Decided to go see the ocean today. Going through my Yakushima pics makes me miss the ocean. It's funny how close I am to the ocean, and yet I probably see it once a year.
Yakushima waves and sunshine.
Another waterfall
I liked the patina on these guardrails.
Our goal was to drive around the island for the day as there's a road that runs around it. Narrow at times, and always interesting. Monkeys, deer, waterfalls, and beautiful scenery. We didn't have a lot of time to stop by all the places we wanted to though.
This car was parked at the top of the hill after climbing from the beach.
We stopped by a place where we thought we could hike to see this.
There was a more strenuous climb past the waterfall but we didn't make it because we were on a tight schedule, and somebody was pooped :)
There was a ton of wildlife on the road, which ironically kept people from driving too fast naturally. Christina figured out a way to get them to look at you too. But that was after this photo.
Eating in Yakushima was a different experience than Saigon. I couldn't walk around aimlessly in the mornings and pick and choose what I wanted that morning, made fresh. I had to purchase things at the market the night before to ensure we had stuff to eat the next day. What we traded for food convenience we got in beautiful air and landscape.
The outside of the hostel. 
We encounter some early risers on our way to pick up the car, or food. I don't remember
Breakfast.
The view.
Thank you random stranger for being up so early and ignoring me as I took your picture.
I forget what she was doing. I think she had some shellfish?
I think someday I'll compile all the photos I've taken that remind me of Millet. I should go tighter on this unless I print it big later.
I like stencils
It's amazing how different each sunrise looks despite them all being taken within a span of half an hour.
This would look better bigger because you lose the awesome texture on the siding.
Early.
Mid.
Late. It started getting to hot/bright to photograph without me going blind so I turned around and got some of the harbour. More later.
Los Angeles has some of the world's best weather. Plenty of sunshine all year. Why is it that I miss sunsets and sunrises so much? Yakushima reminded me.
One reason why our hostel was one of the best places we stayed. This was the view from outside our room.
I like this one because it looks like there's a light on inside of the house. Really it's the sunlight ricocheting around inside.
We were right next to a warehouse like area. Some cool silhouettes.
Funny thing about that day was that it got brighter towards sunset as the clouds that had rained on the island previous to arrival moved on. I took it as a good sign.
The "walk" man has a fancy hat and a suit. Love it.
Sunset. Such a nice quality of light.
What better way to end the day. I ended up hungry for food while Christina lay passed out from exhaustion. I went searching and found this izakaya place. I was the only person there for most of my meal and nobody spoke english, so I ordered in Japanese from memory of my favourite dishes: Butta Kakuni, teba saki, agedashi tofu, yaki nasu, grilled saba, etc. They then just told me what they didn't have.
If I remember correctly, the sun decided to make an appearance, and with it, the clouds changed from the gloomy overcast variety to the dramatic beauty that I could not quite capture. There were rainbows that appeared everywhere and because the clouds were so low lying, every second that passed created a new composition that was breathtaking. It was a great late afternoon.
Here's what I could muster.
\
Gloom
Here comes the sun. (do do do doo)
I couldn't quite capture how awesome the sky was.
A different perspective
Things were pretty quiet in town so we checked in and went for a stroll. That's code for: we went to look for food.
Last call for gas
Loving the tiny cars
This is one of the reasons I have to go back to Yakushima. Apparently this leaf, will serve as new growth for the plant. Just need to add water. I'm definitely going to smuggle one back the next time I go there.
From the train station in Kagoshima, there is a bus that takes you straight to the jet foil dock where you can board your high speed boat to Yakushima island. You don't ever have to walk anywhere except to board your vessel of choice. Not only that, the schedules seem to be timed quite nicely somewhere. How very efficient. 
The view from the docks before boarding. I'm not sure what that building is, but it reminds me of a prison.
On board the jetfoil. It got us there in under 2 hours, which if I remember correctly is less than half the time a ferry would take.
Random silo next to our hostel. This ended up being one of the best places we stayed at while in Japan. Loved the stillness and calm of this island.
This road leads to our hostel. I like how it looks like a storm is coming. But really it was leaving to leave us in sunshine for the next several days.
I love train stations. I love the hustle of the people, the timed efficiency of the arrivals and departures, and I love the architectural structures of form meeting function. Riding on a train is knowing where you're going to go, and when you're going to get there. On time, every time.
I miss that.
"Oh my gosh, did you just ride a train?"
"Why yes I did?"
"Oh my gosh! Me too! Life is good!"
Clean and professional.
My view. I also like factories. Just not pollution.
I'm sleepy.
A random dark corner transformed by soft light into...a less dark corner.
I like this because it's green and it reminds me of how I felt when taking it.
Goodnight.
Japan is one of those great places where you always find something interesting to photograph at night. Partly because it's so well lit that there's enough light, and also partly because there's always people, or evidence of people around you. And when there isn't, it's just as good.
lonely bike.
A secret robot disguised as a vending machine.
Another lonely bike. I love how it seems as if nobody steals bikes in Japan.
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