Ishigaki.
Kohama.

Kohama-jima with Iriomote-jima in the background.

Kohama-jima is a real small island just between Ishigaki-jima and Iriomote-jima (in the background is Iriomotejima with Yubu-jima just before it). The island is small enough to ride a moped around in about an hour. We rented this little white car it was perfect, even though it had rust holes everywhere and a rattling muffler.

Hirakubosaki, Ishigaki. Hirakubosaki is at the very northern tip of Ishigaki-jima and is a popular tourist site. This place was very windy. When I went to Hawaii a few years ago, my friend took me to Pali Lookout. It was windy as hell there. For those that have been there....imagine 5 times windier. At one time I had to actually get down to the ground so I would'nt blow off of one of the hills.
A cow at Taketomi-jima.

Kabirawan, Ishigaki.
This izakaya (japanese style restaurant/bar) lets customers pin anything up on their walls. Name cards, money, photos, phone numbers, tickets,....anythinq and everything. I've seen places that pin up money but not as cool as this place.

これってシーサー？

Okinawa shiisa (the home lion-dog guardian...things) are awesome! Some people have one on their roof. Some have a pair at their entrance. Some have 'em inside...And every island has their own style. One unique thing about Ishigaki is their shiisa. They are the most colorful and look friendlier than the other island's shiisa. This place made all sorts of shiisa. Some, I'm sure weren't even that and just figures made up because the creator got bored of making just lion-dogs.

Here's a bus stop......a tiny ass bus stop! Gosh, you'd think the people in Ishigaki were only 3' tall (fyi: the bus stop sign was only about 5' high). I'm not sure if people actually sit inside to wait for the bus. Looks kind of spooky~ Notice there are only 4 bus times posted on the bus stop...

This was near a restaurant "Tomuru" . We went in because it was practically the only place to eat in the area. Inside the restaurant was nothing but Shimada Shinsuke posters and photos along with other famous tv personalities, etc. I thought the owner was a big fan of his but turns out that he's the one that owns the place (he being Shimada Shinsuke).

The food was good! The Ishigaki bibinba was good but the Curry bibinba was even better!

Apologies for taking so long on getting my Okinawa pics up.

This was the very first day of our trip to Ishigaki-jima just about an hour after picking up the rent-a-car. It was the first blue sky to peak out from the clouds. We really lucked out on the weather. It rained the day before and didn't rain 'til the 2nd night at Ishigaki (for about an hour). Other than that though, it was real nice...maybe a bit on the chilly side at times.

Well, I just got back from my vacation to Okinawa so the next few uploads will be photos from there. I think you'll enjoy the photos as much as I did taking them.

It was my second time there and loved it more than the first time. If you like Okinawa as much as I do, then you'll know the feeling that I had of not wanting to come back. If you haven't been there, I suggest check it out.

Here's a site that I regularly visit http://www.wonder-okinawa.jp/index_en.jsp