Ryukyu Mura is a folk village of times gone by in Okinawa. Houses and buildings from different areas of the Ryukyu Islands from before the war.
It's nestled in the gorgeous countryside.
One of the first displays is that famous tug-of-war rope!! Since we couldn't read the signage, not sure if this is the one they still use, but kind of doubt it.
And, as so often with Rodney, life imitates art!!
We came around a corner and there was the most adorable picture spot we've seen!!! And, as luck would have it, a sweet Japanese lady (a worker?) in kimono was walking by. So, I said, "Sumimasen!" (Excuse me!) and held up the camera and motioned to the picture spot. She smiled sweetly and replied, "Hai! Hai!" (Yes! Yes!) So, Rodney and I hunkered down behind the 3-feet tall Kijimuna (mythical tree spirits), stuck our hands through the holes and centered our faces!! She snapped the picture, looked at the display, chuckled, and said, "Kawaii!!!" (lovable,cute, adorable!!)
These are a couple of styles of grain houses used. They kept the grain up off the ground, to avoid moisture and critters!
The different home styles house a variety of traditional crafts and activities. The home above is a place to sit and enjoy a cup of "medicine" (green) tea and Okinawa donuts! In the home below, you can paint your own shisa! In others you can weave, do leather works, or bengata (Okinawan stenciling). Bengata is on my bucket list!!
It's a visual feast in the natural landscape to the Habu Show!
Along the way, I just had to be sneaky and snap a picture of this worker....
The entrance to the Habu Show area.
Really?? Those dangerous snakes are "Off Limits"?!?!? ;)
They just LOOK mean and nasty!!
Headed into the gift shop and show area.....
We were taking individual pictures with the kijimuna when one of the gift shop workers offered to take our pic together, so, once again-- life imitates art!!
We were the ONLY TWO in the Habu Show!!!
And he ONLY spoke Japanese!!! But, he demonstrated how dangerous the habu are and how "crazy" the mongoose are!!
He also brought out a different kind of snake that has much slower reflexes. He actually swung it out over us by its tail!! And with Rodney's "snake issue," he pretty much climbed backwards over his seat!!!
And, with my non-"snake issue," I couldn't resist getting my picture taken with it!!!
More of Ryukyu Mura up next....!!!
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