Chinen Castle site

Following our visit to Sefa-utaki, we spotted one of Okinawa’s lovely brown road signs pointing the way to another adventure!! The day was still young, so we decided to learn where it would take us.

It took us up this hill to a little parking lot tucked in on one side of the road. The road continued on up the side of the hill, but across the road from the parking lot was this sign leading down the path to the site. It was about as steep as the arrow shows, too!!

Right before the castle site was place that could have been a former altar area, but these trees and their roots were growing all over.

Welcome to Chinen Castle!!

Views inside the walls

Even if you can’t read the characters, the pictures let you know exactly what they’re saying!

I always find it fascinating the way they use the natural landscape to build into the protection of the castle.

It appeared this site was in the process of being ‘rebuilt’ and secured.

What the castle and grounds would have looked like.

Then we spotted this temptation!!!

Up the stairs, down the hill…..

Would we really find the spring? or the tomb?

We spotted this interesting looking cave place up on the side of the bluff. We had no idea that would be our eventual destination!!!!

Stay tuned!!

Sefa-utaki

We had made the plan to visit all seven UNESCO World Heritage sites on the island and only had three left to go. So, on February 2, 2013, we headed out the door to check another site off our list, Sefa-utaki.
"Sefa" means "a place holding divine power" and "utaki" generally signifies a "sacred place."

 A luscious path through the jungle!

This path leads to the most revered and holy site on the island and only a certain selection of feet would have been allowed to walk this path 'back in the day'.

There are a few stops along the path that would have been used to prepare oneself for worship. Markers described and depicted what would have happened at each stop.

We had to take a break along the path and find cover when the skies opened up!!

Made a new friend while hanging out under an overhang.

We acquired a sweet little Japanese lady guide along the path who, in her broken English, informed us that this was the site of a mortar explosion during the war.

The roots always fascinated me!!

Rodney seemed to meld into the jungle.... can you find him??

We had arrived at the entrance to the most holy place--- through the triangle.

Our sweet guide :0)

She took this picture for us!

This pot is sitting under one of the two stalactites. The water dripping off the stalactite into the pot is considered holy water and was deemed to foretell the fortune of the high priestess and was also used in the New Year's rituals.

Inside the holy site, believed to have been the birthplace of the Ryukyu Islands.

Oki Eateries

Another place in our neighborhood is 

Yakiniku Viking TRY.

Yakiniku is when you cook your own food at your own table. In some yakiniku places, you order the meats and vegetables you want and they bring them out to you. This particular establishment is buffet style.

You pay first for the amount of time you want to spend eating -- 30, 60 or 90 minutes.

Then, you proceed to the food coolers to chose your meats. They had a variety of cuts of chicken, beef, pork, and seafood. Some cuts were pre-seasoned, as well.

They also had a nice selection of fruits and veggies, some of which, were good for the grill, too!

Between the coolers was an offering of soup, pasta, and a few other precooked food items, like rice, of course!!

Notice the little ice cream treats cooler? There was also a cotton candy machine!

Once you've made your food choices, you head back to your table and proceed to cook them!

They had a few "American seating" tables, but also a raised area of "Japanese seating" tables.

I am always fascinated with the shoes kicked off ;0)

They do, indeed, "always give the freshest vegetables and meet."

I'm hoping you can click to enlarge the pictures to read the rules and welcomes!!

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Arashi's

(aka -- "the ticket machine place")

As you walk in the door, your first stop is the ticket machine where you make and pay for your food and drink choices. You then hand your ticket to the greeter as s/he seats you. That's it!

Rodney enjoyed his Golden Ramen and Gyoza!!

My Garlic Fried Rice was quite tasty!!

Now that we're back stateside, one of my biggest cravings is a really good bowl of ramen. I need to get on the hunt!!

Oki Neighborhood Eateries

 Old Spices Doner Kebab

 The first time we tried this place was after Typhoon Jelawat. When the "all clear" was given (after 24 hours in lock down) and we still didn't have power, we were anxious to get some fresh air and curious to see what the neighborhood looked like. On our way back to the house, we walked by this trolley car and he was up and running!!! So, we ordered a couple of pita sandwiches. You get to choose spice level and topping (yogurt or blue cheese).

Quite a deal for ~$5!

Typically, when we'd get this later, we'd walk down, get the shawarmas, then take turns (since we'd have Truman with us) going into FamilyMart to choose an interesting drink and chips to go with it!

 

 

 Nepal Spice "Kitchin"

This is one of our favorites!! Lunch is the best time to go, as the prices are better. But, its great for a date night. With the dinner for two, you get the big piece of na'an and rice to share, each get a salad and four curries of your choice and chicken tandoori. That also includes two drinks and ice cream for dessert. Their best by far is Butter Chicken Curry!!! It's fun to watch them make the na'an, too, when they slap the bread to the inside of a large cast iron pot!!

 

 Needed to stop to grab a drink for the long two block walk home ;0)