Protection and Awareness of Endangered Species in Okinawa

I have always said that living in Okinawa is like living in a museum because of the value for nature, history and culture. This weekend I had the opportunity to visit one of these places and I thought that you might enjoy seeing some photos.

Northern Okinawa is home to some very interesting people and critters. Those who live in this part of the island are known for living longer than anyone else on the world. The critters, however, are in need of protection as they are endangered. While driving on one of the roads through Ogimi I found a curious little area and so we pulled in to take a look.

There were various stones which showed the pictures as well a featured a bit of information about the animals which are protected in the area. There were also various other signs which offer information regarding how the animals are protected and the areas where they can be found.

Around the area was a fence which seems to be designed to keep out mongoose who are a predator in this area. The fence is lined with images of the animals created by children.

The fence continues along a large area with only a few openings. I will have more information about these openings later. Places like this are simple quite little areas, but they are nice to enjoy when passing by.

Landslides: A real danger in some parts of Okinawa

Landslides are one of Okinawa's dangers especially during typhoon season and the rainy seasons. Today during a trip to the northern part of Okinawa I found myself encountering a great deal of damage from recent landslides and I thought that it might be a good idea to give you the chance to take a look at what you should be looking out for during the seasons when there is heavy rain. There is not too much to say about the landslides themselves other than the fact that they are dangerous and you should be aware of your surroundings especially if you are traveling along mountain roads during the rainy seasons.





 

 


 



 



 



 

 

A look back: Typhoon Season 2012

This typhoon season has been an interesting one. There were a good number of typhoons compared to what we are used to and they were pretty intense including one which came from the west which is never really good.

I have taken some of the videos that I posted during the storms and put them here so that you can take a quick look back.

 

Family Friendly Hiking Locations

With the winter almost here in Okinawa I have been preparing for some wintertime hiking in the mountains of Northern Okinawa. I made a comment on my Facebook page and received  a comment from a viewer which stated:

Hey if I know of any good hiking routes let me know. It would be something that my family could all do together and stay fit while doing it.

I could have answered this question in a few different ways but the one that I figure is the easiest is to get the information out there is to simply link to a blog post so here we are. Below I will link and tell you a little bit about some of the locations that I have been hiking recently which are what I would consider family friendly.

Yamada Hiking Trails 

What You Need To Know: 

- This is not a stroller friendly hiking location. 

- There are lots of steep stairs and slick ground to include coral and mud.

- There is no shortage of large bugs like spiders and potentially snakes depending on the time of year. 

- Supervision of children under 10 highly recommended. 

Sueyoshi Park 

What You Need To Know: 

- Some of the trails are stroller friendly, other's aren't. 

- This is an UP HILL LOCATION so be ready for some intense climbing even if it is on pavement. 

 

Aha Dam 

What You Need To Know: 

- Stroller Friendly 

- Perfect For Family Fun 

Hiji Falls 

What You Need To Know: 

- This is not a stroller friendly location.

- Lots of stairs and lots of up hill 

Ginowan Bypass 

What You Need To Know: 

- This location is stroller friendly and perfect for families. 

- Beautiful view 

- Places to eat and use the rest room along the way 

Kakazu Ridge Park 

What You Need To Know: 

- Exploring the park itself is not stroller friendly. 

- Lots of stairs. 

TO SEE THE LOCATIONS ON A MAP CLICK HERE 

 

How To Make Goya Chanpuru

One of Okinawa's most common traditional dishes is Goya Chanpuru. Although this dish is "traditional" that doesn't mean it is hard to make, in fact it's super simple. 

What You'll Need: 

          - Goya (Also known in the US as bitter melon)

          - Eggs

          - Tofu

          - Pork (This can be any type of pork you would like although it should be very thinly sliced and not too lean.)

          - Soy Sauce

What's not necessary but I recommend: 

          - Shredded Carrots

          - Sake (A dash of this will possibly make your chanpuru sauce taste more like the packaged stuff I get.)

IMPORTANT NOTE: The amount of ingredients you use in this dish is not important. Some people like more eggs than tofu or more tofu than eggs. You can add a lot of pork or just a little. Either way it's up to you. The one thing I will note, however, is that the soy sauce should only be minimal. You should barely be able to taste it.

STEP 1: Prepare the Goya 

After washing the goya cut it in half length wise. As you can see in the photo I prefer to cut off the tapered ends first as it makes the goya easier to work with.

STEP 2: Remove the Inside

Once you have cut your goya in half it's time to remove the spongy white insides. The best way to do this is to use a spoon. Your goal is to remove as much of the white spongy stuff you can. The more you remove, the less bitter the goya will be.

STEP 3: Slice and Soak the Goya 

Although it might seem simple this is the most important step in order to ensure that you have a good chanpuru experience. The goya should be sliced into U shapes. Your goal should be to slice them as thinly as possible. This time I used a slicer which gave me very nice thin slices quickly. If you choose not to use a slicer ensure that your slices are as thin as possible. The thinner they are the quicker the goya cooks and therefore you will precent having crunchy goya pieces when you're eating. The thin pieces of goya will also make this dish easier to eat for those who have not tried it before. Once you have sliced the goya you're going to want to soak it. The soaking will allow the goya to lose some of it's bitterness. I choose to soak and drain my goya multiple times until the water drains clear where as others choose to soak their goya with some salt.

STEP 4: Start to Fry

Once everything is sliced and diced it's time to head over to the frying pan. The first thing for you to put into the frying pan is your pork. As I mentioned above thinly sliced pork which is not too lean is the best because it offers more flavor to the dish, it can be broken apart easily and not too chewy.

DID YOU KNOW: Pork is a very important part of the Okinawan Diet? 

Once the pork is about 90% cooked it's time to put in the goya.

It's important to ensure that the goya is completely drained so that you do not have any unnecessary fluids in your chanpuru. Toss the goya around until it starts to become cooked.  Much like other veggies goya will cook down and lose some of it's color once it's been fully cooked.

 The next step is to add in your tofu. There are many types of tofu that you can put in your chanpuru. Usually I put in fresh local tofu but because this one was on sale for 88yen I got this one today.

You can cube your tofu or make it the consistency of scrambled eggs. I like when it is the way that the tofu distributes throughout the dish when it is the consistency of scrambled eggs so I use hashi to mix it up a bit.

Once it's mixed around in the pan you can see how the tofu evenly disperses throughout. At this time you're also going to want to add in the sauce. I had packets of sauce that I get from my local grocery store, however, you can use sake (or coking sake) and soy sauce.

Finally we add in the eggs. Just go ahead and put them in there and mix them around. Once it's mixed around and the yolks have been broken down cover the dish and let simmer for a short time until the eggs become firm.

Now officially you're done, but there are many other restaurants that will add in some carrots so I have some carrots which I picked up from the store already shredded which I add in just before the dish is done cooking.

Now that the carrots are cooked that's it, you're done. For me the next step is putting the food into containers and into the fridge. It will keep for a couple of days so it's a good meal to make and then pack for lunch. When it comes to the taste the dish is yummy and natural tasting BUT not for everyone. The goya is bitter, like eating the rind of a watermelon almost but the mix of flavors makes it really good. Goya is also a very healthy food which is a main part of the diet here in Okinawa especially during the summer. Some people even grow it in their own yards.

Orion Presents New Beer

CHECK HERE TO SEE A PHOTO

Orion (pronounced Oh-ree-ohn) is a beer which is made here in Okinawa. Each year they produce a variety of different cans with images of Okinawa as well as a special sakura blend in the winter. This year, however, they have come up with a new beer known as "Mugi No Shuzuku". This beer is said to have a strong taste of malt and has the highest malt content of all Orion products giving it a distinctive taste as well as an aroma of hops which is similar to American beers.

The product is 5% alcohol which is modest for alcoholic beverages here in Japan and is targeting those who drink regularly at home. We picked some up to give it a try and we'll have to get back to you on what we think.

Taste of Home: Ice Hockey

Did you know that you can play ice hockey here in Okinawa? I spoke with Blake who plays with the Okinawa Sniperz. He gave me all the information you need to know if you want to get involved with playing ice hockey here in Okinawa. Here's the interview.

ONK: Is this a league or simply a group of people who get together with a common interest?

Blake: It is not technically a league though there are 5 teams that play here on Okinawa in addition to a youth team.  We are the Okinawa Sniperz and the other teams are all Japanese, of which one is for females attending Ryukyu University.  We usually play 1-2 games a month against these teams, and once a year the rink puts on a Haebaru Town hockey tournament.

ONK:  Are there any requirements? (i.e. you must be 18 to play, can women play, is certain gear required)

Blake: To come out and skate you will need full gear even though we are primarily a no checking group, there is contact.  There is no age/gender/skill requirements though if you are under 18 years old you must wear a full face mask.  If you are above 18 it is up to you.

ONK:  Other than personal gear is there any cost involved? (i.e. Membership fees, cost to skate at rink)

Blake: Everytime you skate you must pay 2,500¥. Additionally if you are not SOFA status you are required to pay an annual insurance fee prior to stepping on the ice for the first time.  This fee is roughly 2,000¥.

ONK:  Is there a POC or email contact I can include if people are interested in more information?

Blake: Please use myself as the POC.  Blake Ferngren and my email.

ONK:  How would you describe the experience playing with this group? Competitive? Fun? Learning experience?

Blake: We are a team comprised of all skill levels and ages.  During games we of course are competitive but on our regular Monday night practices it's a just a bunch of people that love to play hockey.  We divide whoever shows up in half and play pick up hockey for roughly 90 minutes.