Monday, May 24, 2010

DanDan visits Okinawa 2010

Ohayo! My second trip to Japan. Flight from Beijing to Okinawa took 3 hours. It was February 2010, I was two years and two months old.


Around Okinawa Island
CAPE MANZA CLIFFS, SHURI CASTLE, AQUARIUM, THE SEA, EARTH QUAKE

Above-1: February 2010, Okinawa, 550km away from Japan.


Shuri Castle of The Ryukyu Kingdom

Shuri Castle of Ryukyu Dynasty (1429-1879) in Naha
• Shuri Castle/Shuri-jo/Sui Ugusuku, home of Ryukyu kings
• The Ryukyu Kingdom ruled about 450 years until 1879
• ShureiMon Gate, the main gate to Shuri Castle
• ShureiMon Gate was reconstructed in 1958

Above-2: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
• Shuri Castle is on top of hill, overlooking Naha

Above-3: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
Above-4: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.

Above-5: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
• Stone Gate of the Sonohyan Shrine
• Sonohyan-Utaki Ishimon stone gate leads to garden
• Built in 1519, open only for the kings

Above-6: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
• For BaBa and DanDan Sonohyan-Utaki stayed closed

Above-7: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
• KankaiMon Gate, the first front gate to Shuri Castle
• Walls are made from interlocking blocks of coral limestone
• Walls are 6-15 meters high and around 3 meters wide

Above-8: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
• KankaiMon Gate was originally constructed ca. 1500
• KankaiMon Gate is also known as Amae-ujo, Welcome Gate
• Amae and Kankai means 'to greet with joy' in ancient Okinawan

Above-9: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
• Pair of Shisa lion dogs in front of KankaiMon Gate

Above-10: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
• Sir-D at main, western KankaiMon Gate

Above-11: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
• Going forward, inside of KankaiMon Gate

Above-12: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
• Shuri Castle is surrounded by massive curved stone walls, 1080 meters

Above-13: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.

Above-14: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
• RoukokuMon Gate, inner gate, water clock gate
• Water tank was positioned atop of the gate
• The volume of dripping water was used to measure time
• The time was announced by striking a Taiko Drum

Above-15: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.

Above-16: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
• Towards RoukokuMon Gate
Above-17: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
• RoukokuMon Gate

Above-18: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
• KoufukuMon Gate

Above-19: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
• From KoufukuMon towards HoushinMon Gate and to Una Square

Above-20: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
• State courtyard, striped Una Square in front of Seiden Hall
• Front: Seiden Hall, the main hall at Shuri Castle
• Left: Hokuden Hall, the North Hall
• Right: Nanden Hall, two-story South Hall, museum
• Entering to Una Square via HoushinMon Gate opposite to Seiden Hall
• 2019 October fire burned Seiden, Hokuden and Nanden Halls

Above-21: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
• The Seiden Hall at Shuri Castle, looking at Dragon statue
• This Seiden Hall was burned to the ground

Above-22: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
• At Seiden Hall my speedy Una Square dance at Dragon Statue
• After the fire Dragon Statue was still standing
Above-23: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan. Una Square.

Above-24: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
• HoushinMon Gate which faces Seiden Hall
• This is the main entry to striped Una Square

Above-25: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.

Above-26: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
• Suimui Utaki, Shuri forest Utaki, for the king

Above-27: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
• Shuri Castle Site exhibition
Above-28: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan. Exhibition.

Above-29: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan. Exhibition.

Above-30: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
Shuri Castle of Ryukyu Dynasty (1429-1879)
1. ShureiMon Gate
2. Stone Gate of Sonohyan Shrine
3. KankaiMon Gate
4. RoukokuMon Gate
5. HoushinMon Gate
6. Una Square
7. Seiden Hall
8. Hokuden Hall
9. Nanden Hall
10. Una Square
11. KoufukuMon Gate
12. Suimui Utaki

Above-31: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
• Sayonara, Shuri Castle!


Gyokusendo Cave and Show
Above-32: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
• Gyokusendo Cave, the biggest in Okinawa

Above-33: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
Above-34: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan. Hello!

Above-35: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
• Gyokusendo Cave is 5km long, our walk was 850meters

Above-36: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
• Gyokusendo Cave shop

Above-37: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
• Mamster and BaBa with show dancers at Gyokusendo Cave

Above-38: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
• Lunch at Gyokusendo Cave


Coral Reefs by sighseeing ship Orca

Above-39: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
• Coral reef trip by famous sightseeing ship Orca

Above-40: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
• Outside Naha. Tourism is great!

Above-41: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
• Orca's sightseeing platform was lowered to the sea bottom

Above-42: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
• Hello from Orca!


Southeast Botanical Garden
Above-43: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
• Southeast Botanical Garden

Above-44: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.

Above-45: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.

Above-46: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.

Above-47: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.

Above-48: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
Above-49: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
Above-50: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
Above-51: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
Above-52: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
Above-53: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
Above-54: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.

Above-55: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.

Above-56: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
• The best in Southeast Botanical Garden

Above-57: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.

Above-58: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
• Seashells in Southeast Botanical Garden


Kadena Air Base viewing

Above-59: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
• Kadena Air Base from a viewing deck

Above-60: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.


Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium Show
Above-61: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
• Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
Above-62: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
Above-63: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.

Above-64: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.

Above-65: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan. Great show!

Above-66: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.

Above-67: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.

Above-68: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
• Blue whale is from Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium


Pinapple Park, Jungle

Above-69: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
• Pineapple Park

Above-70: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.

Above-71: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
• Driving! The best in Pineapple Park

Above-72: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.


Lobster Dinner in Naha

Above-73: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
• Lobster, 50cm at Ju Jiu Wu (?) Restaurant in Naha

Above-74: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
• Lobster dinner in Naha
Above-75: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
Above-76: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
Above-77: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.


Cape Manza Cliffs at Onna Son

Above-78: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
• Cape Manza cliffs at Onna Son

Above-79: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.

Above-80: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.

Above-81: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.

Above-82: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.

Above-83: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.

Above-84: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.

Above-85: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.


Naminoue Shrine - 'Above the Waves'

Above-86: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
• Naminoue Shrine
Above-87: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.

Above-88: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
Above-89: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
• A pair of Shisa lion dogs, guardian statues

Above-90: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.


The Cornerstone of Peace Monument
Above-91: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
• The Cornerstone of Peace Monument, Battle of Okinawa
Above-92: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
• The Cornerstone of Peace Monument at Mabuni Hill, Itoman

The Battle of Okinawa
The cliffs. Monument is for all over 200.000 people who died here. Battle of Okinawa took 82 days from April to mid-June 1945. Japan lost 94.000 soldiers. Allied forces lost 50.000 soldiers. 150.000 Okinawans were lost. After the war, Okinawa returned to Japanese control in 1972.
• Monument has over 240.000 names carved onto stones, still adding

Above-93: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
Above-94: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan. Names.
Above-95: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan. Names.
Above-96: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan. Names.

Above-97: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan. Names.
Above-98: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
Above-99: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.


Hotel Kariyushi, Earthquake

Above-100: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
• Hotel Kariyushi in Naha City

Above-101: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan. Earthquake.
• Place: Hotel Kariyushi, Naha City, 10th floor, room 1009 (photo)
• Time: Feb 27, 2010 at 5:31am LT
• Earthquake Magnitude: Richter 7.0
Rapid, powerful horizontal motion of the building. BaBa managed to stand-up, pressed his arms against corridor walls, he believed the building might collapse any moment. Gradually, maybe after up to one minute, the enormous mambo-shake got milder, transformed into wide swinging, Danse Macabre. We feel now sort of earthquake survivors. Hotel Kariyushi is well designed, nothing happened to building or people inside.

Above-102: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
- Shiawase desu! OK at Hotel Kariyushi, room 1009
Above-103: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
• Hotel Kariyushi in Naha City

Above-104: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan.
• Tired traveller, towards Naha Airport and to Beijing

Above-105: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan. Machines.
Above-106: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan. Machines.
Above-107: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan. Machines.
Above-108: February 2010, Okinawa, Japan. Naha.

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