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Okinawa
Okinawa island the largest of the Ryuku islands, is located an hour flight from the coast of Japan's most south westerly tip. The civilisation of the Ryukyu once ruled their kingdom from this castle, now a major tourist destination. |
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Westside
The king of Ryukyu resided over his subjects from this building.
Friendly contact with China was cut short in 1609 when a Japanese expedition from Kyushu captured the kingdom. For the next 270 years the Ryukyu paid tribute to both the Japanese Shogun and the Chinese Emporer in conjunction until 1879, when Japan finally gained full control of the islands. |
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Nice heeed
The architecture and culture of Okinawan history thus reflects aspects of both Chinese and Japanese styles.
Nuff dragon respect! Not particularly Japanese, I think you'll agree... |
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Introducing your hosts....
The Shadow |
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...... ...... ......
The Shadows are cast from many angles |
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Tree
Here's me, in a tree |
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Seaside
The weather stayed fine in our early spring visit. We took many photos of sun and sea and other things in between it... This is about half an hour drive out of Naha, Okinawa's busiest city. |
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Clouds
Lovely sky you've got there...
This pic was taken right amidst a large Americanised town. Okinawa has a rather big US military presence, protecting the world, from, well, all those dangerous things we don't quite see lurking round every corner |
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Complex Colours
Lovely int' it? |
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Okinawa Soba
This is a very famous Okinawa dish. Thick soba (noodles) in a pork broth. You get the bones, marrow and everything in there. Delicious... |
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Munch
...and here's a shadow eating some. |
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Sundown
This was taken from my hotel room. Spanking gorgeous |
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Lighthouse
Our hotel was situated about a third of the way up the west coast of Okinawa. It was near a lighthouse. I took this picture after sundown. I like it |
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Wind Power
Our hotel had its own wind turbine, generating about 10% of the power for the facility. I liked this idea a lot. Looks cool too |
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Poké-air
Yes, this is the plane we flew back to the mainland in. Notice the attention to detail. I have been moved across the ocean by the power of advanced Nintendo Marketing techniques....
..and let me tell you, it was the ride of my young, slightly bizarre, life.... |
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