Okinawa Hai!

July 19th, 2007 at 23:51 · Filed Under Days in My Life, Japan, Karate, Okinawa, Travel 

The flight from Hong Kong to Taipei was delayed for 40 minutes. The flight was scheduled at 1340. At 1420, it took off from HKIA and arrived at Taipei about 30 minutes late. I rushed to the boarding gate at Taipei International Airport.

When I finally arrived at Okinawa Naha Airport, it was 1830. About twenty minutes late. After going through quarantine and immigration check, I waited at baggage carousel. I did not see my luggage and I began to worry. Not long after, a lady named Kinjo came to me and told me that my luggage was still in Taipei and it would only arrive on the next flight in the next morning. She apologized and asked for my passport and luggage tag. She then filled in a luggage irregularity form and guaranteed that my luggage would arrive the next morning.

I knew the dojo was far away (thanks to the GPS map which I downloaded) from the airport and I did not wish to trouble Sensei to take me to the airport to collect my luggage. I asked Kinjo if she could have my luggage delivered to the dojo. She then promised that it would be delivered to Sensei’s dojo as soon as my luggage arrived. I was (although) quite relieve but I was still not comfortable and was worried. My clothes and gifts were in my luggage.

This is the first time I ever lost (not completely, just miss connection) my luggage and I would have no clothes to change that night. Yucks! Smelly and stinky I would be.

I proceeded through the exit after examined by the custom and I saw Breyett Sensei (hachi dan) in baseball cap waiting. I bowed to him as if a Japanese would and we greeted each other. I was kind of speechless. He took me to the car and drove me to his dojo/home.

Along the way, I could see Okinawa. The place is neat and clean. It is calm and mellow. No hassling. The traffic is really smooth and no rushing. Drivers are courteous and careful. I cannot find reckless and rude drivers on Okinawa streets like I can in Malaysia. Okinawa is such a nice place and it is also called the Hawaii of Japan.

We talked about karate on the way passing by Kadena Air Base (US Military installation).

When we arrived at the dojo, Sensei introduced me to his lovely cats and took me into the tatami room in the dojo then to the lounge. Giving an introductory tour around the dojo. It was already late I did not take any photos. Here are some photos which I took the next day.

We waited for Sumako Senpai (go-dan) to come home. Not for long she came home and we introduced each other and they brought me to Mintama, an Italian restaurant nearby for dinner. The food was delicious and the place and atmosphere were very unique. If I have another chance to go there for dinner, I will take some photos.

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One Response to “Okinawa Hai!”

  • Cold Soba | Adrian Hoe’s WebLog on September 18th, 2007 23:06 1

    [...] Besides karate and yoga, I learned to make Sushi rice ball and cold soba during my first trip to Okinawa. Actually, the one I ate on Okinawa was not soba. I can’t remember the name of the noddle but it was white in color. I learned to make the dishes from Sumako sempai. [...]

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