Where in the World are Dave and Elizabeth?

Across the enormous, beautiful Pacific, there is a shadow, and that is the effects of WWII.  Dave and I took a taxi about 40 minutes from Naha to the Okinawa Perfectual Peace Memorial Museum, where the names of the 200,000 people who died in the bombing of Okinawa are etched in granite.  There is no way I can show by photo how huge the memorial is. Of course, it made me think of the Vietnam Memorial in DC.  It was only in the 60’s today, and it was misty and cloudy.  That only added to the serious ambiance.   Inside, we learned of the horrendous suffering of the Okinawan people.  The exhibit traced the beginnings of the conflict in Asia and the Pacific, and gave a brief history of the Japanese domination of the original Ryukyu kingdom of the Okinawan islands in the 1870’s. Thereafter, the Okinawans were propelled through Japanese conflicts in Asia toward the events of WWII and its aftermath.  The things that happened are too many and too sad to blog ab...

  From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.  27 God did this so that meanwhile n would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. Acts 17 I am thinking of people, cultures, and languages today. Did you know that the dominant religion in Okinawa today comes from a time before the region became part of Japan? It is animistic and also based on ancestor worship, as well as taking care of family. Today’s version has been influenced by several other religions, including Shintoism, Buddhism, and Christianity, but the base beliefs are the same as centuries ago.  Our first stop today was  Shuri  Castle. Built in the 14th Century, it has burned and been rebuilt to be the same a number of times.  It was the home of the kings of the Ryukyu, the people who lived here before combining with the ...

 Happy Emperor’s Birthday Weekend!  We were welcomed by a group doing a lower energy form of the  Yosakoi dance. Emperor Naruhito was born February 23, 1960.  He turns a year older today, and Japan is celebrating with a three day national holiday.  Two things I didn't know about Japan, but probably should have, are that 1) The Japanese drive on the left hand side, a la the Brits.  2) Okinawa, itself, consists of 160 islands!  We boarded a cheerful red bus for a 45 minute drive across Igishaki Island. This was after the long immigration process for Japan, which included checking our fingerprints.  Apparently, neither Dave nor I are wanted by Interpol or anything like that. 😆 Our destination was Kabira Bay.  Kabira Bay is known for its black pearl production.  Despite its gorgeous golden white sand and beautiful water, you are not allowed to swim there for fear that you would interfere with the pearl production. Also, there are strong cur...