Japan Trip, Day 3 (Swimming + Lunch)

Seeing how *many* people there were at breakfast at 7am, we decided that they all go somewhere other than the beach and pool. Maybe lots of people go golfing, which I think I once heard was popular amongst the more affluent Japanese (expensive because of the lack of open land, I think). But maybe there are tourist spots on the island, too.

beach – 17 jun 2008

The girls and I wandered around the lobby until we found the excursions office — clear in its mission because of the racks of brochures. “Ego wakarimasu ka?” “Scoshi.” But she knew more than a little. We were able to communicate that we wanted to go on a tour to the aquarium. She showed us the bus tour that includes four stops – aquarium, butterfly garden, glass blowing place and one thing I can’t figure out. Oh, here, I found it in the English Tourism Guide — a Pineapple Park, where they make candy and wine from pineapple. The package sounds like a bargain at Y4800 for an adult! She did warn us that the bus guide doesn’t speak English. We’ll take it! I still need to go buy the tickets — she couldn’t make the reservation until 10:30.

beach – 17 jun 2008

We then headed down the beach toward the lava rocks. What a beautiful place. There were no other people, but lots of crabs and fish in the tidepools. The girls had a grand time scrambling and scavenging. But then we got super hot and super sweaty. We are almost to the Tropic of Cancer, but not quite. It’s hot and humid, almost like Atlanta, but not so polluted. Luckily, there are washing machines here, if I can just figure out how they work.

beach – 17 jun 2008

After we got back, we headed back to the excursions office and paid for our trip. Before I left, I confirmed with the woman “Atsui desu ne?” (It’s hot isn’t it?) So we headed out to the pool. Very refreshing. Unfortunately, Chloe prefers the indoor pool — it has a nice kiddie pool. If I read the katakana properly, it is actually called kidii pooru, that is deep enough for her to “swim” but not over her head. She “flirted” with a cute little Japanese girl for a while. Camille, on the other hand, prefers the outdoor pool. Again, if I read my katakana right, it says gaarden pooru. If you know katakana, it’s not so hard to read Japanese 🙂

pool – 17 jun 2008

After a long time at the pool, we went up and changed and then back down to the marche. We tried a new kind of salty treat, cheese doodles — the photo of cheese on the package gave it away — but they turned out to be *sweet* cheese doodles. The only “non junk food” they have is SPAM. Rob said that at his dinner last night, they served SPAM pilaf. Apparently it is an Okinawan staple due to the poverty and the American military presence.

store- 17 jun 2008

We seem to be some of the only foreigners here. I’ve spotted about 3 other “westerners”. Two seemed to be Americans, and one is German — he’s at the same workshop as Rob. He’s tall, and almost hits his head on the ceiling in the hallway.

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