Another sunrise brings another day of working from my hotel room. But today there’s a difference; the rain has eased and a smattering of sunshine dances on my balcony. I open my door and am struck by the fresh ocean breeze. It’s that fleeting time of year when Okinawa’s oppressive humidity is kept at bay by rain showers, producing occasional perfect days. I can practically taste the salt of the ocean as I watch the gentle lull of a distant fishing boat. But perhaps most noticeably, my ears prick up at the melodic and almost metallic cha-ko-lee of a pair of light-vented bulbuls (Pycnonotus sinensis) passing by. I watch the birds for a second before my eyes trail slowly back to the sea. Just as they do, I catch a flash of red. It must have been a ruddy kingfisher (Halcyon coromanda) darting from the tree it was perched in. A few minutes later my identification is confirmed as I hear the sweeping, descending call of the individual in question.
Continue reading “Sustainable redevelopment: visions of a post-lockdown world”Sustainable redevelopment: visions of a post-lockdown world
