic symbols for each of our names on the back of his business card. He explained the meaning of the symbols that he chose to represent us.

Each symbol that he chose for my name flattered me deeply, like a true businessman would know how to do: Eliza E (Giving) Li (Smart) Za (Beauty). I left his art exhibition with a sense of awe at how quickly he could draw the beautiful calligraphy, and how cleverly he came up with the Kanji meaning of our names. But more than that, he has a beautiful life story.

When Naoyuki Soyama was 18, he was diagnosed with terminal cancer, a type of lymphoma. He received a bone marrow transplant when he was 19, and decided from that point on to follow his passion and dreams as an artist. He is now 31 years old. Soyamax makes custom art, and he has a large collection of pieces for sale. You can find him on Facebook, Instagram, LINE, Twitter, or via his website.

His artwork is affordable, and a perfect gift for friends or family for a special occasion. The exhibition in Naha that we went to was a one-time event, but you can contact him to meet him in Yomitan at his gallery.

Phone: 090-8615-6786

Address: 362-3 Kina Yomitan Okinawa Japan (gallery address)

Map Coordinates: 26.4007802, 127.75305980000007

Website: Art by Soyamax

Years ago, when Okinawa Hai had just a few readers and was getting its footing, we took an introspective look at the things we love about this tiny island, especially the details that might go unnoticed – or unappreciated – by many. 

We’d like to remind ourselves about that which we have always loved about our island paradise… even the things which may, at first glance, seem odd and not worth stopping to listen to. 

We found the text of this post buried way back in our archives, and thought it was time to bring it back again (with the new addition of the video). Originally published on May 24, 2007, we present you with “I Love This About Okinawa: Ichi (Part 1)”. We will be re-publishing the other posts in this series throughout the next month.

CONTRIBUTED BY MEREDITH NOVARIO

The garbage truck plays music exactly like the ice-cream truck did back in the day. With that kind of heads up, I can drop coffee and children to drag bags to the curb in the nick of time.

What do YOU love about Okinawa that might not be obvious? Has one of its features or quirks grown on you over time? Leave a comment below, or write us a post; we’d love to continue this series.

The 2015 calendar was available for purchase in November and December of 2014. This was February’s page.

Civic Park

Photo credit: Candace Castor
Candace Castor Photography

“A gentle maiko
Dancing in pink kimono
At a spring banquet” –Aleksandr Krasnitskiy

Southeast Botanical Garden

Photo credit: Shannon Kroemer

Kitnakagusuku Sunflower Festival

Photo credit: Jamie Snider
Jamie Snider Photography

CONTRIBUTED BY KACEY A. 

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

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

Motobu Yaedake Cherry Blossom Festival

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

Yaedake Sakura-no Mori Park, Namizato, Motobu

Free

*Date subject to change based on when trees bloom

Okinawa Difarube Marche

Local crafts & business fair. Fashion, cafes, art, etc.  Held at flower shop di Farube.

Okinawa Prefecture Urasoe Shiminato river 2-31-2

098-875-8171

Free

10:00am – 3:00pm

Yaese Cherry Blossom Festival

500+ cherry blossoms illuminated with 20,000 lights

Yaese Town Park, Yaese

098-998-2668

Free

Lights turn on at 6pm

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

Tsubasa, Eisa Performance

Street  performance

Kokusai Street Transit Mall, Naha

Free

Okinawa Food & Flower Festival

A yearly festival featuring local products, including the sale of agricultural and marine products.

Onoyama Sports Park

52 Onoyama, Onoyama-cho, Naha

098-860-9446

Free

Nekoneko Fair

A small fair featuring a collection of cat goods.

Sakurazaka Theater Fukura Building, 1st Floor

3-6-10 Makishi, Naha

Free

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

Tokyo Flamenco Ensemble

Tokyo flamenco guitar, dance, and troupe

Tenbusu Naha Hall

3-2-10 Makishi, Naha

098-867-8761

¥2,500 advance, ¥3,000 day of

Doors at 2:00pm & 5:00pm

February 1st – February 2nd

Camellia Festival

6th annual Kunigamison Camellia flower festival.

Kunigamison Forest Park

1094-1 Hentona, Kunigamison, Okinawa

Free

Sunflower Festival

7th annual Kitanakagusuku Sunflower Festival

Near Shiosai Park (new location)

2070-16 Atta, Kitanakagusuku Village

Free

10am-4pm

February 1st – February 8th

Itoman Fair

Local Itoman goods, foods, exhibitions, demonstrations and sales.

Itoman Roadside Station (Itoman Farmer & Fish Market)

4-19-1 Nishizaki, Itoman

098-840-8137

Free

10:00am – 5:00pm

February 1st – February 15th

Seasonal Illumination

Southeast Botanical Gardens, Chibana

098-939-2555

¥1,800 Adults, ¥500 Children

5:00pm – 10:00pm

February 1st – February 22nd

Expo Park Churaumi Flower Festival

Flower festival complete with live entertainment and hands on craft opportunities. Check website for details.

Ocean Expo Park, Motobu

0980-48-2741

Free

8am – 6pm Daily

February 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

American Village Mihama Town Resort Illumination

Illusion of lights & arts.

American Village, Chatan Town

Free

098-926-3322

February 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

February 6th

Cirque Clown Macbeth

Tenbusu Naha Hall

3-2-10 Makishi, Naha

098-941-0360

¥2,000

Curtain opening 7:00pm

February 7th

Ryukyu Golden Kings Basketball Game

Vs. Hamamatsu Higashi-Mikawa Phoenix

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.

February 7th-15th

Okinawa International Orchid Show

The biggest and longest running orchid event in Japan.

Tropical Dream Center, Ocean Expo Park, Motobu

0980-48-2741

Free

8:30am-7:30pm

February 8th

Ryukyu Golden Kings Basketball Game

Vs. Hamamatsu Higashi-Mikawa Phoenix

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.

February 11th

Hanshin Tigers vs. Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters

Japan’s professional baseball leagues opening exhibition games.

Nago Municipal Stadium

2-1 Miyazato, Nago

0980-54-3301

Game Time 1:00pm

February 11th-15th

Naha Cherry Blossom Festival

Over 400 cherry blossom plants, exhibitions, sales of flowers and trees, folk competitions and other various events.

Yogi Park, 1-1 Yogi, Naha

098-855-2552

Free

February 11th – April 6th

POP Circus

World Circus Festival

Onoyama Park

52 Onoyamacho, Naha

098-851-5183

Adults ¥2,500 Advance. Children ¥1,200 Advance.

Tickets available at FamilyMart

February 13th

Hanshin Tigers vs. Samsung Lions

Japan’s professional baseball leagues opening exhibition games.

Ginoza Village Baseball Field

188 Ginoza, Ginoza

098-968-8780

Game Time 1:00pm

February 14th

Ryukyu Golden Kings Basketball Game

Vs. Oita Heat Devils

Toyosaki Citizen Gym

Toyosaki Comprehensive Park, Tomigusuku 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.

February 15th

Okinawa Marathon

10km & full marathon covering most of central Okinawa, including Kadena Air Base.

Will start and end at Comprehensive Park.

Registration is closed.

Ryukyu Golden Kings Basketball Game

Vs. Oita Heat Devils

Toyosaki Citizen Gym

Toyosaki Comprehensive Park, Tomigusuku 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.

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

February 17th

Hanshin Tigers vs. Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles

Japan’s professional baseball leagues opening exhibition games.

Ginoza Village Baseball Field

188 Ginoza, Ginoza

098-968-8780

Game Time 1:00pm

February 19th

Hanshin Tigers vs. Tokyo Yakult Swallows

Japan’s professional baseball leagues opening exhibition games.

Urasoe Sports Park

1-13-1 Nakama, Urasoe

098-876-7322

Game Time 1:00pm

February 21st

Yomiuri Giants vs. Hiroshima Toyo Carp

Japan’s professional baseball leagues opening exhibition games.

Okinawa Cellular Stadium

41-1 Onoyamacho, Naha

098-57-0889

Doors Open 11:00am, Game Starts 1:00pm

Chunichi Dragons vs. Chiba Lotte

Japan’s professional baseball leagues opening exhibition games.

Chatan Park Baseball Field

Chatan Town, Mihama

098-936-0077

Game Starts 1:00

February 21st – 22nd

Yomitan Yachimunshi

A large annual event selling and displaying local Yomitan pottery.  Discounted pottery sold directly by the artists.  A charity auction is also held.

JA Farmers Market, Yunta Market

2346-11 Kina, Yomitan

10:00am – 7:00pm

February 22nd

Yomiuri Giants vs. Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles

Japan’s professional baseball leagues opening exhibition games.

Okinawa Cellular Stadium

41-1 Onoyamacho, Naha

098-57-0889

Doors Open 11:00am, Game Starts 1:00pm

Chunichi Dragons vs. Hanshin

Japan’s professional baseball leagues opening exhibition games.

Chatan Park Baseball Field

Chatan Town, Mihama

098-936-0077

Game Starts 1:00

Okinawa Food Flea

Delicious food and high quality craft vendors selected from all over Okinawa. Live local music.

Chatan Fisharina, Mihama

12:00pm – 6:00pm

Bullfighting Tournament

Chinese New Year’s all-island bull fighting tournament

Ishikawa Dome, Ishikawa

¥3,000

1:00pm

February 24th

Hanshin Tigers vs. Yokohama DeNA BayStars

Japan’s professional baseball leagues opening exhibition games.

Ginoza Village Baseball Field

188 Ginoza, Ginoza

098-968-8780

Game Time 1:00pm

Other Events

• Whale watching is still in season.
• Strawberry picking season has begun!
• Professional Baseball spring camp training in Okinawa starts up. Visit http://yakyubaka.com/ for more information on practices.
• February 3rd is Setsubun (Bean Throwing Festival)
• February 11th is Kenkoki Kinen No Hi (National Foundation Day)

CONTRIBUTED BY MICHELLE CAMINA

The Mēgā Gama Cave and Remains Tour differs from the Mēgā Gama Cave Tour in the sense that the former does not require you to dress in a hardhat and jumpsuit to view the part of the cave reserved for this particular tour. It also offers more insight into the overall history of the town of Matsuda as opposed to just chiefly the Mēgā Gama Cave’s significance during WWII. Tour guides accomplish this latter part by incorporating a smaller tour of the Mēgā Gama Cave together with a stroll through key areas of interest in Matsuda. The Mēgā Gama Cave and Remains Tour takes approximately one hour to complete.

The first stop is at a gajyumadu (banyan) tree a few hundred meters away from the Taiken Kouryu Center where your field trip initially begins. Our guides, Ken-san and Yuichiro Nakamura-san, explained to us the significance of the gajyumadu trees planted in Matsuda (and many other parts of Okinawa as well) which was to offer shade; protection from the destructive winds of typhoons; and a place for the community to gather. The gajyumadu is also said to be the type of tree that kujimuna—the mischievous redheaded fish eyeball eating Okinawan sprite—inhabits.

The second stop was to the Joiya-mai-hiroba. This has historically been a gathering place for Matsuda’s residents during Obon and the Shishimai (lion dog dance) during harvest time. There are three influential families in Matsuda, and the Joiya family is one of the oldest and most distinguished. The circular hiroba (open space or public square) abuts the Joiya family’s home and their beautiful terracotta haka (tomb). Due to car accidents along this road (the streets of Matsuda are not straight but curved in the old style way of village building) the Joiya haka had to be relocated a few hundred meters away from where the hiroba now occupies.

The next part of the tour takes you up a small hill to the Kushi no Utaki (a stone kami-ya [god house]) where the Matsuda people believe is the birthplace of their town and where they worship the kami-sama (god or deity). Utaki are usually built in elevated places (such as the mountains or hills) and beach areas where the ocean can be seen. The reason for this is because the Okinawans believe that life began in the ocean. And the ocean is where one returns when he or she dies. Blacksmithing also took place on this hill.

The Nibuya family owns the land where the Kushi no Utaki sits and the house below surrounded by a special wall. A Meiji-era Shuri King gifted the rocks and permission to the Nibuya family to build the wall as a reward for babysitting the children of the royal family and their entourage when the king would visit Nakajin-jo (castle). In olden times, Okinawans were not allowed to build walls to fortify their homes taller than the height of a man as this one once stood. Only the king could do so uninhibited. However, after WWII the Nibuya family fell on hard times and sold off some of the wall’s stones in order to survive. Some of those stones are in Ryukyu Mura.

Next to the Nibuya residence there is a kami-asagi (worship house) where the noro (priestesses) come to pray for the town inhabitants four times a year in February, March, May, and June when the farmers plant crops. To the right of the kami-asagi is yet another impressive haka flanked by shishi (lion dogs). This haka is owned by the Hokamaya family and sits directly across from the path winding down towards the Mēgā Gama Cave, where legend has it a serpent once preyed on the town’s young women fetching water from the cave’s mouth. To help, the Shuri king sent a bōzu (Buddhist monk) to Matsuda to defeat the serpent, which left after the Obōzu prayed for it to go away. The Obōzu eventually settled and married a woman in Matsuda. His tomb is located near one of the entrances to the Mēgā Gama Cave where his bones once rested.

The first entrance to the cave is accessible to the general public. Here mountain water flows or trickles (depending on the time of year) within the great maw of the limestone cavern. Two small concrete blocks off to the right of the cave serve as an altar and memorial where Matsuda’s people come to pray for the tens of thousands of Okinawans that took refuge in its depths during WWII.

The second entrance to the Mēgā Gama Cave is completely gated and requires the guides to open it for you. Unlike the Mēgā Gama Cave Tour entrance (it is separate and further down the road) the Mēgā Gama Cave and Remains Tour entrance provides a well-built walking path for visitors to use. Though this cave tour is not nearly as extensive as the Mēgā Gama Cave Tour, it offers visitors an opportunity to explore the cave in a safe setting with flashlights provided by the guides.

The end part of our tour consisted of visiting Jahana Street where a tall gajyumadu and a fukugi tree grow. The locals refer to the two intertwined trees as the “Happy Tree,” where couples walk through its rooted entrance and are foretold to one day marry one another.

Lastly, we were taken to the Ashibina area of Matsuda where fukugi trees surround a small amphitheater-type grounds and where the shishi (Matsuda’s mascot) comes to watch the town’s people perform for him during the shishimai (lion dance) every two years. There is a curious stone placed near the spot where the shishi watches the performers. Our tour guides told us that the older residents of Matsuda do not take kindly to people touching the stone, for it is where the shishi is believed to live!

Address: Matsuda, Ginoza-son 78, Kunigami District, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan

Map Coordinates: 26.4931305, 127.99271820000001

Directions: Driving north towards Nago on the Okinawa Expressway, exit the Ginoza 9 Toll Road and make a left onto Route 329. After passing Gallivant Bakery on the right hand side of the road, you will see a large blue billboard indicating that Highway 224 is up ahead within 300 m. This billboard serves only as a marker (Do not take the 224 to Maehara!). Immediately after seeing this first billboard you will take a right onto the next street with a map placard  on the corner and a white street sign pointing the way towards the Taiken Kouryu Center. The Taiken Kouryu Center is the yellow painted building with a red terracotta roof and flags posted outside.

Parking: Visitors are asked to use the parking lot behind the Taiken Kouryu Center. Parking your vehicle along the narrow streets of this residential area is prohibited.

Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. every day (Closed December 27-January 5 for New Year’s holiday)

Admission: For the Mēgā Gama Cave and Remains Tour admission is 1000¥ per person. Middle school students 500¥. High School students 700¥.

Phone: 098-968-8787 (The fulltime staff does not speak English. Please read further.)

Tours are scheduled three times a day.  Those times are 10:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m. It is imperative that you not be late to your tour appointment time and that if you are a non-Japanese speaker you reserve a tour through the Taiken Kouryu Center website a few days before you plan to visit.

Tour Reservation Website: http://ginozanavi.com/inquiry/ the first box you see on the form is for your name; the second box is for your cell number; and the third and fourth boxes ask for your email address twice. If the email addresses are not the same, the reservation will not go through. So be sure to check how you type your email address for accuracy! Finally, the large comment box at the bottom of the page is where you make your reservation request. Indicate the Mēgā Gama Cave Tour as the one you wish to go on. English is okay! I would personally try to schedule a tour at least a couple of days—if not a week before—I plan to visit. This gives the English speaking tour guide an opportunity to plan for your visit and comes at absolutely no additional cost to you. Ken Matsuda (the English speaking tour guide) works for the Taiken Kouryu Center only part time. He owns a medal mounting and name tape shop in Ginoza and cannot leave his shop unattended on short notice. So please reserve your tour online beforehand.

General Website: http://ginozanavi.com/

Facebook: Matsuda Mēgā Gama Cave and Remains Tour

Additional Notes: Your price of admission is the only cost you have to anticipate incurring during your visit. The staff at the Taiken Kouryu Center are personable and bend over backwards to be helpful. When we returned from our tour, the staff stuck around to answer our questions and shared a roasted chicken with us they had brought to work. It was like spending an afternoon with family! This is a great tour for school field trips and PME outings. Matsuda is amazing!

CONTRIBUTED BY JULIE WOOLERY

Bingata is a form of painting on fabric that uses stencil patterns and multiple colors of paint. It has been part of Ryukyu history for 500 years. Once you know what bingata looks like, you’ll realize you’ve seen it everywhere on Okinawa … t-shirts, bags, kimonos, etc. While it’s a very unique gift to buy for family and friends, it’s even more fun to paint yourself! My favorite place for a fun and meaningful bingata experience is at Bingata Kijimuna in Nago.

When you get to Bingata Kijimuna, you are warmly greeted by Yumiko and Ryuji Baba, the owners and artists. They have a variety of bingata designs and textiles (bag, t-shirt, coaster, etc.) for you to choose from.

They make the stencils for each design, and many of their designs come from pictures Ryuji has taken on nature walks he gives in northern Okinawa (another part of their business).

After you choose your design and textile, a special glue is used to put the pattern on the cloth. After it dries for a few minutes, it’s time for you to start painting!

A first coat is painted using many colors. When you finish the first coat, you then use a different shading technique with only four color options. After two days, you soak your bingata and wash off the glue, and it’s finished!

The first time I went to do bingata, I was incredibly nervous. I had seen some of my friends’ work and heard their stories of how fun it was, but I am not an artist. I didn’t think there was any way I could make something look like the examples I saw in the shop. But fortunately, bingata is very forgiving. Since the glue washes off after a few days, any paint that is ‘outside the lines’ magically disappears, and you have a beautiful bingata piece that friends are shocked to hear was painted by you!

My sons started doing their own bingata when they were only four years old, and even their work looks great. You can also take your own items to bingata – curtains, fabric, clothing, the possibilities are endless! Yumiko and Ryuji are incredibly gracious and helpful, and you will leave their shop with new friends you can’t help but visit every time you’re up in Nago.

They also have a little gift shop with many different bingata gifts you can purchase. The prices for the bingata experience (do it yourself) range from ¥1500 – ¥2500. You need to make an appointment and plan on being there about 1 ½ – 2 hours.

Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. by appointment

Contact: To make an appointment, send a message to their Facebook Page  or the Bingata Kijimuna website

Phone: 098-054-0701

Address: 178 Umusa Nago-shi Okinawa-ken 905-0006 Japan

Directions: Go North on 58 into Nago. After you pass the 21^st Century Park on your left, turn left at the light for 449. Pass the Nago Ballpark and Restaurant Flipper. Before you reach Café Captain Kangaroo, turn right into a residential area and you will see Bingata Kijimuna.

Map Coordinates: 26.5956095, 127.95884780000006

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

CONTRIBUTED BY MARIE LEWIS

Photo from Navutu Dreams website

Navutu Dreams Resort and Spa is a 4-star hotel and wellness retreat in Siem Reap, and it was my husband’s absolute favorite hotel of the entire trip. I am torn, because each of the places we stayed was awesome in its own way, but this one was for sure the best for families (and yogis)! It has a Mediterranean feel and a wealth of options for people looking to detoxify and unwind.

Rooms: The resort consists of 18 “Explorer” rooms, each with a private terrace facing the gardens or the pools. Furnishings are modern and minimalistic. I LOVED the bathroom and the separate stone-floored shower with two shower heads. There are also a handful of larger suites available.

We never heard any noise from inside our room, and were surrounded by a lush garden. The short walk from the reception area to our terrace was gorgeous!

Location: The resort is on the fringe of Siem Reap, definitely not walking distance to anything, but that was okay with us. We really wanted a place to relax in the quiet after exploring the temples. Plus, we had a personal tuk-tuk driver at our beck-and-call for the entire length of our stay, and it was FREE (included in the cost of our room – but you have to book directly with the hotel to get this perk.) Our driver was always ready to take us into town whenever we wanted to go, and was waiting for us when we were ready to return. It was about a 10 minute ride each way to the center of Siem Reap.

Service: The service was phenomenal. We took a bus into Siem Reap, and our hotel tuk tuk driver was waiting for us at the bus stop when we arrived. At the resort we were welcomed with drinks, and the manager sat down with us in the reception area to explain the layout of the resort and give us an overview of the services offered (including yoga classes!)

We used room service a few times and it was always prompt, and the poolside service was also fantastic. Also of note, our flight home from Siem Reap wasn’t until late at night, so on the day of our checkout they let us stay in our room until 8:00 p.m. – at no extra charge! That was pretty amazing. To clarify, we did have to move to another room because the one we were staying in was needed for the next guest, but they moved all of our things for us and it was no trouble at all. We were so grateful to be able to relax at the pool all day and be able to shower in the evening in a room before our flight.

Food & Drink: Nothing but good things to say here! Entrees were around $7-11 USD and alcoholic drinks were around $3-6 USD. I had an awesome curry served in a coconut on our first night, and it set the bar pretty high. I was scraping the bottom of it to get every last drop.

For breakfast every morning we were served a tray of delicious exotic fruits (i.e. papaya, dragon fruit, mango), homemade yogurt, jam, toast and pastries. In addition we could order standard western or Asian breakfast fare (all included in our stay).

We spent more time at the pool at this resort than any other, and there were all kinds of healthy salads and tasty snacks (the fried calamari was perfection!) to order from the restaurant, which is nestled in between two of the resort’s pools.

I also want to give special mention to the “Juice Menu,” which had a wide array of vitamin-packed juices  with names such as “Beta Clarity,” “Digest,” and “Vital Veg.” I had the “Blood Builder,” a blend of carrot, beetroot, pineapple, apple and ginger, to improve circulation. I am kind of a health nut so this was just my thing!

Pool: Oh, where do I begin? There are two salt water pools and one fresh water pool, and wow, talk about the perfect place to relax. We could have stayed here all day, and we actually did, on our last day.

One other cool thing is that one of the pools is specifically designated as the “family pool,” so if you have kids, this one is perfect! If you are looking for more quiet, just head to one of the other pools. There were several families with kids while we were there, and we enjoyed spending time at all of the pools.

Spa: The spa had a range of facials, body scrubs, body wraps, and massages. My husband and I each had an aromatherapy massage (60 minutes, $25 USD per person) and the coconut shrubs body scrub (60 minutes, $25 USD per person). I enjoyed both, but particularly the scrub. It left my skin glowing and so smooth! I only wish there had been background music I could hear during the treatments. I think there was some playing, but it was so quiet I could barely make it out.

Other Amenities: YOGA! There is a fully equipped yoga studio that was about 20 steps from our room, and the classes were $8 USD each. I took a 90-minute Vinyasa class and a 90-minute Hatha Flow class, both with Khira, the resort’s resident yoga instructor. She is an American and I loved picking her brain; she used to teach at yoga retreats in Thailand before coming to Cambodia. I had tried yoga a few times before without really understanding what the craze was about. Khira’s classes made me finally get it. Her classes were soothing and invigorating at the same time, and I left feeling so energized!

Photo from Navutu Dreams website

Other types of yoga classes offered include Ashtanga, Restorative, Iyengar, dance yoga, and meditation. Khira also led body rolling and “Vitality Talks,” but I didn’t have the chance to go to one of those. Also, anyone could go to yoga class, not just resort guests. There were a few others in my class who were visiting from other hotels.

The resort also offers wellness programs targeted to detox, stress/burnout, and yoga, and if given the change again I would love to try one of these options. We jammed a lot into this trip!

Value: We felt the value was excellent for the quality of the room, service, food, drinks, tuk tuk driver, etc. Room rates range from around $130/night for a double room to around $260/night for a family suite. You can find cheaper rates on travel websites, but be aware that in order to get the free tuk-tuk driver included in your stay, you have to book directly with the resort. There are also package deals for “3 days detox,” “5 days burnout program,” etc. Check the Navutu Dreams website for specifics. We would definitely stay here again and would recommend it to anyone who is seriously in need of some R&R!

Hotel Website: Navutu Dreams Resort & Spa

Photo from Navutu Dreams website

CONTRIBUTED BY ELIZA GROFF

Are you looking for something to make you feel a little sassy in the bedroom, or even just style up your workout gear? Check out Vanilla Rose Lingerie shop in American Village. They are the only place on Okinawa that I know of that carries Victoria’s Secret Lingerie, and definitely the only place I’ve heard an Andrea Bocelli album playing.

The owner, Yukino, is a beautiful Okinawan woman with equally gorgeous taste. She showcases lovely and exciting imported lingerie, in contrast to the lacy nude and white elegance of the typical Japanese style of lingerie. Vanilla Rose specializes in color and cutting edge designs. Most of the lingerie is imported from the United States, but some also comes from the European Union.

She carries everything from sports bras and swim suits  to night gowns, robes, bra and panty sets, and even men’s underwear. So you can bring your man, or surprise him with a gift that is sure to bring color to his cheeks, as well as your to underwear collection!

Vanilla Rose even features some scents, sparkles, and other accessories in addition to the beautiful lingerie. I hope you have a chance to check out this place before Valentine’s Day, your anniversary, any special occasion, or just for fun!

Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Closed Monday.

Phone: 090-6869-4255

Address: 9-7 Mihama, Chatan-chō, Nakagami-gun, Okinawa-ken 904-0115, Japan

Directions: Upstairs in F Plaza of American Village Mihama

Map Coordinates: 26.31571571533697, 127.75579201639403

Website: Vanilla Rose

Years ago, when Okinawa Hai had just a few readers and was getting its footing, we took an introspective look at the things we love about this tiny island, especially the details that might go unnoticed – or unappreciated – by many. 

We’d like to remind ourselves about that which we have always loved about our island paradise… even the things which may, at first glance, seem mundane and not worth stopping to examine. 

We found this post buried way back in our archives, and thought it was time to bring it back again. Originally published on June 11, 2007, we present you with “I Love This About Okinawa: Ichi (Part 2)”. We will be re-publishing the other posts in this series throughout the rest of this month.

CONTRIBUTED BY MEREDITH NOVARIO

These ubiquitous street mirrors snub their noses at traffic lights. No need for electricity and bells and whistles, they snort. And they are right. These babies put in long hours and do a bang-up job. I have yet to hit anything or anyone.

For more posts in our “What I Love About Okinawa” series, follow this link: 
Part 1

What do YOU love about Okinawa that might not be obvious? Has one of its features or quirks grown on you over time? Leave a comment below, or write us a post; we’d love to continue this series.

CONTRIBUTED BY ANNA WISHERD

Menu – click to enlarge

Since moving on island this past August, we have been in search of a pizza joint that serves delicious food and made fresh to order. A neighbor suggested this pizza place she had wanted to try that is located on the way to and from the airport. After picking up my hubby from the airport, we decided to stop off at Napoli Pizzeria Bar for lunch. The pizza and pasta we ordered were so good that we returned again two weeks later with some family friends after flying home from a Christmas vacation trip from Taiwan.

The place was easily accessible off the main road on Route 331 and there are a few parking spots right in front of the corner location. Upon entering, there is a shelf of different types of wines. The place has several tables, enough to accommodate our party of 10 with no problem. There is also comfortable sofa chair seating with coffee tables to enjoy your drinks or meal along the windows that face the street. Placed in the center of the restaurant is a wood-fired pizza oven and a small bar off to the side, which has a variety of drinks, coffees, and alcoholic beverages.

Our group ordered several pizzas to share: Quattro Formaggi, Diavola, Prosciutto, Margherita, and Salsiccia. They cost about Y500-Y600 and were about a medium-sized American pizza. You will see the owner, Romano, an Italian/French chef tossing pizza dough in the air and adding fresh ingredients before baking it right in the wood-fired oven. We also decided to try a dish of gnocchi that was utterly amazing.

For dessert, the kids tried a variety of gelato flavors and the adults shared some tiramisu and cream cheesecake paired with Americano coffee and café lattes. I promise you, this place will not disappoint. After eating the different types of pizza on island, to include Domino’s or Anthony’s … you’ll want to stop here every chance you can get.

Hours: Daily 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 a.m. (Lunch served 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Dinner served 3:00 p.m. – 4:00a.m.)

Phone: 098-851-9353

Payment: Yen or credit card

Address: Japan 〒901-0145 Okinawa-ken, Naha-shi, Takara, 3 Chome−3−15

Directions: From any of the northern bases (Kadena, Foster, Camp Courtney), take the expressway south and follow the signs to the Naha airport. Once you get on Route 331, Napoli Pizzeria Bar will be on your right side.

Map Coordinates: 26.1909834, 127.65930950000006

Website: Napoli Pizzeria Bar

CONTRIBUTED BY ALLI M.

If you find yourself down in Naha and don’t have an idea of where to stop and eat, you can try Akebono Ramen. I think this is a place where the local businessmen come to grab a bite to eat. It reminds me of an American sub shop during lunch hour – filled with businessmen and construction workers looking to make a quick pit stop. Although they do not speak English, they have great customer service.

The picture above is of the inside of the restaurant. Their menu is written in Kanji! The menu is displayed all over the walls and even from the ceiling. Great, “how do we order…?” You get creative. We stood up, walked the server outside to the food display window, and pointed to something that looked good. She was so happy that we were able to communicate with each other, despite the language barrier!

Below is a picture of our food. I ordered Yakisoba (sautéed noodles) and Mike ordered the fried chicken. They were both delicious!

I wish we could read Kanji, because there are TONS of food options. We were limited by the outdoor food window display. All of the food that people at other tables had ordered was not in the window display, which means there’s a lot of good stuff on that menu! Next time I think I’ll just point to one of the menu banners behind me, or point to someone’s food at another table!

Hours: Unknown. If you know please comment below and the editor will add them!

Payment: Yen only

Phone: 098-857-4101

Address: ‪1-4-3 Akamine, Naha 901-0154, Okinawa Prefecture

Directions: Take the 58 south all the way down toward Naha airport. Follow the signs to stay on the 331. When you hit the 231, turn left on that street. Turn left at the second light and it is on your left hand side.

Map Coordinates: 26.1940999, 127.66290359999994

Website: Akebono Ramen Oroku on TripAdvisor. It is very reasonably priced, but Yen only.

CONTRIBUTED BY KASSIE O’DRISCOLL

Okinawa Food Flea is a festival held about every other month in Chatan that had me hooked from the very beginning. Back in July 2014, I heard about the very first Okinawa Food Flea via Facebook that was approaching in August. It looked like a fun event full of local cafes and artisan shops, which basically sums up everything I love about Okinawa, so I knew I had to check it out!

On opening day, I arrived right when it started because I was just that excited! I ended up having a wonderful time and stayed until the last booth closed, nearly six hours later. That sounds crazy, but it had been so long since I’d been to a “real” food festival and it felt so nice to just sit back and enjoy the environment.

The venue, Uminchu-Wharf, is perfect! With plenty of outdoor seating and boats coming in and out of Hamakawa Port combined with the relaxed vibe from the vendors, I couldn’t get enough. If you’re interested in making a day of it, you could always take a stroll along the ocean, passing the new Hilton, and watch the sunset.

The vendors are mostly small, cafe-style restaurants that bring lots of flavorful food. One thing that I really appreciated was that, from the first Food Flea to the second, the food completely changed. The first one, as I mentioned before, was in August and we enjoyed burgers, fried chicken, and chilled white wine. Generally speaking, it all had a summer feel to it. The second flea, in November, was all fall themed: soups, local coffees, hot wine, etc… It kept it new and fresh instead of, “been there, done that.”

In November, we arrived later in the day and many vendors had sold out. With that said, my best recommendation is to get there during the first half of the day to avoid any booths selling out, especially if you have a specific restaurant that you want to try!  It will be busier, I’m sure, but it will also be worth it.

I could go on and on about the food, but I also really want to emphasize that it’s the perfect place to find local, handmade gifts or mementos. I’ve picked up some great birthday gifts, home decor items, and perfect care package goodies to send back to the states… all while enjoying great music, too!

Okinawa World and Ryukyu Mura are perfect for traditional Okinawan experiences, but I think the Food Flea gives the best impression as to what “2015 Okinawa” looks like. Take advantage of the opportunity to experience so many great restaurants and shops in one location, I really don’t think you’ll be disappointed!

Bring yen and be prepared to eat, shop, and eat some more!!

When: The Okinawa Food Flea takes place about every other month and you can find out when the next one is by checking out their Facebook page. At the time of this writing, the next one is scheduled for Sunday, February 22, 2015 from 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. They keep the Facebook page updated with all the latest information, which makes it the best resource for dates and times.

Address: 54 Mihama, Chatan-chō, Nakagami-gun, Okinawa-ken 904-0115, Japan

Directions: From Kadena Gate 1, turn left heading south on 58. After you pass 23, turn right at the first light. Turn left at the next light and you will see the port on your right hand side. You can look for parking in this area, or continue past the port and Hilton and park in American Village, then walk back.

Map Coordinates: 26.321349945845775, 127.75447034655758

CONTRIBUTED BY ELIZA GROFF

Bacchus: Greek God of wine and revelry; the Roman name for Dionysus, god of wine and lively social gatherings. It’s also the name of my favorite local flower shop.

Rare and beautiful flowers from Bacchus add sparkle to my home. If you are looking for a specialty flower shop to try your hand at ikebana, or for any unique floral accent, Bacchus is an elegant yet quirky shop in Chatan that I definitely think is worth visiting.

Owned by a local Okinawan man, Bacchus flower shop has lots of personality. Outside, his garden consists of an out of commission mini-cooper turned raised flowerbed. Inside, the décor varies from hanging, dried eucalyptus branches, to burlap tablecloths, creatively used wine corks, and old Jack Daniels bottles.

Bacchus offers a wide variety of products and services. They carry premade flower arrangements if you are looking for the perfect surprise for a loved one on a birthday, Valentine’s Day, or other occasion. If you are a low maintenance or forgetful gardener, they also carry a wide selection of potted succulents and air plants perfect for an indoor terrarium or dainty edition to a front porch bistro set. Uncommon and less-hearty varieties of plants and flowers are sure to impress even the most advanced gardeners. Bacchus’ owner also takes special orders for table decorations and bouquets.

If you are a do-it-yourselfer, Bacchus sells beautiful ceramic and cement pots and hanging hand-blown glass terrariums. They have different kinds of moss, rocks, and wooden accents for the simplest or more elaborate displays.

Conveniently located in Chatan, this shop is just a short drive from Kadena and Foster. They even take credit card, which is convenient for large purchases. I hope you enjoy exploring my favorite local flower shop!

Hours: Monday – Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., Closed Sunday

Phone: 098-989-0738

Payment: Yen or credit card

Website: Bacchus Flower Shop

E-mail: info@bacchus-flower.com

Address: 904-0117 Okinawa Prefecture,  Nakagami District, Chatan, Kitamae, 1 Chome-13-11

Directions: From Camp Foster’s commissary gate, turn right onto 58. Turn left at the first light. Bacchus will be about halfway down the block on your left side.

Years ago, when Okinawa Hai had just a few readers and was getting its footing, we took an introspective look at the things we love about this tiny island, especially the details that might go unnoticed – or unappreciated – by many. 

We’d like to remind ourselves about that which we have always loved about our island paradise… even the things which may, at first glance, seem mundane and not worth stopping to examine. 

We found this post buried way back in our archives, and thought it was time to bring it back again. Originally published on July 27, 2007, we present you with “I Love This About Okinawa: San (Part 3)”. We will be re-publishing the other posts in this series throughout the rest of this month.

CONTRIBUTED BY MEREDITH NOVARIO

For just 500 yen, you are invited to a fifteen minute eternity in which you will probably beg for one more chance to mow a lawn, wash a dish or just change a dirty diaper.

This Ferris wheel stands to save you oodles of time and money because even therapy can’t turn your life into a bed of roses this quickly.

Or as the brochure promises, your heart will be danced in the sky.

More or less, yes.

For more posts in our “What I Love About Okinawa” series, follow these links: 
Part 1
Part Two

What do YOU love about Okinawa that might not be obvious? Has one of its features or quirks grown on you over time? Leave a comment below, or write us a post; we’d love to continue this series.