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

Our first stop was Gyokusendo 玉泉洞, a limestones cave with stalactites and stalagmites. The weather inside the cave is 21 degree Celsius all year round, even if the temperature outside the cave is soaring 30 plus deg Celsius or cold 15 or 16 deg Celsius.

temperature inside the Gyokusendo is 21 deg Celsius 

the stalactites and stalagmites

The stalactites took years to form, in an area, a ruler is attached to the stalactites and it mentioned that for the stalactites to grow for 1 cm, it will need 30 years to do it.  

baby stalactites

interesting shape after years of corrosion

deer bones were found in the cave (if there was no tag, I wouldn't saw it, so small!)

There is a part of stalactites that look like tapioca, and when the lights up, it looks like  cow teats! Hahahah!

tapioca liked stalactites

cow teats liked stalactites

Others include a waterfall inside the cave, a golden colour big stone and drapes liked stalactites.

waterfall

golden rock

drapes like stalactites

After the cave, we went for the cultural performance (almost same with the one in Ryukyu Mura), just camera was prohibited here. Then, we went to the culture center for some educational information. There are figurines of lions from around the world. Other than that, there are many souvenirs shops. Ah, I spent a lot!

Okinawa Culture Center

expensive mangoes , 2 for 11000 yen

Then, we went to Peace Memorial Park, compared to the other places I went, this was the most quiet. However, the souvenirs in the shop here were quite cheap compared to other places.

Peace Memorial Park

Then, lunch time. We went to Cafe Yabusachi カフェやぶさち for lunch. It was a very scenic cafe with one side of the glass wall facing the beautiful blue sea. The sea water has different tone of blue, so breathtaking! This cafe closes after sunset, interesting! This was the first time I saw closing time like this. I had seafood spaghetti here, delicious!

Cafe Yabusaschi カフェやぶさち

After the lunch, we left for Sefa Utaki 斎場御嶽, a sacred place for Okinawans and a part of Unesco World Heritage Site. My colleagues said that this is another power spot. Hahahah! However, I didn't dare to photograph a lot of places in Sefa Utaki, I believed that some should not be disturbed.

Sefa utaki 斎場御嶽

Then, off to Mihama American Village. The buildings there were very special and colourful. We had Indian food as dinner there. The briyani rice was wonderful. 

the Ferris wheel in American Village (it could be seen from main road)

the unique buildings

unique buildings

We watched sunset in the Sunset Beach. No matter where is the sunset, it is beautiful!

sunset beach

The night view in American Village is very nice too!

night view in american village

After dinner, we went back to Naha City, we checked into another guest house, Little Asia. I like the bed here, but the toilets are too small! But for 1200 yen, cannot expect too much!