Chisun Resort Ishigaki

... known specimens remaining, all of which are on this tiny island. The next day I found myself completely exhausted so I decided to take it a little easier. I rented a scooter, grabbed my mask and snorkel and set off to explore the secluded beaches that surround this jungle island. The waters there were crystal clear and the coral created a montage of different colors that changed with each passing wave. As I made my way up and down the island I ...

We're back in Ishigaki and this time in the "city" side of the island where we had hoped to do some surfing. It turns out that the waves are off-shore where the reef is and that you need a guide to help you get there and sadly today they are expecting some fall-out from the typhoon ...

... well as rowing, climbed to the top of a 55m waterfall and then to the bottom and then rowed out, having stopped to look at the mangroves and curious crabs they have here - they have one large claw as big as the rest of their body. We only saw some tiddlers but still quite interesting and a nice lunch at the top of the waterfall.

... found a beach. The diving here is rather good as there is a reef within easy reach but the main drawcard is the manta rays. On the first dive though I saw an octopus (well the dive master sort of grabbed it out of a hole), a square spotted fairy basslet (basically a medium sized fish with blue fins and tips to its body but with a large square red spot in the middle - quite cool) and a sting ray as big ...

... mind, draw Bette Davis (dont ask) and have about 5 naps a day. Its been good. But all good things, must be replaced with infinitely better things. So as I sit here writing this entry, which actually contains no real substance whatsoever, I am trying my darnedest to surpress my incontrollable excitement for what Europa has to offer me. Till then. Danny.

I spent last night watching a "House" marathon, which was actually in its original English, in my fantastic Pension, which made me so much happier than it probably shouldve. This morning I took the ferry to the very nearby microscopic island of Taketomi-jima, where I rode an Ox/Yak-esque creature and bought these funky little dragons that are littered all throughout ...

From Okinawa I flew to Ishigaki, the largest of the string of Yaeyama islands, the absolute Southernmost string of islands in Japan. But it feels like a whole other country. Ishigaki is a beautiful island - for me it seems like a mix between Thailand or Bali and Hawaii. I went to a secluded ...

... making lots of friends, so where having a blast. I don't know how I am going to sleep tonight cuz I will be so excited to get off the boat. Today was the first day in10 days I even saw a land mass because we pasted an island. It is all up hill from here. The most we have in between countries now is 3 days so before I know it my mom will be coming. Well that's it for now. Love yall and miss you.

... hunted amongst the washed up coral for some good ones to take back. I was looking to take some back for my students as many Japanese never make it to this part of their country and I thought they would really enjoy seeing something from so far awayss. People in Hokkaido generally consider this area, more or less, a different country. Kieko was looking for ones to make jewelry out of. We walked for maybe a half mile or so and then sat down to enjoy some Okinawan donuts and the view ...

... of fish that would glide by. There were cranes along the banks that were bursting with mango trees and there was not another soul on the river except for the two of us. It was really sweet. We made it to the falls and it was a short walk up to the base of them. They aren`t super high, 55 meters, but it was really cool just to hang out there underneath them. My guide was pretty chill and made us some tea to go along with our Okinawan mochi treat. To my suprise, I was ...