olddude's VirtualTourist Home Page
| Page Views: 11,120 | Around the World in 21 Years and Counting by olddude - last update: Jun 13, 2008 |
Okinawa: Japan's Puerto Rico Hi everyone! I was surfing the net one day and found this group and I think it is great. I think I have much to add so let me tell you a little about myself.
Thanks to the US government, in the past 21 years I have had the opportunity to travel all over N. America (I am originally from Alabama), half of Europe, part of the Middle East, and some of Asia. I figured it up the other day and I have traveled enough miles to have circled the globe 12 times! I have the travel vouchers to prove it.
I am trained as a linguist with emphasis on Asian languages. My expertise is Korean and Korean culture, but I also have a working knowledge of Japanese and can read Chinese a little. I can also, with help, get by in Tagalog.
That said, I think I have been just about anywhere and stayed in any type of accommodation or flown on all types of carriers (I hate Charles De Gaulle airport in Paris) that anyone on this group may come in contact with. I have also driven either my personal car or a rental in most of the places I mentioned. I even drove a tour bus part time in Korea.
Most recently, lived on Okinawa in Okinawa City and loved every minute of living there. I also made occasional trips to Tokyo and Seoul on business. Alas, I retired to the US in mid-2006. I am going to miss all the travel, so I thought I could live vicariously through the travels of people on this group and at the same time offer travel advice to those who may be going where I have been.
On my travel pages are listed the places I have spent a few weeks in (Korea was an 8 year stay) so I think I am qualified to give some really good advice. Unfortunately, there will be no pictures of some of the places as I build my pages as it has been years since I have been there, but I have really good memories. I have really been there done that. |
Retired!! Hey guys! I finally did it. My retirement ceremony from the Air Force was on the 16th of June and my final day on active duty was 31 July. I am free at last (to look for another job....hahahaha!). Seriously, I am going to miss all the wonderful and interesting people that I have worked with over the past 22 years. They have taught me many things and I have shared many things with many peoples all over the world. I hope in the future that I am able to continue to travel and absorb all this world has to offer. Initially it looks like I will be settling in the D.C. area (I have lived there before) so if anyone has any good tips for cheap housing (no crack houses please) and a good auto mechanic, let me know. |
The Beaches of Okinawa So who doesn't come to Okinawa and not think of going to the beach? This is the primary reason that most people come and Okinawa has some really good beaches. Okinawa has about 60 good beaches to choose from. They range from really nice and sandy with shallow water good for sunbathing to shaded ones that are good for camping to rocky coral covered ones that are good for rock climbing and diving and snorkeling. Some of the best beaches actually belong to some of the resorts here, but they are still usable for a fee. The free beaches are nice too; albeit maybe a little small and crowded, but nice beaches just the same. |
Beach Camping I have seen many posts asking about camping on Okinawa. Well here is a list of beaches where camping on the main island of Okinawa is permitted: Nashiro Beach--southernmost beach on the East China Sea Seragaki Beach -- small beach just north of Onna Point off hwy 58 Mission Beach-- private beach a little farther north of Seragaki Inbu Beach--one of the nicest beaches for camping and they allow pets, but you do need to make reservations. It is located near Onna Village Sesoko Island--this a Robinson Crusoe type island that you drive to from Motobu off the west coast of Okinawa. It has excellent white sand Bise Beach--very quiet seclude beach great for camping, located north of Motobu Yagaji Island Beach--smooth sandy beach with shaded camping northen end of the island Most of these beaches require a fee for camping, but they have decent facilities and are all excellent places to watch the sunset |
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GracesTrips Wed Jun 24, 2009 19:19 UTC Hello Al! Hope you had a wonderful birthday celebration! Hope all is well and you have lots of travel plans ahead! | zanzooni Mon Jun 22, 2009 09:18 UTC Happy Happy-Birthday and Daddy's day! Hope you had a great week!!! ~ | a2lopes Sat Jun 20, 2009 21:24 UTC Happy birthday Al and many happy returns of the day. Greetings from Lisbon which is waiting for your visit | Marisola Sat Jun 20, 2009 12:58 UTC Thanks for the wishes! Happy Birthday to You, too! My friend from Japan is visiting me this week! |
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