FROM GLASS BOTTOM BOATS TO GIANT PANCAKES & COFFEE
18.01.2025
Both Mami and I slept well and got up by 7:30am and were ready for breakfast. We met up with Nana, Youko and Yoshi at the restaurant. Youko is not 100% but seems a lot better than yesterday. The hotel breakfast here was okay, I would give it 7/10, only because they use a lot of Okinawa food such as tofu, purple potato and bitter gourd.
This morning we had some bread, scrambled eggs, grilled salmon and salad. I didn’t mention yesterday, but there is all you can eat ice cream. The flavours are purple potato, cheesecake and sticky potato and Okinawan biscuit. Fortunately for me the last flavour was like cookies and cream, which I added to my fruit salad.
With breakfast over, we drove for about 25 minutes along the north coast to reach Kabira Bay, a place renowned for its white sandy beaches, turquoise waters, and coral reefs. Unfortunately the skies were cloudy today, so the water didn’t appear as bright as the last time Mami and I visited. Nevertheless, the bay was still beautiful.
One of the most popular activities here is taking a glass-bottom boat ride, where you can observe colorful fish and the underwater coral reefs without getting wet. The boat’s clear bottom allows you to see marine life up close. I think the boat we got in was a bit older than some of the others and there were times when it was hard to see through the glass, due to air bubbles trapped on the underside of the glass.
We did see a wide variety of fish, including Nemo, which made everyone happy. We were told that we might see a turtle at one particular spot we stopped at, but we lucked out there. However we did see a sea snake as we were returning to the beach. Apparently they do have sharks in that area but they must have gone on holiday with the turtles.
On our way back from Kabira Bay, we made a quick stop at a waterfall. This is a small but really beautiful waterfall that Mami and I discovered on our last trip. I wanted the others to see it, and they took a number of photos. While watching the waterfall, Nana commented that the air was so clean around the waterfall that she thought it would be good for Youko’s flu. I hope she is right.
Last time we visited this waterfall, I actually crossed the river, rock hopping my way to the other side to get some more photos from a different angle. Yes I got wet, but the photos were worth it. This time I thought it may not be a wise idea, so I stayed on the safe side.
Refreshed from the visit to the waterfall, our next stop was at a café called Willkery Café. Mami had spotted a picture of a pancake and a delicious-looking coffee on their website. I am always wary of Japanese coffee as what some cafes serve up bears absolutely no resemblance to coffee.
What we didn’t expect, though, was just how large the pancakes were. They were so much bigger than what we’re used to in mainland Japan! Each pancake was the size of a small plate and there were three of them!!I I had a big breakfast and I often don’t feel like lunch, but there was no way Mami could finish this on her own. I ate about one third of a pancake and the family helped, especially Nana the whale shark!!
As for the coffee, it was really good. I told Mami I would be happy to call in there tomorrow before we leave for the airport. I’m not sure it will happen, but I’d like another coffee there if I could.
It has been a busy 5 days and we are all ready for an afternoon nap. I have had a bit of a nap while Mami wrote down some points on what I should include in the blog and the correct spelling. Mami then had a nap as did Nana.
While I write today’s blog, the two sisters have gone for a walk together after their refreshing nap. On their return, Mami told me they just enjoyed this perfect weather, a temperature of 21 degrees with 50% humidity. They think it will be difficult to go back to Shunan, currently 11 degrees. Not for me,I enjoyed the cold as well.
We finished the day by going to a Japanese BBQ restaurant. Another food Ishigaki is famous for is beef. It must have a marbling rate of at least 25% to be considered very good quality. Of all wagyu, Ishigaki beef is one of the most tender because its fat melts at a lower temperature. We ordered different cuts and quality of meat. At Yakiniku restaurant, the meat is already cut for you in pieces about 5cm x 6cm with wagyu beef, pork, beef, as well as some scallops and prawns. You cook your own food on a circular mesh grid above a gas flame, allowing you to choose how you want your meat—rare, medium, or well-done. Mami and I opted for the meat and seafood banquet, which came with vegetables, rice, soup, pickles, salad, and dessert. It was $66 for two people, which I thought was a great deal. The portions were so generous that we were too full to finish, and we ended up sharing with the rest of the family.
