Today was my last day in Okinawa and I think it is the day I have experienced and felt the Okinawan culture the most. Partly due because we visited Ryuukyuu Kingdom a somewhat tacky tourist destination and wallet snatcher. Besides walking in caves with tacky lights and visiting fruit markets that are overpriced, there is a Eisa dance show (traditional Okinawan dance) that compensates for the general uneventful visit. During this show I finally got to hear live Taiko in Japan (Japanese drums), saw a shiisa dance that reminded me of Chinese New Year's celebrations and heard live Okinawan music. The show was great and culminated with a set of 10 drummers dancing in complex synchronized patterns accompanied by the traditional 3-string shamisen and singers. No words can describe this kind of event, so I found a link where you can see what Eisa looks like, which has spread around Japan and there is even an Aisa festival in Tokyo.
Eisa video
After this show I decided to buy shiisa, legendary figures that represents an animal that is half dragon and half dog. Please read the story of the shiisa here.
I think the shiisa figures will immortalize my trip in Okinawa because they represent the essence of Okinawa: joie-de-vivre, laid-back, strong and courageous.
1 comment:
Hi Joël,
I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy reading your blog! I'm quite impressed with your discipline, I wish I had written half the amount of entries in my blog during the same time period!
I'm very sorry for you that the host-family experience didn't work out and hope you are comfortable in the dorms. I for one am very comfortable in your room and apartment here in Montréal!:-) But I do wonder what on earth brings cats to run down the corridor in a mad dash at 4 o'clock in the morning sometimes;-).
I wish you all the best for the rest of your stay and hope you don't get chased off any more beaches! Being the "stupid foreigner" sucks sometimes.
Anna
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