This Ain't the Moon!

 Update on Volcano Eruptions

Uncooperative weather has canceled my full moon photography for October.

Mount Aso, in Kyushu, Japan blew its top and sent us these floating rocks.

Another one (underseas) at the Ogasawara Islands (near Iwo Jima) sent plenty more!

Many of our beaches are covered with pumice stones.

The ocean tides delivered volcanic pumice stones to beaches throughout the Okinawa islands.

Have you ever used a pumice stone to grind down callouses on your feet?

Well, I had to kick off the flip-flops and walk on the stuff, to see what it feels like.

This isn't some thirst trap; it's to give you a sense of scale. Ladies, GET BACK!

Here's what a size 12 left foot looks like in pumice stones on the beach.

The lightweight stones didn't fall out of the sky, where they might hit us on the heads.

They were delivered here by the sea.  Kyushu is over an hour's flight time from here.

What appears to be black sand in the lower part of this photo, is volcanic pumice.

We discovered this treasure at Uza Beach on the northern tip of Okinawa island.

A bag was filled with stones, to show the wife the floating rocks TV news was broadcasting.

Gardening with Pumice

Back at home, I did some research and learned about other uses for pumice stones.

We just might have to return to that beach and fill buckets with pumice stones.

Until last night, I never heard about using pumice stones in planters and gardens.

They call them soil amendments and, you can even throw the stuff into compost piles!

Decisions, decisions, buy garden pumice online or, go to the beach and get some FREE?

Don't Panic

Friends, relatives, people around the globe don't worry about us in Okinawa, Japan.

The volcanic eruption at Mount Aso is no big deal. We're all fine.

If you need some stuff to worry about, I'll show you volcanoes going off around the world.

The map shows volcanoes blowing their tops in RED!

Screenshot courtesy of  Volcano Discovery.  Visit them HERE.

Nanjo City Tourism Rocks !

Little Things They Do to Assist Travelers

 

 

The best travel information office, I've seen, on the island is located here.

Every now and then, I visit, to see if they have any new materials, written in English language.

This map, I've seen before but, I always check, to see if anything has been updated.

Bingo!  They drew a red line around the border of Nanjo City.

It's the first time I ever noticed, the place is in the shape of a heart.

Much more than a map written in Japanese and English, it's a complete guide, to everything.

They list driving tours, walking tours, historical, cultural and beach tours.

You can find restaurants, booze, gas stations, ATM's, athletic parks and cafes.

If, you drive one of those electric autos, you can find quick-charging stations, too.

The map, unfolded, is larger than two, big MAC desktops, side by side.

So, I didn't photograph it open; go get your own. They're free.

Stuff, I Like that Isn't Free

 

It always pays, to walk around in the gift shop, to see what's available.

Tourist trap prices, aren't for me but, there are exceptions.

A plastic document protector, like this may be worth 10 yen; 10 for a dollar, let's say.

This cost about a buck but, look what it says. It's Japanese and English.

From this, you can learn some basic Okinawa language (Uchinaguchi) if, you want.

Catch of the Day

 

 

On a camera trip, I never bring along my reading glasses; I had help here.

The professor, who does all the driving, was wearing his spectacles and, spotted this gem.

It's a rare occasion, that finds me, reading a book from cover to cover, before going to work.

That's what happened today and, get this - The author claims it's a children's book !

Maybe, I'm still young a heart but, it got me all fired-up !

Part legend, part history and, it's going to have me on the road again, doing research.

This looks like another folk story that needs some photography, to go along with it.

The author, also made the sketches accompanying his text and, they are works of art.

So far, I haven't had any luck with the ISBN 978-4-9906737-4-1.

Maybe, try Google Japan or, arrange the numbers differently than, what I copied off the book.

For sure, copies may still be available at the gift shop. Click the link above.

If any of my followers, know Tadashi Teruya, let him know, I want to meet him.

And, buy him some beers.

Travel Photo: Nightlife in Koza City Okinawa

After spending the day checking out beaches, caves and other islands, it's time for a break.

It's been a few months since we went to Koza for a night of entertainment.

Tonight, a crowd of us will meet at a Live House.

We may end up sipping the local spirits, singing and dancing.

So, I decided to leave the cameras behind.

Maybe, I'll just take notes.

Just in case you don't hear from me in a few days, call the Koza Information Center.

Tell the authorities you're looking for the bearded American guy.

The one wearing yellow flip-flops.

They'll know where to find me.



How Far from Japan's Disaster and Fukushima Nuclear Powerplant is Okinawa?

                                            Map Courtesy of WORLD ATLAS.Com

Here is a map to give those concerned with the distance between Okinawa and Fukushima, Japan a better idea of how far away from the disaster we are in this southernmost Prefecture.

The distance from Okinawa to Fukushima is 1151 miles or 1852 kilometers according to the good folks I met at TRUE KNOWLEDGE.COM.

Having just finished a few hours trying to find accurate links to post here for those who have been visiting my site and telling me the difficulties they've had researching the same things, now I know. It isn't easy sorting through all the information. There's way too much and what you may find isn't always accurate.

If you have friends or family living in Okinawa they are probably a lot farther away from the nearest nuclear power plant than you may be. If I thought any nuclear stuff was headed this way I'd run like a chicken because I don't want to find out if I'm allergic to the stuff. We're all safe. OK?

For those who'd like a bigger Google Map and want to scroll, enlarge and all that fancy stuff ( I don't know how to use) I got you this link from MAPLANDIA.COM .  They call it Ryukiu Islands Region (We call it Ryukyu Islands) so, I have no idea where they came from but, it is a great map. The red thing dead center on the map shows Naha, the capitol of Okinawa.

You can click on that red dot and drag your mouse to the south and go all the way up north, above Fukushima and Sendai, if you want to. I'll be going to try it again as soon as I finish this blog.

One more source I found, you might like is GIDEON RACHMAN'S BLOG. They use a different kind of English than me, too. Maybe he's from England or somewhere like that. But, he has updates continuously so, I'm keeping this site bookmarked, even if I have to ask one of my friends from the UK to translate for me.

ANOTHER ENGLISH LANGUAGE SOURCE WITH FREQUENT UPDATES IS ASIAN CORRESPONDENT.

Hopefully, this gives everyone a better picture as to how far away Okinawa is from Fukushima and let's all hope there is no disaster to worry about at, or near, anyone's nuclear power plant.

RELATED POST: EARTHQUAKES, OIL SPILLS, TSUNAMIS, NUCLEAR DISASTERS, AND COAL