Up the Road

This is all walking from our house.. small farm roads that run through miles of brown sugar cane with myriads of paths that lead down to the sea. 

It's simply STUNNING.

 

{I adore this man!}

....

I don't actually want to post this last photo but because we've been getting asked about the wildlife here, I will. 

the "wildlife" is really in the sea. 

on land, we have bats the size of cats, wild pigs (still havent seen any), habu snakes, and what I literally scream and run from:

banana spiders.

like this one we saw sunday.

 

{presently doing a thorough look around our balcony to make sure none are creeping around} 

they can get as big as your hand but are not poisonous. Cam told me the other night while we were out walking in the DARK to look out for massive ones spanning the wall. ohhhh, you're just so hilarious. it's times like those I jump on him and make him carry me.

Cape Zanpa

our favorite part about this beach is that they play continuous music.

 american songs. japanese cover bands.

you've never heard elton john's "tiny dancer" until you hear it sung with a strong japanese accent. haha.. wow.

beautiful saturday.

we also bbq'd freshly caught fish...though we prefer raw any day!

{fish grilled in lemon juice, white wine, olive oil, and sea salt}

hope you had a great saturday too. xox

..

I got my motorcycle license!
(I was the only girl in the class - shocker)
and today we picked up our scooter ... if you could see my face behind the helmet you'd see the biggest smile. it is SOOO much fun.

the max speed limit on the island is 60 KM.

that's a whopping 37 MPH.

which should give you an idea of the wonderful pace of life over here (:

Headed to mainland Japan

Do you remember when I told you on here about CRASH Love On Japan? 

It's the organization that has been on the ground since the March earthquake and tsunami, wholly dedicated to helping the Japanese.

I'm heading up to Tokyo to their headquarters and then to some of the sites in the north that were hit hard to volunteer in the relief work.

{click for their website to find out more}

It's my hope to be able to go up as often as I can as it works out with Cam's field schedule. He would be there with me in a heartbeat if he could. 

I'm not leaving for about two weeks, but we would love your prayers - not just that I would be a help - but far more so for the Japanese people. I read a report from one of the workers this week who said that the devastation is so extreme that they expect it to be years before they leave. 

But -- lives are being restored and changed, one by one!!

Hope it's a lovely Friday/weekend for you all.

..

Some of our furniture got here today...two more crates to go!

Here's a peak at how my Pottery Barn addiction lives on in Okinawa

Dear beloved {old} co-workers, I still watch the show all the way out here (:

Orion Beer Festival

Remember we told you about Orion ~ Okinawa's locally brewed beer that tastes oddly similar to Coors? And that this island loooves its festivals?

Those two things came together this Saturday.
Sadly my better half had to work the night shift during their ongoing field operation, so I went with my friend and a bunch of other people we recently met.

It was nothing short of friendly islanders, more traditional Eisa dancing, Japanese rock bands (hilarious!), summer kimonos, great festival food, fireworks and of course lots and lots of yummy orion. Best part was that the proceeds went to helping tsunami victims on mainland Japan.

{our awesome friend/next door neighbor Mimi}

Obon is another summer festival still going on right now...The traditional Eisa dance is done in full costume throughout neighborhoods each night commemorating their ancestors. Our evenings have been full of near and distant drums, singing, and music from the stringed sanshin.