07-29-2003, 07:16 AM
Hi there myu,
I was in a military hospital after being medivaced from South Viet Nam and did some rehab there which caused me to fall in love with Okinawa. Got out of the military and lived there as a civilian 6 years before reversion.
I was in Okinawa about 8 years ago and I was shocked at how MY ISLAND had changed from dusty streets and a laid back lifestyle to a shiny, hightec, slightly impersonal society.
I had a collection of about 3000 rods and around 400 reels before I returned to the US courtsey of the Japanese practice of SOUDAIGOMI. I sold them all. Even though I fish 6 days a week, I make it a point to only keep 3 fly, 2 spinning, 5 saltwater or freshwater for saltwater fishing conventional outfits. I give away or sell stuff to replace it with newer, more advanced stuff.
It sounds like you've found a good fishing buddy. Not only is it good to get stuff cheap but also......... you can get access to some military only areas (beachs, docks, piers, etc.) to fish that non-military civilians can't!!!! I believe the military recreation services still rent motorboats around the Ajana area.
I may visit Okinawa sometime in the future.
JapanRon
a.k.a. tsurikichi
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