Tuesday 21 January 2014

Okinawa Day 2: Yubu Island


So, Yubu Island. This was most definitely one of the highlights of the trip because it was everything I expected Okinawa to be: warm(ish), beaches, pretty flowers, quiet, slow, colourful and just generally a lovely place.

After walking through the mangroves on Iriomote Island we decided to go to Yubu Island which is separated from Iriomote by a shallow, sandy sraight. We rode a water buffalo cart across to the island which was really fun. The guy driving the cart even sang a song and played a shamisen.

Some people only stay on the island for five minutes and then take the cart back to Iriomote but we stayed for half an hour. If you have time then I really recommend staying on the island and exploring as much as you can. There was so much to see that I could have spent 1 hour there if we had had the time.

People used to live there but gradually everyone moved to bigger islands and it was deserted. One family moved back and wanted to turn it into paradise and attract tourists. Once you move away from the shop and restaurant then you can see lots of water buffaloes, a butterfly garden, wild boar, goats and various birds.

In my opinion that couple did a good job of turning it into paradise, what do you think?






Our cart`s driver playing his shamisen

Do you see the guy walking along in the white boots? Our driver told us that he is the son of the couple who live on the island and he has nothing to do so he just walks back and forth all day!

Water buffaloes



Some kind of fruit, maybe?

managed to get so close to the butterfly's


I love the leaves of this plant, so colourful



A massive dream catcher

Parrot!

The old school, a memory of what the island used to be like





Song lyrics on the roof of the cart
Linked with Travel Tuesday on Bonnie`s blog, A Compass Rose

8 comments:

  1. Gorgeous pictures! It definitely looks like paradise to me :).

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    1. Thanks for stopping by :) it really felt like paradise! I wanted to live there!

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  2. Wow, what an amazing place to visit! I love all the sculptures :) And it looks like you had the place to yourself--lucky you!

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    1. Yeh, the sculptures were really interesting. I know it was great, most people didn`t go any further than the shop so it was very peaceful!

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  3. This is definitely a side of Japan I haven't seen yet and I really want to go and explore it! I love the tropical-ness of the island. What an awesome getaway!

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    1. You should definitely go and visit Okinawa one day, it really is worth it! It was so nice to escape the cold and walk around the beautiful islands.

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  4. Amazing photos! I am so happy to have found your blog....Okinawa may be our next place to call home for awhile :)

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    1. Thank you! Your blog is great too :) wow, so jealous I would love to live in Okinawa! It was a really beautiful place, I loved it there so much!

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