A few days ago two coworkers and I went sightseeing around Okinawa. We went to the Sweet Palace, Okinawa’s famous aquarium and Nago Pineapple Park. It’s the first video I’ve made outdoors so I didn’t realise how important a quiet setting is. I’m also umming and aahing a lot because I didn’t plan what I was going to say before I turned on the camera.
Anyway, below is the video. Below that are subtitles because it was too time-consuming to put them in the video.
Alec
Good morning!
Shioji
Good morning!
Alec
Today I’m with Shioji. I workwith Shioji and today we came here for some sightseeing.
We’ve come to a place called ‘Okashi Goten’. You understand ‘okashi’ right? ‘Okashi’ is things like cakes and sweets. Goten’s meaning is like, ‘palace’, right? So, in this place there are lots of sweets and cakes and you can eat lots. I didn’t eat breakfast so this is a bit scary, a bit dangerous. Maybe in the next video I’ll be really fat!Shioji
Because you’ll eat a lot?! Alec
Right!
So, first is the Okashi Goten. Then we’ll go to the aquarium … we’ll go? … yes, we’ll go.
Then maybe afterwards is Kouri Island.What kind of island is Kouri Island?Shioji
Kouri Island is; the bridge from the main island to Kouri Island is the longest bridge in Okinawa.Alec
The longest bridge!
If it’s good weather, we plan on going to that island.
Bye!
–
Alec
This is the Beniimo Tart factory.
Here you can see the beniimo tarts they’re making.
But, over there is a woman and her job is just ‘checking’. Boring huh? Boring. I feel sorry for her.
Well, later we’ll eat some! Aah, just me!! Muhahaha.
–
Alec
Now I’m with the Sata Andagi. Sata Andagi is like Okinawan donuts. I don’t really eat them. They’re really, fried. Like, fat … something like fried fat! So, I don’t eat them. But, I’ve eaten them before and, yeah, it was quite nice. They’re like donuts, Okinawan donuts.
–
Alec
Hi again. Now I’m in another car.
This is Kinami, another girl I work with. A self-introduction please!
Yuko
Hi! Hi! I’m Yuko! Nice to meet you.
Alec
She says you can all call her ‘Yuko’. But, for me, it’s ‘Miss Kinami’. Why?! How come?!
Well, after this we plan on going to the aquarium. Is it just called ‘Aquarium’?
Yuko
Aquarium. Chura Sea Aquarium.
Alec
Chura Sea Aquarium. ‘Chura’ is Okinawan dialect. It means ‘beautiful’ right?
Kinami is naichaa (mainland Japanese) so …
Yuko
We’re both naichaa!
Alec
She came from the mainland, so she doesn’t really understand Okinawan dialect. Same as me.
Bye!
–
Alec
We’re here! So, this is the aquarium. And all three of us like fish. So, we came to see here! What’s your favourite sashimi (raw fish)?
Yuko
Lobster!
Alec
I like tuna. It’s tasty huh? I wonder if there’s any here. What about you, Shioji?
Shioji
I also like tuna.
Alec
Ah, tuna. Well, if there’s tuna here, we’ll buy it!
Yuko
We’ll eat it!
Alec
Yeah, we’ll eat it!
Let’s go!
–
Alec
After taking the video before, the camera soon broke so I couldn’t use it anymore. I was really worried! It’s ok now but, after that video I couldn’t make any more. After the aquarium, we went to a place called ‘Nago Pineapple Park’, and we could see lots of pineapples. When you go to this pineapple park, you ride on a cute cart through the pineapple park, and you can see lots of pineapples. From little pineapples, to huge, ripe pineapples. You can see them all!
So, after riding we went to the food tasting room where there’s all-you-can-eat and all-you-can-drink.
At all-you-can-drink you can drink things like pineapple juice and pineapple wine. And at all-you-can-eat, you there’s pineapple cakes, pineapple chinsuko (Okinawan biscuits) and pineapple cookies. You can try them all!
–
Alec
It was fun. Really fun. Entry was only 500yen (£2, US$4) and for that cheap you get all-you-can-eat and all-you-can-drink. But if you eat a lot, you feel bad right? And then lots of people will say ‘Ooh, that guy is eating all that huh!’. So, people just eat a bit right? That day was really fun so I want to say a big thank you to Kinami and Shioji. It was fun!
What shall I do for my next video? My next video will be about this phone. My new phone is cute right? Though I have lots of straps. So, the next video will probably be about this phone.
So, from now …. so, what did you think of this video? Do you prefer Japanese or English? Are they the same?
Well, thanks for watching!
Tags: Japan, Japanese, Okinawa, personal, sightseeing, video
Haha, That was cute. A lot more cheerful than the Monsoon sessions. That was kinda scary. BUt judging from how upbeat everyone was, I take it they’re incredibly common. That place looks like a fun place to go, I hope I can make it down to Okinawa, I’d love to visit some of those places. misete arigatou!
Haha, yeah, I’m sure it is more cheerful than the moonsoon video. Monsoons happen a lot but that was still the biggest typhoon in a few years. Thanks for the comment!
nice Video:D your Japaneese is soo good!!how long did you studeed!?! I’m jealous :p anyway, mayby you coud make your next Video about some interesting place or thing aroud you. You know something that is tipical for Japan, so that we can get to know something new about Japan. Thanks, keep doing your videos & take care.
Hehe, thanks for the comment. I’ve been studying Japanese for about 4/5 years at varying levels of intensity. =) Thanks for the idea for future videos. It’s hard to go far out of my way because I’m working full-time, but I may do a video like that soon. Thanks again!
Wow, you’ve studied Japanese for 4/5 years! I really enjoy your videos by the way.
I’m from Australia and I am very interested in the Japanese culture. I would like to go to Japan and study however i’m not sure if it would be possible for me seeing as I’ve actually only studied the language for 1 year and that was 3 years ago. Do you think someone with so little knowledge of the language itself is capable of studying in Japan for about 3 months?
Hey, thanks for the comment! Lots of people go to Japan without knowing any Japanese! You’d be fine if you wanted to come here to study Japanese at a language school or something. If you wanted to get a part-time job, you might have problems if your Japanese isn’t great. You could teach English but then you’d end up being paid to speak English and you’d make Australian friends and you wouldn’t learn much Japanese. Good luck and tell me what you decide!
ahh you’re super gorgeous! your english accent is adorable too:] i think its awesome that you get to stay in japan and that you can speak it too! i only studied 3 years in high school. i cant speak it well but i understood most of what you were saying. im taking another year of japanese my first year of college and hopefully i’ll be able to speak it a little better. this ended up being alot longer than i planned haha XD
Hehe, thanks for the comment and the compliments! (^_^) Hehe. The more you study and practise with Japanese people, the better you get! If you go to the All Japanese all the Time website you can get good tips for studying if you’re serious. The blogger is also very motivational. (^_^) Best of luck!
日本語が上手ですね。どのぐらい日本語にいますか？
私は日本語勉強中ブラジル出身マイロと申します。よろしく！
私も日本語についてブログをやっているけど、ポルトガル語で、残念ですね。
日本語勉強についてなんか話したかったら、メールを送ってください！
じゃね。
あｈｈ、英語でもいいんだけど。。。
あぁ、日本語はまだ上手じゃないんですけど頑張っています！笑。マイロさんも勉強に頑張ってください！
今メール送ります。
Alec,
You are very talented individual. I was surprised to have located your website, as I was just stumbling through YouTube and found an Okinawa video and saw your link to your page. I can’t elaborate much here; but I have a friend staying with me from Okinawa and watching your experience unfold while your there, my friend is living a life abroad for 1 year learning your language. (I sense a bit of homesickness so my friend enjoyed your commentary and top 10-Picks).
Keep up the good work.
Louis
Wow, thanks a lot for th comment. I’m really glad you two found the videos interesting, and I’m especially happy they’re helping your friend with his homesickness. On Monday, I’m moving to Tokyo so you won’t see much more of Okinawa but I hope you’ll still be interested to see and read about Tokyo and other areas in Japan!
Thanks again for the comment; it’s very encouraging!
Alec
Small sob in background, I will have to break the news my friend about not being able to have the best Okinawa blogger leave for Tokyo.
Oh well, what can I say but “Bugger”!
Hope you video-taped your departure with your friends, they seemed cool. Cheers, rest assured we will have to get used to viewing Tokyo from here on in, unless you will be traveling.
Laterz
- Louis
Hehe. Well from now until next summer I’ll be living in Tokyo and just holidaying to other places. Hopefully you’ll be able to get used to it!!
Thanks
Alec
Oh man! You make me sad that I didn’t go to Pineapple Park when I was in Okinawa. Ahhhh!
Thanks for the Okinawan dialect note, too. My boyfriend’s mom is Okinawan and I rarely rarely ever hear about Okinawan language/dialect so it’s exciting.
Merry Christmas!
Thanks for the commment. I find different dialects interesting. ‘Konnichiwa’ in Okinawan is ‘Haisai’ so say that to your boyfriend’s mum next time you meet! Hehe
Thanks again and merry Christmas to you too =D
Wowwwww, your video is amazing! Your Japanese is fantastic! *Jealous jealous* xD I’m (sort of) learning Japanese, and I definately intend to live there when I’m older, and to be honest, your video *really* inspired me to work harder
You look like you’re having so much fun >
Thanks for the comment! I am having a great time in Japan improving my Japanese as much as I can. =D Have a happy new year!
Love Nippon to Nihongo ga, nihongo ga chotto kakkoii desu ne, anata wa aisoku desu.
Nihongo ga sukoshi hanashimasu to wakarimasu, demo mada jozu ja arimasu.
I came across you videos on youtube by accident but really enoying watching them. I “backpacked” through Japan, mainly Honshu and a little bit of Kyushu, fell in love with the country and the people, watching your videos makes me realise even more how much i miss it.
One way or another I’m heading back out there this year, took me that long to save up as I went a bit mad last time,I have a coupe of options which will allow me to live there a while and improve my Japanese, who knows might see you round Tokyo one day.
matane
Alex
hi alex.. nihong omoshiroi ne…. atashi mo nihong kitte kara mada 19 sai ima wa 23sai nata de… yapari philippine yori wa nihong ho gaii na to omo,,,,, ja iroiro tashimi ne …. take always…
hi
im tiffany, from the Philippines. im fascinated with Nihongo and i really want to learn the language..WoW u speak Japanese very well!very nice. :p