The Ryukyu Damselfly (琉球羽黒とんぼ) and Mr. Miyagi

Today found us in the northern hills of Okinawa, searching for cinnamon trees.

A kind gentleman, named Mr. Miyagi, showed us where to find them.

We hiked up a stream-bed with him leading the way.

He is easily, 6 years, my senior but, trekked up the hills twice as fast as me.

Now, I was wearing the usual, yellow flip-flops, which weren't built for this hike.

Mr. Miyagi disappeared around the bend.

When I arrived at a fork in the stream, I had no idea which way to go.

As I climbed out of the stream, my left flip-flop got whisked away in the water.

Groan. I was about a mile up the rocky creek.

Hopping back downstream, didn't sound like a good idea.

Luckily, the flip-flop got wedged in some rocks and, I was able to catch it with my tripod legs.

Mr. Miyagi, came back and showed me which way to continue the hike.

Showing him some of the damselflies, I shot, was a good idea.

He probably, figured, that's what was taking me so long.

He asked if I'd give him a photo.

As many photos of these damselflies, as he likes, I'll give him.

He, pulled cinnamon trees out by the roots and, gave them to Doc and I to take home.

The wives will be thrilled.

More about cinnamon trees will be published at a later date.

Mr. Miyagi is one of those people you don't get to meet everyday.

If you ever run across a Mr. Miyagi who pulls on rubber boots to walk in the woods, beware.

There just might be a three mile hike upstream coming your way.

Ya gotta love it !

This Rock Requires Further Investigation

 

 

Criminals Used to Hangout Here

 

 

Named Fere Rock, it's located in Onna-son, Okinawa, Japan.

Mr. Miyagi, from the Onna-son Museum, gave me a Onna History & Culture brochure.

The nice thing is, the manual has both English and Japanese writing in it.

That's how we located this historical site.

And, we would never have heard about the highway robbers, if we hadn't read the book.

Everybody Loves a Dumb Criminal Story

 

 

Way back in the days of the Ryukyu Kingdom the mountainous road was well traveled.

This rock, standing tall alongside the highway was the scene of repeated crimes.

Fee-ree, according to my Okinawan Dictionary, means, holdup or, stick-up.

And, these bandits used it to their advantage.

People, going along this highway would have their belongings snatched.

The highway robbers would be perched on top of the rocks.

They took long poles with hooks at the end and grabbed traveler's valuables.

 

How Slick Was That ?

 

 

It got me thinking. They hadn't even invented the helicopter, yet.

Once they snatched someone's saddlebags, where the hell did they think they were gonna go ?

As the story goes, some gal from Itoman, chased them away with her wits.

And, another version says, a karate dude ran the crooks off using his sickle.

 

We Better Go Back and Climb That Rock

 

 

All bandits aren't as stupid as:  The 10 dumbest criminals in the world.

What if these guys had an escape route somewhere inside that rock ?

Mr. Miyagi, please, don't give away any more of those books, until I check it out !


Directions for those wishing to visit this historical site