CONTRIBUTED BY PAMELA OLIVERAS
This week you will have to have a photo by little old me of a shop sign. Thinking I knew there would be quite a few submissions, I am writing tail between my legs that I just didn't know and crossing psychic abilities off of my resume!
The above image is of a hair shop right near...
CONTRIBUTED BY MARY RICHARDSON
Having been on island for one year now, my husband and I have experienced Okinawa in all its glory during different times of year and seasons. Though there aren't drastic transitions in the weather like we might experience in the States, the passing of time here is marked by an array of changing produce in the farmer's markets and various local community events.
We made a list of...
CONTRIBUTED BY JEANINE CZUBIK
Years ago, and long before we met, my husband was an avid mountain biker, racing through the hills of Texas and mountains of Colorado. When he spotted the Ringyo Bicycle advertisement in the latest version of the MCCS Okinawa Guide book, his biking interest was reinvigorated.
Ringyo carries a wide variety of brands including Giant, Cannondale, Specialized,...
CONTRIBUTED BY PAMELA OLIVERAS
This weeks cool NIGHT theme comes courtesy of Meghan AKA Strawberry Kangaroo.
Here's some info from Meghan...This image was taken at about one o'clock in the morning with a new photographer friend that was teaching me how to take photos like this. It was at the first bridge outside Gate 1 heading north but this shot is...
CONTRIBUTED BY HEATHER GELORMINE
Last week I received the following email in my in-box, and unfortunately I had no immediate answer for her. I'm extending this question to all of our readers with experience: do you or did you put your primarily English-speaking American children in a Japanese elementary school here on Okinawa, and if so, where? What was your...
CONTRIBUTED BY JANNINE MYERS
Photos compliments of Pamela Oliveras
We've all seen the eisa dancers, or at least heard of them, but do we know why they dance and how it all started? For those of you who don't already know, eisa has its roots in a centuries-old Buddhist tradition whereby many of the priests would pay homage to the dead by offering prayers,...
CONTRIBUTED BY LARISSA TRAQUAIR
UPDATE: As of the summer of 2011 Yogurtand was bought out and now operates under the name "Partyland." This is true for both the American Village and Kokusai Street venues. The concept and yogurt is still the same, just a name change (the cute spoons seemed to go with the franchise) :(
ORIGINAL POST:
Who knew that creating...
CONTRIBUTED BY JEANINE CZUBIK
When I arrived in Okinawa last winter, I was told to forget ever finding clothes to fit me off base. After doing some shopping, I think we may be too quick to discount some local retailers. In the least, this may be true for athletic gear. I was pleasantly surprised when I visited Himaraya Sports to find...
CONTRIBUTED BY PAMELA OLIVERAS
Happy Labor day everyone! This weeks seawall comes courtesy of Robin. Last weeks window photographer, Kristi and I decided that this image really captured the essence of the seawalls here. Robin's son and a friend enjoyed some time at dolphin park before checking out the local artwork of the seawall. Robin has been on island for...
CONTRIBUTED BY JEANINE CZUBIK
A few months ago, I was looking for a suitable study guide to prepare for the Japanese language proficiency exam later this year. A fellow teacher at the international language school where I work led me to the three-story Junkudo near Kokusai-dori. She told me it is the largest bookstore on island and it is certainly on...
CONTRIBUTED BY PAMELA OLIVERAS
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This weeks wonderfully textured window shot comes courtesy of Kristi James. Thanks Kristi!
Over to Kristi: This window always catches my eye driving to and from Naha. It is located near the 1st bridge on your way to Naha on the right hand side. It is just a building, but for some...
CONTRIBUTED BY HEATHER GELORMINE
Mary wrote a review about Round 1 back in June, and she did a great job letting us in on all the fun activities for adults and teens.
But maybe you didn't know that there are good times to be had by our little ones, too.
On the fifth level of Round 1 is a large kid's area. ...
CONTRIBUTED BY JANNINE MYERS
I recently spent an afternoon at a Japanese hair salon and as usual, I took the opportunity to talk with my stylist about anything and everything, all the while throwing in a few Japanese words and phrases wherever possible. I didn’t have to speak Japanese at all as my stylist spoke English very well, but I...
CONTRIBUTED BY MARY RICHARDSON
A few months back, my husband and I attended a bullfight in Okinawa, of all places!
Now, I’ve been to traditional Spanish style bullfights before and came away less than enthusiastic about recommending the gore or violence I witnessed there.
However, that was not the case here. The local Okinawan event we witnessed was NOT disturbing in the...
CONTRIBUTED BY DASHA GARIEPY
A lot has changed in Okinawa over the past twenty years. Kinville (the collection of streets outside Camp Hansen's front gate) could have been the poster child for "sleazy living". Now most of the bars are closed down, giving the area a ghost town feel. But there is one place that hasn't changed. It's owned and...
CONTRIBUTED BY LARISSA
Many of us have passed this interesting corner lot, filled with huge treasures just waiting to decorate our yards and homes. You pass this store when you are heading to the Pineapple Park, Sachi's Antiques or the British Wine and Tea Shop. I have never stopped to check it out because I'm always on my way to...
CONTRIBUTED BY PAMELA OLIVERAS
Thank you, thank you, thank you Okinawa Hai readers: lovers of photos and travel. I was happy to see submissions this week for the local off island travel. We have spots from Kyoto, Taipei, Guam and...featured today....Hong Kong...
This weeks chosen submission comes from ehdyomie and was taken on Harbor Drive in Hong Kong. You just have...
CONTRIBUTED BY MARY RICHARDSON
One of my favorite things to do while traveling or living abroad is to talk to local people about their spiritual beliefs. It's so interesting to me to glimpse how they view the world and their place within it.
Several conversations lately with friends and students revealed that Okinawans have an interest in mysticism and clairvoyance. Now,...
CONTRIBUTED BY DASHA GARIEPY
Bandito says, "Eat here... or else!"
I'd been here a year before I realized there was a delicious TexMex place in my neighborhood. How this little gem has missed being featured on Okinawa Hai, I'll never know. It has been mentioned in the comments on other posts, but today Mikes Tex Mex is in the spotlight.
Mikes...
CONTRIBUTED BY LARISSA TRAQUAIR
This gift shop was a fun place to browse, with 2 stories of gift items in every corner. It looks like it is a shop that caters to wedding parties as there are many gift sets to purchase for brides, their bridal party, etc. There are many individual items to purchase as well. While we were there...
CONTRIBUTED BY PAMELA OLIVERAS
Nobody submitted photos this week so I panicked and had a search through my flickr and facebook. I couldn't decide out of 2 images and I am not a good decision maker so here are two that meant PEACE to me!
The first photo was taken in January at the Futenma Shrine (which Staci previously wrote about...
CONTRIBUTED BY JANNINE MYERS
Recently I received an email from one of our readers who pointed out that it had been some time since any new Japanese words had been introduced on OkinawaHai. It couldn't have come at a better time as I had literally just finished writing up a post which, when you get to read it in a...
CONTRIBUTED BY LARISSA TRAQUAIR
Finding a church when you first arrive on Okinawa is not an easy task and can take several months, if not longer, to accomplish. On the other hand, finding a Christian book store, with a small selection of faith-based books in English, is a whole lot easier!
Calendars, frames and misc. small gift items are available for purchase.
Individual...
CONTRIBUTED BY PAMELA OLIVERAS
This week's weather shot is brought to us by Ducemai. Nothing like a great storm looming over the horizon and captured so well! Cheers!
I am guessing (from London) that this is part of the tropical storm system I have been reading about on this great tracker site here...I wasn't on the internet for a few days...
CONTRIBUTED BY MARY RICHARDSON
Last weekend, we went to Tokyo for fun and sightseeing before climbing the infamous Mt Fuji. Since Okinawahai already has a post about Fuji, I won’t discuss that. You’re welcome to view our “Man versus Mountain” experience here, though.
This week’s posting is about Asakusa, a historic compact entertainment section of Tokyo. I encourage you to seek...
CONTRIBUTED BY ELIZABETH DE JESUS
photo via Google Maps
One thing my husband and I missed when we were stationed in Europe was a big, greasy American-style breakfast (think IHOP). The best we could get at a European breakfast café was some coffee and toast. Oddly enough, now that we are here in Japan, we found just the type of breakfast...
CONTRIBUTED BY LARISSA TRAQUAIR
In the Schilling Community Center on Kadena Air Base you will find a hidden treasure of Kokeshi and sayonara dolls. As you begin to appreciate the local culture and decide to start collecting items that will bring back fond memories of your time spent in Okinawa, the Kokeshi dolls should make it to the top of...
CONTRIBUTED BY PAMELA OLIVERAS
My daughter helped me choose the image for this weeks bug theme, taken by bmzoki. Thanks so much for the funny shot!
My daughter said it was cool because you "could see the moth's furry body!". I personally like it because it looks like some sort of mad Ewok posing for the camera and it's just so...
CONTRIBUTED BY HEATHER GELORMINE
I love to cook at home for my family. I love the process of planning our meals for each week, making a list to bring to the commissary and farmer's markets, then returning home and turning those ingredients into meals that I've made through my own effort and skills.
As much I enjoy cooking though, I'm always...
CONTRIBUTED BY DASHA GARIEPY
A big shout out to Karen Walzer for this stunning photo of Manzamo Point.
If a picture is worth a thousand words, you can bet I'm a wishin' I had taken my camera along the day we discovered a cool beach that goes by the inauspicious name of Toilet Bowl, right off of Manzamo Point.
Like...