What the Heck Is a Horohoro Forest?

12 Photos from a Nature Hike

There were three of us, long-term Okinawa residents, on this excursion.

With a grand total of almost a century on the island, we've never been here before.

One of the things I love about the Ryukyu Island Chain is the discoveries to be made.

Just when you think you've seen it all, something else will pop up.

Fooling Around in the Travel Industry

Over the years we learned to make use of the travel information offices.

It pays, to make contacts, gather tourism brochures, and swipe maps.

People become great friends when they see a couple of foreigners promoting travel and tourism.

Dozens of times, we had traveled through this area and never noticed the Horohoro Forest.

Last year, we promised to take a girl named Yuka out for lunch.

Her 28th birthday was in October. She's always helpful. We owe her a steak dinner.

Well, a typhoon or something happened and, we missed the date!

Mothers tell your daughters to ignore old guys promising you steak dinners.

Here's what led us to Horohoro. We promised to take the gal to lunch, again.

This time it was supposed to be something a little bit different.

Have you ever heard of Flying Fish Soba?  Me neither but, that was the plan.

Yuka, being in the travel and tourism business, was promoting the fish and noodles soup.

Yuck. I told everybody if the place had Hamburger Soba, I'd order that.

The girl wouldn't be free for lunch until noon so, we had some time to kill.

In a brand new travel information office, I noticed a map with Horohoro on it.

Asking a guy behind the counter, where Horohoro might be, he helped me.

He came out from behind the counter and pointed at a green-roofed building.

Up there, behind that building on the hill, Horohoro Forest could be found.

Things Like This Just Don't Happen

Bumbling around, making believe you speak Japanese and stuff, goes a long way.

The forest was up on that hill and we had a bit over an hour to kill. What could go wrong?

Three elderly gentlemen with a young date pending, should get out and exercise.

So, there we were, huffing and puffing up and down the jungle trails.

Just picture it. Man against nature. Earthy elements and stuff like that. Wilderness.

Fortunately We Traveled in a Pack

It's easy to get carried away and forget about a young gal and stinking fish soup.

The wife told me, flying fish soba would be good for my heart. Yuck.

Anyhow, up and down the hills along that trail, the steps made navigation fairly easy.

Nobody was out there except us. Toilets seemed to be everywhere behind any tree.

Um, I mean, "They don't have any." You have to use your imagination.

About halfway through the nature trail, we came across a second map signboard.

You know, where the red dot is means, "You Are Here."

Just past that sign, the trail took a big dip, going downhill. We checked the time.

There was no sense going down a steep grade if, we had to hurry back up for a date.

If, you ever get old remember, travel in packs. It's smarter than traveling alone.

For being out in the wilderness, this trail is really well maintained.

Wooden stairs and handrails aren't something you'd expect to find but, they were.

The log steps and handrails are actually made with concrete. They look like wood, huh?

Going up and down the steps along this trail can give you an appetite.

Even though my stomach started growling, I wasn't looking forward to flying fish soup.

Funny thing: We found the spot where it's sold and, I told the guy there, I'd be back for lunch.

Someday, I'll have a Part II for this trail to show you. I want to go back.

According to my calculations, after about 600 meters of hiking, it leads to the sea.

We had to hurry. No sense in standing the birthday girl up, two years in a row.

We got to her office shortly before noon and went across the street.

Not five minutes away was the Every Choice Steak House.

Smooth talkers insisted on buying Yuka a steak dinner. Soup is too cheap!

While waiting for our orders, we mentioned the Horohoro Forest experience.

On my iPhone Google Maps, didn't have the place listed.

Even in Japanese, Yuka couldn't pull it up on my phone. So, I told her I'd add it.

We learned, "Horohoro" means cinnamon in Okinawan language.

We walked halfway through a cinnamon forest and, I didn't bite one tree!

A few years ago, I had a cinnamon tree encounter and, got to bring a chunk home.

Heck, I eat cinnamon every day and spend my hard-earned money to buy the stuff.

Must Return: Forest of Horohoro

Yaese Town Forest of Horohoro

Wordless Wednesday: I'll Eat My Flip-flops

Stumbled Into チキンパラダイス or Chicken Paradise

Unusually Fantastic

The wooden door creaks when you open it, to enter and, slams shut behind you.

It's a dimly lit, tiny little place, that smells like fried chicken.

No cameras were with me. It was, visit the hospital day and, I was heading back to my office.

In case anyone's wondering, I'm in great shape, just had to pick up some medicines for travel.

Blood pressure's fine and, ticker does 68 BPM (beats per minute) after walking a mile.

But, they like to give old folks, monthly doses of drugs, to help the economy, I guess.

Got my meds and was walking on the shady side of the street, when my stomach growled.

All the menu signs outside are in Japanese but, I could read the simple stuff.

Using the iPhone, I snapped some photos so, I could put it on Google Maps.

Big Guy at Counter

He was the only customer in there, I noticed as I squinted to adjust my eyes to the darkness.

Just one dude, wearing a plaid shirt, was at the left end of the counter.

His face wasn't visible. I just figured he was some big sumo dude, eating his lunch.

No sense bothering anyone so, I went over to the far right end of the L-shaped counter.

An Okinawan gal with a round, smiling face greeted me, from the tiny kitchen.

Ordering a Jumbo Chicken Katsu, I asked if, taking photos would be allowed.

She gave me the OK and, I went around the place snapping pictures.

When she didn't look busy, cooking I asked if, the place was on Google Maps.

She wasn't sure so, I told her, I'd get it done today and, shoot more photos later.

It's best for me, to go back there with a real camera and wide angle lens.

Big dude, continued eating his meal, facing the wall so, I guessed he was hungry.

Maybe, he was watching the TV, they had on turned on, near where he was sitting.

Before 5 minutes had expired, this meal came across the counter and, the girl smiled.

Forgetting to take a photo, my growling tummy, made me start eating. Rats.

It wouldn't be right, to put a restaurant on the map, without a food image !

OK. A some of the chicken is missing. Gives an idea what the cooked chicken looks like.

There's salad, a  bowl of rice, soup, pickled veges, and tofu with some greens.

Hidden from view (under the chicken) some thick, fried potatoes. All scrumptious.

There was no way, I could consume all that food so, I had to ask the gal something.

"Do you do takeouts here, too?"  She said, "Yes."  And, I said, "Good."

Big Dude Speaks

This sort of surprised me. He said, "Can I get some more sauce?"

He spoke English. Still, I didn't want to bother the guy. The gal brought him some sauce.

Then, I quietly asked her (in Japanese) "Do you speak English, too?"  She, didn't.

Next thing ya know, the big plaid shirt, saunters, the 4 or 5 steps, over towards me.

This could be fun or, not.  I try to stay flexible. Ready to jump, defend myself or, run.

He was a peaceable individual and introduced himself. "I'm Alfredo from El Salvador." 

We became friends, swapped emails and, tried to connect on Facebook.

He's visiting his daughter and, goes home this weekend. We must do some beers.

He ran back to his room, while I was finishing (what I could of) my meal.

And, he came back with his cell-phone, to make sure, we got connected.

The restaurant gal, packed half my lunch in a takeout box for me.

Then, Alfredo and I walked across the street and, I showed him, where my office is at.

He was heading out, to buy an Okinawan Kariushi shirt, down in Naha.

That's crazy. I gave him directions, to someplace a lot closer and, prices would be lower.

He thanked me and, promised before he leaves this island, we're doing some drinking together.

Maps Got Done Quickly

Back at work, I tweaked the images and uploaded them to Google Maps.

A quick review was done. I had to input the address, hours and phone number.

Normally, it takes a few days, to get a new location loaded and approved, but not this time.

Chicken Paradise is on the map and, I showed the restaurant owner.

Looking closer at the image of the menus, posted outdoors, gave me an idea.

All that chicken (above) cost me only 700 yen.

For just 100 yen more, I could have gotten a Psycho Roast Steak. I will, next time !

Visit Chicken Paradise

They Predicted Rain - I Went to the Travel Agent Academy

All Part of the Master Plan

The weather gurus were a little bit off with the forecast today but, it didn't kill me.

Up bright and early, I checked the weather channel and, it wasn't looking good.

The rain was supposed to start at 7:30 so, after breakfast, I went back to bed.

Somebody poured way too many beers down my throat last night.

By 9AM, I was stumbling around, as usual, in and out between the garden and kitchen.

And, whacked a toe on something sharp. Ouch, I almost cussed.

The wife noticed the blood, all over the floor. It was probably an hour, after the toe got cut.

So, I told her, "Check the stupid dog. He probably did it."

Before long, it was discovered, my little toe, was where all the blood came from.

Everything's fixed and patched up, now. Maybe, I'll buy her a steak dinner.

Next, I promised there wouldn't be any strenuous exercises or drinking done today.

Leaving the house, I told her and the dog, I was going to school.

Japan Travel Advanced Master

It's not really like graduating from some elite university, with a Master's Degree.

Heck, I've lived over half my life, in Japan. It should be a breeze, for me.

It was a little tricky, though. They made me do the basic course, all over again.

That was completed a few years ago and, I guess, my certification expired. Groan.

It took about two hours of testing, to get me certified so, I could go to the next level.

That series of quizzes and final exams, took another four hours.

It was worth all the effort.  Now, I get access to all kinds of hookups, throughout Japan.

It kept me indoors, most of the day. Now, it's raining and, I forgot my umbrella.

Here's the Plan

No heavy lifting or hiking was what I said, as I left for the office this morning.

Something I saw on the internet, gave me this idea.

Take a yoga mat and place it close to a wall.  Lay down with the feet, propped against the wall.

It's supposed to be good for relaxing and, get blood, back in your brain.

Then, I'll get some takeout steak dinners and, ride a taxi home !

Flowers from Kijoka for the Ladies -- Men Stuck Eating Steaks

Day Two in the Iris Fields

 

 

A second trip this week had to be made to capture more purple beauties.

Map It Okinawa Dude and, I drove up north this morning under questionable skies.

Fortunately, the rain clouds blew by and we had sunshine as we reached Ogimi.

For today's trip, I brought along an additional, wide angle lens.

When it comes to flower photography, I'm not too imaginative.

What you get from me, is either bunches of flowers...

... or, I just single out one or two.

Quick tours around the acres of land are made, snapping away on the shutter.

The purpose of my photography, is to make you want something.

It's supposed to make you wish, you could be here.

Imagine being here, sniffing all these fresh flowers and, snapping pictures, too.

Blue skies and sunshine. Yay !

 Armloads of these flowers, freshly cut, were delivered to my special ladies, too.

A Working Man Needs Nourishment

 

 

 

 

 

 Leaving the northern areas brought me here, for the second day in a row.

Road Station Kyoda  (道の駅」許田) is in Nago City, on the way home.

This is an establishment, I have stopped at many times.

And, never could figure out, why it is always so busy.

Deciding to splurge, I ordered garlic steak.

 Reasonably priced, it included rice, soup and salad.

At 1000 yen, that's just about 10 dollars; not bad.

Maybe, I'll do a TripAdvisor Review on this place.

 

 

Things I Never Knew About this Road Station

 

 

 

 

 

It was the first, the very first, Road Stand (Michi no Eki) to open, in Okinawa.

Tickets for travel attractions in northern areas, are sold at discounts here.

A lottery ticket stand, located here, is considered to be a good luck spot.

So many people have won with tickets purchased here, the word got around.

Over a billion and a half yen worth of prizes came from this lottery stand !

Thousands of fresh food items, souvenirs and trinkets are available, too.

The next time I drop in, I won't be buying any of that stuff.

Locally produced fruits and pottery are alright for some folks.

Lottery tickets, nah.  I don't gamble.

But, garlic steaks. Yum.  I'll be back again and, soon.