Return to Japan - Week 3 (April 6, 2012)

Life in Okinawa is always an adventure!  Last Saturday morning we got up early to go for our long run along the flight line on Kadena Air Force Base, where we were staying while dog sitting.  As we start out, we notice the gray clouds ahead and know that if we don't hurry, we are going to get stuck running in the rain.  At about mile three, the rain gently starts and then all of the sudden the sky opens up and we are running in major rain.  As we are heading back a car stops and asks if we want a ride back - I really want to say YES, but we keep running.  If I had known what was ahead we might have gotten in the car.  As we round the flight line there are no trees or brush to block the wind and the rain is coming at us in sheets.  I'm freezing cold as the wind and rain whip against me and I start to whimper - yes whimper!  Poor Jake - he is a wonderful husband who supports me and doesn't make fun when I'm about to crack!  We finally make it home and head straight for showers to get warm and then Jake makes all things right by taking me to Popeyes for a breakfast biscuit!  YUM.  Later in the day the rain stops and we decide to get in the car and see what we can find.  We end up on Zampa Beach and walk around with Jodi (the dog we are watching).  Across the street there is a park that has a giant Shi-Shi Dog - I'm guessing at least 30-40 feet high.  Jake runs Jodi all over the beach and the park until we are all exhausted.  

Sunday was perfectly beautiful, so after church we pack a lunch and head out on our next Adventure to Ikei Island.  For the first time on the island we did NOT get lost on our way - we did however not drive on the roads we had looked at on the map before leaving, but we ended up there without turning around.  There is a long bridge that you have to drive across to get to the island and once across the bridge we find another bridge that leads to a smaller island - Hamahiga.  We go right after crossing the bridge and within a half mile the road dead-ends with a parking lot and the most fabulous beach across from it.  Jake can barely hold Jodi's leash as she heads straight for the water for a swim.  I tell Jake I want to spend all summer on Hamahiga and enjoy the water as it caresses the white sand beach.  While here a person asks us if we know where the cave on the island is, but we don't because we had not done any research about this island since it wasn't our original plan to visit here.  We depart to see what is on the other side of this small island and within a mile or two we are at another dead-end.  We see a small pathway and decide to explore.  Much to our delight we come across a private beach area and spend more time walking on the beach and climbing on the rock structures. As we leave the beach Jake spots the cave up on top of a big hill.  We can't pass this up and find ourselves climbing up to the cave.  We pass a Shrine and then into the cave.  It was about 20 feet deep and maybe 8-10 feet across - with plenty of stalactites and stalagmites.  At the entrance and the back of the cave there is salt in three conical piles (called Mori-shio) to purify visitors as they pass to ward off evil and pacify the spirits (kami).  See links below to our video inside the cave.  We don't stay long b/c I'm kind of freaked out in the darkness of the cave.  

View inside the cave and View from the cave

We finally are on our way to Ikei Island.  Our drive through sugar cane fields leads us to native ruins of Nakabura Vestige.  Jake and I crawl into the one hut-like home that is there to see what it is like where they lived and read all the plaques about life there.  We also find a go-cart track along the road with a race event and stay to see the fun of the cars on the track racing each other.  On the way back to the main island of Okinawa there is low tide and cars line the bridge as everyone gets out and walks on the sand where the water once was.  We decide to join the crowd and as the sun is setting take another stroll on the ocean floor.  Until next week. Natasha and Jake