We interrupt this regularly scheduled broadcast...
So, there's a typhoon coming. I'm sure you already know that, but it's been quite exciting here. We missed the previous one, Typhoon Phanfone, because it passed farther to the east of the Okinawa islands and mainly impacted mainland Japan.
It's 6 p.m. now, and we're waiting at Yonaguni Airport on stand-by to see if one of us gets off the island. Our original plan was to take the ferry back to Ishigaki, which leaves on Saturday. However, the ferry is the most likely transport to be canceled due to bad weather. The flights can continue much longer before they're interrupted by the weather.
We decided to get off the island yesterday evening, as we saw the news of the typhoon worsening. There weren't 3 seats available all together, so we booked seats for a Saturday flight. However, today we couldn't go diving as the surface conditions made it impossible (or very, very rough and a really tough re-entry on the boat). So, after seeing the wild ponies on the island, here we are at the airport, waiting to see if one of us can get out.
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Flash forward to 10 p.m. There were two seats available on the airport, so Joe elected Devlin and I to fly out. Our plane ride was just fine - smooth most of the way and a little bumpy on landing. The planes through the islands are a type called DHC-8, which Joe says are a very reliable and sturdy plane. They have a propeller jet engine on each side, and a maximum of 39 people + flight attendant (we counted tonight).
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Flash forward to 10 p.m. There were two seats available on the airport, so Joe elected Devlin and I to fly out. Our plane ride was just fine - smooth most of the way and a little bumpy on landing. The planes through the islands are a type called DHC-8, which Joe says are a very reliable and sturdy plane. They have a propeller jet engine on each side, and a maximum of 39 people + flight attendant (we counted tonight).
We caught the #4 bus in to Ishigaki port from the airport (the #4 and #10 lines go there), which is about a half hour ride. Then to Yaima Biyori, the inexpensive pension guest house we stayed at before we left for Yonaguni. After a wonderful meal at Daimyo, a local restaurant our guest house recommended, we are ready to crash to sleep. Joe should be able to catch a stand-by seat tomorrow, either the 9:45 flight or 12 pm flight, and then we'll all be a-ok and safe from the typhoon's wrath!
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