Travel Photos: Outer Island Art and Seafood

Cameras Only Used Indoors

On a beautiful, sunny day, business took us to the south and east on Okinawa, today.

It was almost 2PM by the time I snapped, this first picture.

The primary mission, was to do some shopping on Chinen Peninsula.

Some people, asked me to pick up Okinawan Folk Stories if, I could find any for sale.

Inside the souvenir shop in Nanjo City, I was lucky enough to discover five of them on a shelf. 

Just in case, someone else might need a copy, I purchased took four of them.

Two, are already promised to those who were smart enough, to contact me.

The remainder I hold on to, until some high bidders come along and, they'll get sold.

When's the Sanguacha Came Next

For those who don't know, Sanguacha is a festival, held annually on Henza Island.

It's an unusual sort of, off the main road event, worth seeing and, I wasn't sure of the dates .

The entire matsuri, covers about 3 days but, the best part will happen March 31st this year.

Adventurous sorts of people, walk at low tide, to perform some rituals offshore on some rocks.

My body, has plenty of adventures already. I just go to see my sweethearts.

Ikei Island Was the Last Stop 

While waiting for our order, I walked over and took the photo of the mermaid.

That's when I announced to Doc, "This is the first photo, I shot today."

The image, doesn't show the whole meal. Rice, soup and another salad, came too.

That meal was so large, I couldn't eat it all. And, it was only about seven bucks !

It was time to head home, before I realized, only 3 photos had been taken, all day.

The last one was an image of scarecrows, hanging on the wall.

There's no sense in scaring people so, I'll save that for some other time.

Should you ever get hungry while visiting Ikei Island, don't pass this place up.

It's the restaurant at Ikei Beach and, prices are unbeatable.

Have You Heard of the Ghosts at UNESCO Sefa-Utaki ?

Kudaka Island from Sefa-Utaki

Everybody Loves a Ghost Story

 

Just a few days ago I was there taking photos with Map It Okinawa.

There's no telling how many times I visited this site not knowing about the ghosts.

Now that I've been enlightened, this place deserves several more visits.

Sometimes a Slippery Trail

 Going up the hill to the sacred site (Utaki) it pays to walk with caution.

Your Choice, Sandbags or Stone

Even on a hot, dry day the stones can be slippery.

Short people can get away with just looking down at the ground.

Tall people, have to look up and down.

It's not the ghosts, I worry about.  Banana spiders are what I don't like running into.

The spiders, I don't mind.  It's the sticky webs that get mangled in my hair; I don't like.

 There's almost always travelers looking out at Kudaka Jima.

It's the island, where most Okinawans believe life originated.

This World Heritage Site is rated #3 out of 20 attractions in Nanjo, Okinawa.

Can Anyone See Ghosts ?

Today, when I went to TripAdvisor I learned about a ghost.

It whispered in somebody's camera microphone.

There has to be some way we can document these sorts of things.

It only costs 200 yen to get in there.

If I can catch a ghost for you with my camera, I will.

Then, I bet Sefa-Utaki becomes the #1 attraction in Okinawa, Japan !

Related Post: 

Travel Photo: View of Kudaka From Okinawa

Inscribed in Stone US Navy on Ojima in Okinawa

Ojima, part of Nanjo City, is separated from the main island of Okinawa, Japan.

By bridge, it doesn't take a minute of driving and you can say, "I'm off Okinawa and on another island."

This inscription, on a stone at the end of the bridge indicates the US Navy was there.

Patrol Squadron Four must have been there from 1960-1964.

At least, that's what is written in stone, would have you believe.

So, I shot this photo to remind me it needed some research.

Ojima, Oojima, Oshima, or, Ou Island, whatever you want to call it, is really small.

A person could walk the whole island in less than one hour. 

It's impossible to get lost, for more than twenty minutes, I know.

That's because I tried it several times. 

Knowing the US Navy has some humongous boats, I figured, they must have kept small ones here.

Like maybe, PT boats.  I think that's navy talk for little patrol boats.

I saw them in a movie once and know they would fit in the small harbor at Ojima.

Big battleships and aircraft carriers wouldn't be able to squeeze in the port here.

Online Search US Navy Patrol Squadron Four

 

Holy Mackerels, they were some kind of airplane bomber squadron !

They were stationed at Naha, Okinawa from 1956 until 1964.

 Here's a quote from their history page:

"From this base, the squadron flew reconnaissance and Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) missions

 to counter the Communist Chinese threat to the islands of Matsu and Quemoy."

They call themselves The Skinny Dragons.

Geographically Speaking 

Naha, is on the west coast of Okinawa.  That would be facing China.

Ojima, happens to be off the east coast of Okinawa.

Now, I'm wondering.  What were those Navy guys doing over there ?
  

Being it is the Chinese Year of the Dragon, I'll try and solve the mystery before year's end.

Maybe, some old Navy guy remembers.  We'll see...

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Unusual Boat Photos From Ou-Jima Okinawa, Japan

Today the 3d Nanjo Mayor's Cup Sabani Race was held on Ou-Jima.

It is a small island off Okinawa's southeast coast, accessible by bridge.

What's unusual about these boats ?

They don't have any motors.  People and wind power is what gets them going.

The sails were made in all kinds of shapes and sizes.

It's going to take some research to learn the history behind these boats.

They look like something that came out of China, to me but, I'm not sure, yet.

The only thing I'm sure of is this:

I'd like to have one. When I want to go to another island, I wouldn't take the ferry.

When the wind is blowing, you can move really fast.

If there isn't any wind, you just have to paddle like crazy.

Er, maybe. just stay where yer at until the wind starts up, again.

That'd be alright by me !

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