Today our lovely guide is Kay, short for Keiko, a retired high school teacher, and black belt in karate. To be truly honest, the sights here were average, but Keiko was not. She was a total delight and we learned lots of fascinating stuff about Okinawa. She even sang a beautiful song for us. I will try to give you a summary:

Ryukyu, the old name for Okinawa, is famous for a few things. It is one of the world’s five Blue Zones, due mainly to “slow food” - lots of vegetables, seafood and tofu. They have their own version of soba noodles, and the kombu (kelp) is exceptional. 

Tourism now leads the economy, but previously it was fishing and agriculture, mostly sugar cane. There are some 110-160 islands (can’t get a definitive answer on that), many linked by bridges, and our ship will visit four. But I think Keiko told us that 54 are inhabited. Apologies if this is incorrect, Keiko, and please feel free to correct me. I like to get the facts straight. 

Before Covid, Okinawa attracted 1.5 million visitors annually, but during the pandemic, “no flight, no ship, no job”. Last year more than 200 cruise ships stopped by.

It was originally an independent kingdom, so they have different but similar language and culture to regular Japan.

Most of you would know Okinawa came to our attention during WW2 - it was bombed heavily by the US, who then occupied from 1946 until it was returned to Japan in 1972. As a result, there are Maccas and Starbucks everywhere, lol. Not that we saw any, but I would have visited just for the aircon.

We enjoyed a short but extremely hot walk to see a bunch of 300-year-old Fukugi or happiness trees, the main one being “Married Couple Fukugi Trees”, pictured below. 

Luckily, Okinawa survived both the bombs and also last week’s typhoon which literally flattened a few trees and nothing more. 

Meanwhile, on board, lunch included a wagyu beef tasting (not for me), and honestly I can’t even remember what else happened for the rest of the afternoon. Maybe a LLD (Lima Lima Delta = little lie down)? Friday seems like a life time ago, but I’ve been way too busy to write it up until now.

Dinner tonight with two lovely Aussie couples. One of the guys was Qantas flight crew with my friend Janice; there was much frivolity and I can feel a dinner party coming on at Club Young Street.  

PS pix include proof-of-life shot of Hamish, tucked up in Scott’s bed. I am in the dog box with Hamish this year - the suitcase has already been out twice and there’s more to come. Maybe if he sees himself on the web he will be more forgiving!