Okinawa

Destination: Okinawa. Japan's very own tropical islands awaited Aki and I last week and it was a trip to remember. We set off early on a rainy Sunday morning (and almost missed our flight due to the stringent security checks) and arrived at sunny Ishigaki Island about lunchtime. After checking into the hotel we wasted no time in catching a ferry to Taketomi Island to relax on the beach for the afternoon. The water was a beautiful turquoise colour like I've never seen before. We headed back to Ishigaki to enjoy the first of many delicious Okinawa meals and had an early night.


The next morning we set out early to Iriomote Island. We met our guide for the days trip and set off for a kayaking/tramping mission. The scenery was amazing, from the river flanked by mangroves, the waterfall in the bush and the rugged nature of the trees and mountains. Our guide cooked us a great feed of Okinawa soba and peach-pineapple at the top of the waterfall. After that we went to a secluded swimming hole to cool off. After the day trip we stayed on Iriomote but it was a pretty sleepless night due to the heat and lack of aircon in our room.


We left early again to go to Kuroshima (Heart Island). This island was very small (you could bike around the whole island in an hour), very flat (no mountains at all), and very rural (a lot more cows than people.....kind of like NZ), but it had the most amazing snorkelling spot which we enjoyed very much. It was my first time snorkelling so I spent hours in the water watching the tropical fish. We did a night tour to look for giant sea turtles but all we could find were giant crabs...bloody creepy things!! The next day we went snorkelling again then reluctantly left to return to the big smoke. I really want to go back again some time and stay longer than four days....a couple of weeks oughta do it!

http://wikitravel.org/en/Yaeyama_Islands

Trotter Home Movies

Liam riding a kids rollercoaster......"More!!"



Inspired by the Morganz bowling vid, I threw together a little something of my own

Brothers in Nihon

After a long time waiting, Steve and Roshanna finally arrived in Japan for a two week break and I was definitely excited to show them round. The excitement started about 5 minutes after they arrived as they shared their big news...they got engaged!!! Too bad I beat you to it bro, you'll have to wait til after my wedding! Unfortunately the weather didn't want to cooperate and so they were treated to only one sunny day. Nevertheless, we did our best to show them what Japan has to offer. Their trip was limited to the Kanto area (Yokohama and Tokyo) but there was still plenty to see and do. As for me, I was bloody happy to get a cricket bat and have a little hit in the park (Steve, we have to finish the series....it's 1-1).

Yoyogi Park, Shibuya; Shanz shows off her hashi skills; This is how alcohol affects your vision at 3 in the morning.

Sippin' Speights in Roppongi; The NZ Travel Cafe; Steve washes away his diseases with the magic smoke, Asakusa

Liam checks out dinner before it gets grilled; Half of the Trotter clan in Japan; AT is the Moon Light Strike Champion....but I'm still the Champion; Aki teaches Liam how to fish