Laboring in Aguni, Day 2

Our hotel room was the first Japanese-style room we've had the pleasure to occupy.  It is a tatami room, meaning no shoes on the straw mats, and the beds are futons that are rolled up during the day to allow for sitting and doing whatever else until nighttime.  This room was small by American standards, but very cozy for a weekend getaway when the days are spent outside and the room is truly for sleeping.  We might need to invest in lumbar supports for future visits to Japanese-style rooms, but only until our American backsides get accustomed to the unrivaled support of the floor.

We slept in a bit - no need for alarms on the first day of vacation!  Our breakfast was very Japanese: several small dishes with a little something different in each one, all complementary. American meals are hearty portions of 5-7 different things.  We've noticed that the Japanese embrace >10 items per meal, not one of them assuming the role of "main dish."  I read once that vegetarian spreads are similar in that you have several different items of similar proportions that coalesce into a well-balanced meal.  Sampling the local food makes travel more fun.

After our meal, we headed upstairs to change into our bathing suits and head for the water to see the wonders of Aguni.  The view from the balcony showed a bit of a storm brewing just off-shore. Nothing too menacing, so we took off.

Our spot for the morning was the rocky shore near the salt factory.  The tide was low, offering LOTS of flats for some peeks at shorebirds.  Before doing anything, we walked across the rocks to the water to get a feel for what we might expect in snorkeling.  I thought the waters looked a bit rough, or at least too rough for me.  It might have also been the pull of finding shorebirds, but the white-caps further out just didn't seem fun to me.  Shorebirds present, choppy waters, and a kicking wind all gave me an easy decision: stay on land.  Ryan opted for the water.  All parties were satisfied.

The shorebirds were not cooperative.  They were difficult to see and flew off if I came within 15 meters of any of them.  I soon lost patience and started looking in the tidepools, which always offer something of interest to even the most obvious seeker.  Crabs were on the list today, and they were a delight!

Ryan spent a good 2-2.5 hours in the water.  I only saw him because of the buoy he takes to keep the fish he's able to catch.  Otherwise, it's anyone's guess as to where he is.  Here is the view from the car:

The rain started on our drive back to the hotel, and did not let up for the rest of the day.  Only rain at first, then the wind picked up and there were gusts of rain and sea spray that made us thankful we were not camping on this particular adventure.  The kayaks strapped to the car allow the rain to enter the vehicle through the straps and thoroughly soak the seats.  Excellent fun for tomorrow!  We settled into our futons a little earlier than normal, and were happy for our e-Readers and apps.

For dinner, the keeper of this guesthouse cooked the fish Ryan caught.  We'd given it to her as a present, but our hostess saved half of it for us!  It was delicious, and a fantastic addition to the traditional assortment of dinner items. 

Winds dying down and rain subsiding, we kept our fingers crossed that the next day would allow both of us to get in the water, or bird, or do SOMETHING outside.  As cozy as our little room was, you realize how close those four walls are when you have beautiful reefs and new birds beckoning to you from the window.