Trip Review: Okinawa, Japan

Hey Folks, Marcus here and I’m just like you; we’ve both got a list of ultimate travel destinations. The top 2 places on my list are Hawaii and Japan, so when the prospect of a week in Okinawa (known as the Hawaii of Japan, apparently) was raised, my bags were packed before the tickets were booked.

At Hong Kong International Airport Ready to Go!

At the time we were in Hong Kong on one of our annual trips visiting family. The great thing about HK is that it’s a Hub, so it’s easy to fly to other destinations in Asia, and there’s always a deal to be found. In the past we’d hopped over to Malaysia and South Korea, but this time Japan beckoned.

All I knew about Okinawa was that Mr Miyagi from the Karate Kid hailed from there, and that was fiction, so really I didn’t know anything at all about Okinawa. We booked through a travel agent who sold it to us on with the “Hawaii of Japan” spiel, which was cool as we hadn’t had a beach holiday in ages and the kids love the sand and surf. Within days we were disembarking our Dragon Air flight (a great airline servicing Asia who we’ve flown with a number of times) at Okinawa’s Naha Airport, picking up our hire car and heading North on the Okinawa Expressway to picturesque Yomitan, where we’d be staying at the Hotel Nikko Alivila for 3 nights.

The View from Our Balcony

Hotel Beach

The Nikko Alivila is an amazing resort, with its own beach in a stunning location, excellent facilities and staff who were great with the kids; all that you need!

Dolphin and Whale Show at the Ocean Zone

Like I said, we’d hired a car as usual so we could get out and explore the island. Our first stop was Ocean Expo Park in the north of the island. Built to commemorate the Okinawa International Ocean Exhibition of 1975, the Park is divided into 3 main areas; Flowers and Greenery Zone, History and Culture Zone, and the focus of our visit to the park, The Ocean Zone.

Underwater Viewing

The amazing thing about the park is that you can wander around inside for free, taking in the many dolphin and whale shows, which were a real hit with the boys. If you’re on a budget, this is a great free day out, but if you’ve got the money, we definitely recommend spending the 1850 Yen (kids under 6 go Free) on a ticket to the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, one of the largest in the world. The gigantic Whale Shark and Manta Ray aquarium is something else, and the kids can got their hands wet handling star fish and posed for photos within the jaws of a great white shark. This really is a must see attraction on the island.

Inside the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium

Following the end of World War 2, America developed a huge military presence on Okinawa which remains to this day. Such is the size of the American influence on the island and it’s economy (over 50,000 US Military personnel are stationed there), it often feels more like the US than it does Japan; you can buy a Taco almost anywhere!

We took a trip to The Mihama American Village, a large entertainment complex located in central  Okinawa Honto, an area housing several American military bases.  Resembling a big American outdoor mall with lots of shops, restaurants and cafes, it’s hard to believe that you’re in Japan whilst there. However, its proximity to a large military base means that you’ll often see low flying fighter jets banking overhead and landing in the distance. It’s real Top Gun stuff! 

One major positive of visiting the American Village is that you’ll immediately want to submerge yourself in some real Japanese culture as soon as you leave. We headed off to the district of Naha to visit the grand Shuri Castle.

Shuri Castle in Naha

Although originally built in the late 1300s as a residence for the Ryukyu kings, the castle has sadly been destroyed several times by various wars and fires, meaning that what is presented now is almost entirely a reconstruction. Don’t let this put you off though, as the reborn Shuri Castle is a spectacular site, and its hilltop setting allows for great views of Naha.

When visiting new cities we always try and check out the local fish market, and the Awase Fish Market was well worth the visit. The range of fish and seafood on display was spectacular and of course we got stuck in to a variety of raw and cooked seafood dishes from the various eateries inside. The Sashimi in particular was out of this world!

Delicious Fresh Sashimi from the Market

Rainbow Coloured Fish on Display

Just cruising semi-aimlessly around Okinawa in the hire car threw up lots of fun things. From abandoned fighter jets at the side of the road, Pineapple theme parks and breathtaking coastal views, there was always something to stop and marvel at.

Abandoned Fighter Jet

Nago Pineapple Park

With our departure day looming, we checked out of the Hotel Nikko Alivila and headed closer to the airport, booking in to the Okinawa NaHaNa Hotel & Spa in Naha for a night. This was a great modern hotel with views stretching out over the busy tourist shopping area of Kokusaidori. Our kids are train mad, so when they caught site of a Monorail from our hotel window, we knew we’d be spending a fair bit of time riding the thing around the area. This did allow us to check out more places than we would have on foot though, and the Boys had a blast.

Monorail Spotting

The various indoor markets of Kokusaidori were fun to visit, selling all kinds of disposable crap that the children couldn’t keep their mitts off. We had super-fun Teppanyaki meal at Sam's Sailor Inn, with 2 Chef’s employing various culinary acrobatic manoeuvres and tricks whilst cooking your food on a hot griddle right at your table. Yes it was touristy but everybody loved the experience and the food was great.

Dinner at Sam's

Kokusaidori Shoppers

And just like that our trip was nearly at an end. A taxi dropped us off at the wrong airport terminal, which meant we had to walk to the next one with our bags in tow. However, this slight inconvenience turned in to one of the highlights of the trip, as the route to the next terminal ran parallel to the runway, where several waves of fighter jets were taking off in pairs right next to us!

As exciting as this was, it also reminded us of the sizable impact the American military presence has on Okinawa, namely the dilution of the traditional Okinawan culture, which gets shooed in to the corners by the fast food joints, shopping malls and an endless file of Army Surplus Stores.

Our trip to Okinawa was wonderful, but I still don’t feel like I’ve truly visited Japan. Next time we’ll go Godzilla-style and tackle Tokyo!  

Zip World Titan, Blaenau Ffestiniog

If you’ve been following us you’ll have heard us banging on about how 2016 is the Year of Adventure in Wales, so decided to get in on the action by making the trip to Blaenau Ffestiniog during our recent break in North Wales, to tackle the imposing challenge of Zip World Titian.

Even if we hadn’t seen the adverts on TV, it was hard to miss all the viral chatter about Zip World’s various zip line rides at sites across North Wales. They started in 2013 with the mile long Velocity ride at Bethesda, which has riders hitting 100mph 500ft over a quarry on the world’s fastest zip line. Not long later they opened Zip World Titan, at the astoundingly beautiful quarry town of Blaenau Ffestiniog. With the chance to zip from mountain to mountain on three separate lines, this was the one for us!

Four adults (including Grandma!) from our group took up the Titan challenge, with the kids sent underground on a nearby mine tour instead, as they fell under the rider age limit of 7 years old. We were kitted out in helmets, harnesses and the familiar red flight suit, briefed on what to expect, then bundled in to a minibus which slalomed to the top of the first mountain. Awaiting us was Alpha, the first in a series of three zip lines and the longest run on Titan, ready to take us across the valley to the next hill.

The View

Zip World’s amazing staff strapped us in and unleashed us simultaneously into the teeth of a fierce wind as we whizzed out in to the sky, each rider trying to make themselves as small as possible to reduce the wind resistance in a race to the next hill. The first zip is an attack on the senses as you try to take in the unbelievable views, judge the distance to the quarry floor, fight against the ferocious headwind to keep yourself pointing forward and keep an eye on your zip-mates. Even with the protective goggles on you can expect the wind to find its way to your eyes, and you’ll battle with tears filling up inside. What a rush!

With Alpha completed we made the short walk over to Bravo. Although shorter than the first ride, Bravo is much faster and before we knew it we were airborne once more. The walk from the end of Bravo up the hill to the start point of Charlie was tinged with disappointment knowing that this was our last ride, but we made the most of it, drinking in those final breathtaking views over Snowdonia National Park as we descended through the sky to the finishing line.

Titan was a superb experience. Two of our riders were a little apprehensive about the challenge, especially when they stepped up for the first ride and saw the scale of the terrain we would be flying over, but the Zip World staff were fantastic throughout in reassuring the riders and double checking our safety gear each time. Once you hit the sky on that first ride, the fear disappears and it’s just high octane fun for the rest of the course. The whole thing took just over an hour to complete, although on busy days you’ll need to budget around 90 minutes to complete the course.

It gets pretty cold up in those hills, so don’t forget your gloves (although you can buy some onsite if you do). The other thing you’ll definitely need is your camera, as those views are exquisite. Make sure it’s a small one though, as you’ll need it to fit in the small pouch on your flight suit.

As we drove homewards between the slate tip hills of Blaenau Ffestiniog, all four riders were in agreement that this was the best fun we’d had in ages. Zip World Titan is over before you know it, but we guarantee you’ll never forget it! Check Zip World out for yourself Here.

Restaurant Review: Pizza Pronto, Cardiff Bay

Pizza Pronto Cardiff Bay

Cardiff Bay is such a great place to hangout with kids on a sunny day. The weather has finally turned here in the UK so this weekend we loaded the children’s bikes in to the car and headed toward the water. The Boys had a great time riding at the Skate Park and playing in the Sand Park on the Cardiff Bay Barrage, but it wasn’t long before they needed to refuel, so we headed over to Pizza Pronto on Mermaid Quay.

Marcus was working in the Bay on Friday and came home raving of the delicious smells emanating from Pizza Pronto. The grown-ups may have been sold on the aroma alone, but we knew the kids would enjoy this fun looking place once they caught site of it. The kitchen is situated in a shipping container next to a table and bench style outdoor eating area, which allowed us to catch the last of the afternoon rays whilst we chowed down.

Pizza Pronto specialise in delicious, handmade 8” pizzas, which are great to devour on the go or in the eating area, where you can indulge in some people watching, especially on a weekend as the party people pile in to the Bay.

Handmade Classic Pepperoni & Ham and Olive Pizza 

We opted for a plain Ham (not on the menu, but kindly made for the kids upon request), a Ham & Olive and a classic Pepperoni (£3.95 each), which we tore up and shared between us. The bases are thin, crispy and fresh out of the oven. The toppings are generous and our order was with us in around 5 minutes. Unfortunately we didn’t have time dessert, but the sight of a Lemon Meringue Pizza on the menu certainly caught our attention!

Great food, good value, fun and child friendly. What more do you need? We’ll be back, probably for the Lemon Meringue Pizza! Thanks Pizza Pronto.

Traveling with Young Children on Planes: 12 Essentials

It such a daunting experience to take young children on a flight for the first time. We wish we could tell you that it’s not as bad as you think it will be, but a lot of times it will turn in to a bit of a nightmare. They’ll scream, they’ll poo, they’ll vomit, they’ll want out of their seats or bassinet, they’ll throw temper tantrums, and they’ll throw food. Depending on their mobility level, you’ll likely have to chase after them in to First Class a few times.

But there are a few things you can do lessen the impact on your kids, yourself, fellow passengers and that flight attendant smiling with gritted teeth as she wipes the baby sick from her skirt. We’ve been flying long haul with our 2 kids for the last 5 years, since they were both babies. Kid X made his first flight to Sweden at just 3 months, and was taking on the 12 hour journey to Hong Kong just a few months later.

Try to schedule flights during their usual bed time, so that they will sleep most of the way and wake up bright and fresh at your destination. If your child is under 2 and no heavier than 13kg then call your airline to pre-book a bassinet located in the first row.

Believe us when we say we’ve had some tough journeys, but it gets better with experience. We’ve listed our 12 Essentials for traveling with young children below, based on 5 years of flight experience. Some of the items will be most suited to older children like ours (5 & 3 respectively) but they’re all centred on the same principles you would use to keep your children comfortable and content in any situation; keep them warm, dry, fed, watered, occupied and comfortable.

1. Travel Pillow | Stop sleepy head rolling on long journeys with the Trunki Yondi head and neck support.
2. Mini Raisin Box | On the go healthy snack that kids are always ready to eat.
3. Blankets | Home comforts whiles traveling. aden + anais blankets are lovely and soft to keep them toes warm. Get them to sleep with the blanket for a week before the flight so that they associate its feel and smell with bedtime.
4. Wet Wipes | We never leave home without these handy Water Wipes, with no added nasties.
5. Vest | Uniqlo ultra-lightweight and pocketable vests are ideal for keeping them snug whether sleeping or enjoying the inflight cartoons.
6. Multipurpose Ointment | Lucas Papaw Ointment has anti-bacterial properties that can be used for a various things from nappy rash to sunburn and chapped lips. Put a little underneath each ear to stop any baby drooling causing soreness.
7. Water Bottle | Keep your kids hydrated on long flights with 100% recyclable Sigg water bottles that are BPA and phthalate-free.
8. Colouring Pens | Very handy to occupy little minds. These Melissa & Doug triangular shaped crayons won’t roll off the seat tray.
9. Headphones | In-flight headphones don’t fit the kiddies very well, so these JVC kids headphones are perfect for their little heads.
10. Rucksack | Perfect for keeping all your essentials in one place. This stylish Swedish backpack has been everywhere with us. Keep it under the seat in front of you for easy access.
11. Plastic bags | Or pee pee bags as we like to call them. They are great for emergencies when there’s a queue for the toilet.
12. Play-Doh | This versatile classic will keep the kids entertained for a good 1/2 hour when they become bored during a long flight. Get the mini travel tubs here.

So there’s our tried and tested list of 12 Essentials for traveling with young children on planes. But here’s one more tip, just for the parents.

ALWAYS carry a spare change of clothes for yourself. Take it from someone who once had to sit in baby-vomit soaked trousers and underwear for 13 hours straight!