Hello, Photography lovers!
In this episode, I want to take you back in time to Akuseki Island. This island is part of The Ryukyu Islands, with only 88 people living on it, so we knew it was going to be special. We arrived in thick fog and rain, and as soon as we docked, we were greeted by a local fisherman who, unsurprisingly, didn't speak English. However, with the handy Google Translate, he introduced us to the island. But as soon as he left, another group of school kids came along. It was surprising to learn that even a Frenchman was living on the island with his lovely wife, who told us about a natural hot spring just up the road.
Just before dawn, we went to the local hot spring, which was so nice after a wet, rough sail to get to the island. In the morning, we got picked up by a local fisherman who drove us up to the village since the island is extremely steep. I can't even imagine the people trying to do a part of the marathon on this island, which is hosted once a year. The village was small but cosy; we visited the local school, which had 14 teachers and 7 students and after a few Japanese lessons we headed out to discover the local religion and the power supply which was just a Diesel Generator.
This island only got internet two years ago, so most locals don't carry phones. It made us feel like we were in the middle of nowhere, escaping reality. These islands are truly hidden gems, even if you're not a fan of being remote. This island does not have a landing strip, so if you enjoy a rough ferry ride and limited facilities once you arrive, then you will enjoy this island. Tourism is limited because of this reason.
Although this island is small, it is steep. This makes it impossible for bush walks and hikes, so all of the forest is untouchable, which is perfect for wild animals. Consequently, there are lots of wild goats and pigs.
I hope you enjoyed this episode. Please let me know what i can improve on my blog, more details? more insight? What would you like to see? Seems I'm not getting any traction.
Paul