Manza Beach Resort

Caroline, her friend Veronica, and I went on an MCCS tour to Manzo Beach Resort.  The tour included a "subship", buffet lunch, beach access.

You may recall seeing the Manzo Resort from Manzamo Point.  Bill and I went there back in the Fall sometime.  

It was another beautiful day. The good thing about the tour is the bus takes you and brings you back.  The drive is about 40 minutes. Actually, since this tour we have been back 2 or 3 times (see forthcoming Easter post). 

Caroline and Veronica when we first arrived.

The "subship" was actually a boat with a glass bottom.  It was fun.  If you don't snorkel/dive, it is a good alternative.  I do prefer to snorkel.  I thought it was fun, but don't think I will do this again.

After a while, we went up top for the view.

There was a wedding going on at the chapel.

Veronica and Caroline rented an Aqua cycle.  I thought it would not work so well, but they seemed to be moving pretty well.

Someone offered to take our picture in the hotel as we were heading to the lunch buffet.

At the dessert area, complete with chocolate fountain.

After lunch, the girls went swimming.  They have these neat "lilypad" floats all over the swim area.

The girls warmed up by laying in the hot sand.

That night the girls went to a movie...

Nakimi Castle Ruins/Maeda Point

Caroline and I had a free afternoon so we went exploring.  I have not mentioned that we have a great website called okinawahai.com that is written by Americans here in Okinawa.  When someone finds a great restaurant, beach, spa, etc, they post it on the site.  That is where I find our excursions.  I read about something and throw us all in the car to check it out. Not everything is great but it is a destination.  We usually find something fun along the way.

This day, I wanted to check out the castle ruins and Maeda point.  There is not much left of the castle ruins but it is is a short trip from Maeda point.  Maeda point is great diving/snorkeling.

Here is the entrance to the Nakimi-jo ruins ("jo" is castle in Japanese.

The castle sat up on a high point of a mountain.  Lots of pine trees that we normally don't see.

It was a beautiful day and the ruins looked pretty against the sky.

The view from the top of the castle wall.  Not much of the castle is left and I don't think we would head back but it was a nice little trip.

Next we headed to Maeda point just to check it out.

We might check out Maeda point some time for snorkeling but probably not on a weekend.  It was pretty but I think we could find a more user friendly place.  Pretty place.  Caroline was not feeling weel so we did not check out Maeda Flats near the point, it is a beach with huge boulders in the shallow water.  Another day

Gold Hall Cafe

Bill and I had a day to ourselves so we decided to go and try a restaurant/cave/bonsai garden.  It was a sprawling four story building that winded around and around.  You can buy food and choose anywhere in the area to sit and have lunch.  You can eat in the cafe, cave, overlooking the ocean, or in the bonsai garden.

Here is the door going in...

Inside the cafe there are wood carvings everywhere.  They are beautiful.

You have to look closely at each one to catch all of the detail....

Just below the cafe is the limestone cave.  You can eat down here if you choose.

We emerged from the cave into this beautiful garden/waterfall.  Of course, it is hard to capture the peaceful feel of the place and the sound of the waterfall coming from high above the cliff wall.

We started working our way up the path to some beautiful terraces overlooking the ocean.  It was a beautiful day.

The path directed us to another section of the cave where they distill Awamori, the native alcohol of Okinawa.  It tastes like rubbing alcohol.  Very strong!!

The final stop was the bonsai garden.  There were hundreds of bonsai trees.  Many were over 70 years old.  

Bill and I sat and talked for about 1/2 here.  It was so beautiful we decided to just stop and enjoy it.

The Hamby Town Flea Market is held every 1st and third weekend.  We decided to go by later that night after our excursion to the Gold Hall Cafe


Caroline bought a dress for $2.

Patrick had been at the beach all day with his friends, we ran into him when we were heading to dinner (the beach is right across the street) so he joined us.

Nice day.