It’s been a while, but I’m back on here. I know I keep promising I’ll write more often but money motivates, and having just spent money on another 3 years of hosting and the domain name, I’d better make use of it! It all came around last month when Fatcow.com, my previous hosting company, told [...]
Archive for February, 2010
Magnitude 7 Earthquake Strikes Okinawan Coast
Posted By Dave on February 27th, 2010
This morning at 5:31am there was a huge earthquake which struck 80km east of Naha, and around 29km underground. It was classified as a magnitude 7 quake and was easily the strongest I’ve experienced in my 5 and a half years here in Okinawa. Put it this way: I have never before considered hightailing out of my apartment and getting to somewhere open. Given my position in Okinawa on the southeast coast, I was probably one of the closest to the epicentre of it, too.
Woke up with my phone going off making a strange noise (which I later found out to be the earthquake alert). Seconds later the apartment started shaking violently. This was accompanied by a roaring noise which sounded like a bulldozer was passing by or something of that nature, but the shaking that came with it was too strong for that. I sat up immediately and for a few seconds was ready to grab my dressing gown and getting out. Things fell of my shelves as the seconds ticked by, and it seemed to go on for an age. In fact, the violent shaking lasted around 40 seconds with the earthquake continuing for over a minute I would guess. Eventually it died down and all became quiet again. I checked out the apartment to look for damage to the apartment and to do a little cleaning up.
There was a tsunami warning issued for coastline areas, but nothing on the village PA system was broadcast so I just stayed up watching the NHK reports for a little while. There are only a few reports of minor injuries I think and only a little damage has been sustained (mainly ruptured water pipes). Need to check in with people today to make sure everyone’s ok, but I wanted to check in on here first.
Take care folks, and let me know if you were in Okinawa and what your experiences of it were. Personally, I don’t want another one of those in a hurry.
A Few Photos From a 60s Bar in Naha
Posted By Dave on February 14th, 2010
Been pretty busy with work recently and so haven’t had as much time as I’d liked to write here. But it’s Sunday morning and I woke up early so what better time than now to start tapping away at the keyboard. No huge news of note, but I wanted to share with you a few photos from a night out last weekend. Some co-workers and I ended up at a 60s bar in Naha called Kentos. The bar was also a Live House and had a pretty good house band playing. While my co-workers proceeeded to drink copious amounts of alcohol, I enjoyed the music and snapped a few photos. Was pretty pleased with the results too. Take a look below and let me know what you think.
Posted in Japan stuff
