Weekly Wrap Up | 6/18/23

Aloha friends!

I’m back from my two week adventure in Okinawa, Japan and what a trip it was! First off we flew on the day when a Typhoon Mawar was making it’s way to Okinawa so yes, our connecting flight from Tokyo to Okinawa was cancelled. Thank goodness we found out the night before our flight and booked a hotel at Haneda airport. And it was a nice hotel too! So at least we had a chance to rest and acclimate ourselves to Japanese and using Yen for our currency. My body seriously needed to stretch out on a bed that night anyway after the 8 hour flight from Honolulu to Tokyo and my kids got the twin beds and yes…I got the tatami futon bed on the floor which I actually appreciated. I needed back support. 😅 My kids loved the fancy toilets, but the shower on the floor next to the tub was something to get used to (there is a drain in the floor).

All the toilets are fancy all over Okinawa (and I’m assuming mainland Japan). It’s got the bidet options, the sounds…the public restrooms at the airport have bars to help people who need it, toddler urinals for moms using the bathroom have have kids with them! Even a spot to put a baby, that holds them in place so you can use the toilet! It’s so considerate and thoughtful. And the sinks were lower so that kids could reach!

And we loved flying with Japan Airlines! It was our first time and they fed us a lot – we even got Haagen Dazs ice cream – children were served first (even though my kids did not want the food served) they ate some of it and I helped them eat some of it. They kept us hydrated all flight and gave my kids souvenirs they got to choose from each flight. So we flew on 4 planes, let’s just say they came home with a bunch of souvenirs 😅. They even gave my kids cute chopsticks! My kids definitely need to practice using chopsticks. The flight from Tokyo to Okinawa, the typhoon remnants were lashing Tokyo and we flew in that storm – we were delayed about 20-30 minutes on the runway and warned it may be turbulent. NO KIDDING. I was terrified with how much swaying we did on the runway just from the wind alone so yes there were moments we were gripping our armrests and my kids were scared but I’m so proud of them. My daughter got motion sickness and the attendants noticed right away and brought her water, which was so observant of them.

My hubby’s apartment was 3 bedrooms, thank goodness because 7 of us went on this trip, so my nephews slept on the couches – which they didn’t mind at all. Okinawa reminds me of Hawaii but also has that Southeast Asia humidity lol…so it reminded me at times of the Philippines with the big bugs. A huntsman spider greeted us on my hubby’s car when he picked us up from the airport and he hitched a ride, hiding among our luggage. 😩 So already I was freaked out about the bugs. They like to come out at night for sure…because every morning we found something waiting for us in the driveway – barely dead moths, beetles, never dead spiders lol…there were huge grasshoppers and the sound of cicadas (which we don’t have in Hawaii), pretty loud in the evening and mornings. My dad loved the bugs. And he also found that the fruit bats flew every evening to the trees behind the apartment – I love the bats more than I love the insects!

We did a lot of things when we were there. And it’s been awhile since my grown, teenage nephews visited a zoo and aquarium lol…so I’m glad they enjoyed themselves. We went to the Okinawa Zoo, Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, Okinawa World, Shuri Castle and Katsuren Castle, and everyone’s favorite because it was indoors – Rycom Mall. It was HOT. I mean to me, Hawaii is hot, but there is always a gentle breeze…the humidity in Okinawa was killer. I was so grateful for all the vending machines around and yes…Japan loves their vending machines and we loved it! We spent a lot of our yet buying water, and even ice cream! We had to stay hydrated with all that heat. And who knew I’d eat so much ice cream in Okinawa! My daughter had ice cream every day I think. She survived on pizza, cheese, bagels, toast, french fries, fruits and ice cream. Yes, she’s my picky eater!

We did a lot of walking and a lot of climbing hills or stairs, which was unexpected but it kept us burning those calories from all the food we were trying and eating. Because Hawaii has always had a big tourism industry and Japanese tourist, I felt like all the foods were familiar to me and things I ate in Hawaii anyway. But what I love was how organic and fresh their fruits tasted. Even their ice cream feels lighter. My mom and dad raved about their vegetables and fruits. Their egg yolks are so yellow/orange, and a carton cost about $2.50. 😭 So many things were super affordable, it made me want to cry when we came back and I had to buy groceries. I paid $7.99 for eggs. 🙄

My mom, dad and nephews pretty much traveled with empty luggages which was smart since they could wash clothes at the apartment. You wouldn’t believe the amount of goodies my mom bought LOL. We always ended up helping her carry stuff back to the car – it’s amazing it all fit in their luggage! 😅 The popular treats in Okinawa are Chinsuko cookies which taste like shortbread. And Okinawan sweet potato treats (beni-imo). Some of their local dishes featured veggies Filipinos use in cooking also like bitter-melon and calamansi (which I think in Okinawa was called Shikuwasa) which is like a tiny lemon/lime fruit.

Even though we were dying from the heat I’m glad we got to enjoy the outdoor stuff before the rain came at the end of our trip. And my parents did pretty good (they are both 70 climbing up rocky castle ruins in high humidity! The playground my hubby took the kids too was so amazing and fun, even for my older nephews! My oldest nephew turned 18 in Okinawa so the playground trip and dinner afterwards was a perfect way to saying bye to childhood and entering adulthood. I was happy to see him sliding and climbing.

The people in Okinawa are so nice. They even drive nicely and politely! My American self who is used to anxiety, violence, people arguing or road rage found it such a relief to have a feeling of being SAFE somewhere, and in a foreign country no less where we don’t even speak the language. We got around with pointing to menu items, and communicated with the little Japanese I spoke (I forgot what I learned in high school!), and what little English they knew (but they knew more at tourist spots). I’m going to miss bowing my head and saying Arigato Gozaimasu (thank you very much), Sumimasen (excuse me), Hai (yes), Oishi (delicious lol), Kawaii (cute). My nephew knew more, and helped out where he could.

It was an amazing trip filled with bugs that scared me and humidity that was trying to kill me BUT it was the first family trip I had with my nephews and parents along with my kids. We were missing my sister and her husband but honestly my husband’s van could only fit 8 and with our luggage it was a seriously a tight fit.😅 The people of Okinawa are so nice and welcoming and polite. I spent a lot of yen at vending machines and those Gacha capsule vending machines 😆. My kids had a blast! I felt like I missed taking so many good photos because I was trying to keep an eye out for the whole group at times, making sure no one got lost, or I was holding too many bags😅, or I was just hot and exhausted. It was a memorable trip for sure and probably our one time going to Okinawa. My kids want to now explore mainland Japan so I think that will happen in March. I’m already planning it!

It was a fun trip, and quite an adventure! I’m glad to be home though, we missed our dog a lot and my bed (had to sleep on a floor futon for 2 weeks!) but thankfully he did well with the dog sitter even if he was wary of her for the first days. By the time she dropped off the key to me upon my return he was barking and jumping on her excitedly and trying to get her to play with him, which was kind of sad. I’m glad they bonded.

Blog Posts:

Books I Read:

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Currently Reading:

I’m struggling to get into Immortal Longings! Which is a bummer. I hope it gets better the more I push through.

Shows/Movies I Watched:

• Top Gun 2 – finally watched it on my trip and it was pretty good!
• Never Have I Ever (Season 3)

How was your week? Did you get a lot done? Watch anything good? Read any amazing books or books you didn’t finish? What are you reading?…Leave me a comment below!