Day of work - Sanctuary (Hatsuneura Route)

This path used to be connected to this surf beach, Ishiura beach. This day the waves just came in sets one after another. I am not a surfer myself but I know my loved one would have loved to have the day off and gone surfing. It is a reef beach so it is not to be taken lightly specially because the road back is 1.5 hours walking up a steep hill.

This is the East side of the Island, most of the humans of this Island inhabit on the West side. 

There were 5 butterflies and I gave it a random shot but only got 2 and a half butterflies. They were dancing in the warm air getting blown away from side to side. 

Lunch time and afternoon nap. (This is my favorite scarf, I got it from the Mango shop) 

Found this shiny little stones on the ground. 

As I keep saying, Ogasawara's beauty lies on the tiny little things. 

Bones of a dead goat :(

Another tiny little red spider! How cool!

BLANQUITO

We named "him" BLANQUITO our neighbor's cat. When we moved in he used to come and enjoy the winter sun at our decking and when it is rainy he wants a warm place to be. Are all cats like this? This day he was on our couch and I was petting him when suddenly he bit my hand so hard I shook him and couldn't get my hand free... Wild cats (street cats) are not allowed in this Island. They are predators of the endangered Akagashira Karasubato (Wood pigeon) and so they have cages and traps around the forest to catch any wild ones out there. This one is not wild but surely not respectful. There are not many wild animals in this Island, the biggest wild animal would probably be the Fruit bat, Nosuri and the Wood pigeon. No monkeys or kangaroos :( hehe

A day of work - Tatsumi --> Tokoyo

 

Today at work we were sent to check out the route from Tatsumi to Tokoyo. We left around 9:15 and got to the  the end at 2:00 pm with a very slow pace, looking at the plants and breathing all the fresh air. 

This is a type of Guava called Banjakuro and it is not yet the season but we found some yellowish ones that could be eaten. 

It is sweet but sour and the flavor is very similar to the Guaba

We bumped into this cute little goat on the way...

He looked at us for a while and then decided it was best to tell mom some strangers were looking at him and then they ran off! hehe 

Maybe a type of cedar or fern. 

I strongly believe that Ogasawara's nature is hidden deep in all the small things. You really have to look closely and find some time to look and appreciate. It is not like Australia or Kenya where you will see things flying and running all over the place, it is a place where the green has silently and peacefully evolved. 

New moon

Tokoyo Waterfall is a small waterfall cuddled in a valley next to a river. I would like to visit it during the rainy season and shower :)

Spring or Summer not sure but WHAT A DAY! The sun touching my skin and the warm wind warming my heart. Kominato beach was active! with people running, fishing, kayaking and swimming. Ogasawara's summer here we go!

Allotment (zone 2)

Yesterday and today working on our allotment. My back is killing me but have you ever heard of an addiction towards growing vegetables? That is what I have... cannot stop knowing there is much I can do. 

This is what I call zone 2. Zone 1 are the plants around our decking like herbs and plants that need of more care and less sun. This is zone 2 where we're planning to plant onions, carrots and lettuce. Instead of digging, what we did was to add our compost poo and layered it with dirt and cardboard, after a month and a half we got this very rich dark soil. I think it could have waited a bit longer but as I said it is an addiction. 

The boat comes today and that is when we do the weekly shopping. It is a bit concerning not knowing if our food is radiated or not... We try to check where it comes from but we don't know all the Japanese characters of the places affected. 

I did yoga this morning on our decking, did a tripod head stand but I think it wasn't a good idea after having a heavy breakfast. Since we moved to our new house which is 3 months ago I haven't really done much yoga at home so I gave it a shot today. It is a great feeling! I would like to have a better routine and wake up earlier to do yoga but if I try to wake up earlier... I get grumpy. haaaa 

As I grow older there are things I wish my nature could develop for me... like

1) wanting to wake up earlier

2) wanting to go to bed earlier

3) wanting to do the dishes

4) wanting to swim in cold water

5) wanting to hike all day

6) wanting to do yoga everyday 

7) Being more confident and strong 

Could it be possible that I could develop such things without having to work too hard. I hope so! If that was the case I would love growing older, I already like it though. 

gateau chocolat

There is a small library (a room) in town where you can borrow magazines and books. Some of my favorite magazines in Japanese are Jikyu jizoku (self sufficiency) and Tennen Seikatsu (natural living). My Japanese has not improved since I stopped going to Japanese school which was 10 years ago but this magazine has great pictures that make me want to improve my Japanese. In the back they have recipes and I found this one that I would like to try. If it looks good I will load the picture on the blog. 

There it is, if you can read Japanese. It looks delicious!

gloomy day

Some days are gloomy... it is not always paradise in this paradise. 

Sunshine makes a huge difference here, it is like the oil paint pallet explodes of blues and greens but on a cloudy day.. mmm

Local vegetables from a local friend. What a great present! Spinach, radish and her personally grown beans. Thank you so much S-san we will enjoy them in our home. 

Presenting to you - Calophyllum inophyllum OR just Terihaboku

 

The fruit with the seed inside

Now this one is Tamana and this is the changing leaf season. On a sunny day the colors reflect on the river and gives a romantic image to the river. 

Almost all the fun things are prohibited on the beach... 

Rolan Viewpoint. The Island on the other side is Anijima. It means brother Island and we live on father Island. It was named after they found a rock with the shape of a man's private part and Hahajima- mother Island has mountains shaped as breast...

mmmm shiragexxxxxume something like that. Sorry I don't remember the name but it smells amazing!

 

Not bad for a gloomy day 

The secret sunset spot

Mark said "lucky girl you are"
I think "lucky boy you are"
but really HOW LUCKY WE ARE 

thank you so much 

Nature - Universe - Time - Ocean -Sun

A day off in Ogasawara

We live by the Semi tropical Agricultural Center where we sometimes go for walks. This is a very tall palm tree that required human help :(

We have been blessed with amazing spring days. You just cannot stay at home. 

Then we went fishing in Suzaki beach. Just before sunset is a good time for squid fishing. 

This is the equipment. A fake shrimp as bate and then you swing your fishing rod and simulate the shrimp swimming. It costs around 200 yen in the local shop but in town it costs around 1000 yen! 

Suzaki beach is not the prettiest beach but it is one of Mark's favorite. It is a wild beach with rocks and pine trees around. 

Collecting wood for baking bread in our earth oven. While I wait in the car (it was getting chilly)

First intent of baking bread. The finished version is a little embarrassing to show... 

but it was fine. It took long to cook and it was our first time so we have a long way to go. 

Had some grilled aubergine, Hahajima squash and onions. Hahajima is the neighbor Island of Chichijima with around 400 people? living. They do more agriculture then Chichijima and in the local market you can find some delicious squash and these days also gigantic tomatoes that are actually sweet!

Taro Potato field - "One Life"

This is the second level of the taro potato field. Taro grows in Hawaii and so due to similar climate, it grows here as well. The other important factor is that the rats cannot get hand of it. One life is an NPO that brings together people that aim to live an earth friendly sustainable living. We joined as well and started contributing by making the first taro fields of the OLA farm. 

Taro needs of plenty of water, so here we are building a mud wall to prevent water running away. I was banging hard enough to release all "stress". What stress! there is none in this Island besides the constant thought of either staying and eating radiated food or leaving Japan. 

Started at 10 am and finished around 1 pm ready to eat a well deserved lunch :)

And here they are! Taro potato chips. They are crispier than normal potatoes yet soft in the inside as potatoes. Yummy!