Text 3465, 96 rader
Skriven 2006-07-18 16:45:34 av Carol Shenkenberger (6:757/1)
Ärende: Okinawa trip #1
=======================
I'd start with those cute flying headers Michael uses, but i never did learn to
read them right!  I'll just start my way instead.

13 July day starts at a glorious 830am with a hot cup of tea and a fast check
on mail.  Then, off to the train station by taxi (just enough luggage to make
walking not easy though the only big piece is empty except we tucked
Charlotte's backpack in there).

The Sasebo train station is exceptionally nice and shows well that we are a
small toewn but a nexus on the way to others such as Kagoshima and Nagasaki. 
They have lots of little shops and a 'Seattle coffee' outlet (way better than
starbucks and cheaper by far too!)

Aftr going to the kiosk for the tickets, we get in the Midori #14 which is a
limited express (has some stops but not all cities) to Hakata (Fukuoka train
station).  It takes us speedily (shinkansen bullet) through some of the most
rural japan that there is.  If I could pretend rice paddies were wheat or
corn, it feels like that endless drive across Iowa except it's broken with
lots of old Japan houses with the fancy roofs and gamboling that you see in
pictures.

Most of the 'cities' near us are less than 1,000 people which for Japan, is
exceptional.  I gather we live in the 'rice bowl' area and it shows as you
travel.

Close to 2 hours later we get to Hakata, starvilating.  We follow the signs to
the food court and grab the first one with an empty table of the 20-25 or so
places.  Ate 'mixed grilled seafoods on a stick' with bean sprouts and an
appetizer of hand-sushi with roe and a big bowl of sticky rice.  Charlotte
called this 'onolicious'.  The grilled seafoods were octopus, squid, clams,
and a bit of mushroom.

Took off for Don's old Doc to let him do his tests (results later once he sends
them but mostly calcium checks) and drop off some new mm recipes we liked
enough to print out for him.  Funny moment as he traded us back one for
kangkoon and got an almost identical one printed out by us for him.  His uses
less stock and basically sweats the leaves down into it.  His starts with a
layer of garlic, then padd it with the spinach, then add the stock.  Remove
and eat the spinach while letting the stock slowly go to paste with the garlic
(lowest heat) and use that resulting slurry in place of butter on toast or
rice.  Add miso to taste but he reminded us Miso isnt good for Don in more
than minor bits.  'Use same as salt but is better than plain salt for volume
for Don'.

Back to the Hakata station and then off to the airport.  Fukuoka has 2 'sort
of' being one is domestic and the other the international.  The International
looks very modern and snazzy.  The Domestic has all the good stuff to eat and
look at (though the other isnt bad).

Late lunch is China Cafe.  Egg rolls for Charlotte- her assesement, scrumptious
'King Lear would eat a million'.

Don had prawns (tempura style) which came with 4 types of salts (he's been good
lately, enjoy!).  He couldnt keep from talking about it.  The batter was
perfect so as to serve a crusty prawn (about 7 inches long) yet not overcook
the meat inside.

I had a noodle bowl witrh dashi and wontons, shrimp, spinach, tofu, and chile
oil at the side.  The noodles were much like spagetti type which felt a bit
off for me but on tasting, were just right for this mix.

Off we waddled for the flight.  1620 flight time, ANA (All Nippon Airways) with
it's short hop to Okinawa (Naha).  The flight is but 1.5 hours so no meal but
the drink cart has 'soup' which is a real broth as opposed to the coffee
(instant)  (oops, Charlotte says it was King Skarl from Neopets, not Lear,
she;s reading over my shoulder and correcting me)

Unfortunately on hitting Naha, we also hit the worst of the evening traffic so
it took 2 hours to get to the hotel.  BY then, we were again starvilating!

So, we had the meal at the restraunt.  Charlotte had garlic bread and cheese
pizza.  The pizza was more like 2 huge flour tortillas filled with 4-5 types
of cheeses. Excellent but more than she could eat.

Don had a mixed plate with beef and seafood, more big prawns and came with what
looked like a lovely seafood bisque and rice.

Me, I had a small steak with steamed veggies and rice then tucked away one of
Charlotte's cheese 'pizza' bits.

Off we waddled to our room, to put Charlotte to bed (didnt want to sleep yet so
plugged in the laptop and Neopets web site).  Don and i checked outthe local
bar with cell phone calls every little bit or so to Charlotte (got her calls
when she made a great sale at neopets etc).  Orion beer on tap (Or-E-on) is
better than Kirin.  Definatley a tap beer though.

Down for the night in a rather nice room, I'd say 3.5 star?

2 double beds and 2 sofa beds that folded out, one already out and made up for
Charlotte with a little orchid on the pillow.

Nighty night!
                                       xxcarol

--- Telegard v3.09.g2-sp4
 * Origin: SHENK'S EXPRESS, Sasebo Japan 81-6160-527330 (6:757/1)