"Life is either a great adventure or nothing.": October 2009

Question: What does one do with a few days off in a row when already living on an island paradise? Answer: Hop over to a neighboring island with it’s very own paradise and bring some friends. Girls trip, Zamami Island. Sun, sand, new friends and good drinks. If you’re stationed in Okinawa and you haven’t made a trip out to one of the outer islands, you’re missing out. And if you’re reading this from the States, well….you’re really missing out.

Just a short fairy ride away sits Zamami Island, one of the few islands making up the Kerama Island group. Zamami’s made up of a small port town littered with guesthouses, izakayas and dive shops catering mostly to Japanese mainland tourists and a few stray gaijin. After arriving to our very special guesthouse (a floor, 3 mats and a 100 yen/hr coin operated air conditioner), we attempted to eat at one of the many izakayas. Thankfully our trusty guesthouse owner, Hero, was there to save us for we ventured to 6 different places before he finally convinced someone to take pity on us and feed us.

What better way to describe the fun, than to show you all directly. Click on the below link to enjoy this fine video montage brought to you by Jessica Orzechowski featuring myself, Danielle Fischer, Jess-the director/producer, an assortment of island-crazed Japanese tourists and some kittens. I would like to add that the fine gentleman that starts of the featured film is our dear Japanese friend who spent 4 years in Denton, TX (holla!!) studying and trying "10 types of drugs". He now builds robots that build our cars....makes me feel safe. This is also the same bar where we had all the "free drink" we could for a mere 1000 yen.

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DMKwLrQeOu3Q&h=d53e8e0be6d251ca5db6eb3c8a963e38

Ok, if you've never rented a scooter....rent one now! They are the MOST fun and I'm pretty sure that when you're riding one you look so dorky that in fact you are cool. I'm looking into trading my wheels for a hot pink Vespa right away. I have in fact wrote a poem dedicated to my love of the scooter. Enjoy.

Ode to the scooter
Zamami summer
Wind rushes through my hair
No wait, my helmet

Little pink scooter
Ah watch out for that truck
Fast, very fast we go

We enjoyed beach time, party time and everything in between. Photos to prove it:

Hero, our guesthouse host who beside threatening to BBQ the kittens

could also be found EVERYWHERE on the island at ANYTIME of the day.

The local 105 shop, loitering stop and frequent food stop as we had difficulty getting fed elsewhere.

Check out that beach air!

Our "room"...very cozy thanks to Danielle who got up every hour or so through the night to keep the A/C going.

Downtown Zamami, happening place

After Zamami, we brought my friend Jess back to Okinawa for some local fun. First stop, Kinpa Ginpa (see previous blog of the greatest ramen in the world) and Cocoks for our pedis. The next morning, off to Higi Falls. So far everyone I know who's hiked these falls has run into a snake. So why is it that when I go to hike I am attacked by not 1, but 2 slithery demons??? The 2nd or which I'll swear to this day was a Habu. Let us not discuss the panic attacks that ensued after each encounter. I think Jess is still upset she was unable to video montage the whole thing. We made it back from the falls without another incident and set off for Pineapple Park. I was lead to believe that this Pineapple Park was a ridiculous tourist stop not worth my time but for $5 I've decided this is quite the place. First, there is a very cheesy ride of the Jurassic Park style pineapple cart ride through the pineapple garden. Witness the illegal shots taken from inside the cart ("no picture, no picture"). Next, the museum and gift shop complete with pineapple wine tasting and the tasting of everything else they could think to sample, including goya juice (ughhhh stay clear). I definitely had my $5 worth to eat in pineapple cake, cookies, chocolate, etc. Yum yum.