Okinawa, Japan: Lost My Mind (and Maybe My Wallet)
okay, so. okinawa. i’m still kind of processing it, honestly. it wasn’t… what i expected. i went in thinking turquoise water, pristine beaches, total zen vibes. and there was some of that. but there was also… a lot of other stuff. like, a surprising amount of karaoke. and vending machines selling corn soup. who knew?
i just checked and it’s… drizzling a bit, with a persistent dampness clinging to everything. the kind of weather that makes you want to curl up with a bowl of that corn soup i mentioned. i’m not kidding, it’s everywhere. i saw a guy practically bathing in the stuff.
my main mission was to find some decent vintage textiles. i’d heard whispers, you know? Rumors of amazing silk scarves and hand-stitched kimonos hidden away in dusty shops. i spent a solid three days trawling through markets and antique stores. found a few interesting bits, but nothing amazing. i did stumble upon a shop run by this tiny, incredibly fierce woman who kept yelling at me in japanese. i think she was telling me my bargaining skills were atrocious. she wasn't wrong.
“Apparently, the best vintage finds are in Naha, but getting there on the bus is an adventure in itself. Someone told me to watch out for the drivers - they’re… enthusiastic.”
and the food! oh god, the food. i ate so much goya champuru (bitter melon stir-fry) i think i’m starting to turn green. it’s… an acquired taste. i also tried some sea grapes. weirdly delightful. like tiny, salty bubbles popping in your mouth. i’m already missing them. check out some local reviews on TripAdvisor https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g298161-Okinawa_Prefecture.html. you’ll need them.
“Don’t even think about ordering the rafute (braised pork belly) anywhere that isn’t recommended by a local. I heard a tourist get seriously ill from a dodgy batch. Apparently, it’s a matter of pride for the chefs.”
getting around was… interesting. i rented a scooter, which i immediately regretted. the roads are narrow, the traffic is chaotic, and everyone seems to be driving with a complete disregard for the speed limit. i nearly got run over by a truck carrying pineapples. twice. i’m pretty sure i aged five years in those three days. i should have just taken the monorail.
if you get bored, Kagoshima and Fukuoka are just a short ferry ride away. i didn’t make it over there this time, but i’m already planning a return trip. i need to find that perfect silk scarf, and maybe learn a few basic japanese phrases so i can stop getting yelled at by tiny, fierce women.
“The best way to experience Okinawa is to just wander. Get lost. Talk to the locals. Try the weird food. You’ll probably end up doing something you never expected. And that’s the whole point, right?”
pro-tip: download a translation app. seriously. you’ll need it. also, bring cash. a lot of cash. most places don’t accept credit cards. and for the love of all that is holy, wear sunscreen. the sun is relentless. i’m still peeling. i found a great little cafe on Yelp https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=cafe&find_loc=Okinawa%2C+Japan - the coffee was surprisingly good.
and one last thing: someone, a very drunk someone, warned me about the jellyfish. apparently, they’re everywhere in the summer. i missed jellyfish season, thankfully. i’m not sure i could handle that. i’m already stressed enough. check out this local forum for more tips https://www.pref.okinawa.lg.jp/english/.
okay, i’m going to go find some more corn soup. and maybe a therapist.
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