Enroute to Hualian, Taiwan
At this very moment I should be spending Sunday afternoon exploring the Okinawan Island of Ishigaki--but because of high winds the ms Westerdam was not able to dock; instead we continue our journey south toward the island "nation" of Taiwan. Ishigaki is a small island with a small port--we were originally scheduled to tender here--and only one available tugboat. In his announcement this morning, the captain informed us that the maximum allowable winds for docking are 24 knots; the Westerdam was heading into winds of 36 knots. Neither docking nor tendering are safe alternatives under these conditions and, therefore, we will skip this visit. Although passengers moan and groan, the captain does know best for the safety of his ship and his passengers. So today will be an unexpected sea day, time for resting, reading, blogging, and, of course, eating. Among these activities I will make time for going back in blog-time to Naha.
Saturday, 9 March 2019
Naha, Okinawa, Japan
I plan to spend another day with Peg and Carol, since we will be exploring Naha on our own. At breakfast before leaving the ship, Carol surprises me with a gift of a special "Busan" mug from the Starbucks Cities Series.
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| View of Central Naha from My Veranda |
Much of Okinawa Island was destroyed during the brutal fighting of WWII and the rebuilding process has not been very attractive or aesthetic. Naha city offers little that is different from any other Japanese city, with an especially strong emphasis on consumer culture and American influence. I am sure that parts of the island away from the capital city are most beautiful and interesting, but there is no time to visit during this short one-day stay. That is why I was glad to be visiting less-populated Ishigaki next, until that port was cancelled (see above).
We three travelers share a taxi to the central mid-point of Kokusai Dori Street, a miles-long haven for bargain hunters. We part our ways here, planning to meet again in two hours at the centrally-located Starbucks. I head northward on Kokusai, the scene of large buildings in various stages of construction. Local shoppers are just starting to join the crowds of tourists (luckily, the Westerdam is the only ship in port today) on the busy sidewalks, as shops open at 10 and 11am.
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| Children's Artwork Decorating Construction Site on Kokusai Dori |
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| Sidewalk Shops--and Palm Trees--Along Kokusai Dori . . . |
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| . . . but Indoor Markets Offer Even Greater Selections |
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| Statue of Local Lion Deity Points the Way to Pottery City |
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| Entry to One of Many Pottery Studios South of Kokusai Dori |
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| Inside Another Large Mall |
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| Naha's Main Public Transportation: a Monorail System (Station Pictured Above) |
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| Two-Car Monorail Train |
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| Interior of Monorail Car |
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| View of City and Hills as Monorail Rises Above Rooftops |
The castle was both residence and fortification for nobility of the Ryukyu Kingdom, which ruled Okinawa and surrounding islands from 1429 to 1879, when they were absorbed by Japan. So there are many steps to climb and gates to lumber through before reaching the entrance and ticket booth. But the well-restored interior, with its carefully signed walking tour, offers a sense of the life-style of this royal family.
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| First Gateway |
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| Large Colorful Plantings Contrast with the Austere Darkness of the Castle Walls |
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| A Second Gateway with More Steep Steps |
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| Finally, We Arrive in the Central Courtyard with Its Vivid Colors and Decoration |
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| Another View of Central Courtyard |
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| Interior Throne Room |
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| Imperial Ryukyu Throne
We three are of like minds and decide to take a taxi directly back to the ship since it is still raining and we are exhausted from a hard day of walking and absorbing culture. In fact, at the end of today my fitbit will record over 14,500 steps--and my feet can still feel every one of them.
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