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This week’s B ME Bites Trivia Question:

Welcome to Edition #76 of B ME Bites!

Sometimes you don’t realise what would have made everything easier… until it’s far too late to do anything about it.

Okinawa was one of those places.

Beautiful, different, and full of moments we didn’t expect… but also full of lessons that probably would have been a lot easier to learn before we got there 😄

(Reminder: B ME Bites is now landing in inboxes fortnightly - well mostly 😉 - while its sister newsletter, Effortlessly Organic Living, takes the opposite week.)

Japan Adventures Part 13 – We Should Have Hired a Car 😄

Orchids, island chaos, and a few lessons learned the hard way

It didn’t take long to realise Okinawa was going to do things its own way.

✈️ A Different Kind of Arrival

The day started early, with a train to Narita Airport to catch our flight to Okinawa.

Even getting to the terminal was an experience, because somehow we ended up walking through an entire Pokémon-themed concourse. At this point, it didn’t even feel surprising anymore… it just felt like the theme of the trip continuing 😄

But arriving in Okinawa felt completely different.

The first thing that stood out wasn’t the heat or the pace… it was the orchids.

They were everywhere.

Not just a few arrangements here and there, but entire spaces filled with them. Perfect blooms, bright colours, and so many of them that it almost didn’t feel real.

I actually stopped and touched one, just to check.

It was real.

And it was beautiful.

🚌 The Tour That Didn’t Quite Land

We had a tour booked for the afternoon to Umikaji Terrace, which was described as a Greek-style area with shops and cafés by the water.

It sounded amazing.

Unfortunately… it didn’t quite match the picture we had in our heads.

It wasn’t terrible, but it definitely wasn’t what we were expecting, which made it feel a bit flat.

That said, there were still a few moments that made it worthwhile.

We rode on an open-top bus, wore some very cute hats, and visited a couple of interesting spots along the way, including something called a Child Blessing Rock.

And then there was the dessert.

We tried Sata Andagi (Okinawan Doughnuts) in a parfait, which was really good… but also very sweet.

Definitely one of those moments where sharing was the right decision.

🤸‍♂️ One of Those “Did That Just Happen?” Moments

On the walk back, we passed a go-kart tour operator.

Pretty normal… until it wasn’t.

The guy running it was using one of the go-karts as part of his workout. Lifting it. Right there on the street.

It was one of those moments that surprise you. You see it, process it, and keep walking slightly confused. Of course I had to film it though! 😄

🌊 A Moment That Stays With You

On the way back, things shifted a little.

We started noticing signs marking tsunami sea levels.

Things like that make you stop for a second and think about where you are and what this place has seen.

🐉 The Things You Start Noticing

We also started noticing these statues everywhere.

Sometimes at entrances.
Sometimes just sitting along walkways.

Most of the time, they came in pairs.

They’re called Shisa — traditional Okinawan guardian figures, part lion, part dog, and part mythical creature.

One usually has its mouth open to ward off bad spirits, while the other has its mouth closed to keep the good ones in.

Once you notice them, you start seeing them everywhere.

🎮 The Ongoing Pokémon Mission

Of course, we made our way to the Okinawa Pokémon Centre.

We were on a mission to catch…..I mean tick them all…off. 🤣

Except…

No medallion machine.

Again.

At this stage, we probably should have adjusted our expectations 😄

Yeah….nah! 🤣

😅 The Point Where the Day Caught Up

Then came the part of the day where everything just… caught up.

We missed the last bus.

By ten minutes.

And after a long day, that was enough. Tired, sore, and completely done, I had a meltdown.

Again. 🤦‍♀️

We ended up taking a taxi to the nearest monorail station, catching the monorail back, and finally making it to the Airbnb.

Some days don’t wrap up neatly. They just end when you run out of energy.

🚗 The Realisation (A Little Too Late)

Looking back, this was the moment everything became very clear.

Okinawa is actually quite small.

But when you’re relying on public transport, it doesn’t feel that way at all.

If we had hired a car, we would have been able to move around so much more easily, see more, do more, and avoid a lot of the stress that came with trying to line everything up.

Too late for us.

But not too late for you.

Don’t make the mistake we did. Hire a car people! 💯

🏯 The Castle That Almost Was

The next morning, we tried again to get out and explore, this time heading to Shurijo Castle Park.

The plan was to take the bus.

The bus was late. Okinawa seems to operate on island time….

So we adjusted… and took a taxi instead.

The castle grounds were beautiful, and even just walking through the outer areas, you could feel the history there.

The castle itself is still being rebuilt after a fire, so we weren’t able to go inside, but there was still a lot to take in.

One of the most interesting details was learning that some of the surrounding buildings were originally part of the castle, which you can recognise by their distinctive red tiles that match the main structure.

It’s one of those things that’s easy to miss if you don’t know what you’re looking at.

✈️ And Just Like That…

Before long, it was time to head back.

Taxi.
Monorail.
Airport.

Back to Tokyo.

Back to Sengawa.

And this time, the day ended in a much calmer way, with dinner and a slower pace that felt very welcome.

💡 Travel Lessons So Far

🧠 Not every destination works the same way
(what feels easy in one place can take a bit more thought in another)

🚗 How you get around matters more than you think
(the right choice can completely change the experience)

🚌 Timing isn’t always exact
(and building in a little buffer can save a lot of stress)

🍩 Trying local food is always worth it
(even if it turns out to be sweeter than expected)

🌺 Sometimes the unexpected details become the highlights
(and those are the moments you remember most)

😄 And every experience adds something
(even if it’s just knowing what you’d do differently next time)

✨ Looking Ahead

Next up… something completely different again.

🏰 A place that needs no introduction
🎢 A day that was always going to be super special
✨ And a bit of magic to finish this part of the journey

In Case You Missed It: B ME HQ Weekly Recap

🌿 Effortlessly Organic Living – Edition #14

Egg labels can be confusing… and not always what they seem.

This one breaks down the differences between cage, free range, and organic, so it’s easier to understand what you’re actually buying.

📍 Read it here: Effortlessly Organic Living 14: Cage Eggs, Free Range, Organic…What’s the Difference?

🌅 B ME Sunrise Bites – Day 85

When the sunrise gets it wrong… or maybe it was me 😄

A quiet Okinawa morning, a compass that seemed right… and a sunrise that had other plans.

📍 Watch here: Day 85 – When the Sunrise Gets It Wrong 😂🌅

📺 Explore the full journey on the B ME Sunrise Bites YouTube Playlist
(Remember to hit subscribe!)

Resource Roundup

Below is a resource list that has been created with you in mind. Whenever something new that could be helpful is discovered or created, it’s added to the list, so check it out from time to time. If you’re strapped for time, once you open the page below, click on Resource List in the top menu, then click on the “Health Tools” link for a list of items that could be helpful on your path to a better you.

The answer to this week’s trivia question is:

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Warm regards,

Shari Ware Chief Encouragement Officer at B ME Bites

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