Sightseeing Saturday

Cape Zanpa, Okinawa Runs for 3Seams

Hydrangeas...

New Growth

Busy Bee

Hydrangeas at the Hydrangea Cafe. Nago City, Okinawa. May 2015.

Sightseeing Saturday

Little Seaweed Man

Onna Village, Okinawa. March 2015.

Camp Courtney Triathlon

It's not our favorite thing to get up in the wee hours of the morning but if it's to show off our awesomeness, then we are game! The beautiful sunrise was a bonus!

My littlest competed in her first triathlon of 2015 and second overall this morning with a couple friends and they all did fantastic!

She placed 5th female and fifteenth overall! Great job!

Getting ready for the swim part.

Sightseeing Saturday

Red Bridge Guardian

Hamahiga Island, Okinawa. March 2015.

Sightseeing Saturday

I Love Okinawa

Hamahiga Island, Okinawa. March 2015.

Higashi Village Azalea Festival

Okinawa is well known for their festivals and flower festivals are as abundant as their blooms! My friend and I ventured north to Higashi Village to check out the Azalea Festival. Lovely little village and the azaleas were in full bloom with brilliant colors. Great way to spend a Friday!

Sightseeing Saturday

Sakura Festival at Nakijin Castle.

Nakijin Castle, Okinawa. February 2015.

Sightseeing Saturday

Happiness

Sunflower Festival, Okinawa. January 2014.

Sometimes different is good and sometimes it's...

"Better to see something once than to hear about it a thousand times." - Asian Proverb

I couldn't agree more.

And today I feel like I accomplished just that. Two things I've been putting off but have heard about at least a thousand times have been shooting the cosmo fields up in Kin Town...and Zumba. I know what you're thinking, Zumba and cosmos? Well, if those aren't two of the most uninteresting things on the planet and they surely couldn't be any more different from each other if they tried. The truth is, I've photographed cosmos before and I've worked out to music before...BUT I haven't shot Kin's cosmos and I certainly haven't Zumba'd. Is that a word? I may have just made it up!

So, in reviewing my day today, I've decided I kinda sorta like Zumba...but ask me again in a month after I've mastered the moves, my opinion could change. And although I'm bummed I waited too long for cosmos, I still got a couple decent shots. Here are a couple shots from up in beautiful Kin Town, Okinawa.

Hope you like.

Wanted to add a couple iPhone pictures as well.

My Okinawa "Bucket List"

Traveling the world is awesome, but exploring your own back yard is pretty amazing, too...especially when your backyard is a sub-tropical paradise. My list grows daily. Here are the things I must see and do before I leave this beautiful island.

Okinawa

1. Snorkel/dive with the whale sharks.
2. Whale watching.
3. Zakimi Castle at night.
4. Nago cherry blossoms.
5. Naha cherry blossoms.
6. Bios on the Hill.
7. Naha Tug-o-War.
8. Traditional Okinawa dance show.
9. Drink habu sake.
10. Okinawa World.
11. Maeda flats and snorkel Maeda Point.
12. Dragons Baseball game.
13. Yomitan Pottery Village.
14. Fukushen Gardens
15. Botanical Gardens.
16. Hedo Point.
17. Tadake Falls.
18. Mt. Katsudake.
19. Okinawa Aquarium.
20. Butterfly Park.
21. Christmas lights at the zoo.
22. Itoman lights.
23. Peace Prayer Park.
24. Shuri Castle.
25. New Year Festival at a castle.
26. Higashi Village Azalea Festival.
27. Bull fighting in Ishikawa.
28. Murasaki Mura.
29. Make sushi.
30. Make soba.
31. Camping on the beach.
32. SUP around the island.
33. Watch a sunrise and a sunset on the beach in one day.
34. Photograph a sunrise.
35. Photograph a sunset. 
36. Tulip Fair at Ocean Expo Park.
37. Sunflowers in Kitanakagusuku.
38. Okinawa Santa Run.
39. Yomitan Festival.
40. Okinawa Food Flea.
41. Chinese New Year Bull Fighting Tournament.
42. Orion Beer Fest.
43. Orion Beer Factory.
44. Nago Castle.
45. Visit and abandoned hotel.
46. Kitanakagusuku castle.
47. Nakijin castle ruins.
48. Buddha.
49. Aha Falls and rope swinging.
50. Take a class to learn Japanese.
51. Release baby sea turtles.
52. Aka Island.
53. Henoko Festival.

Sakura's, Birdie Butts, and Butterflies!

It's that time of year again! Sakura's are beginning to bloom here on Okinawa. Make sure and head up north if you want to catch a glimpse of these beautiful blooms. 

Mt. Yaedake, Okinawa. January 23, 2015

Birdie Butt.

White-eyed Japanese bird.

White Sakura's on Mt. Yaedake, Okinawa.

Butterfly Park in Nago, Okinawa.