Okinawa : Hiking in Daisekirinzan 3

This post is the last part of my hiking adventure and about Daisekirinzan, the green-coded Subtropical Nature Forest trail is a trail leading through the jungle. And as I have mentioned before, this last trail, features my favourite tree, the banyan tree or known as the gyajumaru in Japanese.

I love the banyan tree, although this tree has an ill reputation and superstitions surrounding the beautiful tree. It is believed that the banyan tree is a home for the spirits. When I was young, I was warned not to play near the banyan tree.

Despite all that, the banyan tree became my favourite tree. I have admired the fact that its seeds germinate in the cracks and crevices on a host tree that will one day grow into a big supportive root. To me, this tree symbolizes strength to grow from nothing to independence.

Ever since, I left my hometown, I see lesser and lesser of this tree and I am so over-the-moon to see it growing big and strong in Daisekirinzan. Most visitors will walk this trail as the last trail as it is the only trail that connects from the first entrance near the car park. Or you can also start this trail first if you do not want to take the bus up to the rest area.

As like many famous trails, it is already a well-beaten one, but you can still find something that can fascinate you at Daisekirinzan. Personally, I will go there again.

So will you include Daisekirinzan in your trip to Okinawa?

Okinawa : Hiking in Daisekirinzan 2

Sorry, I haven't been able to churn out posts as fast as I wanted to (I wonder how others have managed it?). Well, as the continuation of Daisekirinzan, after the yellow-coded Strange Rock hiking trail, we continued on to the red trail named as the Panoramic trail. This trail is the most popular with visitors as it allows you to enjoy the view of Cape Hedo. And the name of the trail really convey its message - the view is really panoramic and amazing.

This trail was a sacred trail for the Okinawans as they believed that the gods lived here. You can try to find the half hidden rock shrine.

Lots of money to begin my new year with!!!

We took almost 40mins to finish this trail because we stayed a bit too long at the panorama platform. The views are simply gorgeous and we can't get enough of it. You just have to experience this personally because words aren't enough to describe the view.

Hiking down this trail bring us the green Subtropical Nature Forest trail. I am actually excited and looking forward to finishing the last trail because my favourite tree is the main highlight of this trail.

Have you tried the green trail at the Daisekirinzan? Did you like it?

Okinawa : Hiking in Daisekirinzan 1

After my unforgettable whale-watching experience, me and my travel partner drove up to the northern tip of Okinawa island for a hike. As usual, the 'hike' was really just a walk because the path is typically beaten and some even paved which I suspect it is for the adventurous high-heelers (I can never understand why young Japanese women refuses to wear proper boots for hiking? Not stylish enough, maybe?)

So, hiking in popular or well-known places in Japan usually means that you can actually wear high heels and 'hike'!

Anyway, Daisekirinzan is one of the popular hiking spots in Okinawa. It is an area made up of strangely shaped karst formed over millions of years. The geological formation by water and wind on soft limestone rocks form the karst found abundant in this area and it makes great landscape feature. There are four color-coded hiking courses; the Strange rock course, the Panoramic course, the Subtropical Forest course and one barrier-free course for its visitors. 

At first, we thought that we are going to do just two courses, but after some thoughts, we figured out that we will have enough time to do all three courses as each course, just take about half an hour and still make it to another place that we are planning to go after Daisekirinzan.

We started on the yellow Strange Rock course which features oddly-shaped limestone rocks. It seems to be the longest course and travels up into the hills connecting the red Panoramic course. Looks like a little more strenuous course compared to the other, but I think it is relatively an easy course to do.

Pretty fascinating and there were lots of explanation on how the rocks form (it is written in Japanese). On this course alone, we took about one hour to finish it as we stopped to read and to photograph the nature (my favourite!!!)

From the Strange Rock course, we were able to go on straight to the Panoramic course.

To be continued... 

The silver grass

Susuki or the Japanese pampas is the ultimate symbol for autumn in Japan. Nothing says autumn unless you see the susuki. These grasses grow on hilly slopes, fields and whenever there is an unattended land.

Susuki in the blue sky

These grasses catches the light on its silky white flowers and reflects it into soft shimmering silver dust. Imagine a field of pampas grass silvered on a hilly slope with its fluffy plumes catching the sunlight. Imagine it swaying in soft breeze while glistening in the glow of the autumn sunset. What a wonderful display will it be.

These beauties were captured during my visit to the Hitachi Seaside Park recently.

After looking at these photos, I am so determined to go to the Sengokuhara Plains next autumn. Nothing beats a good hike and an awesome photography session with the nature. ^^

Fluttering

I meant to post these pictures for a long time. I had a long time love affair with nature. These fluttering butterflies at the Penang Butterfly Farm was indescribably beautiful. Seeing them flying around brings wonder and peace to me. These photos are taken last year during my trip back in my old hometown, Penang. But as to now, I have three new adopted countries and one of it is Japan. I miss my old hometown, the place I was born and grew up in. I am glad that it still retains the old town charm I love so much and the Penang Butterfly Farm held a special spot for me, having visited it when I was 12 on my very first school trip. The place didn't change that much. It still have the same waterfall and educational displays. Most importantly, the butterflies are still there, fluttering and sweeping through the air, the same way I remembered it.