Misa Edito:
We set off earlier than I’d like to remember and boarded the ever-hoped-for
ANA Pikachu plane! I was so excited to vacation and celebrate in
Okinawa (沖縄) … but the jet-stream was working against me and excitement gave way to nausea as we tried like adolescents to finish our (diving) homework before we got to class. We arrived and while walking the water and taking in the ocean, we relaxed into our holiday… getting ready for our first scuba-diving class the next day. Being underwater is amazing! I have a tendency for panic and the love of air… but there are just no words for what it’s like once we got into the aquarium known as the Pacific Ocean ;). The weekend we were there, they had a
masturi (祭り festival) at night. We made it for the closing of the show the last night and lounged on the field to the rhythmic beat of traditional Okinawan drumming and then the firework farewell. On the other side of the festival, a bungee-trampoline caught my eye. We’d floated at zero gravity in the ocean… now it was time to float in the air! Then came time for our last day of diving and at a greater depth… I am proud to say that both Germain and I are now certified open-water divers! The day we left, we made one more beach stop- to get a wonderful golden (Germain) and a deeper shade of dirt (me). On the way to the airport we made one more pit-stop for culture and the Japanese custom of omiyage (おみやげ souvenir) shopping.
Shuri Castle was leveled in WWI, but rebuilt- complete with a Chinese influenced gate and a traditional Okinawan style gate. The castle wall was amazing in grandeur and architecture. And from the traditional to the commercial, we made it to Kokusai Dori (the main shopping street) and indulged in an interesting looking, decadent-tasting exotic fruit: the
dragon fruit. This whole trip was one I would definitely recommend… it was, hands-down, my best birthday ever!!!
