We're Back !!!
6 days down south with 4 full days to travel and explore the lush island of Okinawa! Renting a car is a MUST and with it we saw a good part of the island. From the northern shores with its ruins and tropical foliage to the southern shores with it castles and rocky beaches...it was a lovely trip!!! Though it was a bit strange having all the random foreigners around due to many US bases in the area, it was nice to have some good ol' comfort food. Mmm! Meatloaf and fried green tomatoes or steak with mashed potatoes and A1 sauce. Mmm! Yet, the portions were huge to accommodate the Western population, something I'm not use too after eating in Japan for two years. So, the food in Okinawa was a rare treat!
It was also fun to watch WESTERN TV -- waking up to Good Morning America or The View and chillin' in the afternoon to watch Access Hollywood as well as finding Cheetos in the combini and buying A&W root beer floats. The best would be watching your non-American friend taste root beer for the first time! hehe
It was also fun to watch WESTERN TV -- waking up to Good Morning America or The View and chillin' in the afternoon to watch Access Hollywood as well as finding Cheetos in the combini and buying A&W root beer floats. The best would be watching your non-American friend taste root beer for the first time! hehe 
As for the dogs! These are called Shisa (Shi-Shi).
A very common piece of Okinawan pottery is a figure called Shisa. It was introduced to Okinawa from China during the Ryukyu Kingdom era in 14th and 15th century. The shisa has a long tradition of being a guardian of Okinawan houses. People in Okinawa display their Shisa is two ways:
1) According to local custom, Shisa is placed on the roof of the building. Depending of the direction they look, they have different purposes. When Shisa faces northeast, it is said to protect the house from stormy winds. When it faces south, it protects the house from fire.
2) Although the original Shisa is on the roof, these days they are often seen standing on pillars on both sides of the gate to the house. They guard the entrance as a symbol of authority, protecting it from any harm. When a Shisa couple is displayed one always has its mouth open -- that's considered the female -- and the other has its mouth closed -- the male.
Freaked out by the worm floating in that bottle of mescal tequila?
Then you’re probably too squeamish for the snake coiled up in a bottle of Okinawa awamori.
And that’s a shame, for there’s nothing better for what ails you than a shot of habu sake. This drink comes to Okinawa from China, where the snake is known for its medicinal properties. Historically, the Okinawan people believed it gave them strong stamina. Did you know that the habu snake can survive for 450 days on water alone? Habu sake is said to be good for back problems and arthritis. It is said to take the poisons out of the body. The recipe for habu sake is believed to have come from China centuries ago when present-day Okinawa was known as the independent Ryukyu Kingdom. The recipe mixes 13 herbs and spices with a rice liquor that Okinawa’s poisonous habu snakes have been soaked in. Some of the herbs, such as ginseng, turmeric, hibiscus and fennel, have been used in Chinese herbal remedies for centuries. The habu snake’s body has 19 amino acids said to be beneficial to humans. Its poison dissolves in alcohol and poses no risk. The name “habu sake” is actually a misnomer. It isn’t sake at all; it’s awamori, a stronger liquor created through a distilling process of rice. Awamori is a clear liquor that has been aged. The longer the aging, the smoother the taste and the more potent the alcohol content. Habu sake, because of the herbs and honey that some producers add, is a yellowish color. And, of course, the more expensive bottles come with the snake inside.
Then you’re probably too squeamish for the snake coiled up in a bottle of Okinawa awamori.
And that’s a shame, for there’s nothing better for what ails you than a shot of habu sake. This drink comes to Okinawa from China, where the snake is known for its medicinal properties. Historically, the Okinawan people believed it gave them strong stamina. Did you know that the habu snake can survive for 450 days on water alone? Habu sake is said to be good for back problems and arthritis. It is said to take the poisons out of the body. The recipe for habu sake is believed to have come from China centuries ago when present-day Okinawa was known as the independent Ryukyu Kingdom. The recipe mixes 13 herbs and spices with a rice liquor that Okinawa’s poisonous habu snakes have been soaked in. Some of the herbs, such as ginseng, turmeric, hibiscus and fennel, have been used in Chinese herbal remedies for centuries. The habu snake’s body has 19 amino acids said to be beneficial to humans. Its poison dissolves in alcohol and poses no risk. The name “habu sake” is actually a misnomer. It isn’t sake at all; it’s awamori, a stronger liquor created through a distilling process of rice. Awamori is a clear liquor that has been aged. The longer the aging, the smoother the taste and the more potent the alcohol content. Habu sake, because of the herbs and honey that some producers add, is a yellowish color. And, of course, the more expensive bottles come with the snake inside.
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