My Third (and Final) Oki Birthday

February 28, 2013

 Rodney and I began my birthday celebration late afternoon with a stop at a local coffee shop. While waiting for our coffees, we spotted this little trash can reading, "This container can choose flexible usage. What do you put?" 

We carried our coffees down to the seawall and were greeted with this sign:

We didn't have Truman with us, so we didn't need to "no" our own responsibilities!!

 After enjoying a good chuckle from the EngRish, we turned our sights to the sites at hand...

 Sunabe Seawall

 at low tide

 Military jets coming in to land and scuba divers coming in to shore along with a couple of tide pool investigators. Also, a couple of Osprey in flight!

 We took time for a few selfies!

 Even surfing on Okinawa!!

 Good evening, seawall... we are off to dinner!!

(Taken from the left-side-passenger seat!)

Sushi Class

 Along with being part of the Navy Chaplain Spouse Group, I was also able to do a few activities with the Navy Officer Spouses group. One of their outings was to take a sushi class!

 Upon our arrival at Tokyo Dai-ichi Hotel Okinawa Grand Mer Resort, we were greeted by this great wall of shisas!

 We are capped, aproned, and gloved awaiting the appearance of Head Chef Irei.

 He spoke no English, but with miming and the aid of a translator, we understood the directions.

The first step in making a sushi roll is to make the sushi rice. It is a mix of rice and vinegar and a bit of saki. But, you don't stir it! You 'cut' the ingredients together with a spatula.

 When the rice is ready, place a piece of plastic wrap onto the bamboo place mat, lay on a piece of seaweed (shiny side DOWN.... did you know seaweed sheets had different sides?? Me, neither, but, sure 'nough!).

Once you've determined the shiny side and placed it down on the plastic wrap, add a layer of rice.

 Then, add your ingredients. We had some small leafy greens, crab, salmon, and avocado.

 Once placed, roll it up wrapped in the plastic; then, roll it up in the place mat and gently pull it snug. Unroll, unwrap, and move to the cutting board. The trick to cutting the sushi roll is a sharp knife and quick cuts, starting by cutting it in half, then each half in half.

 Aaannnddd---- voila!!

 After assembling our sushi rolls, we were guided to a table for lunch with a wonderful view!!

 After topping off my sushi roll with wasabi-mayo and a bit of caviar, we were brought the rest of our lunch: shrimp and vegetable tempura (notice the slice of purple sweet potato!), dipping sauces, and Okinawa Soba (the noodle soup) which is best with the red pickled ginger and a few dashes of the hot oil!

 At the end of our visit, Head Chef Irei presented each of us with his business card.

I did my best to receive it with the respect due him.

(I had my friend Deidre take this picture, mainly to get a pic of his shoes and socks!!)

They also sent us home with the recipe for the sushi rice and I picked up a couple of rolling mats at the Y100 store, so I really hope to make some at home!!

Kakinohana Spring

After safely escaping from the dinosaurs, we were beginning to make our way back home, but spotted this sign and decided we had just enough sunlight left for one little stop.

(I actually snapped the photo of the sign when we re-visited this spot later in the year.)  

 

After getting squeezed into the itty-bitty 1.5 car parking lot, we began the trek down this hill. There was just barely enough light breaking through the trees to see!!

 

 But, when we reached the bottom, we quickly determined the treacherous trek was worth it!!

 This guy sits in rule of the pool and benches below.

 With the waning light, these photos didn't turn out quite well enough to show the true fascination of this site. The streams of water seemed to skim over the moss covered rocks creating all these lovely waterfalls!!

 Once we explored a bit, it was definitely time to make our way back up the hill to avoid having to try it in total darkness, then make our way home.

Another Grand Oki Adventure Day tucked neatly under our belts :0)

Chinen Castle Site ~ con't

 Following the signs and the path led us to this patch of poinsettia bushes and banana plants...

 ...and this garden!!

It was all being irrigated via a natural spring, which we thought was the spring indicated on the sign, but, it was posted as Ufakaru, the "rice origins".

 We found the sign for the tomb site on the other side of the garden pointing up this path...

 ...which we climbed to discover this clearing through the canopy...

 ...and the end of the path!!

 We found the tomb in the side of the cliff. We can only assume that Lord Chinen had at least at one time been lain to rest there.

 Now, time to head back down the way we came to see if we could find the Chinen Ukka (spring).

 And there it is!! Or rather "was"... It seemed no longer an actual spring site.

On our drive out, we caught sight of some great creatures!! 

We didn't want to make them angry, so we backed away very slowly and very quietly!!