Okinawa | Day 4 (Girls' Day Out)

What makes a perfect day so perfect? To me it totally depends on the people I'm with. If it doesn't click, I could do the most amazing things and not enjoy them fully because I couldn't share my joy appropriately. People have to get along to have an amazing time and thank god Amy and I instantly clicked when we toured - her now-home - Okinawa. Up until that day I had mixed feelings about Okinawa because I mostly stayed in Naha, which is pretty, but very touristy and not the 'true' Okinawa.

Amy picked me up early in the morning and we made our way up north. Our first stop was Melody Road, a small strip of a road in Futami (a town in or nearby Nago) that plays an ancient Okinawan love song when driving at 40 km/h. I had first heard about it years ago while watching a German TV quiz show and had totally forgotten about it until I prepared my sightseeing schedule for Okinawa. It was the coolest experience, we drove up and down a couple of times and we both were fascinated. It's a long drive and pretty remote from a lot of places, but if you happen to have a rental car, you mustn't miss out on this spot.

Afterwards Amy got me a visitor access pass to the military base, which was heaven to me the minute I set foot on it. It might be in Japan, but the Americans did a great job turning that part of Japan into the States. I felt like being back in Hawai'i, where I stayed on the naval base as well. Their local 'department store' (the BX in Kadena) is basically a combination of Target, Sephora, Ulta and RiteAid and hence shopping paradise to me, plus it's tax-free and stuff retails for even less than in the States. How is that even possible? So that's where you get NARS stuff for 20-24$ (amongst many other brands), I went crazy. They also have military-exclusive merchandise on the base at their official 'uniform' kinda shop where I got my super cool Okinawa ( Air Force) shirts. I love the US, I love the Air Force and Okinawa rocks - those shirts are perfect for me.

American Village in Chatan was next on our list, basically a big semi-outdoor shopping mall with tons of funny buildings and local Japanese shops because it's where the Japanese sell their stuff to the Americans who - I assume - love it. So did I. I made a couple of great deals and finally got my Japanese clothing shopping on. Amy had never taken purikura before, so that was a must-do. Even though we failed at editing, our pictures turned out great for the first time.

Since we've been out and about all day and pretty much had nothing to eat (if you don't count my two donuts I got on base and Amy's small Starbucks snacks) we picked up her husband and went to an Okinawan soba place: Hana Kinah. We enjoyed great food, a beautiful sunset and the slowly progressing illumination of the American Village. A perfect had come to an end. So had my wonderful stay in Okinawa. Thank you Amy ♥!

Related Tales of A Glorious Globetrotter
• Notes From Asia, #01: Tokyo I
• Notes From Asia, #02: Tokyo II
• Notes From Asia, #03: Tokyo III
• Notes From Asia, #04: Okinawa I
• Notes From Asia, #05: Okinawa II
• Notes From Asia, #06: Okinawa III
• Notes From Asia, #07: Taipei I
• Notes From Asia, #08: Taipei II