| The local culture is very strong, which is probably encouraged by the large tourist trade, as well as the continuing U.S. military presence. Everywhere you go, you are surrounded by traditional music, local crafts, and the dragons that people buy to protect their homes. |  |
| Another speciality is the local pottery. This famous tea house and ceramic shop sits in front of a 500-year old kiln. |  |
 |
|
| We visited a cave that stays at about 75 degrees, due to geothermal heating. And it's also used to age the local speciality- a distilled rice wine, like shochu. |
  |
| The highlight of the trip was the Okinawa Aquarium, which is on the site of the 1974 World Expo. |  |
| They have a gigantic main tank- you could sit there for hours watching everything going on. |  |
| This was the first time that I have ever seen a whale-shark, the largest fish in the world.. There were three circling around this tank. |  |
| Other things that I had never seen before.... this hands-on starfish tank, and another area with North American manatees, chowing on cabbage and carrots in slow-motion. |
 |