Do you like American music? Why not check out "AMERICAN MUSIC TIME!" happening on the 9th and 10th of this month?The PACAF Band "Pacific Trends" will be performing at both American Village (Feb 9th from 7 to 8pm) and at the Itoman Roadside Station on the 10th at noon.
The event is free and open to all as an international exchange with the local community. There will be all types of music too so it's sure to please every taste.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
The Essentials For Exploring Okinawa
If you've stumbled upon this then you must already know that Okinawa has a rich history, unique culture and is a great place to visit. In other words: there's a lot of stuff to see on this tiny little island. In fact a lot of the things to see aren't well known and take a little bit of exploring to find. That's where the information in this post is going to come in very handy.
I've been here on Okinawa for almost 7 years now and spent a lot of time looking for fun and exciting things that not many people knew about. I have found countless monuments, historical sites and even tourist type attractions which I would have never stumbled upon if I hadn't been taking the time to look.
Among the many things I have learned during my explorations the one that seems to be the most important is that sometimes when you have the intent to do something like this:
Backpack:
Maybe you'll end up parking at a beautiful look out point over the ocean or maybe you'll find yourself following a path which ends up leading to the top of a mountain, that's the beauty of exploring Okinawa! Either way when you head out and start looking around you're going to need a good way to carry some of your necessities so that your hands are free and you can move smoothly. The best way to do this is to have a backpack.
Rain Gear:
Like anywhere else in the world here in Okinawa it rains. The only difference, at least that I have noticed, is that when the powers that be decide it is going to rain. . . they mean business! Even when the sun is shining when you leave the house there could be a chance that somewhere else on this small little island it is pouring down rain. This is no reason to turn back home! Having rain gear can be an easy way to salvage a day of exploring on a rainy day.
If you don't already have rain gear I recommend heading to your local DIY store (I prefer Makeman) and pick some up. I personally have an entire rain suit which comes in very handy on those rainy days which costed me a grand total of about ¥3000. It works like a charm, is easy to clean and folds up nice and small so it is not a burden to take with me.
Water Bottle:
It goes without saying that rehydrating yourself during physical activity is incredibly important. This becomes even more important in the summer months here in Okinawa where your body can lose fluids at an alarming rate. (Of course you should always be extremely careful when exploring during the summer months but we can talk more about that another time.) Even if you do not intend to go very far having a decent size water bottle, per person, will ensure that you can keep yourself hydrated and feeling good!
Cell Phone:
Having a cell phone nowadays is like having a left hand. . . you would be lost without it. Although it has become a necessary device for every day life it is also extremely important to have one with you if you are exploring. Although the island is quite small by comparison to some other places you may be familiar with if you find yourself lost or in need of assistance not having a cell phone can truly be rehabilitating.
It's also important to refrain from using your cell phone unless necessary. Of course no one can resist giving those up to the minute update on social media but conserving that battery power is a must especially when traveling to places you may not be familiar with.
Solar Charger:
Ok, I admit. . . This is not a "must have" item but rather one that I highly recommend if you're planning on doing some serious exploring. Here in Okinawa you can find these little solar chargers. Mine is about the size of two packs of cigarettes side by side, maybe a bit smaller. You can charge them either via solar or in some cases on your computer and then hook up your cell phone to them and get a charge.
I originally purchased this when I was heading to Tokyo because I thought it would be very helpful to have some extra power while I was around and now I don't know what I would do without it. When exploring I put the device on my dash board and if I find myself needing a quick charge when out in the woods so I can check my google map or call for assistance because the car broke down I can do so without a problem.
The charger itself was very inexpensive. I believe it was ¥2500 and came with a number of adapters for everything I could ever think of. Now I have it is a special little case I made and hang it from my backpack when out and about ready and charged for when I need it.
Yen:
I think that it is safe to say that when traveling through Okinawa having some yen on your person at all times is a good idea but this is never more true when exploring places you have never been before. In some of the wonderful parts of Okinawa that you may find yourself stumbling into it is not as "modern" as some of the places you may be familiar with. This makes it hard to pick up something to quench your thirst, fill your belly or even remember your trip without some yen. It doesn't take a lot of money. In most cases I won't take much more then a couple thousand yen on a journey. Often times I barely use it but it's good to have just in case.
I've been here on Okinawa for almost 7 years now and spent a lot of time looking for fun and exciting things that not many people knew about. I have found countless monuments, historical sites and even tourist type attractions which I would have never stumbled upon if I hadn't been taking the time to look.
Among the many things I have learned during my explorations the one that seems to be the most important is that sometimes when you have the intent to do something like this:
You can end up in a situation like this:
With all that being said there are some things that I find important to have when exploring the island. Here is the list of what I never leave the house without:
Backpack:
Maybe you'll end up parking at a beautiful look out point over the ocean or maybe you'll find yourself following a path which ends up leading to the top of a mountain, that's the beauty of exploring Okinawa! Either way when you head out and start looking around you're going to need a good way to carry some of your necessities so that your hands are free and you can move smoothly. The best way to do this is to have a backpack.
Rain Gear:
Like anywhere else in the world here in Okinawa it rains. The only difference, at least that I have noticed, is that when the powers that be decide it is going to rain. . . they mean business! Even when the sun is shining when you leave the house there could be a chance that somewhere else on this small little island it is pouring down rain. This is no reason to turn back home! Having rain gear can be an easy way to salvage a day of exploring on a rainy day.
If you don't already have rain gear I recommend heading to your local DIY store (I prefer Makeman) and pick some up. I personally have an entire rain suit which comes in very handy on those rainy days which costed me a grand total of about ¥3000. It works like a charm, is easy to clean and folds up nice and small so it is not a burden to take with me.
Water Bottle:
It goes without saying that rehydrating yourself during physical activity is incredibly important. This becomes even more important in the summer months here in Okinawa where your body can lose fluids at an alarming rate. (Of course you should always be extremely careful when exploring during the summer months but we can talk more about that another time.) Even if you do not intend to go very far having a decent size water bottle, per person, will ensure that you can keep yourself hydrated and feeling good!
Cell Phone:
Having a cell phone nowadays is like having a left hand. . . you would be lost without it. Although it has become a necessary device for every day life it is also extremely important to have one with you if you are exploring. Although the island is quite small by comparison to some other places you may be familiar with if you find yourself lost or in need of assistance not having a cell phone can truly be rehabilitating.
It's also important to refrain from using your cell phone unless necessary. Of course no one can resist giving those up to the minute update on social media but conserving that battery power is a must especially when traveling to places you may not be familiar with.
Solar Charger:
Ok, I admit. . . This is not a "must have" item but rather one that I highly recommend if you're planning on doing some serious exploring. Here in Okinawa you can find these little solar chargers. Mine is about the size of two packs of cigarettes side by side, maybe a bit smaller. You can charge them either via solar or in some cases on your computer and then hook up your cell phone to them and get a charge.
I originally purchased this when I was heading to Tokyo because I thought it would be very helpful to have some extra power while I was around and now I don't know what I would do without it. When exploring I put the device on my dash board and if I find myself needing a quick charge when out in the woods so I can check my google map or call for assistance because the car broke down I can do so without a problem.
The charger itself was very inexpensive. I believe it was ¥2500 and came with a number of adapters for everything I could ever think of. Now I have it is a special little case I made and hang it from my backpack when out and about ready and charged for when I need it.
Yen:
I think that it is safe to say that when traveling through Okinawa having some yen on your person at all times is a good idea but this is never more true when exploring places you have never been before. In some of the wonderful parts of Okinawa that you may find yourself stumbling into it is not as "modern" as some of the places you may be familiar with. This makes it hard to pick up something to quench your thirst, fill your belly or even remember your trip without some yen. It doesn't take a lot of money. In most cases I won't take much more then a couple thousand yen on a journey. Often times I barely use it but it's good to have just in case.
Monday, February 4, 2013
Sunday, February 3, 2013
APOC11 and the Okinawa International Orchid Show 2013 [Video]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02E0ob5y3Ek
This year we attended the Okinawa International Orchid Show 2013 located at the Tropical Dream Center in Okinawa, Japan. The event took place at the Ocean Expo Park near the beautiful Churaumi Aquarium and will run from now until February 11th.
Hundreds of orchids are on display and one new species is even making it's debut. Please check out the video and let us know what you think.
Saturday, February 2, 2013
APOC11 and the Okinawa International Orchid Show 2013
APOC11 (11th Asian Pacific Orchid Conference) and the 23rd Okinawa International Orchid Show is a yearly event that happens in February at the Ocean Expo Park located in Motobu. This is the largest orchid show in the country and a favorite among the many people who love flowers here in Okinawa.
This year we went to the show for the first time. To be honest we would have never heard about it if we had not gone to take a quick look at what a local travel agent located near our grocery store had available for local tours. Of course being the frugal and adventurous people that we are we skipped the tour but took down all the other vital information. It was also going to be exciting because it was the first time for us to go to the Tropical Dream Center, a part of Ocean Expo Park, which we had never gone to before.
We arrived early and were able to park a short walk from the entrance. (NOTE: If you plan on attending this event you're going to benefit if you arrive early. There is minimal parking near the venue itself and by the time that we left there were a number of people having to walk a great deal.) The entrance had a number of vendors selling various orchid related goods. The prices were reasonable especially if you are looking for something that is of a different variety then you can find at a local store.
Once arriving on the inside of the venue (after purchasing our tickets which you can get at half price if you come with a same day stub from the aquarium) we were pleased to see that there were orchids everywhere. They were used to decorate the entire entrance and they would continue the theme throughout.
As we continued on the route we found ourselves in a room which was sectioned off with various contestants for separate categories. Each orchid had already been judged (this is a competition after all) and the ones which stood above the rest wore a ribbon. (or two, or three) There were so many that I honestly didn't know where to look. Row behind row of beautiful multicolored flowers of all shapes and sizes seemed to take over the entire area of the Tropical Dream Center. In fact to be completely honest I cannot imagine what would even be there if there were no orchids.
As we continued to walk through the venue there were places to sit down and rest, even a large court yard with dancers and more goods to include turkish ice cream. The turkish ice cream was apparently a big hit because there was not one person in the place that was not enjoying some.
Overall we had a great time and would certainly go back again. There are some things that you should know before you go. Head over to the event early and before the flowers wilt. I realize that this is a place where flowers are kept but with the temperatures changing and everything else that has been going on recently it's best to get there as soon as you can so that you don't find yourself missing out. Arrive early in the day to avoid too much congestion. If you really want to look at the flowers then getting up early and heading out that way is going to be beneficial. We arrived at about 8:30AM when the event opened and left around 12:30PM. As we were heading out the large crowds started to roll in so the timing was just right in my opinion. Keep the kiddles at home. I realize that there are a number of people out there who feel that every place on Okinawa is kid friendly but the fact of the matter is that there are some places where your child simply isn't going to benefit from the experience and overall as a parent you're going to have a stressful time. Although this event offers child pricing (which is part of the standard pricing for the venue) there is really nothing for kids to do during this event. After all it is a flower show and competition. It is important to note, however, that this place would be a great place to take the kids any other time of the year as there are activities that would be scheduled more during the summer months but none of these seemed to be available for the show. If you do plan on taking the kiddles because you know that they can handle or would enjoy this type of thing keep in mind that the venu is not necessarily stroller friendly. If your intention is to bring a small umbrella stroller you should be good but the new large double strollers are going to be a struggle to get through some areas where the orchids are being displayed. Also note that baby backpacks might not be a good idea either because of low hanging plants and low ceilings which will no doubt result in plant like in your baby's face (especially if mom or dad are tall).
Aside from those few things there is not much else to say about the event. There is a very English friendly staff for this event as it is International. There are also people from all over the world too. I would certainly check it out if you are interested in flowers or just looking for a nice place to spend the weekend.
"How To Get 1000 Subscribers On YouTube"
During some regular daily blog maintenance today I saw that someone found my blog by searching "how to get 1000 subscribers on YouTube". I usually don't talk about this type of thing because it's just not the focus of my blog and/or videos that I make but I figure that since I always try to answer any questions that come my way I would give this one a whirl.
So recently my channel www.youtube.com/okininjakitty hit 1000 subscribers. I was really excited about this but the fact of the matter is that this did not come without a lot of hard work and patience. If you were to ask me how to get 1000 subscribers on YouTube my answer would be this:
Do what you do, enjoy it and wait.
The fact of the matter is that I really like making videos on YouTube. Some times I will admit I have made it a bit like a job and it has been a struggle on some days to actually get out and see some of the things that I want to make videos (and blogs) about. When it all comes down to it though I really like the product (videos) that I put out. Some of them I even watch over and over again just because I think that they are fun. If you can produce something that you want to watch then eventually you will find someone else that wants to watch it too.
I also find that it is important to keep in touch with your viewers via comments, facebook (if that's your thing) and email/messages. I try to get back to everyone that contacts me either in comments, email and messages. As you can even see by this post I take time to talk to those people who contact me and/or those people who have questions and stumble my way.
Overall it's just about having fun. If you have fun you will find that others have fun too and before you know it, you've got a party.
So recently my channel www.youtube.com/okininjakitty hit 1000 subscribers. I was really excited about this but the fact of the matter is that this did not come without a lot of hard work and patience. If you were to ask me how to get 1000 subscribers on YouTube my answer would be this:
Do what you do, enjoy it and wait.
The fact of the matter is that I really like making videos on YouTube. Some times I will admit I have made it a bit like a job and it has been a struggle on some days to actually get out and see some of the things that I want to make videos (and blogs) about. When it all comes down to it though I really like the product (videos) that I put out. Some of them I even watch over and over again just because I think that they are fun. If you can produce something that you want to watch then eventually you will find someone else that wants to watch it too.
I also find that it is important to keep in touch with your viewers via comments, facebook (if that's your thing) and email/messages. I try to get back to everyone that contacts me either in comments, email and messages. As you can even see by this post I take time to talk to those people who contact me and/or those people who have questions and stumble my way.
Overall it's just about having fun. If you have fun you will find that others have fun too and before you know it, you've got a party.
Friday, February 1, 2013
[EVENT REMINDER - Feb 2 until 11]
Tomorrow marks the beginning APOC11 and Okinawa International Orchid Show. The event takes place at the Ocean Expo Park. This is sure to be a beautiful event and I imagine that we can expect some massive crowds. Either way if you're looking for something to do with your day from tomorrow until the 11th maybe you might want to check it out?
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