Seeing Okinawa

If you have a favorite place, then you surely have a collection of magic moments etched in your mind—pictures that you forever associate with that special locale. Here are some of the special sights that say “Okinawa” to me:

* A seaside sunset, with an adan tree silhouetted against the sky
* Giant blue and white manta rays “flying” through the ocean
* Sunlight sparkling on turquoise, amethyst and emerald-colored wavelets
* Deigo trees loaded with crimson flowers
* A show room full of pop-art Okinawan glass flowers
* The red lacquered drums and flowing costumes of an eisa parade
* Butterflies fluttering over bougainvillea blossoms
* Orchids, orchids everywhere
* The stone archway at Nakijin gusuku when the cherry blossoms are in bloom
* Red clay shisha dogs grinning from tiled rooftops