Destination Unknown: Part 14

 

After several relaxing days in Kyoto it was time for us to head to our next destination: Okinawa. We were really excited to visit Okinawa as we have heard people describe it as being similar to Hawaii. The first couple of days we stayed at Solvita Hotel Naha. We wanted to stay somewhere close to the monorail so we could explore Naha easier. We really like riding monorails, we just wish all of them would stop at Disneyland mjau. We visited Shuri Castle, however it was under construction so we could not enjoy the castle fully. It was still interesting to see how they build the castle as they had windows for observing the construction. When we were in Naha there was a basketball match between Finland and Okinawa so we saw a surprising amount of Finnish tourists there. Mjau, most locals asked if we were there for the basketball match. Mjau, we were not even aware of a match happening!!

Shuri Castle

Bu at a garden i Naha we unfortunately forgot the name of.

Shuri Castle

Au riding the monorail

We visited other historical sites such as Hacksaw Ridge and the Urasoe Castle Ruins. We mostly ate sashimi and umibudo seaweed from Aeon and baked goods from Little Mermaid Bakery. We also bought a bottle of Zuisen Shuzo Yukuru Peach Flavor Liqueur as we could not resist the cute kitten on the label. We visited a Dessert Lab Chocolat that had delicious pastries and cakes. We tried a chocolate mousse and hazelnut cake as well as a purple sweet potato cake.

Needle Rock

Hacksaw Ridge

Urasoe Castle Ruins

Dessert Lab Chocolat

Mjau, we also did a day trip to American Village. It reminded us a bit of Seaport Village in San Diego. We took the local bus there and it took a little over an hour. We got some baked goods from Little Mermaid Bakery and had a picnic at Araha Beach. We then walked around the shops at American Village. We also went to Blue Seal and had some delicious and interesting ice cream. We tried the Okinawan Salt Cookies and Ube flavours. We also got some iced americano at Zhyvago Coffee Works while enjoying the wonderful view of the ocean.

Picnic at Araha Beach.

Au at Araha Beach

American Village

Zhyvago Coffee

Blue Seal Ice Cream

American Village

After spending a couple of days in Naha we took the bus to or next destination: Best Western Okinawa Kouki Beach Hotel. We wanted to stay somewhere a bit more secluded and quiet. We also wanted a room with a balcony and ocean view and according to our butler this hotel also fit within our budget. Mjau, what is a budget, we wonder? The view was wonderful and the breakfast buffet that was included in the price was delicious. There was a FamilyMart in the same building so we could buy snacks from there. Although, not as many options as in the city. One day we walked to the nearby hotel, The Busena Terrace for afternoon tea.

 

Best Western Okinawa Kouki Beach Hotel.

Breakfast at our hotel.

Afternoon tea at Busena Terrace

Our hotel room.

After our stay at Best Western Okinawa Kouki Beach Hotel we were meant to take the ferry to Zamami Island. Unfortunately it was so windy outside the ferries cancelled the routes. We did not know what to do so we booked a one night stay at APA Hotel Naha. While trying to figure out what to do next we decided the storm was a sign from the universe for us to go to Disney instead. We booked a flight to Tokyo for the next morning and made reservations for APA Hotel & Resort Tokyo Bay Shiomi. We went to bed excited. Soon it we eould be in Disneyland. We took the monorail to the airport and while waiting for the flight we bought tickets for two days. One day in Disneyland and one day in Disney Sea. They were still celebrating their 40th anniversary so we got to eat the delicious chicken bun again. They were slowly starting wh the halloween season so we got to try delicious halloween themed snacks. The first day we went to Tokyo Disneyland it was raining quite a bit in the morning. Mjau, our butler had to buy new socks and change into them in the bathroom. We refused to share a purse with dirty wet socks so we made our butler throw them away. Mjau, they complained about wasting money. Mjau! We do not care! On the second day we went to DisneySea and the weather was much better. It was so sunny outside the water was shimmering. We bought a Electric Railway hat as a souvenir. Mjau, we all have to share one hat. Our butler was probably trying to make up for the financial loss of throwing that one pair of old socks away, mjau. We did buy a second Electric Railway hat for our darling sisters as a Christmas gift.

Dessert trio at Tokyo Disneyland

Tokyo DisneySea

Our favourite snack! Can you spot Miss Bunny?

Mjau, so sunny outside!

Mjau, trying some halloween snacks.

Bu with our Electric Railway hat.

After Tokyo Disneyland we flew back to Seoul for our final leg of our trip before flying back home. This time we stayed in a hostel in Hongdae. Mjau, we were very impressed by Hongdae and wish we would have stayed there during our first visit to Seoul. So many interesting cafes and shops. One of our favourite cafes i Offer Bakery Cafe, the crunchy salt bread is so delicious. We also went to a Harry Potter themed cafe. The theme was nicely done, however the cake was not anything to write home about. We also went to cafe that looks like you are in a drawing. We mostly went for pictures as the cakes did not look interesting and were overpriced according to our stingy butler. We only had an iced americano as is the custom in Seoul, mjau. Along the Gyeongui Line Forest Park and Gyeongui Line Book Street are several wonderful cafes. We went to a wonderful floral cafe and had delicious sweet pumpkin pie. Another favourite cafe of ours is Yeonnamdong Cherry Blossom House. We like how the rooms are decorated and it is a bit reminiscent of Tee- ja Kahvihuone Helmi. During the evening there is usually live music performers in Gyeongui Line Forest Park. We usually get a snack from Tous Les Jours or 7-eleven and sit and listen to them. We wish they would play Disney songs though.

Offer Bakery Cafe, crunchy salt bread and earl grey scone.

Sweet pumpkin pie.

Yeonnamdong Cherry Blossom House

Yeonnamdong Cherry Blossom House

943 King's Cross

On our last day in Seoul we walked around Haneul Park. We could hear music playing so we followed the sound. It turns out they had a music festival in Nanji Hangang Park. We found a bench near the venue were we had a good view of the screen broadcasting the performers. No need for tickets, mjau. We wish to go back to Seoul again! They have so many clothes and accessories for plushies in the stores, especially Artbox. They have so many fun trinkets there, mjau! The Line Friends and Kakao Friends stores also had fun and cute plushies and plushie apparel. Mjau, we really wanted BT21 plushies but our butler said they were a bit too expensive. Mjau, we want them! Our butler is probably still bitter over the old socks. Mjau, we will just convince them to come to Seoul again!

Gyeongui Line Forest Park

Gyeongui Line Book Street