For starters, I still cannot believe I am here! It was such a LONG flight.  Of course I couldn't sleep on the longest (11 hour) flight.  I guess I was too excited.  The other part of the group that was already in Okinawa met us at the airport (thank goodness) and escorted us to the monorail system that took us to the aparment building we stayed at.  The apartment had a funky smell and a ton of slippers waiting for us at the door.  (not supposed to wear shoes inside - really keeps the floors nice as well as clean)

After a long day (or two of flying) I FINALLY go to lay my head on the pillow for a good night's sleep, and I get "thud"!  No soft squishy pillow - instead the pillow was filled with a synthetic material to resemble buckwheat hulls.  (I learned to love the pillow as the days went on.)  Anyway, I slept pretty good that first night after taking a couple Tylenol PM (thanks Cathy). 

First thing in the AM we went to the Shureido store.  We were walking, but couldn't find our way, so we grabbed a taxi.  After the "taxi shuffle" and 500 yen we finally arrived (even though the driver didn't seem to really know where he was going until he got out his map).

In Shureido I got fitted for a gi and had it embroidered with my name on the top and pants.  I also ordered a belt with my name and "Isshinryu Karate Kobudo" on it.  I have always wanted a belt like this!  Can't wait to get it.  What a great souvenir!

Sensei had wanted to get to the store first thing in the morning, as he said with so many people in town for the tournament it would fill up fast.  As usual, he was right.  By the time we were leaving, the store was really filling up. 

We walked back to the apartment and got our gis.  We planned to use the monorail as our mode of transportation, so we had to all get monorail cards (14000 yen for a three day pass).  From there we headed to the Budokan! (See previous blog)

After getting back from the Budokan, I headed down to Kokusai-Dori Street.  Lots of touristy gift shops.  In one store a lady gave me and the ladies I was with some Okinawan tea.  Then they sat us down to sample some snacks.  Very weird.

After shoppig awhile, we grabbed something to eat.  We found a McDonald's.  I had chicken nuggets, fries and a Coke Zero (no Diet Coke to be found on the island).

I came back to the apartment and "Skyped" my family.  So happy to see them.  Had to use internet connection at the monorail staion - very noisy, but great to see my family.  (Especially since my phone didn't work and I couldn't talk with them the night before)

Wonderful Snake Beverage!  Yuck!

"Dr. Foot"  - In the front of this store along the street, these people were sitting there getting the dead skin "eaten" off their feet.

Just one of MANY gift shops along Kokusai-Dori Street.

"My" Okinawan McDonald's!!  I thought I would starve before finding this!

I never did try the Burger with the Egg on it! 

We arrived in Okinawa on Wednesday evening (Aug. 12, 2009) so we had a couple of days before the tournament on Saturday to adjust to the 13 hour time change and our 24 hour flight/trip.  We had to pick up our registration packages on Thursday, so we took the monorail that morning to The Okinawa Budokan.  Before going in to pick up our packages, we had lunch in a big treeshouse restaurant, where I was beginning to wonder how much weight I was going to lose this trip (I wasn't into the seaweed and other slimy green items on the salad bar).

After lunch we arrived at the budokan.  Of course we had to take a group photo out front. 

After paying the mere 1000 yen (approx. $10) for the tournament registration and 2000 (approx. $20) for the seminars with the Okinawan Masters (can't believe how inexpensive this was - the US could learn something from this) we changed for training in the first floor dojo.  It was hotter than hot, but we practiced our katas trying to work out any kinks in our bodies and get acclimated to the lack of air conditioning. We knew the conditions were not going to be perfect for the tournament, but were trying our best to get prepared.  It had been a long day of travel the day before and it was really HOT.  It was really awesome to get to workout in this place that I had always heard about!  After practicing for a while on our own, we took turns doing our katas for each other.  Everyone did a great job.  I videotaped some of the katas and was hoping that I could do at least as well as I had done that day.  I was pleased and felt good (surprisingly enough, after a lack of sleep and traveling across the world just the day before).