Ishigaki Island (18-20 May 2006)
Ishigaki Airport The Ishigaki Public Market Weather channel Typhoon No.1 and cows The Kabira beach After the typhoon has passed Photo
| Ishigaki Airport |
   |
| I went to Ishigaki Island, the main island of the Yaeyama Islands. The landing ground of the Ishigaki Airport is shorter than the average of 2,000m by 500m. This 500m makes the landing sharp. As I didn't know it, it was a scary experience. The airport itself was a typical local one as shown in the right but look at the center photo. I was amazed to see a mower in the landing field! |
| Photo Top Home |
| The Ishigaki Public Market |
  |
|
I visited downtown of Ishigaki city last day and did some shopping. Local public market is fun to stop by anywhere in the world. A lady in the picture is not on sale. |
| Photo Top Home |
| Weather channel |
|
I loved the weather channel of the Yaeyama Islands. All the scenes are so new to me that I had a slight culture shock. The big island in the left picture is Taiwan, which makes me amazed. It is only about 270 km from Taiwan to Ishigaki. Only 110 km from Yonaguni to Taiwan. What made me surprised most is the fact that it is 470 km from the Okinawa Island. Japan is not a small country. |
| Photo Top Home |
| Typhoon No.1 and cows |
|
We have a word in Japanese, “日頃の行い（everyday good deeds or actions）.” If you do good actions everyday, it will bring you good fortune. As my every deeds are so marvelous that the rainy season has already begun in the Yaeyama Islands and the Typhoon No.1 was passing by. Look at the palm trees and the beache. Due to the nice weather, however, there is literally no one on the beach except for cows for the first two days. This was in a way very interesting experience and I enjoyed the quiet beach. |
| Photo Top Home |
| The Kabira beach |
|
On Friday afternoon, I went to the Kabira Beach, one of the fascinating diving spots of the island. The sea was not that clear after the typhoon but still I was able to see the beautiful coral beach. |
| Photo Top Home |
| After the typhoon has passed |
   |
After the typhoon has passed, the sun shone a little and the beach was back to normal. (The picture left was the Ishigaki Seaside Hotel, where I stayed.) |
| Photo Top Home |
