Mother hen and chicks!

 

This mama has been warming her 4 eggs for weeks now and nothing has popped. There were 10 but we ate 6 and now as I see the other mamas with 10 and 12 chicks I feel bad. I hope they pop soon and turn out to be athletic and smart ;)

 

This is the scene around the house and if I could I would watch them move around the whole day. They are so cute and adorable. I tried to hold one but mama got really angry!

The one on the middle is the mama and all her chicks are keeping themselves warm. How do they all fit under her? It is unbelievable. 

It might seem like a very insignificant thing but it is actually amazing what nature and mothers are capable of doing.

A day of work - Sanctuary

 

Today at work we were waiting for the wood pigeon to appear but no luck. 

I hadn't been there for a while so it was very relaxing to sit inside this beautiful forest. 

Nature there is untouched, tourists are not allowed to enter and therefor its green stays the same. 

I feel a strong peace and big desire to breath in there. It is a place where I can be in touch with myself and reflect on my life.

A day of work - Kominato beach

Today on this peaceful sunny day I worked handing out flyers at the entrance of this beach. 

Every time I go there I get blown away, I cannot believe where I am and what my eyes are seeing. 

The gradation of the ocean is serene, you can see all tones of blues in one surface.

 

A group of high school students were on a kayak tour. They seemed to be having so much fun, they had a different energy, difficult to explain but I will try. Since I came to the Island time has slowed and the excitements of life are more down to earth things like the excitement of a sunny day or the zucchini seeds popping out. They on the other hand seemed to be having faster excitements like an adrenaline for the next second to come. 

 

Kuwa no mi

Today there were filming a program here for NHK with C.W. Nicol a Welsh writer and actor who now resides in Japan and is an environmentalist as well. His achievements are inspiring, I would like to read some of his writings. There was also a very modern looking couple with very fancy camera equipment and a very cute brittany spaniel, a french dog. Ohhh, want one of them!
Ogasawara's beauty brings people here with all sorts of interests, it is inspiring to see what other people out there are doing.

On the way to Kominato Beach

 

These days I have been working on handling flyers about the ecosystem of Ogasawara. I start in a point and then I move to the next. This is on the way to the next beach called Kominato.

Tako-no-ki The routs of this tree resemble an octopus and in Japanese Tako means Octopus.

There are 2 types of Tako-no-ki. One unique to this Island and the other one that was brought in from abroad. They make bags and jewelery with its leafs. 

 

Bugambilia 

 

A man running a small agricultural farm. Not very common in Ogasawara. 

Farming is not very well supported in this Island as well as every were else in the world. It is sad to know that if that boat that comes once in a week does not show up due to typhoons, we all run into our 3 little supermarkets and buy everything available. What if! What if! one day it did not come for any longer. Are we prepared to deal with that? It is a scary thought but it does cross into my mind sometimes and that is why I have planted zucchinis :)

A creature

After having veggie burgers with tofu sauce (yummy)
Mark and I were chilling out and suddenly this creature was flying inside the house. 

I opened my Ogasawara field book to check what it was and it could not be more convenient, the moth/butterfly flew on top of the book. It looks like one of the unique species but it doesn't have the black dots that you can see in the picture. It has transparent blue-green wings and it measure around 3 cm. 

 

It is still there as I write this. I think that he's found friends for tonight. 

New Ideas!

1. Build an earth oven

2. Build an extension room

3. Grow veggies

4. Write about it

5. Bake bread in the earth oven

6. Do yoga course

7. Teach yoga

8. Learn about cob construction

9. Stop worrying and smile

Pelan Pelan Village

Our landlord is the owner of this village. It means slow slow village, and it is an Eco hostel in the mountains of Chichijima. On the way to the village you walk through a dirt road for 5 minutes and if you walk slow enough you can discover magical  beings

  

Starfruit

Starfruit is originally from the Philippines and now well known throughout Asia and Central, South America.  In Spanish it is called Carambola. I think we used to drink Carambola juice when little. When the fruit is cut in half it has a star shape and there for the name.

Our landlord gave us a jar of starfruit jam. This year the tree gave so many starfruits that she is making, dry fruit, jams, breads, alcohol and any other possible thing to use all of the fruits. 

 

On the way back from work I walk through a road next to a temple and I found this tree and then I discovered the fruit. I didn't think it came from a tree but more from a vine looking plant. 

It reminds me of the lights they hang at Japanese festivals called "Cho-chin"

Is this real?

 

There are so many more wonders to be seen in this world..

Nature designs 1

 

Three leaves in one. To me it haves the potential of being a good luck leaf ;)

On the way from home to work, with no rush I start to find incredible things.

Slowing down is so good.

Colors and shapes, all hidden in the forest, as soon as you stop and look a bit closer and even a bit closer and a bit slower, realizing it all has life.

happy thank you more please

 

If you are feeling down or needing of a film that would make you feel greater than you already are, then I recommend you this movie. The soundtrack is amazing, the actors, the characters and the lines are very clever, simple but fun. 

My heart warmed in this cold winter. 

I hope you enjoy it.

Not related to Bonin Island... (it's my hidden passion)

 If you plan to go for a walk - don't forget to pack your camera, baguette and wine ;)

Don't you like that painting in the background!

great space use - i love it

the light coming from the roof, the colors, rustic mixing with modern.. lovely

A day of work - Heart Rock

 

Heart Rock

200m above the ocean

The shape of the mountains create a red heart shape. I am standing on top of it so it cannot be seen from this point. It was a beautiful sunny day in Bonin Island's winter day. It has been cloudy and windy for weeks but this day it was a summer day, we got warm from the core. A slow 2 hour walk in the dense forest with gorgeous views of the island and its unique flora.

 

4 of us 

with our packed lunch

Mission completed: To set up a stop sign for this route, the boys carried this wood logs which seem to be very heavy, I was in charge of tea :)

Finished work ate lunch and had a nap.

On the way back we climbed trees and chatted about the flu and how this walk could have healed any sick person.

Neighborhood

Dinner with friends in tiny apartment. 

Every once in a while we hang around with our lovely neighbors. 

Satomi works in a bakery, Shinji works in a lodge, Sugi does Hawaiian dyeing, Reiko is a nursery teacher, Tsuyoshi is a chef. They all do Ocean sports, surfing, supping, swimming and snorkeling.

bird talk

 

You guys! That road is very dangerous! I've seen gigantic machines with wheels moving at high speed! I know the grass looks greener on the other side but why don't we just go to the beach instead...

We are crossing Mario! We are hungry and that tree seems to have what we want!

Let's go guys! We are not going to starve any longer. 

But Che don't you think Mario is right, I mean haven't you seen them! those humongous machines that make that noise!

Look guys I think we have to act! It is now or never!

Follow me! 

 

 Oh men! Here we go! 

oh oh oh 

ruuuuuun! 

stop! 

ok go!

 

Yeah! We made it! Uff tough life we've got! 

Thanks Che for your encouragement.

Never mind guys!

wait a moment, why didn't we just fly to the other side -.-;