Tomori Stone Lion

On a hillside in a lovely green park is a monument known as the Tomori Stone Lion. Standing approximately 5 feet tall it is an enduring reminder of the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. One photo taken during a battle shows the Tomori Lion, even then of unknown age, sitting in the barren, desolate landscape that had become Okinawa. In the photo American soldiers seek shelter next to the only solid object to be found, the Lion. Bullet holes can easily be seen in the body of the Lion.

The Tomori lion was placed near the village of Yaese in 1689. It is the oldest village shi-sa on Okinawa and was said to be the village guardian and protector against fires.

Spider Alert

A walk in the woods has to be done with caution. This fellow is on alert for his next meal, and he can handle a good sized serving considering the size of him. Bigger than my entire hand. He was on the other side of the web but he still made me VERY uncomfortable. And they are not rare. This is the 4th one, at least, that I have had the pleasure of spotting.

Strong Wind Advisory

Along the expressway we were warned of strong winds in a novel manner.

Whale Shark Watch

Ahh . . . now this brings back memories of my visit to Okinawa back in 2000. It appears that I am not the only one fascinated by these gorgeous mammals.

I thought maybe I even recognized one of these from the whale shark dive I took. But it is hard to remember as time has changed his looks and my memories a tad. The third fellow is the one I am writing of. Looks like he recognizes me as well. Maybe he is remembering how I rubbed his belly as he pulled up in this same pose just in front of me. More likely he is just remembering how I was squealing with laughter behind my mask as he took a gentle ? nip to Ron's butt! Yeah, that's more like it!

Sea Wall Art

I took a long walk down by the East China Sea yesterday. Where I am staying we are sitting on a cliff. No danger from the Sea. But down in the low lying beach areas it is understandably another matter. Between the Sea and homes and businesses stands a sea wall. A graffiti magnet to be sure. Only about 3 feet tall, it is covered from end to end with some simplistic, yet delightful artwork. I took 68 photos and did not get it all by a long stretch.

What's For Lunch?

About a block from us can be found an unusual neighbor. On the side of their property can be found this fine fellow. As skinny as he is I would speculate he has missed a few meals and is on the hunt. BEWARE

The Tombs

The island of Okinawa is riddled with tombs. They are located on hillsides, next to beaches, in fields, next door to currently occupied homes. It is impossible to go very far without seeing them. They may be seen singley, in pairs, or small multiples, and also can be seen covering the landscape of a hillside by the dozens and hundreds.

The Okinawans do practice ancestor worship, as seen during Obon and the Eisa festivals. The individual tombs can be seen with small altars. The altars are usually placed directly in front of the tomb opening. The altars hold small plates and cups for the offerings brought to the ancestors.

The oldest versions of the tombs are called turtleback tombs or kamekobaka. These are modeled on the process of women giving birth. The rectangular opening is where the cremated remains of the ancestors, in their individual urns, are placed. Because the tomb itself represents a woman's womb the placing of the remains inside the opening represents the ancestor being returned to his or her origins.


The house shaped tombs are the more modern tombs and were reserved until recently for the nobility.



Families visit the tomb sites several times a year to pay respect and bring their food offerings.


The third photo was a tomb built into the back wall of a cave down by the Sea. Rustic it may have been, but there were unmistakable signs that family members had recently been in attendance.

This Kimono is a Keeper

The Marine Corp Gift Shop was the source of a major score last Saturday. No, not for me. But Ron found a stunning 'wedding kimono' with the above pattern. Gorgeous! Absolutely stunning! I told him that if he didn't buy it I was going to. He saved me from having to do so. He is planning to display it in the wide open, white space of his stairwell. When that is achieved I'll show it here.

Brazenly Blitzing Bird

Attack! Attack!

This was one unhappy mama warrior -bird yesterday.
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I dared encroach on her territory. She had babies hidden somewhere on the cliffs too close to where I was traipsing through a lava field. The bombardment was relentless. She was not to be ignored and I was her only and total focus.
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For half an hour I was shooting photos while she was shooting 'looks' and warnings at me.

Welcome - And Watching

White on White

Cape Zampa Lighthouse

This lighthouse is within easy walking distance. For 200 yen a person is allowed to climb to the top for an incomparable view. We are able to see the light from this lighthouse from the yard.

Contrasts

There is little open area in Okinawa. Land is used for closely packed houses and highrises. Next to these homes the land supports small agricultural plots. Sugarcane is a staple here in our neighborhood. With a growing season that is practically year round, the fields are not left fallow for long after any harvest.
Next to fields, and surrounded by fields, can be found highrise hotels such as the Zanpa Misaki Royal Hotel across from the beaches of the East China Sea. Also to be seen is the ultramodern look of the wind generators.

Sign of the Cape Zampa area

I may not be able to read the kanji here but I have no doubt as to what the message is saying. Pictures, the universal language.

Landscapes of Limestone and Coral

This is the coastline just down the way from Ron's apartment. Very rugged. Limestone and coral fields. Very little is able to grow on these grounds, obviously, but they are never-the-less quite beautiful.
The weather changes quickly here. There are frequent but short-lived rain squalls moving through, especially in the afternoon. Refreshing when they occur, they also do add to the humidity.

Grace on the Cape

A three sided monument was sited a short distance from the lighthouse on the Cape. Two depictions of military subjects scored little interest for me. But this graceful lady of the Cape, with her parasol to shield the elements, possibly gazing out to Sea, spoke quietly but untiringly to me.

Ditches and Denizens of the Mountains

Last Sunday we drove north up to Okuma and later to Hedo Point, as far north as you can go. On the drive I was frequently amazed at what I saw.

Along the winding narrow roads in the mountains are cement drainage ditchs. After all this is an area of monsoons and typhoons. Lots of rain. These drainage ditches are probably about 9 inches deep and 6 inches wide. Because small wildlife, such as turtles and salamanders can get into these drainage ditches and have a hard time getting out again, the Okinawa engineers have made frequent use of these small 'staircases' which would allow an animal ease of leaving the 'ditch' should he be otherwise unable to do so. They are cut into the sides of the drainage ditches at convenient distances. I surely would love to see one being used for its intended purpose.


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The second shot is simply of a picnic area. Turtles are supposedly 'lucky'. So are lots of things in the Asian cultures.

Okuma's Park Golf

Probably half my shots were totally out of bounds or were miraculously saved by hitting these out of bounds stakes and bouncing back in bounds. It was truly amazing how many times I, or Ron, was saved having to retrieve wayward balls when glancing blows to these stakes saved my shots.

Park Golf at Okuma

On Sunday Ron and I headed for a military resort in the north portion of Okinawa--Okuma. Beautiful area and home to a local Park Golf course. ~~~~~~

Now Park Golf is touted as a cross between regular golf and croquet but I really felt it was closer to golf and putt-putt. Luckily I have a bit of putt-putt experience in my far distant past. ~~~~~~~

The various fairways probably average 70 meters and a par of 3 to 5. I was totally shocked when on my fifth hole I was able to birdie ( one under par ) after my drive landed just about a meter from the hole. On the back 9 I birdied a second time, my tee shot landing less than a foot from the hole! I think I decided right then that I might just have to return and play this game again. ~~~~~~

Now granted that I was excited about the two birdies, but I do have to admit that probably half of my shots landed out of bounds and had to be 'let' back in. On occasion Ron guarded against my sending a ball into the lily pond. Thankfully I was only playing against Ron and he was very lenient about the rules for my first time. Of course he may have been thinking about my returning in the future as well.

Kadena AB Shi-sa

Ron has been very patient to pull over and allow me to get shots of some of the incredible shi-sa dogs on the island. These are the more traditional statues. They come in all shapes and sizes but these are the most recognizable.

One of the best pairs of shi-sa dogs I have found is this set on the Kadena Air Base.

DRAGON DROOL

No, not a shi-sa dog. This was a dragon covering the pipe yielding the fresh water from a mountain spring. I tried it out, three times. Pretty good -- for dragon drool.

I do Love Shi-sas

These handsome shi-sa dogs are to be found on Kadena Air Base.

Shi sa's in the Neighborhood

Neighboring Shi-sa

Post Eisa - Orion Beer Festival

All that Eisa dancing and performance watching works up a powerful thirst, and many of each category was to be found at the Orion Beer Festival grounds adjacent to the Kozo Sports Park where the dancing was held.
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As the afternoon wore on and evening approached the sight of young ladies in Kimonos increased.





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The beer garden was an extremely popular destination, and the combination of beer, and very, very !! loud music promised to last till the wee hours of the night.

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The young ladies wearing kimonos or other traditional garb were frequently also seen sporting the likes of the lovable, and everloving partier, the inflatable Pink Panther.

53rd Annual Eisa Festival-Okinawa City

Each year during August the Okinawans hold an Obon festival. This is a festival honoring one's ancestors, similar to the Day of the Dead in Mexico. Families gather at the family's tombs to clean the areas and to offer ceremonial food, beer and awamori to the dead ancestors.

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One of the highlights of these ceremonial festivals is the Eisa dancing. After the spirits of their dead ancestors are leaving for their spirit world, performances are held in memory of them.

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The music of the Eisa is performed on 3 stringed lute like instruments called sanshin, large barrel like drums, medium sized laced drums, and smaller hand drums. The dancing takes on many different formations. Not only men participate but women in kimonos dance as well as younger children, imitating and preparing for future roles in Eisa performances. Eisa is considered a modern Okinawan art form.

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There were hundreds of performers and hundreds of performance watchers on Saturday afternoon while we were there. Each team's routine was 15-20 minutes of continual dancing and drumming. The costumes were bright and colorful as were the drums and flags carried by performers.