WE RELUCTANTLY SAY GOODBYE TO OKINAWA
19.01.2025
I have started this blog in Ishigaki Airport and the time is 2.08pm. Our flight to Fukuoka is scheduled to leave at 3.25pm, so not long to go before we leave this tropical paradise.
But everything moves on and with the Edamatsu family the main motivator to move on is food!! I have just been told that the family has decided we will stay at Fukuoka Airport and have dinner there. The fact that the food is usually more expensive at the airport and our arrival time is about 5.25pm, is ignored in favour of eating!!
We made it safely to Fukuoka and while the Edamatsu family have gone to a restaurant, Mami has given me permission to go and write the blog in Starbucks. So that is what I am doing, writing with pauses as I enjoy my large latte and cinnamon roll.
Anyway enough of that family stuff, here’s how our day panned out.
Today, we had difficulty in the morning as the annual Ishigaki Marathon was held today. The course included running through the city precinct as well in the countryside. It was fun for us as the course passed the hotel where we are staying. So we went out on the footpath and spent half an hour cheering on the runners as they passed.
The downside of this was we were trapped inside the hotel grounds until the majority of runners had passed through. Even then we had a very officious official who wouldn’t let us out of the hotel carpark, even when the nearest runner was still 30 metres away and almost walking.
This happened all the way along on our trip back to the coffee shop we had discovered yesterday, Cafe Willkery. Give a person a badge, baton and armband and their lust for power completely overwhelms any common sense they may have once possessed.
When we finally arrived at Cafe Willkery the staff was completely different to yesterday, but the good news is the food and coffee were just as good. We stayed for about half an hour, then drove out of the cafe carpark, to be confronted with more officials enjoying their new found powers.
We finally got out of Ishigaki City and, with Nana still patiently driving, took a coastal road to a well known lookout, Tamatorizaki Lookout. Despite the warning signs telling us to be wary of Habu, an extremely poisonous snake found in Okinawa, we bravely marched up the hillside and were rewarded with some fantastic views of the coast and surrounding lush greenery on the mountains. Well worth the journey.
As time was on the march, we reluctantly left Tamatorizaki Lookout behind and with Nana at the wheel, we drove to the car rental depot. A courtesy bus from the car hire company took us to the airport with plenty of time to check in luggage and hand luggage.
The flight back to Fukuoka left on time and was uneventful, which is just what you want when you board a plane. Mami, as she always does, booked us in near the emergency escape door. We know the drill back to front by now but the real bonus is the extra leg room you get. So for me, it was a very relaxing and uneventful flight. Well done Mami.
This days blog ends with me telling you the Nana is sick of driving, so the two hour drive from Fukuoka Airport back to Shunan became my responsibility. I enjoy driving but my passengers and be a bit critical as back seat drivers. Luckily they were pretty tired, so I don’t think I copped any flack. Or it could have been I just removed my hearing aide, so any criticism just flew past my ears without registering. Yes i do have a happy smirk as I write this!!
As our 6-day family trip to Ishigaki comes to a close, I can’t help but feel a bit sad to leave this beautiful place. From the stunning beaches to the delicious food and fun experiences, Okinawa has certainly become one of our favorite places to visit. Although Youko wasn’t feeling her best, it’s been a wonderful family holiday filled with laughter, new experiences, and precious memories.
