Monday, April 9, 2012

Baby Olive Visits the Aquarium, Arboretum, and the Pineapple Factory

by Pa Rock
Proud Grandpa


Baby Olive, along with her parents and Pa Rock, spent today on the road.  We went to the beautiful Churami Aquarium at Ocean Expo Park where we saw enormous fish and little fish, and sea turtles, and even dolphins jumping in the air!  While we were at the aquarium, Olive met another little girl named Olive!

Our next stop was the Arboretum which is a large area dedicated to horticulture.  It is also located at Ocean Expo Park.  There were lots of different types of beautiful orchids in bloom, bougain villa aplenty in many colors, and even a large indoor pond covered in lily pads where bullfrogs serenaded us with their loud, throaty, foghorn voices.

Olive made friends everywhere we stopped, and she seemed to be very popular among older Japanese women.  It was probably her red hair and blue eyes, along with her infectious grin!

On the way home we stopped at the Pineapple Factory, a tourist affair where guests ride through a small pineapple plantation in small pineapple cars.  When the guests finally disembark, they have to walk through a maze of souvenir shops before reaching the safety of the parking lot.  There were lots of free samples of pineapple wines, cakes, and candies to be had on the way through the rat's nest of souvenir shops.

We are safely back at my apartment now and getting ready to walk to American Village where Olive and her parents (well, mainly her parents) can experience some authentic Japanese cuisine.

Just how honest are the Japanese and Americans living on Okinawa?  We accidentally left Olive's new stroller behind my apartment house this morning, and when we returned eight hours later it was still there.  I really don't even feel the need to lock my car here - crime is almost unheard of.    (And, when we got to Ocean Expo Park we found a place that loaned baby strollers - free!)

Okinawa is a nice place to live - and to visit!

2 comments:

first born said...

Wish we could be there with you all. Sounds like you are having a great time!

Mimi's memories said...

How fun, sounds like a great time! That Baby girl Olive is a beautiful joy isn't she! I am happy you are getting to spend a special time with her and her parents. It is a beautiful day in KC today, Farley and I are sitting on the front porch watching traffic. Not quite as exciting but Furley appreciates it. Thanks for keeping us updated we are enjoying hearing about York days.

Judy