If you go slowly, you will go farther

Features of Okinawan public transport

One of the first things a tourist encounters in Okinawa (and indeed in any other country) is public transportation. It all starts when a tourist, having just unpacked his or her suitcase and settled into a hotel room, decides to go out and explore. He searches the Internet for an establishment or tourist attraction of interest, and sets off on a journey under the guidance of a voice assistant.

The tourist, already a little wet from the stifling heat, arrives at the bus stop (and the fact is that there is no other public transportation on the island except for buses). The street is quiet, only cicadas chirp furiously. A few minutes later, the tourist looks at his watch in concern: the bus is late. The tourist checks the schedule, but there is no bus until the sunrise.

After about ten minutes, the exhausted tourist finds it hard to stand, but where else! There are few places in Okinawa where you can find a bench, or at least a chair, at a bus stop. The poor guy has to break out in a sweat.

The tourist no longer takes his eyes off the horizon.

After another five minutes, the tourist wonders whether to return home.

The tourist is so tired of being fried in the sun that he starts walking away.

An uncertain white speck appears on the horizon. The tourist looks back and rubs his eyes. The speck grows larger.

A few minutes later, a whole line of buses approaches the bus stop - you can choose which one you like best. Even the cicadas have become silent at the sight of such a fool.

The tourist flies into the first bus he sees and falls onto the seat with a dazedly blissful grimace on his face, enjoying the icy wind of air conditioning with all his being.

You read that right - buses in Okinawa almost never run on time.