Travelog for: Cassandra

Yesterday I had my first big barbecue! =) We had meat, vegetables, grilled cheese, salats, bread, potatoes.. but.. nothing tasted as good as the desert! =) ..

Goodbye mummy...

Today´s the big day.. I´m leaving! Puh.. it´s hard for me to leave home and let my mummy alone, but I found a great host in Japan and I can´t wait to see more from this beautiful world! =)

JaymeC - I´m comming! =)

Today we took a very neat trip to a place called Okinawa World. Our trip started off in a cave, where we were supposed to be quiet...






This is a waterfall








It was a long walk! When it was all through we stopped for lunch and a walk through the village area. They had an area where glass was being made


We also got to look down at a brewery


Finally we got to the exit and the Eisa Dancers. Eisa is a traditional dance to Okinawa. It was a very neat show to see!




You can see a video example of Eisa Dancing here: Eisa

More adventures soon!

Love,
Cassandra

I'm sorry about the wait between updates! Its been rainy and quite busy. But today we went to a neat place called the Pineapple Park! After we paid for our ticket we went to get into the pineapple carts!

Here I am inside!


See those things behind me? Its baby pineapples! We got to learn all about pineapples, I love the little ones.

We also got to see lots of other flowers that are related to pineapples


When we got out of the cart we walked through a small seashell museum


Then we went onto the store and bought lots of yummy pineapple snacks. My tummy still hurts a little... They even had pineapple wine!


We took our pineapple wine for a relaxing afternoon on the beach! Ahh.


Write more soon,
Cassandra

Today we went to a place called the Shinikean Gardens. It was very beautiful! Its been inscribed by the World Heritage Organization as an important historic spot. It was the Imperial Gardens for the Ryukyu Kingdom back before Okinawa became a part of Japan.


The first thing we saw when we went in was the guard house.


Then we had to walk down a little pathway through a forest.



Where we had to pause to examine a snail.


After that we got our first view of the rest home here, it was quite large for that time in history.


Unfortunately there wasn't much to see inside besides the set up of the home, but we took a few pictures anyways.



Looking outside you could see the beautiful water, and a rock bridge.


There was also another small rest house.


This picture is quite funny in a way. Okinawa is quite a small island! However, the Ryukyu Kings did not want their adversaries to know how small it was, so when they came to visit they brought them to this place to show them the outlay of the land and how large it was. Its one of the very few spots on Okinawa where you can see no water! I haven't seen another spot on Okinawa up high where you can't see water actually.


Write more soon,
Cassandra

Jayme has been very busy lately but today we took a little break and headed to one of the local beaches. First we had to stop for lunch


Then I got to get down and play in the sand! You can see lots of bits of coral and seashells


There were a few big rocks on the beach


The water was very beautiful today


You can see it was very clear!


Can you see the big US Navy ship behind us?


Write more soon,
Cassandra

I know our trip to the beach didn't make it seem very October like, but it IS almost Halloween! So today we celebrated. First... we decided to carve a pumpkin. Its rather large.


Jayme cut and opened the top for us (she didn't want us ot hurt ourselves) and we got the job of digging out all the goo inside. She said some people make pumpkin pie with it, but she's not Marth Stewart enough.


Eventually we got them all cleaned out and here we are after the carving is all done!


We put a candle in them and turned out the lights and...


After we were done with pumpkins we went to go 'trunk-or-treating'. Its a festival that's only done on the base Jayme lives on and people decorate their trunks and you trick-or-treat there. It was lots of fun, but we had to help keep the kids contained so we couldn't pose for pictures








Tomorrow Jayme said we're going trick-or-treating and hopefully we can get some better pictures then!

Write more soon!
Cassandra

Mommy I'm sorry I didn't get to write about it earlier, Jayme's been very busy. We've been helping her do tests and papers! But we DID get to go trick-or-treating!

First we had to get our pumpkins ready...


Then we went to visit all the houses and say trick-or-treat! This one looked a little confused... is it Halloween or Christmas?


Some people had really cool pumpkins like this Yoda pumpkin


Some of the houses were a little scary.


We were all so tired we fell asleep on the way home.


But look at all this loot!


Write more soon,
Cassandra

Mommy,
Today I finally got ot see more flowers! Okinawa is still warm and blooming, there are flowers all year. Today we visited the botanical gardens. They had these funny painted cows near the entrance. One of the local schools did them.


There was a pretty bridge with vines and palm trees.


See the little boat in the small pond behind me?


And here's an overview of the entire park. Its so green! It was quite a walk up.


In one small area they had a butterfly garden, aren't they pretty?




Write more soon!
Cassandra

Today we got to go see more butterflies! At the entrance was this neat little boat we played on for a bit.


Then we had to walk outside, but it was raining pretty badly so we had to use umbrellas. You can't see me, but I"m hiding with Jacob under his umbrella.


Then we got to the butterfly house!





They even had examples of every stage of life, do you see the butterflies growing in the cocoons?


And they had a hat you could wear to attract the butterflies, it was too big for Jacob let alone me!

Today we went to Churaumi aquarium. Here I am right inside the entrance.


We got to see lots of neat fish!




Finally we got to the big tank. Its the second biggest aquarium in teh world, with the largest viewing window in the world. Its home to 3 whale sharks and lots of HUGE mantas and stuff


We sat and watched the whale sharks awhile then went outside to see the sea turtles



Unfortunately we couldn't see the dolphins because it was raining, so we headed home

Write more soon,
Cassandra

When the rain cleared up for a few minutes we snuck off to the ferris wheel. Its pretty tall..


Up up up we go!


Its a pretty view.


When we were done, we got to go on another little ride, we let Bertietheduck drive


Write more soon,
Cassandra

Today we got to go to the Okinawa Zoo! It was lots of fun. When we first arrived the elephants were out doing a show.






Then we walked around the zoo to see the rest of the animals... there were giraffes


And a snake house


Don't worry mommy,  I didn't get too close to the ostrich


Apparently you shouldn't get too close to the lion either...


I wonder how a tree gets drunk?


This bird is pretty funny looking


We went to the petting zoo on the way out. I didn't get too close to most of the animals because I didn't want them nibbling on me, but the iguana seemed pretty calm


What fun! More updates soon... Jayme says we're going to a ball tomorrow!

Cassandra

Wow mommy sorry it took so long to update about the ball! We all got kind of sick afterwards, but everyone's better now.

First we had to help Jayme get ready for the ball so we did her nails


And make up


I got stuck in her scarf


And then had to find my ticket...


Once all the prep was done we climbed into Jayme's purse. It was kind of crowded!


Here's Jayme when we were all done decorating her, along with her husband. Behind them is the birthday cake! (We're hiding in the purse!)


First the band played the national anthem and Marine Corps Hymn


Then there were two speeches and then the ceremony! During the ceremony they cut the cake. The first piece is given to the guest of honor (who gave the speech). The second piece is given to the oldest Marine present. He then passes it on to the youngest Marine present to symbolize the passing of traditions.


They played the national anthem and Marine Corps Hymn again and the flags left and it was all done!


Unfortunately during the ceremony two Marines passed out. Yikes! One of the men Jayme's husband works with had to go to the hospital because he was holding a sword and hit his head on the way down! But he's all better (and back to work!) now, so it wasn't too serious. After the ceremony we got to have dinner and cake and then we went home! We have to get to packing for the trip to Tokyo... and Thanksgiving is coming!

Write more soon,
Cassandra

Today is Thanksgiving! Even though Jayme lives in Japan, she and all the people her husband works with are American and so they celebrate Thanksgiving. We had to cook for over 50 people! There were 4 people cooking, so we only had to make one turkey at least... we started very early making cookies.

First the peanut butter cookies.


Then the chocolate chip ones.


Then we got the turkey going... its one big turkey!


We got it out and patted it dry then rubbed it with salt and stuffed with veggies to season.

Mmm. Doesn't it look yummy after cooking for a few hours?

While the turkey was cooking we made mashed potatoes.

Once all the food was done we took it down to cook. Look at all that food!


During the party we also got to watch lots of people play video games. There were 4 tvs with video games! Plus lots of board games and cards.


Jayme said it wasn't Thanksgiving without football, so we sat to watch one of the football video games since the games hadn't started in the states yet.


What a fun Thanksgiving!

More updates soon,
Cassandra