Gala Salt Factory

After our lunch at Ocean's Pizza and wandering around the Salt Factory, we decided it would be fun to do the salt making experience....
 

After paying in the visitors center and being received into the salt making area--
Step 1: Put on gloves; Step 2: Take a stick; Step 3: Choose a pot.

Here's mine :o)

Our hotpots are in place.

Oh, yes, "Let's make your own salt!!!"
See the red words "keep stirring"? Remember those!

The water in the bowls had already been condensed seven times!

As the water gets hotter...

...keep stirring...

...just keep stirring...

...just keep stirring...
(Not, just keep swimming, but just keep stirring! ;)

...and yes, slow and steady...just keep stirring more!!

When the water is all evaporated, they move your bowl to the table so you can 'scrape, scrape' all the salt from the side of the bowl and crunch it all up into a powder.

 

Then, its time to scoop it up into your little Okinawan pot.

According to the instruction card, it was now tasting time!
"Put your freshly made salt on a cracker and enjoy the wonderful flavor you helped create from all your hard work."

 

Almost done!

Choose your paper and string to seal it up.

 And, voila! Your very own fresh sea salt to take home!!

When we'd finished making our salt, I went to take a picture of this sign. I had the sun in my eyes, so it was not until I was looking at the pictures on the computer I realized the guys had totally posed for me!!!

Our next stop was down the hill to the water's edge to explore Sea Seed...

Gala -- Ocean's Pizza and Salt Factory

Upon our return from Tokyo, we decided to check-off a couple more items from our Okinawa bucket list by taking advantage of an extra day off and going to Ocean's Pizza for lunch.

1,029 yen for all you can eat. That's about $13.

Our first pizza buffet on island!
There was a nice variety of food items-- about eight different pizzas, some pastas, rice and curry, a very nice salad bar, a couple soups, and desserts. It was good!

And our view was beautiful :)

After lunch, we walked over to the salt factory...
 

These are the condensation towers.

 

 

A hot bath of salt water... bubbling, bubbling, bubbling....

Stirring, stirring, stirring....

Until all the water has evaporated and all that remains is the sea salt!

A miniature display of the salt 'cookers'...

And, you guessed it, life imitates art once again!

Personally, I thought the little piggy was a cutie!

A giant rock of sea salt in the little museum displaying pictures of various salt mines and factories around the world.

Then, we decided to try our hand at making our own sea salt!

Tokyo Shibuya Intersection

Rodney had the request to find the intersection off Shibuya Station and witness the pedestrian scramble for ourselves.

Some reports say about 2,000 people cross the intersection in one crossing!!

 

 

 

It's also a big shopping district, complete with some crazy electronic billboards!!

 

 

Not to mention the vehicles you can see...

 

 

Kind of concerning to see all those people ready to walk directly at you!!

 

I took a picture of this cool wall, only to learn later it has some major significance. Know the Richard Gere movie, "Hatchi: A Dog's Tale"? It's based on a real story--- that took place at this station and intersection!!!

I really don't want to close this post with this picture, but just couldn't NOT put it in.....
Things (and people/characters!) that make you go--- hhhmmmmmm........ ?!?!?!?!?!