Winter walks

I've spent some time walking and cycling around the Naha area lately, camera in hand. I haven't really done that in a few years; no idea why I stopped. Anyway, it's fun to explore your neighbourhood and nearby areas - there's still so many places to discover even right around the corner.

Naha has a reputation for being a bit rundown, ugly and full of tourists. I don't think it deserves that; there are many spots around the town that are beautiful, even serene. This is Miituji park and canal just a block from the waterfront.

Naminoue beach in Naha. It's right in the city and right next to the commercial harbour so it's hardly an unspoiled wilderness. This road bridge leads to the airport further down the coast. But it's still a nice beach, and I love that we can live in the middle of a city and still have a place to cool off in the summer just a few minutes away.

Critics are right about one thing: Naha (and Okinawa) has a lot of concrete construction, and a lot of it looks worn down and broken. But that's really a result of the climate here.

With frequent typhoons you really want sturdy buildings. The hot, humid climate and salty sea winds makes everything rust, makes concrete crumble, and mould will quickly discolour anything exposed to the outside.

Yang Kyou Fang (The Golden Swallow). Probably the best Chinese restaurant we know here. It's also conveniently almost next door. They've been hurting over the pandemic, like all restaurants, but seems to still do OK. Their take-out service seems very popular — we order now and again, and there's always other customers there picking up their orders — and they have enough space to safely have some level of eat-in service.

Speaking of Chinese restaurants, this fried pork is from another restaurant called  Kujakurou (Peakock) in Ginowan. It's older and perhaps more traditional than Yang Kyou Fang. Both are good.

"Gabe Useful — Junk"

Matsuo Park in Naha.

I'm back to using my old Pentax K5-IIs. It's almost ten years old now, and starting to show its age, but honestly still the one camera I find most natural and effortless to use. And I really enjoy the results I get, even in near-darkness.