Okinawa 4 Days Trip - Day 4 (Kokusai Street 国際通り)

7th October 2012

Had a really nice sleep and woke up fresh. Me and my friend had breakfast in a fast food joint next to the tourist information center at Kokusai Street (literally translate, Kokusai is International). Wondered why it was named like that.

However, still we were too early. So, we decided to tour the area first. Almost all the shops in that area  have early opening time, around 8 am, one could see the shop owners arranging stuffs and prepare for businesses. We went to the Makishi Public Market 牧志公設市場. One can buy the raw materials at the market and then go to the second floor to get it cooked. A bit like the market in Aomori where I had sashimi with rice 刺身丼.

Makishi Public Market 牧志公設市場

Okinawa 4 Days Trip - Day 3

6th October 2012

Went to Okinawa World Cave in the morning. It was just around 10 km from Naha City. So, we left the guest house on 7.30 am after checking the GPS that it would take around 50 minutes from guest house to the place the night before. However, the opening time was 9 am. We reached on 8.30 am, too early! Initially, wanted to have breakfast in the Okinawa World Cave, however, since we got the opening time wrong, had to find somewhere else to eat. Too bad that nearby that area, no cafe and no restaurant. We circled around that area, finally gave up and bought bread and coffee at a convenience store. We went back to Okinawa World and it was over 9 am. The parking area was almost full already! So fast.

Okinawa World

Online Banking Scam

Checking emails on my seldom used email account. To my surprise, after Maybank2u and Cimb Clicks online scams, now even RHB is being used!

online banking scam

OMG! After all the education by the CIMB and Maybank to their customers, now the fraudsters shift target to other banks' users. They really evolved fast to cheat people.

25th November 2012
Addition: checking my mail, haiz! another scam mail, this time AmBank is used.

Okinawa 4 Days Trip - Day 2 (Part 2)

5th October 2012

After all the walking around the aquarium, we were hungry. So, we decided to go to Fruits Land to eat the fruits boat that looked so delicious from the Fruits Land brochure. It was just next to the Okinawa Pineapple Park. Due to time constraints, we just went to Fruits Land.

Okinawa Fruits Land 沖縄フルーツランド

Okinawa 4 Days Trip - Day 2 (Part 1)

5th October 2012

A tour to Okinawa is not complete without a trip to Churaumi Aquarium 美ら海水族館 located in Ocean Expo Park. So, we spent half a day there. Since distance with car was around 2 hours from Naha City and we planned to go to Cape Manza too, we left the guest house real early at around 6.15 am. When I went to the living room to wait for my friend, the guy from the guest house thought that we were going to check out for waking up so early.

We passed by Cape Manza first. The view was beautiful too without the sunset. 

Cape Manza 万座毛

Okinawa 4 Days Trip - Day 1

4th October 2012

Woke up before 5 am to take a 5.36 am to Fukuoka Airport. I couldn't sleep well the night before, felt so tired. To prevent overslept, I asked my friend to call me on the morning because if I missed the train, I would miss the flight too. (・_・;)(I had overslept before, luckily my mode of transportation was shinkansen, I still could take the next bullet train.)

Although the time was still early, a lot of commuters were waiting for the train. Me and my friend took reserved seats on the express train from Nakatsu to Hakata. We reached Hakata on 7.16 am. I thought we still have plenty of time before we board the flight. However, after the subway from Hakata to Fukuoka Airport, we still have to walk quite a distance to the check-in counter and then boarding gate. We were just in time. 

Reached Naha Airport and went to tourist information center to take brochures first. We bought a set of discount tickets for the Churaumi Aquarium and 10 other tourist spots. It was cheaper than to buy separate ticket. After that, we went to the rental car waiting area to find the person in charge. The rental car company name is Paradise. I think the rental rate was quite cheap, for 4 days and 4 nights, it cost only 11000 yen. My friend told me that the Madza Rental, Toyota Rental and other famous rental car companies have a more expensive rental rate. 

Russian Car - Lada 2107

With all the new designs coming out from all the car manufacturers, a 2010 car model would look old compared to the 2012 model. So, I was very surprised when I saw the picture of Russian Lada 2107. The look was so 80s. However, don't be shock, it is still being manufactured and enjoyed good sales in Russia!

Lada 2107 (picture source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lada_Riva)

Well, the main reason people bought it because it was cheap. Since this car still uses the old technology without much electronic components, it was relatively easy to maintain. I think that maybe this car gives a nostalgic feeling too, the 80s!