Visiting Churumi Expo Park in Okinawa

[palmfriend]

 

Hello there,

 

last weekend my wife had a company's event on the Okinawa main island north from us and since her company sponsored the 

flight tickets for the whole family we took the chance and went there all together.  We extended the original stay

and used the chance to visit some interesting locations - one of them: The Churaumi Expo Park.

That place is famous for its"Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium" building...

...which houses several very interesting aquariums displaying the variation of life in the waters around Okinawa.

Another famous attraction is a Dolphin show but the park sports a "Tropical Dream Center" and a "Tropical & Subtropical Arboretum" as well.  The crowds are usually

focused on the Aquarium and Dolphin show while the areas with the plants stay a little bit in the shadow.  After visiting the first two main attractions the kids got 

hungry which was my chance to take off while my wife took the kids to a restaurant. It was clear from the beginning that I had to choose one of the two plant 

areas because of the limited time frame, so I headed off to the Arboretum while trying to ignore the Dream Center which was closer and on the same way.

On the way some L. Chinensis, ...

...and Satakentias. Then I had to stop for a moment...

...a Bismarckia close to the entrance of the Dream Center. 

Hurrying on towards the Arboretum...

...glancing around. Here an Arenga.

While staying on the trail to the Arboretum I saw one of the buildings of the Tropical Dream Center. As mentioned above, it was not the place I wanted to visit this time but...

...something in the building caught my eye. 

I took a deep breath and after a few seconds I hustled to the Dream Center's entrance.

 

 

[HtownPalms]

Cool looking place. Awesome palms. 

[palmfriend]

The entrance area:

After paying the small entrance fee I went inside...

Cyathea plants all over the place.

Among them an Arenga tremula.

Moving on, some Euterpe oleracea towering in the back...

...some younger, still potted ones in front.

...and again, Cyatheas everywhere.

Entering the next building - a tropical room called "Victoria greenhouse"...

Here it got interesting.

Placed in the pool's water, some Nypa fruticans - Mangrove palms.

Another one, looking really nice. 

Then turning around and finally finding the reason for my change of plans...

Beautiful!

 

 

[palmfriend]

Moving over there fast...

C. renda...

Being in the water, too - what an awesome color!

 

 

[palmfriend]

Minutes almost turned into hours...

I could not take my eyes off...

Finally some young ones close by...

Al right, running out of time I headed back to the entrance...

Right in the middle, another Bismarckia...

Looking quite good in area hit by typhoons regularly - giving me hope for my own ones.

Looking back for the last time, I promised myself to come back and to pay this place another visit - including the Arboretum!

After leaving the Dream Center and heading back to the family...

...I had to take a last picture of one of our local heroes and you got to admit, Dear Palm talkers - almost nothing beats a Satakentia...  

Thank you for your time!

best regards from Miyako island/Okinawa -

Lars

 

[kurt decker]

Great pictures, that looks like a very beautiful place. First bismarckia in front of the Dream Center is actually a latania, just guessing from the picture the yellow one, verschaffeltia. Love the satakentias, they are becoming more common in Florida, they have always been one of my favorites

[Palmə häl′ik]

Is this at the expo 75 site?   If so, ive been there!

[palmfriend]

On 7/18/2019 at 4:02 AM, kurt decker said:

Great pictures, that looks like a very beautiful place. First bismarckia in front of the Dream Center is actually a latania, just guessing from the picture the yellow one, verschaffeltia. Love the satakentias, they are becoming more common in Florida, they have always been one of my favorites

Kurt,

Thank you for your comment! I wasn't really sure when looking at the plant in front of the dream center, something felt to be different but I couldn't place it...my fault.

Satakentias are beautiful, almost immune to any diseases (at least over here) and absolutely storm-proof. It takes a while to get them tall, but they are worth it.

best regards -

Lars