Cooking, Beer, Eating, and Snorkeling

Nate and I excited to get the Orion Festival started

Hai Sai!

Catching you all up with our activities from September.  On Labor Day weekend we attended an Okinawan cooking class that was taught by the locals.  We learned how to make sushi cake (just what it sounds like) and sushi.  We also got to learn how to make soy sauce soup which is a soup most Okinawans make daily.

Nate and I ready for cooking class

Nate and the other dude in our group with our finished sushi cake

Our sushi cake

Our cooking group

Nate rolling his sushi

Nate and I with our finished Sushi

Finished sushi roll

Finished off our day with matcha tea and a sesame biscuit treat

Saturday night I attended a paint night with other women from around the island.  My friend Alex and I went.  The picture below is supposed to be peacock feathers.... haha not so much but the colors match our guest room so it'll do! #nopicasso

On Sunday we attended the annual Orion Beer Festival.  It was held not too far from where we live, only about 10 minutes.  They had all types of food there and good ol' American festival food like corn dogs and fries :)  They also had an eisa dance festival going on next to the beer festival.  Unfortunately, as Okinawa likes to do since it's a tropical island, it started down pouring about 30 minutes after we got to the festival.  It was pretty comical actually.  Luckily we were able to find shelter and stayed relatively dry, until the third down pour of the night.  By that time we didn't care after a few orion beers :)

We also met some locals who taught us how the Okinawan's say cheers!  In Japanese they say kanpai!  Well the Okinawan people say "Curry!" and he compared it to the basketball player Stephen Curry

Entrance. And our friend John looking stoked to be there.

Food vendors

Nate and I trying to wait out the downpour under a tent

Waiting out the downpour. Nate was a head taller than most people in the tent... #bondzilla

We are all super excited to be walking in the mud the rest of the day

#muddyriver #riveroforion

Mud after the downpour

My friend Alex and I

John, Alex's husband. Nate got a nice candid shot.

After walking around in the mud all night, I used this as a great excuse to get another Okinawan pedicure.  I think it turned out super cute and will continue to search for excuses about once a month :)

---

Nate and I attempted to go check out one of the many hikes on this island but got lost trying to find the entrance and ended up on top of the 'mountain'.  I think we got some pretty great views from it though! 

Nate and I decided to have a date night and check out on of the nicer restaurants on Okinawa in the new mall - Roy's.  It's a Hawaiian restaurant and was amazing.  Had great views and delicious pineapple martinis so I couldn't complain #drinkingdessert #thiswillbemyappleaday

yum!

Pineapple martini and a view

Our yummy foods. Short ribs and salmon, shrimp and tuna tartar, butter fish with wasabi sauce (this fish melted in your mouth), and a trio of appetizers: poke, short rib, and crab cake.

Sunset view at dinner

Nate and I also decided to go golfing at Banyan Tree Golf Course (located on Kadena Air Base) with our friends Alex and John.  Not a bad day and I got to make friends with some turtles.

Pretty view driving home from golfing.

Turtle attack on the 12th hole!

Nate and I also decided to go check out another snorkel / scuba spot on the island - Sunabe seawall.  It was a bit choppy out there so we didn't stay out long but got a few pics.

In honor of Germany and our love to drink beer, Nate and I decided to host our own Oktoberfest here in Okinawa.  Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures after everyone showed up since I was having too much fun enjoying my beer.  So here was our setup!  It wasn't Munich but it'll do ;)

New stuff coming for next blog - our hike to Hiji Falls and I'm currently getting scuba certified this week!  That means Nate and I can explore the underwater world of Okinawa.

And big trips coming up in the pipeline!  Nate and I just booked trips to Kyoto and Thailand in November and China end of December :)  So I'll be busy planning those!

Until next time folks!
​Megan

Follow in our Footsteps:

Orion Beer Festival
Held at Koza Sports Park
〒904-0032 Okinawa Prefecture, Okinawa, Moromizato, 2−1−1
Website
(Usually around first weekend of September and coincides with all Okinawa Eisa dance festival)

Roy's Okinawa
AEONMALL RYCOM, アワセ土地区画整理事業区域内4街区 Kitanakagusuku, Nakagami District, Okinawa Prefecture 901-2300
098-923-3002
Hours:  11am-10pm (Sat, Sun),  11am-3pm, 5pm-10pm (Mon-Fri)

Nail and Wax Salon Tida
1 Chome-6 Chatan, Nakagami District, Okinawa Prefecture 904-0116
098-923-3294
Hours:  10am-6pm (closed Sundays)
​Facebook

Banyan Tree Golf Course (located on Kadena Air Force Base)
Bldg. 12 just inside Kadena Air Base Gate 1
(036) 868-2223

Other Blogs you may be interested in:

Under the Sea

Naha Tug of War