Geocaching Extravaganza!

Ok, so I didn't get on the flight to the US on Saturday morning. Though it was disappointing, I realized when I got back to the house that the next few days were TOTALLY free. I hadn't made any plans because I hoped to be home by then. So, when a friend asked me to go geocaching, I said, "Sure! Why not! Wait, what's geocaching?"

This whole geocaching thing is a phenomenon I hadn't heard of until I arrived on-island. The more I learn about it though, the cooler I think it is! To learn more, check out the website: http://www.geocaching.com/ Does it not sound like something my dad would LOVE??!

Just to give you a rundown: geocaching is a an organized treasure-hunting hobby played around the world. You look up a "cache" on the official website along with coordinates and maybe a few clues. Then you get in your car and, using your GPS, drive as close as you can and then walk the rest of the way. Once you are within a few feet of the destination, you use the clues to find the "cache." Each cache is a container filled with a list of every person who has found that cache and some even have trinkets that other cachers have left in the past.

It is a great way to express your inner nerd and find some really beautiful and off-the-beaten-path-locations. It's also a great excuse to buy some new gadgets!! So, without further ado, let me show you the pictures that will get you hooked on geocaching too!!

Our first clue lead us to the end of a gravel road and the beginning of this trail.

The warning sign on the left was oh-so-informative.

The trail lead first to this AWESOME cave!

We took some time to explore the cave and take some pics.

The trail then lead us on to this view!!

It then followed the ridge, through the brush, and to a point with a fantastic view!

There were also wild lilies blooming on the hillside along the coast.

We finally found the cache and inside were trinkets and a log book.

Kristyn wrote our names on the log where we will join the few who have soaked up this view.

Our 2nd cache of the day was found in a local park. It was a "microcache" meaning it is a small container with nothing but a log. Though it didn't have any trinkets, we did get to explore the park! We were the only Americans around making this a very cool, cultural find!

Kristyn tried the rolly slide while the rest of us climbed the rope course.

We stopped at the vending machines to get unknown Japanese drinks before heading out to our next cache. It's all about the immersion!

Cache #3: along the base of a bridge buried under a few rocks.

This one had a few trinkets, like this mini-dog food container. Random yet funny.

Cache 4 lead us to another local park near a marina. This abandoned boat was nearby and I had to take a picture.

Kristyn was the lucky one to find this cache in the bushes near the park.

Inside: another log, some trinkets, and a "travel bug."

A travel bug is a metal coin with a trackable number on it. When you find one, you take it with you, leave it at another cache site and log its movement on the site. You can watch them travel around the world!!

Cache 5 took us to yet another wonderful view. Our new friend, and geocaching guru, Barak, poses at the peak before searching for this tricky cache.

Of course, Barak found it in the post of the guardrail!

We put our names on yet another log!!

The view from this place was beautiful. The day was perfect for some serious exploration!!

We went on to attempt a 6th cache. It took us to a very remote and secluded beach with no one else there but us and some local surfers. Unfortunately, my camera battery died so I couldn't document the beauty of this place. It was also a very difficult cache so we were unsuccessful on this one. All in all, we had an awesome time exploring a new part of the island. We went to places we would never have otherwise. And the other really cool thing: we didn't see another American all day!! I have to say, I am hooked!!!

There are caches all over the world, even in your neighborhood. If you get the chance to go, please give it a try. Let me know what you think!

Happy caching!!

Let the Games Begin

Hey family and friends -

I just wanted to give you a heads up that I will be starting (or attempting to start) my trip back to the States tomorrow. This will be my first attempt at flying Space Available on a military flight. Space A is like flying on standby FOREVER! The first flight I am trying to get leaves REALLY early on Saturday morning. The doors open at 3:30 am and roll call starts at 4:30!! I'll be there with my suitcase and travel pillow hoping to get a seat but am prepared to return home only to go back to bed if it doesn't work out. I will keep you all posted on how everything is going. If you hear from me tomorrow... I didn't make it on the flight. If you don't hear from me, I'll see you in Indianapolis in a few days!

When I arrive in Indy, I'll be staying with my parents and will have a cell phone. I'm including both phone numbers so you have no excuse not to get in touch! HA!

Taylor's Pad: 317-636-1294

Temp Cell: 317-215-1454

I hope to see most of you very soon. Please say a few prayers to the travel gods that I get this hop or one soon!

Just Another Day at Work

A few weeks ago I was given an opportunity to watch Mike at work for the afternoon. Myself and 7 other wives took a ride on a KC-135 to watch our hubbies air to air refuel at 35,000 feet above the East China Sea. Though I watched Mike refuel at Tyndall, I quickly learned that this experience is one that will NEVER get old no matter how many times I do it!!!

We started the afternoon with a briefing on the tanker. We learned all about the KC-135, its mission, flight hours, fuel capacity, etc. Afterwards we took a quick bus ride out to the flight line where they briefed us on the boring stuff; like what to do in the event of an emergency, how to put on your portable oxygen mask, and how not to die in a water landing. We then took a quick walk around the aircraft where I posed for a quick shot in front of one of the 4 HUGE engines! We then climbed inside, waited for the pilots to preflight and took off into the Wild Blue Yonder!!

During the 2 and a half hour flight, we took turns watching our husband at "just another day at work." First they approached the left wing of the plane and flew in formation with the tanker. After the first jet completed refueling, he moved to the right wing and waited for the next guy to refuel. They rotated left wing, boom, right wing until every plane in the four ship had gassed up. Of course inside the tanker, the ladies rotated from window to boom to window to watch our men do what they do best! For me it took specific strategery to plan the perfect balance of still photos, video, and waving!!

I really am thankful that, not only does my husband have a job that is fun to watch, but I am one of the lucky few that gets to watch it. Mike's job is very demanding, both physically and with time. He works long hours and can spend weeks away for training. Even the majority of social conversations are dedicated to flying. So, these few hours in a tanker once or twice in a lifetime really helps me to understand a little more of "what it's all about." This experience makes me feel more a part of the life that is so foreign to most, including me. I really appreciate the leaders, the pilots, and the tanker crews that see the value in involving the wives in events like this and facilitate our learning. The crew on this flight were especially welcoming and encouraging. As the cheery on top, I get to share a once-in-a-lifetime experience like this with some pretty amazing women. This just adds to the bond that is already so strong between these lovely Bat Babes.

Our bus ride to the flight-line

This engine is HUGE!!

My view from my seat on the inside of the KC-135

Everything has a purpose. No space is wasted. No item unnecessary.

Jen, myself, and Kristyn wait for takeoff!

Jen and I were given headphones to "listen" to the pilot and crew but there weren't any plug-ins near us. They look pretty cool though.

Before the jets arrived, I got to lay in the boom operator's place and work the controls.

I am still so amazed at how this whole process works.

The boom operator was so helpful and informational.

The jets approach the left wing and fly in formation as they wait for their turn to refuel.

This just gives you a little perspective on how close they fly to the tanker.

That window is the same size as a regular commercial plane window!!

Mike is the closest of the two jets.

Here he is trying to get that boom boom boom.

The sun was in his eyes so he never showed me his face.

He didn't have time to look for me anyway. He was hard at work.

Now he is over the right wing waiting for the rest of the jets to get gas.

I am so impressed and turned on!!

Wild Wives' Weekend Away

One of the things that I am really enjoying about the Air Force is the people we meet. The women especially have been a fantastic source of support for me during the rough times away from home, friends, family and at times, Mike. I am always amazed at how well these strong ladies juggle children, housekeeping, moving, everything that happens when your hubby is gone, and still manage to have a social life!! As you can imagine, life can become overwhelming at times. That's why our "wives' deployments" can be a special and much NEEDED time away from the base, the squadron, the guys, and the kids (though I don't really understand that one just yet).

When the guys go away for a training program, the program is usually named after a colored flag. For example, in Vegas, Mike was at Red Flag. A few weekends ago the ladies in the squadron had a "Pink Flag" wives' trip to Okuma Military Resort. It is located about an hour and a half north of Kadena on a small peninsula. The whole resort is surrounded by crystal clear and turquoise blue water. There are hundreds of activities that are fun for the whole family and for a group of grown women. The restaurant has cheap food, and bar is fully stocked. Luckily the sun was out all weekend and our drinks stayed cold in the coolers. It was a fantastic weekend bonding with the women in the squadron, getting to know new ladies and having fun with current friends. Thank goodness for a little girl time, huh?!

When we arrived on Friday night, we started with dinner and a few drinks followed by a rousing game of Catch Phrase and girl talk.

Kristyn and I had a little bit too much fun with our spoons.

"It was a great time. You see?"

Saturday morning we braved the strong breeze to lay out on the beach.

Brittany on the left finally convinced the lifeguard to set your umbrella up for her so she didn't have to hold it up for hours.

Later that afternoon a few of us rented "road bikes" to explore the resort in style!

Tara (left) and Cecily (right) model their helmets and roadsters.

Jenn was leading the way.

It's a good to be a kid again!!

The biker gang stopped for an intimidating photo on the beach.

(left to right) Cecily, Tara, Jenn, and Kristyn

Afterwards a few of us went for a walk/hike around the resort.

This little temple among the crashing waves was beautiful!

I made my sexy pose thinking that a wave would crash any minute but it never did.

We also went up to a peak to see an awesome overlook of the coast.

This was the trail back down.

Cecily, Kristyn, and Lynette enjoyed the view.

THIS was the view!!

Paradise!

Back down on the beach I posed for a quick photo before finding some great stones for the garden.

Unfortunately (but fortunately) my cameral died after this picture. The rest of the night was spent eating, drinking, chatting, laughing, and playing the Name Game (courtesy for the Taylor Family!!) Things got a little crazy, and it's probably best undocumented. After all, what happens on Wives' Weekends, stays on Wives' Weekends.

Long Lost Friends and Fancy Castles

They say that the military is a small family. A few weeks ago I learned this first hand! A long lost friend, Wendy (Irvin) Shetler, emailed me to say that she would be visiting her deployed husband at Kadena and would love to reunite in her free time!! A few years ago, Wendy and I played soccer together at St. Mary's (along with my sister Katie). (Yeah, we'll go with "a few years ago.") Playing 4 years of soccer with a Taylor sister gave her the chance to meet and know the whole Taylor clan!! Since graduation, however, we've fallen out of touch. So you can imagine my surprise when she emailed me to say she'd be in Japan on the very same island and Air Force base on which I live!! What a small world!?

Wendy and her friend Becca (who's husband was also on leave from deployment) had a free day and asked if I would take them to see a castle. Yes I can! The Shuri-Jo Castle is the largest on the island and apparently a sight to see! I had not yet been there and thought this was a perfect excuse to catch up with an old friend and explore a new part of the island at the same time. So we jumped in the Legacy and headed down to Naha to see it.

(Now, for my accurate and complete background of Okinawan history.) Okinawa is the largest in a chain of islands in the Middle Of Nowhere Pacific Ocean. Originally, these islands were collectively known as the Ryuku Kingdom. They were acquired by China a long time ago and later traded to Japan as a peace offering or something. Of course, during WWII, the US took over Okinawa, but it wasn't until the 1970's that they went back under Japanese rule. As you can imagine, this small chain of islands in the Middle Of Nowhere Pacific Ocean has a long and rich history with influences from cultures around the world. The Shuri-Jo Castle is a testament that history.

Originally the Shuri-Jo was built as the home and business center for the Emperor of the Ryuku Kingdom. It's grandeur suggests that it was fit for the king of a tropical and exotic nation. Once part of China and Japan, it housed nobles or governors or whatever they called them. During the Battle of Okinawa in WWII, however, the castle was complete destroyed. It has since been rebuilt to mimic its earlier vibrant self.

Wendy, Becca, and I took the 90 minute tour and read every sign that they decided to translate into Engrish. I learned so much about this new culture I am living in!! It was also a great opportunity to get reacquainted with a long lost friend at this fancy castle!

Wendy (left) and Becca (right) pose with the Shisa dog that stands guard outside the entrance to the castle grounds. Shisa dogs are a Chinese influence.

The first of many grand doors to go through in order to get to the inner courtyard of the castle.

I just love the contrast in color!!

I convinced Wendy and Becca to strike the typical Japanese pose:

peace sign by the face!!

From the top of the climb looking down at some of the outer castle grounds.

Once inside another layer of walls, they had a stage where several women performed traditional Okinawan dances. I am not sure what each one symbolized as all the announcements were made in Japanese. But they are very graceful and beautiful and pale!!

I thought that this tiny doorway looked like a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition photo shoot location. So I made my best swimsuit pose.

The wall and door were containing some unruly trees and foliage. That's for sure!!

Now inside the inner most courtyard of the castle, I pose (with peace sign) in front of the main building of the Shuri-Jo Castle!

The eves of the roof are guarded by dragons.

Dragons are said to be a symbol of royalty so they are EVERYWHERE!!

I love the colors and details!

Even the pillars inside the castle chambers are decorated with ornate paintings of dragons.

This guy stands guard beside the Emperor's thrown.

This was a gold painted dragon on the wall above a door.

I just love the detail!

Finally, the tour ended with a cluster of people putting their shoes on.

As is Japanese culture, it is rude to wear your shoes inside someone's home, including that of an ancient emperor! Thank goodness they had a few benches off to the side for the Americans to relace their tennies!!