Adventures in Geocaching

Geocaching.  I never really understood what that was all about.  Over the past month or so, Matt and our friend Andrez have really gotten in to this hobby, which is somewhat like an adult scavenger hunt.  It's a big network of people who leave little boxes in hidden spots for others to find via GPS and log who's been there.  There isn't much "treasure" to be found, but the fun of it is really in the search.  There is even a website where people who find the "caches" log their finds and give others clues on where they are located.  I'm not sure if I'd enjoy geocaching back home in places like Chicago, but Okinawa, with all of its mountains, caves, beaches, hiking trails, and historic sites, is the perfect place for it.  What's great is that you don't have to JUST go geocaching.  You can be out for a hike or visiting a site-seeing spot, and chances are, nearby is a cache to find as well!  As you may have guessed, the guys have gotten us girls (me and our friend Lyndsey) enjoying it as well.  It's a fun thing we can all do together while out exploring the island, and we've had some really fun adventures this past month.   

Andrez retrieving mine & Lyndsey's first cache from a tree

Signing the log

Flowers at one memorial in Peace Prayer Park (our first geocaching location)

A huge staircase through the jungle that I don't think anyone had been on in a long time

Stopping for some fun in the park

A cave - we never ended up finding this cache

Some kanji symbols written in the cave wall

Another day geocaching on the East side of Okinawa - this was a gorgeous peninsula that  would  be a perfect spot for a picnic I think!

The water was beautiful this day

You guessed it - there was a cache at this spot as well

Such a beautiful spot!

Matt & Andrez having fun jumping over a huge crevice

Hahahaaaa

While on the East side of the island, we passed by Katsuren Castle ruins, and decided to stop

What a cool castle - I think this was my favorite so far!

Lyndsey & I at the top

Did I ever think I'd take up Geocaching as a hobby??  Not really - I didn't even understand what it was!  But, like I said, it is a really fun outdoor thing to do with our friends, and so far, we've had some great times and discovered some places that we never knew existed in Okinawa.

Thanks for following!

-C

Guacamole

A popular trend popping up all over the US (so I've heard) is Food Trucks, and Okinawa finally seems to be tagging along.  About a month ago, Matt and I noticed a brand new one park itself in front of a store we pass by pretty frequently, and this truck sells burritos - like Chipotle-style burritos that we've been missing out on for 3 1/2 years now!  Recently, we were in need of a quick lunch, decided to try it out, and were definitely impressed by the freshness and quality of the food!  Matt even got seconds:)  The truck is named Guacamole, and the owner is a young Okinawan man who speaks very good English.  We had a great time joking around with him!   

Love this little spot!  Definitely going to be back before we leave Oki!

-C 

Oldies but Goodies

On one of the dreary winter weekends that we've had lately, Matt and I ventured into a nearby antique store that is right near our house.  We've passed it probably hundreds of times over the last 3 years but have never stopped to go in.  We didn't buy anything this day, and YES, it did have "that old smell", but it was actually a TON of fun for us to look up and down the aisles of old memorabilia!  This antique store sells American antiques mostly, not Japanese, so we were able to spot things over and over that we knew during our childhoods.  Some of the items were even older than us - things that our parents and even grandparents would have used.  How they got their hands on these things, I will never know!  The whole time, Matt and I kept saying, "I used to have this when I was a kid!" or, "my grandparents had this at their house!"  Most fun I've had in a store in a while!  I thought it was a pretty neat place, and here are some photos to share with you all (there would have been a TON more, but there were "no photos allowed"... oops!) 

Old champagne bottles

Illinois 1971

Cool perfume bottle

Hundreds of door knobs & keys

Very expensive Milk Glass

I feel like both of our parents used to own these casserole dishes!

Milk jugs

Original Ball Mason jars

All different old scales

Raggedy Ann dolls

Typewriter key box - each letter has it's own compartment!

I've always loved old things that aren't around anymore, so I had a ton of fun in this store.  Hope you enjoyed as well!

-C