Day 2 of our Kume Island Weekend Adventure!
When my wife threw back the curtains at sunrise, we were all dazzled by the blueness of the water and the sky. The ocean sparkled in the morning light. It was like looking out over a picture postcard of the tropics.
Kumejima Sunrise
After we had gotten back to the hotel last night, we went over various options for today on Kumejima which the girls learned the Japanese characters for was 久米島町, it would be nice if they took an interest in learning the Japanese language in the future, maybe college?
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The girls wanted to stay at the pool, and my wife and I wanted to see some of the island. Chrystal moaned aloud at the idea of a hiking tour or a visit to another castle.
Kumejima pottery (photo: koizumi/flickr)
Carla said she didn’t want to do anything silly like painting pottery, which in her mind was something reserved for elementary school kids though the pottery class at the hotel looked wonderful. So we compromised on a trip to Bade Haus バーデハウス久米島, a spa on the other side of the island.
There was a shuttle bus that ran regularly to the spa, so we were able to have a leisurely breakfast before heading out.
Cypress Resort Kumejima Restaurant overlooking ocean (photo: TripAdvisor)
We packed our swimsuits and towels and found the bus full of other visitors from Cypress Resort Kumejima and some of the surrounding hotels. It was not an exceptionally long drive, but it was very nice to look out the window at the changing scenery.
Kume Island Man on Scooter (photo: A Shino/flickr)
It seemed like we went through several micro-climates as we went around to the other side. The Cypress Resort is on the west coast, and Bade Haus is on the east. Technically, it is not even on Kume Island at all, but is on a separate island called Oo, which made the girls laugh uncontrollably when they heard the name. They also like Oha, which was the little island next to Oo.
Kume Island Sea and Clouds (photo: A Shino/flickr)
We drank in the trees and views of rocky islands and sandy beaches. There was a bridge connecting Kume and Oo Islands, and after crossing that, we were let off at the spa. We debated on whether to use the big pool or the outdoor hot spring, and finally settled on the package that had everything.
Bade Haus indoor pool
The big pool was asymmetrical and very stylish. I was skeptical that it was worth the rather steep entrance fee, which I attributed to a marketing ploy about the fact that they use only 100% water from the deep sea. Well, I must confess that the water felt different. It had a slight smell, but mostly left your skin with a soft feeling and the general sense of being refreshed. I was hooked, and my wife and the girls were going on about how it must be great for their complexions. All I can say is that the smiles sure lit up their faces and made all of them look radiant.
Bade Haus hot tub
Our next stop was the dry sauna, which we soon exited as the girls declared it “rather boring, really.” But the outdoor pool was a hit. It has a view of the ocean framed by lush greenery. Quite a relaxing and lovely setting, and it was not very crowded, which pleased me, though I think the girls were hoping for more young men and less senior couples.
Lantana ランタナ Kume Island (photo: Nyon Nyon/flickr)
We strolled around the grounds and had a late lunch at the rest house before taking one more swim in the main pool. There was even a camping ground called Oshima campsite operated by Bade Haus with tent and cooking rentals, there is more information at the Bade Haus camp link, it is in Japanese but google translate can help.
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After that, we changed and took the shuttle bus back to the resort, where the girls promptly changed into their swimsuits again and headed out to the beach.
Kumejima tiny crab (photo: A Shino/flickr)
My wife smiled at me, saying that she thought it was a rather good idea. Why not relax for the afternoon. Isn’t that what you are supposed to do on a tropical island? So we changed and soon were downstairs with the girls.
Kume Island Sea Turtle (photo: koizumi/flickr)
I found a comfortable place on the beach to spread my towel, and was surprised to find my wife waking me to enjoy the sunset together.
Kumejima Okinawa Sunset (photo: A Shino/flickr)
It was the most relaxing few days we have spent in years, we decided over dinner. Tomorrow we leave for Naha and then a flight to Haneda airport, but we definitely will have to have another vacation in Okinawa. Even the girls agreed, which was a joy in itself to hear. Kume Island had worked its peaceful magic on all of us.
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