Three sea turtles have been waiting for two weeks to receive medical treatment in the restaurant located on the first floor of Miyakojima Paradise Studios building.They were salvaged in bad shape and are waiting for the vet from Okinawa island to drop by.
Si vous allez sur la plage de yoshino, connu pour ses fonds marins avec beaucoup de poissons, vous tomberez forcement sur le garde côte de cette plage. Cette personne est ici toute l’année, quel que soit le temps, car il vit sur cette plage. Ce n’est pas un SDF, mais par choix, il préfère vivre ici avec peu de choses, car pour lui, l’essentiel est face à lui.
If you go to Yoshino beach, a well known spot for shallow sea rich with coral and fishes, you will definitely find him. This gentleman lives here the year around, under any weather conditions, right on the beach. He is not homeless. He rather prefers to live here with just a few belongings, as what matter to him is nothing but the panoramic view.
He will actually come and meet you and explain in very correct English the basic safety rules of the beach (don’t tramp on coral, don’t touch anything, etc.). Next, he will give you what he calls a Gift from Neptune, a necklace featuring a piece of coral. If you are lucky, you may even get a mobile phone strap.
This man is cuckoo on another planetand I am always surprised by the wealth of his cultural knowledge. I visit Yoshino beach several times a week to accompany customers on snorkeling tours coming from all over the world. Each time, he will tell us anecdotes about the country of origin of my customers, talking about book by German, Swedish or wherever else countries.
He is always smiling and available to answer questions. I have much respect for this man.
For some reasons, I will have to spend a few days in Tokyo. Moving back to the city always means tremendous changes in my habits. Some things that may be daily routine for you feels to me like challenges.
As the city is supposedly a little bit more “civilized”, I first have to swap garments.
Here in Miyakojima, my daily costume wraps up with tongs, a short and a tank top.
In Tokyo, these might not fit (well, maybe in Summer …).
Some people in Tokyo must wear neckties. I must don socks, the very meaning of I had forgotten for well over two months (socks with tongs are not to my taste …).
I waited until the airpor to change clothes in the washroom, switch for a jeans (happy to see my waist somewhat floating in it), a shirt and shoes (no Weston but standard sport shoes).
You may think I must be crazy to write about wearing socks, but you should understand that this mundane act makes me think deep about my very own daily life style in Miyakojima.
In a previous life, I craved for brand clothes, spending time in the dressing room choosing the best match for my shoes.
All this sounds so far remote now …
I don’t despise other life styles because I loved and still love the varieties. But living on a small island devoid of massive shopping centers allows over time to enjoy what is essential.
To quote what my wife often says : here we have nothing but what matters.
Should not be complicated! It’s “coco”! Right “coco”! (“coco” means “here” in Japanese).
Today’s subject is not for once about Miyakojima but Japan at large (well, Miyakojima is in Japan though …)
Here is a short selection of products designed for kids. I am much interested in this field as my six month daughter is starting to eat and I was looking around the supermarket racks this afternoon … .
