Kokusai Dori, "International Street"

This is the main street in Naha, the capital of Okinawa and the largest city in Okinawa, about 300,000 people. There are restaurants, lots of shopping, souvenirs, lots of sides streets with many vendors selling all sorts of things and the Makishi Public Market.

Carson was the leader.

Everyone was hot and we were having a hard time

finding the market, so lots of searching and walking.

Side streets

An Ally

View down the street, traffic jam

Still hot, but happy to find the ally with fruit for sale.

Yui Monorail- Naha

 We drove down to Naha to ride the Monorail, mainly for Parker but the kids loved it. Buying tickets was a little difficult, but I finally figured it out. We hopped on and rode to Kokusai Dori, walked around had lunch, went to the market then hopped back on. We rode the monorail all the way out to the airport and back, about a 20 minute trip one way. It was a great way to see the city!

A Japanese lady asked to take the picture so I could

be in it, she was so sweet and she just loved the kids.

Ticket machine- all Japanese

All the different stops

Cooper putting his ticket through, Carson excited

A few views of Naha

Carson made a few videos along the way. They

are very bumpy but he was so excited to

share this new city with family back home!

1st Visit to Okinawa World

With school starting next week, I decided we would spend this week exploring while we have the extra time. We have pretty much spent the last 2 weeks in the house since Josh left. This week we will be having some fun! Today we went to Okinawa World.

All ready for some fun- they were very happy the drive was only

35 minutes from the house. We got there just after opening, so it wasn't busy yet.

Just before entering the cave

Okinawa's Famous Habu Liquor- the Habu snake is very deadly.

The kids loved sampling all the different dried fruits.

They were all very yummy- but not cheap. The kids just loved them!

We brought a 100g bag of dried strawberries for 720 yen (almost $10).

Okinawa World- Gyokusendo Cave

The first thing we did at Okinawa World was walk through the cave. It was amazing. We were pretty much by ourselves. It took a little over an hour to walk all the way through. It is the longest limestone cave in Okinawa, almost 5km. The kids pretended they were Indiana Jones looking for lost treasure. It was cool and damp, with lots of water dropping down in places. We all really enjoyed our walk underground.

The map of the cave.

Carson leading us down the stairs to start our adventure.

Entering the cave.

Some of the 1,000,000 stalagmites and stalactite in the cave.

 

 The kids being goofy.

Okinawa World- Eisa Show

The Eisa show was fantastic- so cool. Carson and Cooper went up to the front before the show started to play music. They were so cute. The music and drums were awesome. All 4 kids were clapping as loud as they could the whole time. Parker loved the Shisa dog dance. It was really cool and lasted about 25 minutes. I wasn't supposed to take pictures or video, but I couldn't help myself. The videos are a little bouncy but I was trying to be discrete.

Eisa Dancers

Carson & Cooper up front making music & dancing.

Video of the boys- sorry its shaky

Video of the Shisa dog

Eisa dancers and the huge drum

Okinawa World- Habu Snake Museum

Our last stop in Okinawa World was the Habu Snake Museum and the Snake Show. I thought it was creepy, but the kids loved it.

Cooper was so excited to see sea snakes.

Super Fast Mr. Turtle

Really, this turtle was fast.

Habu Snakes

Habu Snake

The snake didn't attack the white balloon, but it sure 

attacked the orange balloon. I guess you don't want to go 

into the jungle wearing orange.

King Cobra- it hissed so loud

Long Awaited Posting of Our Vegas Pictures

I was going through iPhoto tonight and realized I never posted pictures from Vegas. It was such an amazing vacation for Josh and I. We have never had that much fun together! Here are a few pictures.

More Pages from the Happiest Place on Earth- Feb 2010

"Kisses from Minnie"

"Favorite"

"Aunt Chelsea"

"Priceless"

"Little Princess"

Air Force Week in Photos

I thought I would start linking the "Air Force Week in Photos". They really take some amazing pictures. It great to see all the Air Force does.

Week in Photos 8/19

My favorite of the week is this one titled "Touchdown".

My Cousins

Last week my cousins Gale and Will visited Oregon for the first time in 12 years. Everyone got together at my parents house. I love this picture of everyone. I can't believe how much we have all grown up since the days of clamming, jam making and slug hunting at Grandma Dodo & Grandpa Bill's. I so wish I could have been there. This is the first thing I really feel bummed about missing.