CONTRIBUTED BY JEN PRESTON

I'm so pleased that many of you connected with my piece last weekend about health.  Glad to know I'm not alone. I even found myself a kickass new walking buddy as a result (hi Aviva!). See, the internet is not just for finding romance.  My body is sore, and I'm feeling a tad bit guilty about the tequila shot I did last night at The Tropical Moons in Sunabe, but overall, I feel like my quest is true.  My Extreme Fitness Class and I are scheduled for a 3 mile run on Monday, and if I finish it before it before next Saturday, I will keep you posted on the progress.

Just to recap the a few useful comments for new eyeballs:
Offbase bootcamp recommended highly by Kelly and Suzy: 1 Moore Rep Fitness Studio and is taught by a man named John Moore. j1moorerepfit@yahoo.com. (090) 9786-0090 (John) (090) 933-9393 (Office). Packages include childcare.
Stroller Strides: recommended by Jennifer & Staci - Does anyone have a # or email address for this?  (On a side note, the day those comments posted, I ran into a woman wearing the Stroller Strides T-Shirt, and she looked really buff.  I asked her how she liked it and she said it was NO JOKE.  Not at all what you would picture for a Mommy and Me fitness class - a very intense workout.  Highly recommended.  Anyone have a kid and a stroller I can borrow?)

Occasionally, it occurs to me that we live in a travel spot of our own.  The Hawaii of Japan, if you will. When I told a native Japanese friend that I was moving to Okinawa, he said "that is like saying you are moving to St. Barths." However, the outlook of someone who is moving here and someone that is traveling here is very different.  Your eyes settle on different things.  Movers take notice of laundrymats, and places to buy fresh chicken.  Vacationers take notice of beachy bars with umbrellas in cocktails and the best beaches to get a tan.  We have all of it on Okinawa, it just depends on what you're looking for.  So if you are lucky enough to have relatives or friends make the trip halfway around the world to come and visit, they probably won't want to see your favorite local spot to buy cheap furniture.  They will be looking for adventure, and with a little planning, you can enjoy a vacation right here at home, too.

This week, one of our good friend's mom was in town. I was able to tag along on several of the adventures and did things that as a resident, I probably wouldn't take the time to do. Last weekend, we took bus tour of the island, provided by MCCS on Foster. It was a bit of a random tour, covering the Himeyuri School, and Okinawa World.  Cathryn Jenson contributed a great article about Okinawa World in February so I won't belabor it but I will share some cool photos.

The tour also took us to the Himeyuri School. The Himeyuri School girls were the creme de la creme of Okinawa's high school aged girls. During the Battle of Okinawa, they were conscripted into military service, and served as nurses in caves, witnessing things no child should have to witness. The vast majority of these girls were killed in the battle, after being forced from the caves unarmed, to stand in the line of fire. It is worth checking out, especially if you have 14-18 year old kids who would benefit from the history and magnitude of these girls story.  I recommend getting a little background before you go. The $30 per person fee for the tour covered the entrance fee for Okinawa World, but the Himeyuri School charged an additional $3.

Visitors will of course want to see historical monuments and cultural things unique to Okinawa (well-covered in Okinawa World).  But unless they're visiting from from Hawaii, they're gonna want some "Island flair."  Sam's Anchor Inn is a great restaurant for this. 

At about $30 a head plus $12 cocktails, this is not a place us locals hit very often, but it does pack a tropical punch for island visitors.  Tropical Cocktails served in Shisa Dog mugs (which you can take as a souvenir) get the party started before the Tappenyaki chefs begin their culinary magic.  Bring your appetite - they serve fantastic seafood, kobe beef, all prepared right in front of you.  I will never again doubt the difference between prawns and shrimp. (Prawns are about 6 times the size of shrimp.) here">Directions and more info.

Last but not least, we took friend's mom to Cocok's Nail salon by the seawall.  I am not a toenail-painting girl (in fact I think the chips of polish which had to be chiseled off my toes were from fall '07.) I can barely sit still long enough for my bangs to get trimmed, so when my friend told me that it takes about 2 hours and costs about 4500-5000 yen (that includes a 1000 yen tip) I was not looking forward to it. 

Oh how wrong I was.  This is not a typical nail salon.  First of all, you sit in fabulous sofa-like recliners with an ocean view, sip on delicious sweet tea, and get to read all those American gossip mags that you've been guilted out of purchasing.  And what was the one thing nail salons in the states are missing?  That's right - a full bar.  What a great combo.  The foot/leg massage alone was worth the 5000 yen. And you emerge with 10 little works of art on your toes.  What visitor wouldn't love to return to the states with rhinestone-encrusted tropical flowers on their toes?  Perfect place to take a visiting mother or mother-in law. I would recommend calling ahead a couple of weeks for a Saturday visit, or trying to book on a weekday instead.  Info and Directions here.

Pay no attention to the squatty toes. 

The most important part of your visitor's trip is of course the visit with you, but if you can jazz it up with some island flair, they have prettier pictures to take home and you have a week of your own little island adventure to cherish.

Enjoy your weekend!