Sunday, February 10
Right away, I loved this port because it was walkable from our boat! The town wasn’t huge and overwhelming and felt like you could get a good feel for it just walking around for the day.
I set off on my own looking for a noodle restaurant I had been tipped off about. Unfortunately it was kind of early and not a lot of stuff was open yet. I never found the noodle shop, but did stumble on a Sunday farmers market type of spread with lots of local food vendors and a winding marketplace that was a labyrinth of small hallways and stalls.
I had great success stopping at a few different food tables at the farmers market, but really loved a Korean stand where I bought a delicious BBQ and then a spicy kimchi with octopus. I was walking around eating when I stumbled on a tiny beer stall who was open. The guy working was fascinating and we chatted the whole time I ate and drank my local Okinawa beer. He was Korean by birth, lived in Tokyo for 4 years, Canada for 2 years, and had only been in Okinawa a year. He informed me Okinawa is a “lazy town” and people don’t really get up and moving very early. He said the market I was in thrives after 5pm until about 11pm. He also said it’s a drinking town, and I noticed that as most everyone was walking around with a beer and it was only about noon. This was all a really fun experience though and I thanked him for his company and all the great information he gave me about Naha.
I kept walking and stumbled on a really cool clothing shop. Luckily, I had pulled out enough cash and could buy this great sweater I found there. I have gotten endless compliments on it too! So glad I bought it! As I kept wandering, I found lots of small artisan shops where seamstresses were sewing in the back with all their clothes displayed up front or a leather worker was at his bench in the back and thse shop displaying all his goods was up front. I found a place that had lovely handmade jewelry and there were delicate stacking rings that would have gone well with the ones I already have. They were tiny though and about $40 each so I passed at the time, but I kind of wish I had bought them now! I had just bought the sweater so I was trying not to buy everything I saw…but dang, I’m having non-buyers remorse about the ring.
I also stopped at a Japanese grocery store on my way back to the boat to buy delicious Asian snacks and goodies. I got shrimp crackers, gummies, sweet and salty rice cakes, Pocky and other random stuff.
This was such a great day for me and I loved all the small shops I found exploring the market.
Where's Lindsey? 