Another Beach Sunday

I know, I know, there is an overabundance of posts on this blog about beaches.  I guess it's the hazard of living on a tropical island for 2 1/2 years.  I mean, what else do you want to do on a beautiful weekend day then go visit a beach?  And since all five of us seem to enjoy this activity, even in the winter when it's too cold to get in the water, the result is a lot of beach photos.  So if you're tired of seeing our beach walks, go ahead and Google something else or go check your email.  For the rest of you, here are some shots from our most recent beach trip!

We tried to go for a walk on one of our favorite beaches on Sunday, but when we got there we found that it must be the time of year for seaweed to wash in.  The place was covered with a plush layer of an emerald green carpet.  Mixed with the shallow low tide, it was a boggy mess that we soon abandoned with the hopes of finding a slightly more sandy beach.  If you look closely at the photo below, you can see sandy beaches across the bay, so that's where we headed (in the car, not on foot!)

We drove down the road trying to find some road or parking area and stumbled upon a small grassy parking area with what looked to be some sort of shrine behind it.  When we got out of the car, we saw the giant bell and statue perched up on a hill with the beautiful ocean behind.

Turns out this is a statue of Shinran Shonin who was a teacher of Mahayana Buddhism.  The religion seeks "worldwide peace based on the truth of coexistence".  It's particularly meaningful where this statue is located since during the Battle of Okinawa a battery of heavy guns was positioned in the same spot.   

Trying to reach that beautiful beach, Cannon spied this slightly overgrown path.  Anytime I see a path like this I think "snakes"!  And since Okinawa is home to the deadly habu, it's a valid concern...

Can't you just see a habu striking my tantalizingly tasty looking toes?

Anyways, we made it down the path (any potential snake attacks were probably warded off by the noise the kids make) and were rewarded with this view...

In one of those deliciously clear corral pools we saw this puffer fish that was trapped by the low tide...

Stevie on his private island.