Touristy Travels & Training for a Triathlon

The irony behind this blog is that when I have nothing happening, I have all the time in the world to write… But when I’m actually busy, I can’t seem to find a spare second to write down my thoughts. The past month and a half has been just that way.  Between my sister staying with us for three straight weeks, a super typhoon hitting the island and training for my triathlon relay, I’ve been bouncing around, gasping for breath (literally).

To recap all that’s come to pass, I’ll just stick with the best of the best.

First, Shannon’s visit… Three weeks of castles, cliffs & beaches; sightseeing, snorkeling & swimming; sushi, seafood & steak... 21 days of laughing, joking & bonding... all in an attempt to give my 18-year-old sister the most exciting post-graduation trip to ever be experienced.

1) Churaumi Aquarium: One of the largest aquariums in the world, filled with thousands of fish and dozens of sharks... 

Most interesting exhibit?  Coral Reef World, a room showing all of the poisonous/dangerous underwater creatures you should avoid when swimming, snorkeling or diving in Okinawa, including the following:  box jellyfish, sea wasp anemone, Portuguese Man of War, cone snails, sea snakes, blue-ringed octopus, stonefish, lionfish, stripe-eel catfish, crown of thorns starfish, flower urchins and diadema urchins.

http://oki-churaumi.jp/en/images/dl/leaflet_kikenseibutsu.pdf

2) Shuri Castle: Former palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom, built during the 14^th century, almost completely destroyed during WWII, then rebuilt 1958-1992. Very different from the castles I toured while living in Spain (Grenada, Madrid, etc). While it did have a golden throne, it seemed to lack the same opulence and grandeur that you see in many European castles.

3) Ryukyumura: A small theme park showcasing traditional Okinawan culture, including a village recreated from the Ryukyu Kingdom… Here you can see the essence of Okinawan architecture--houses built 200 years ago (moved to this location), as well as the longstanding industries of the island (sugar factories, pottery making, and farming). If you enjoy history, this spot is for you… Ryukyumura feels like a journey back in time.

4)  Zanpa Lighthouse: Climb a cylindrical staircase to catch a glimpse of one of the island’s most breathtaking views... You’ll find yourself dozens of feet above the ocean, overlooking the cliffs as waves crash below you. Seeing the ocean from this height is surreal. While it was certainly a serene moment with my sister, I will definitely come back with my husband… and a bottle of wine :)

 

5) Okinawa World: This is a tourists’ mecca, located just an hour southeast of Kadena Air Base. Here you can go spelunking through the Gyokusendo Caves, blow your own Ryukyuan glass, sample Okinawan-grown sugar cane, sip Habu sake, taste-test several local desserts (including Mango Cake and the Okinawan Salt Cookie), watch an Eisa Dancing show, and tour the Habu Snake Museum. Of course, Shannon’s favorite part was seeing all the snakes! Yuckkk!

6) Okinawa Peace Memorial Museum: Commemorates the 200,000+ lives lost during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. Touring the museum not only helped me better understand the history behind the war, but also the role of the US military on the island since the 1940s. Perhaps the most moving exhibit was simply a room full of books, filled with stories written by survivors of the Battle of Okinawa. Shannon and I spent almost an hour reading these gruesome accounts…and there’s one I will never forget. An Okinawan girl tells the story of how she witnessed her mother being decapitated by Japanese soldiers because she could not speak Japanese… and then later watched her younger brother and sister die after being knifed to death by the same soldiers.

Overall, it was a very busy few weeks with my sister, but we got to see so much together! Fortunately I was able to talk her into working out with me so I didn’t have to stop training for my race while she was here...This Sunday I will be competing in my first ever triathlon relay and I’m on a team of three: I will run, Tamara will bike, and Maria will swim. To prepare, I’ve been running intervals, doing pace runs and cross training with yoga, spinning and CrossFit. I’m really looking forward to the race and I’m hoping to set a personal record. Wish me luck!