Morays And More

In the past I have called these little guys 'soda straws' or 'soda straw eels'. But I have now been educated. These are 'garden eels'. Some are 'Orange-barred' and some are 'Spotted'. Cute little suckers, behind glass anyway. Another interesting specimen was Moray eels. Another creature all together. The things nightmares are made of. I had hoped to see a 'zebra moray eel' like the two I saw in the Sea of Cortez last summer, but they must not make it that far east.

Mantas and More Rays

One of the most highly visible of the ocean creatures at the Churaumi Aquarium is the ray. Cow-nose Rays, Spotted Eagle Rays, and the magnificent Manta Rays are plentiful and very visible. Gracefully gliding and banking the length and depth of the Aquarium, these Rays are not to be missed. Seeming to stick closer to the bottom but still highly visible are the Coach Whip Ray ( with sort of a leopard's spotting noticeable on its body ), the Pink Whip Ray and the larger White Spotted Shovel Nose Ray.

Sea Turtle Smorgasborg

One of the most interesting parts of the Ocean Expo to me was the exhibit for the sea turtles. It was not as exciting as being in the ocean with these magnificent creatures but the next best thing. So graceful, so elegant!

Maybe it wasn't as peaceful a situation as it may have first appeared. The second video clip shows what looks like a slap in the head delivered by one these behemoths. Yow! Bam! Boom!

Tropical Dream Garden - - A Delight for the Eyes and the Nose!

Our last stop at Expo Park was the Tropical Dream Center. What a photographer's delight. A sensory delight as well for anyone with a half decent sense of sight and smell.

Ryukyu Flying Foxes - - Okinawan Bats

One of the night critters common to Okinawa is the bat, also known as Ryuku Flying Foxes. (They are also known as Zorro Volador de Ryukyu.) And these critters are not the cute little guys we are familiar with in Iowa. Nope. These bats average about 10 inches tall and have wingspans of over 40 inches. They look like overly large birds swooping around - - except that it is nighttime and any self respecting bird is home in his nest. These two bats I photographed at Okinawan Fruits Land a couple of weeks ago.


A few nights ago I mentioned to Ron about the huge birds flying in front of the windows of the living room. They seemed a bit odd to me. I mean, it was night time. What were those birds doing out so late? That's when Ron introduced me, and my imagination, to the Okinawa flying fox.

It is so named because of its fox like facial features. They almost certainly look cute in the photos, but I prefer to keep some distance between us. Like bats most places they eat insects and fruit. Homo sapiens are not on their menu.
















I just didn't like the way this one was looking at me. And yes, I am quite well aware that they are anatomically correct. After all, they are real, and alive.

Fish Fry

Ron and I have been watching these everchanging pools of darkness in the very shallow water created during low tide. It appears we have a fish nursery right under the balcony. The East China Sea could use some replenishing in a BIG way.

Kokeshi doll

Now I have never been one of those girly-girls playing with dolls as a child. Not on your life. I wanted to ride bikes and build forts and play ball, and read. Barbies were popular when I was of the age to have them. But I had absolutely no use for them.

So, it is rather surprising that this charming little kokeshi doll has entered my collection, small that it is, of 'stuff'. She is all of about 6 inches tall. Kokeshi dolls have been created in Japan for over 200 years. They are made of wood, such as dogwood, and painted with traditional costumes or even landscapes, or images of various kinds. Some artists of these dolls become very famous and their dolls commend high prices throughout the world.

I have not rebounded to childhood, but I do find her rather delightful. She will find a choice spot carefully packed in my suitcase for the trip back to the States.

The Wedding - Lovely To Look At

On my walk the other day I found myself winding around the beach area in a place I had never been before. White sand stretched along softly incoming waves. And then - - What to my wandering eyes should appear - - ? But a beautiful little chapel illuminated by the setting sun, decorated with reflections of the tumbling, rapidly growing cumulus clouds, and artfully stained glass brilliantly come alive in the downing of the sun's rays. And low and behold, I spied a small congregation in that chapel. Family and friends were there to witness and behold the joining of two individuals in holy wedlock. God bless them. For I was too late to save them.

Taking the View

The Zanpa Lighthouse area. This is one of my most favorite spots in Okinawa. It's within easy walking distance of Ron's home. There were several fishermen out this day but I never saw anyone catch anything. Last time I was here I was fortunate to see two sea turtles.
The lighthouse is 40 meters, or 120 feet, to the top. No elevator. I didn't count the steps - - too busy trying to breathe. No air moving inside until one reaches the top - whew!

High and Low

These were taken at the Zanpa Lighthouse area. Both from ground level and from the top of the Lighthouse. Beautiful views either way.

October means it's time for Halloween Shi-sas

Ryukyu Mura Encore

Monday found me at Ryukyu Mura once again. It is the recreation of a typical native village and contains many original wooden homes with red tiled roofs. It also shows native crafts and everyday lifestyles. Festivals are a large part of the lifestyle of the Okinawans and Eisa is an extremely popular part of those festivals.

I was able to watch some of these Eisa traditional methods of music and dance. Afterwards the audience was invited to have their pictures taken with the performers. Can you say "CHEESEBURGER"? They can and do.

Ryukyu Dance Group

On a recent afternoon I was back at Ryukyu Mura. One demonstration I was pleased to witness was by this lady dressed in geisha costume and other native dress. She presented several very elegant, colorful native dances. A musician played a sanshin and sang traditional songs.

After watching not only the 'geisha' but a couple of male performers, I was led from my seat out onto the stage area, along with three or four other spectators. We were encouraged to dance along with the performers! EGADS! But I decided there was not another soul there I knew so - why not? Thankfully no one I knew was there to videotape the spectacle either! And I did get a group photo afterwards.

Boy's Banner

One of Ron's acquisitions since my arrival here has been this 'boy's banner'. More than 20 years old, it was used in festivals honoring young men and boys. There are a number of tabs along one side where a rod was run that enabled the banner to be carried about upright. These banners are no longer made or used. The now 'politically correct' festival is 'children's day'.

Ron's banner currently resides over the railing in his stairwell. That may change. The banner is a good 10 feet long and more than 2 feet wide. As it is displayed on the railing only a partial view of the banner is available - one horse and the samarai warrior. Due to a shortage of hanging space a second samarai warrior, positioned above the horse, currently resides upside down on the other side. Unfortunately.

I am hoping I never come down the stairs half asleep some night forgetting the banner is there. What a rude awakening to find yourself under attack by a samarai warrior. And I think I have nightmares now!

Battlesites Tour - Part 1 Urasoe and Hacksaw Ridge

On Monday I was privileged to be able to take part in the Battlesites Tour here on Okinawa. To be sure this one was probably just a little bit different. I was taking the tour with the ROTC of Kubasaki High School. That meant a tour with the sponsers of the Kubasaki MCJROTC, Sgt. Maj. Robert Mastriano and Capt. Ken Gipson, (shown at the right). And 83 high school cadets! Those of you who REALLY know me will understand what that means. But they were a fine group of young people. Very courteous. Everytime one of them called me 'ma'am' I wanted to look over my shoulder to see who they were speaking to. I didn't know anyone used that word anymore.

The Battle of Okinawa started in March of 1945 and the American troops landed on April 1, 1945. There were 90 days of what was called the "typhoon of steel". The landscape was decimated. 200,000 people died. Unimaginable atrocities and horror reigned upon this otherwise mostly unknown island of coral and limestone. The Okinawan civilian population was subjected to an unspeakable and increasingly desperate destruction of every sector in their lives. A previously peaceful people brought to ruin and near annihilation.

At Urasoe and Hacksaw Ridge we were able to see firsthand some of the harsh terrain the troops encountered on their Battle for Okinawa. Specifics of the war and the battles on Okinawa were related by our tour guide, Chris.

Battle sites Tour - Part 2 Historical Museum on Camp Kinser

On Camp Kinser is a museum that is maintained by our tour guide, Chris. It contains an amazing array of battle memorabilia regarding the Battle of Okinawa. There are artifacts from the Japanese as well as the American side. Military clothing, weapons, canteens, and flags are gathered in several rooms. Photos taken by soldiers abound.


In the main room is a large Japanese flag. Displayed prominently in front of this flag is an American machine gun that was only recently discovered and added to the exhibit.

Newspaper articles highlight major events as told to the American public. Magazine articles, with personal histories and photos relate to the public back home what is happening overseas.

Battlesites Tour - Part 3 Former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters

Undoubtedly the Underground Headquarters of the Japanese Navy is an important historical landmark. Those familiar with the Battle of Okinawa know the basics of their history. To escape the powerful bombardments from the United States the Okinawans had resorted to moving ever southward and finding what shelter they could in caves that pockmarked the countryside. The Japanese military officers found relative safety in a series of caves and tunnels they constructed in the hills above Shuri.


I have included photos I took of one of the tunnels and of the Commanding Officer's Room.

But for me the very most impressive part of this historical site are the photos to be found in the staging area before entering the tunnels.
The many photos of the innocent Okinawan children, hungry, homeless, often the survivors of bombings that sacrificed their parents and siblings. Children lost. Children in pain. Bewildered by a world turned upside down and plunged into hell itself.


But also photos of the children receiving aid from our soldiers. Food, shelter and medical help from the very enemy they are to believe will torture and kill them if they are so unfortunate as to be captured.
Yes, the tunnels are impressive. I am so glad to see them from an historical perspective. But the children. The faces of the children.
Those photos are the images I will remember of the Headquarters. The enduring memory of the children. The innocents.

Battlesites Tour - Part 4 Peace Prayer Park

The final part of our tour was to Peace
Prayer Park. As I had been there two weeks ago and seen most of the park, I headed toward the Peace Hall.

Inside stands a 36 foot tall Buddha dedicated to human harmony and world peace. According to the brochure it "commemorates the souls of the war dead in the hope that such tragedy would never happen again."

Beneath the Buddha were numerous objects of art in stunning colors and varieties. All were made with a multitude of the patiently and purposefully hand crafted origami cranes. All stress the theme of peace for the world.

























Outside the Peace Hall stands a Peace Bell and a Peace Monument. But the landscape scene was peace to behold.

Moose on the Loose in the Grass

Okinawa Fruits Land

Along with bananas, papaya, mango, star fruit and dragons eye fruit are many other delights.
In the Bird zone comes the opportunity to interact with a variety of parrots, ducks, a hawk and even enormous bats.
Not long after being bitten on the finger by this colorful little 'rainbow lorikeet', or a lookalike, I had a little chat about the situation face to face.



In the Butterfly Zone we found hundreds of Japans largest specimen of butterfly, the 'tree nymph'. Their shiny golden chrysalis, home to the immature butterflies, hung in delicate rows like jewels on a string.

Soba Noodles - Yummy!

One of my favorite Japanese meals, soba noodles. When I was in Japan 25 years ago I was introduced to this mainstay of the Japanese diet. It seems a relatively simple dish, noodles in a fish based broth, and bites of pork, -or not. Paired with a cup of hot tea - - delicious!

This fellow is enjoying his soba noodles too. We were seated at separate tables, - separate cities, in fact, but both relishing a yummy dish of hot soba noodles.

Imperfectly Perfect

Sitting pretty hidden in the weeds of Sashi's Japanese Antique business. Really lovely.

Sachi's Shi-sas

There are so many varieties of shi-sas at Sachi's that it is impossible to see them all. These shi-sas are not only the traditional type that sit as guardians at the entrance or rooftops of homes. Even more to be found at Sachi's are the individual creative forms such as the pair of pals enjoying reading a book while sitting together on a rock.

This pair of shi-sa celebrates Okinawa as the birthplace of karate. One account I found told of how weapons were not allowed the Okinawa people and as protection the defense system of karate was developed. A couple of rough customers shown here.