Will you just look at that...!!! Whale Shark, Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, Motubu, Okinawa, Japan
A perceptive lady saw me walking to the bus station of Naha, Okinawa, in the sudden downpour early this morning and at the next traffic light had caught up with me to give me an umbrella. So kind, the people here on Okinawa!
At the bus station I was met with skepticism. I made it understood that I wanted to go to the Motubu Peninsula in North Okinawa. The 'counter man' hurried me across the street to a tour company. There an English-speaking, fine guide - Carol Lim - and a driver took me to a touring bus as the only passenger. But with a dire warning in the ever increasing rain and wind: we may have to turn back because the Typhoon Aere will be upon us at the end of the day.
We had quite a day. Not unpleasant at all in the warm rain but very wet. Traipsing through ruined castles, along rain and salt-spray wetted coasts, through pineapple groves...
But then I escaped the pretyphonic weather and went deep into the dry depths of the majestic Churaumi Aquarium.
What a place! I understand it's the largest salt-water Aquarium in the world. The central tank is absolutely stupendous. It holds scores of interesting large Denizens of the Deep among which Manta Rays. But in particular three enormous Whale Sharks (Rhincodon typus), the largest living fish species. Moreover, they're not at all dangerous to humans and can even be 'cuddly', allowing divers to ride on them! and look at the pilot fish! This is Jinta, male, almost 9 metres long and weighing about 5.5 tons. A mind-boggling sight for anyone to behold. Awesome... not only the pointing lady in the photo clearly and expressively thinks so but doubtless everyone there!
Awesome, too, that storm. We made it back to Naha though without being forced. It's kind of blowy now on the other side of my rain-splattered window...
Will you just look at that...!!! Whale Shark, Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, Motubu, Okinawa, Japan
A perceptive lady saw me walking to the bus station of Naha, Okinawa, in the sudden downpour early this morning and at the next traffic light had caught up with me to give me an umbrella. So kind, the people here on Okinawa!
At the bus station I was met with skepticism. I made it understood that I wanted to go to the Motubu Peninsula in North Okinawa. The 'counter man' hurried me across the street to a tour company. There an English-speaking, fine guide - Carol Lim - and a driver took me to a touring bus as the only passenger. But with a dire warning in the ever increasing rain and wind: we may have to turn back because the Typhoon Aere will be upon us at the end of the day.
We had quite a day. Not unpleasant at all in the warm rain but very wet. Traipsing through ruined castles, along rain and salt-spray wetted coasts, through pineapple groves...
But then I escaped the pretyphonic weather and went deep into the dry depths of the majestic Churaumi Aquarium.
What a place! I understand it's the largest salt-water Aquarium in the world. The central tank is absolutely stupendous. It holds scores of interesting large Denizens of the Deep among which Manta Rays. But in particular three enormous Whale Sharks (Rhincodon typus), the largest living fish species. Moreover, they're not at all dangerous to humans and can even be 'cuddly', allowing divers to ride on them! and look at the pilot fish! This is Jinta, male, almost 9 metres long and weighing about 5.5 tons. A mind-boggling sight for anyone to behold. Awesome... not only the pointing lady in the photo clearly and expressively thinks so but doubtless everyone there!
Awesome, too, that storm. We made it back to Naha though without being forced. It's kind of blowy now on the other side of my rain-splattered window...