15th Anniversary Getaway -- Ryukyu Mura: Part 2

After the Habu Show, we continued through the village....

Our first stop was at the fish food vending machine.....
One little blue box of food was 100 yen (~$1.25)

Poor things, it seems as if nobody EVER feeds them!!!

Yep, another picture spot.....

And here we are getting ready to enjoy our green "medicine" tea and Okinawan donuts.
She handed us the sanshins to "play" for the picture. She was quite impressed when Rodney actually picked out a little tune!!

Then she sat and played while we ate. At first it was Okinawan music, then I realized I recognized a song---she was playing 'Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star"!!

More lovely lilies....by a crazy shisa!!

Pictures in traditional wear!! The ones taken on the professional camera are printed up in a memorabilia print. But, he also takes them with your own camera!

 

Rodney in his "waiting" pose......

One of the last stops of the village is this "pottery barn".... It would seem you could try your hand at it, for a fee, I'm sure.

Outside the barn was this old kiln set up as yet another picture spot. I really like those shisas!!!

She was washing towels in big clay pots!!

You can see the pottery barn behind the bull. As he's led around the circle, sugar cane is being squeezed between the togs for fresh drinkable sugar cane juice!

This little guy was just too cute not to share!!!

And this hibiscus just too lovely.....

Back in the entrance/exit pavilion, there are a few little food vendors. But, you know you're supposed to wash your hands before you eat, so why not use this clever set up!!!

Here, the menu is on display, complete with pictures. You decide what you want, then pay at the ticket machine; take the ticket to the counter and you can watch them through the windows as they fix your food!

Now there are drink vending machines literally everywhere, but this was the safest one we've yet to see--- it comes complete with an AED (defibrillator)!!!!

Ryukyu Mura made for a fun adventure!! But, you haven't seen all of it, yet-- stay tuned for pictures from the "Michijunee" show!!

15th Anniversary Getaway -- Ryukyu Mura: Part 1

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....!!!

15th Anniversary Getaway -- the Beach: Day 2

We awoke the next morning to a gorgeous good-for-the-beach day!!

We were a little concerned when we got there, as the parking lot was blocked off as being used for military dogs in training. Thankfully, we were able to park on the side road and use the far end of the beach. It was fun watching them work with the dogs!

 

So, I set up our spot! And, yes, the clouds had begun to roll in again!

But, they made for some fascinating skies!

Of course, what beach visit would be complete without a feet and toes picture :)

Rodney took a break from shelling and glassing to sit with me and enjoy the view!

The plate tectonics on this beach are just amazing!!

A little camera play....

 

It's fun watching the hermit crabs scurrying around!

This poor guy--he was on the higher part of the log and I startled him! He fell into the little crevice, but was able to get turned back over and keep on going!

 

Can you spy this little guy??

I just thought this picture turned out cool :)

This guy's shell was 3-4 inches long!!

 

After my beach meandering, I came back to find the tide had rolled in! I pulled our chairs back, but it wasn't much longer until they needed to be moved again! The cloud cover had turned to sprinkles by this time, so we decided it was time to wrap up our beach outing and head back to the cottage.
Besides, we had to check out the next day and had plans to visit "Ryukyu Mura" on our way home....