Okinawa Day 5: 6-Sept-10 Onna Coast 恩納村- Glass-blowing & Manzamo 萬座 毛

Day 5 of the trip, it was still stormy and rainy; so, we were still unable to go "Under-sea" walking. We were still at the Northern Part of Okinawa and we were at the Onna Coast area (恩納村) We've changed our plans to experience something else- Glass blowing. There are lots of places in Okinawa where you could experience glass-making; but I think this is the most tourist-friendly glass-making factory we've visited. 

First, we got to choose the kind of glass that we wanted to make (e.g. tall/short glass, milk pot, vase and the style: plain color, mixed, with bubbles etc.) This had made this factory special because the other 2 factories that we had visited only open the experience to the typical tall glass. One thing to note is that the glass has to be "frozen" for 24 hours - 72 hours after it was made. So, make sure you do not go for the glass-blowing on the last 2 days of your trip. 

 It's quite hot in the factory but the experience was really memorable. We picked the color and style then the staff assisted us throughout the process; at least 2 staffs were helping us along the way. I highly recommend this factory for glass-making Onna Glass Okinawa. The whole process was fun and safe. Blow-blow-blow; Spin-spin-spin; Clip-clip-clip. 

The next destination was the famous sightseeing spot - Manzamo (萬座毛). This is the place where the Ryukyuu Kingdom used to have their gatherings. "Mazamo" means a grassland that could occupy 10,000 people. 

Then, we had lunch at a restaurant nearby and we've tried one of Okinawa's famous food - sea grapes. It is actually a special type of algae which grows in the Okinawa area; as mentioned by the people, this algae can only grow in very clean/ pure water. 

After lunch we went to the under-sea tower but due to the stormy weather, the staff does not recommend us to go down as the sea is not clear. If I remember it right, the tower is about 15 floors beneath the sea. Though we could not go under-sea (again -_-"), we had fun with something else. 

Fish-feeding time: For 100 Yen, we've got this cracker + fish snacks and we could feed the colorful, beautiful fish in the sea. The fish would come to the surface to reach for the food. It was a funny and happy experience because the fish is much more active than we expected.  =)

Okinawa Day 4: 5-Sept-10 Nago-Shi

The travel package that we bought included the Japanese or Western breakfast. On this first mourning at Marriott, we've decided to go for the Japanese style. We couldn't believe that it was such a BIG breakfast that it even had fried salmon. 

Our only destination for this day was to the Okinawa Aquarium - It is the biggest Aquarium in Asia. Again, it was raining heavily and the Aquarium was friendly enough to offer free umbrellas to all visitors to walk from the parking lots to the Aquarium. After yesterday's windy + rainy day, we were prepared to get wet again. So we were not afraid to run under the little umbrella. =) It was actually a fun and sweet moment ^3^

Please excuse the visitor in this photo. He was shocked by the heavy rain....

There were different kinds of weird fish here. This is the funniest fish face I've ever seen... and below is what I called a snake-fish.. I think this is how they spend the rest of their lives... (Stuck in the sand)

We've visited the main hall of the aquarium (the largest tank in Asia) that could fit in 2 whales and many other fish. It was stunning!!

In here, we could have a peaceful mind just by looking at the fish swimming in the big tank. Due to the heavy rain, the dolphin show had been cancelled and several other attractions were closed. So, this added one more reason for us to visit Okinawa again XD. 
For dinner, we went for HOT POT. After getting all wet in the rain, we wanted to eat something hot for dinner. Unlike Hong Kong-style hot pot where we cooked the food in a ready-made soup base, the famous Okinawa Aguu Pork Hot Pot had pure water as the "soup"-base and we just dipped it with the specialty sauce made out of some vinegar + sesame paste before eating. That's it. The unique taste of Aguu Pork.

It was my birthday and he had prepared some fireworks + a little birthday cake for me. Despite the wind, we played outside the balcony. It was a very memorable birthday. Thanks to my Hubby. Originally, we had booked "Undersea Walking Tour" (海中漫步)for this day. Unfortunately, due to the coming of the typhoon (super windy and rainy), the hotel had to postpone the booking until the weather turns better. (We hoped to postpone it to the next day or even the day after) So, we've swap the plan bit and decided to go to the Aquarium first, hoping that we could go to the "Undersea Walking Tour" tomorrow.

Okinawa Day 3: 4-Sept-10 Head to the North

After staying 2 nights at the Naha City, we headed to the Northern Part of Okinawa. It was our first time to park the car in a Japan-style elevator carpark. Once we key in the number onto the panel, we heard some electronic movement noise; then, Ta-Da~~ The garage door opened then there was our Honda Fit.

We head to the Northern part of Okinawa - Nago City. Thanks to the Okinawa Tourism Department, they offered free Highways to everyone until June-2011. Thus, we decided to go by the highway. Honestly, it had been a while since I last drove; plus this was my first time to drive a Right-handed Car. The roads in Okinawa City were quite narrow; but it was so much better on the highway. After about 1.5 hour, we've reached the Northern Part of Okinawa. Our first destination was the Zanpa Beach. 

It was a convenient to drive around Okinawa because you could just leave a set of extra clothes, slippers and towels in the car and you could just get change anytime. September is a rainy + typhoon season and when it rains, it could get very nasty. We stopped by the beach for a while then we moved on to the famous Lighthouse. It was only cloudy when we reached the lighthouse; but once we had walked to the top, it was extremely windy and we could actually see the storm clouds coming. Then, it rained heavily. 

We drove along the road and decided to visit the famous snack kingdom (御菓子殿堂). This is the one place where you could buy all of Okinawa's famous snacks to your families and friends. One of our favourite pick was the "Purple Yam Tart. It came in individual packs or you could have a taste of the freshly baked ones inside the little cafe. It was made out of fresh yam. To be honestly, it always taste better when you have a bite of it when it was made fresh out of the oven. :p (390 Yen for 1 Yam Tart + Coffee or Tea)

It was raining heavily (even though we've turned on the wiper to the highest speed, we still couldn't even see the road clearly) and the wind got stronger and stronger, we finally reached the hotel in another 30-40 min. Marriott Okinawa was located on a slope and the wind was so strong on the hill top. When I opened my car door, the door just went opened entirely... If I parked a bit closer to curb, the wind would have definitely wrecked the door... Finally, we reached the hotel and because we were so tired running and driving in the rain and wind, we had a BBQ all you can eat dinner in the Hotel. 

Okinawa Day 2: 3-Sept-10 Eat Eat Eat

1) Seaside Cafe for Tea Break
We then move on to the next destination - Seaside Cafe. It was in the middle of no where. Thanks to the GPRS. It was a one-way road only and it was quite narrow; we had to park our car further down the road and then walk back up hill for a bit.

After walking up the road for another 100m, we saw the cafe. It was a small cafe by the sea. A relaxing place to stay and have some Ice coffee. :p A peace of mind. In here, I didn't want to think of anything; but just to relax and enjoy such a peaceful place. Everyone else were talking softly as no one wants to ruin such atmosphere.

Honestly the food was an ok only, but the food was not the main purpose of coming here. The feeling of calmness in this cafe was so comforting. I will definitely come back to this cafe again. 

2) Dinner, we went back to Naha City Centre for Tepanyaki at the Sam's.

There were 3 branches on the same street and the people were very friendly. I've ordered an Uni + Lobster Set and my hubby had ordered a Steak set. One thing to take note is the pink and yellow toast. At the beginning, we thought it was just a regular toast with colors; but it was actually a toast with Pineapple favour. The butter was also favoured with pineapple. It was a big surprise and it was the best toast I've ever had.

We were so happy to have met a friendly and funny staff here. He said he is 1/4 chinese + Hawaiian. He moved to Okinawa and he would travel to Hong Kong/ China once in a while. He could speak Japanese, English and a little bit of Mandarin. While he was walking us to the 2nd store, he brought out a little "Single-Proof" passport and he said he bought it from China. Hahaha~ It seems to us that he is also very happy to see us and chat with us on the way and he had even given us a free appetizer - Cold Shrimp. It is so happy to meet such friendly people in a relaxing trip.

Okinawa Day 2: 3-Sept-10 玉泉洞/ 斎場御嶽

Day 2 still staying Toyoko Inn. OTS car rental company had arranged to pick us up from the hotel to  "pick up" our car - Honda Fit. It was quite new; had only drove for 810km. Our next destination is to the southern part of Okinawa.
It was a Sunny Day~~To "Okinawa World"~~  (玉泉洞王國村) . 

Before I come to Okinawa, I planned that the visit to "Okinawa World" would be one of the highlight of our trip. I was really excited about visiting the cave; but once we've stepped into the cave, it was much creepier than I thought. It was really cool there and it was really really dark. There were only 3 couples (including us). 

I was so scared that I must make sure that we wouldn't fall behide the other 2 couples. There was running underground river; creepy lights, cool wind, dripping waters from the limestones... I shouldn't have wear a vest because the water could drop on your back and it could be really really creepy...... 

After almost an hour walk+run underground, we've finally reached the "Golden Cup"- the famous limestone underground. We feel much better there because it was brighter and there were more people around. 

At the end of the cave, they've displayed a few underground living things to us. There were shrimps, fish, frog...... Finally, we got out of the cave after an hour walk. (Phewww~~)

After coming out from the cave, we had some juice to freshen up ourselves and then started walking around in the "Okinawa World". Then we saw a 萬花筒 (Kaleidoscope) in a store and we asked for the price. A Japanese Man come to us and explained to us that it is not for sale; it was a sample only. Then, we realize that we have to make the japanese paper and then the kaleidoscope all by ourselves!!!

We were so surprised and excited, starting from:-

1) Paper-making (Japanese paper); soaked in the raw material of water + paper. Soak it Shake it x3 times. 2) Decorating it with colorful patterns 3) Pour water onto it to fix it 4) Press out the excess water 5) Iron it to further dry it 

6) Once paper is ready. It's time to make the Kaleidoscope. Really love the atmosphere here. Very peaceful and quiet. Relaxing. Peaceful mind. 

7) Choosing the "pattern" of the Kalesidoscope (which was made with Okinawa Glass); and taping the "mirrors" and sticking my hand-made paper onto the tube. Finally, it's done. 

Then, it's time for lunch~~~

It was made with "Okinawa Glass". 

The next destination is to Sefa-utaki (斎場御嶽) It was the "holy place" for the old Ryukyu Kingdom. The King and the Queen will come here on the special occasions and to ask for the blessings from the goddness. 

 The below triangle was all natural; after passing thru the triangle, we reached the trees and there is a small area facing the sea. This was where the King used to pray and asked for advises from the goddness.