Yomitan

…is the part of the island we live in.
It’s known for it’s beautiful beaches, amazing dive spots, lack of English, proud but incredibly friendly Okinawans, fishing ports, farms, and for being a pottery village.

It’s along the west coast but these photos are only from walking through our neighborhood to show you a little bit of what we see every day. Let’s take a lil stroll!

As I set off, one of our neighbors stopped me and invited me into his perfectly manicured Japanese gardens. He pointed to the large blue fishing nets hanging neatly from his fence in rows and to the sea and then back to himself. He’s a fisherman. The rest of our “conversation” was wild hand motions, shrugs and laughter. Thank goodness my Japanese classes start soon.

{cracks me up ~ garbage trucks play music throughout the neighborhood and announce their arrival over loudspeakers. it sounds like an ice cream truck, but you see Okinawans in an excited mad dash not to go buy ice cream but to bring out their trash bags. no, not kidding. this driver got out to show me his camouflage ~ he was my size, did a full circle with his arms, showing off the whole ensemble. the only English word he could say – with a grin – was “marines!”}

{these frightening dogs are called shisa. they are everywhere. Japanese believe they ward off evil spirits which move in a direct line to the house. we removed ours in lieu of a cross..}