After 30 years the time was right to go back to Okinawa. I, first, got in touch with the CSM of Torii Station to see if it was OK to come on post and take some pictures.  I explained what I wanted to do and after going up and down the chain I was finally granted permission to have an escort to show me around.  The escort (Sgt Kendrick) was from the Public Affairs Office.  I was planning on the trip, anyways, but being able to go back on to Torii was icing on the cake.

  I did my research, the air fares were cheaper than they have been in the past few years, the yen to dollar was the lowest in 5 years, and I was ready.  I couldn't afford staying too long, but figured 5 days on-island should do it.  I finally found an in-expensive, nice hotel in Naha close to the airport for $100 per night and booked it.    

We departed DFW on February 20th, on time.  We arrived in Naha on February 21, 2002 at 10:30PM  (lost a day) after a long flight from DFW to Tokyo to Naha.  The total flight time was 15 hours and 15 minutes.  We had a four hour lay-over in Tokyo, but over one hour of that time was spent on a "Luxury Limousine (bus)" from Narita to Haneda airports (6000¥ each one way and no credit cards accepted) . Our Hotel was only 10 minutes from the airport and the taxi fare was 850¥.  We stayed at the Hotel Fuji.  It turned out to be nicer than I expected and close to the bus terminal (10 minute walk) and the Kokusai-dori .

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