Saturday, March 12, 2011

Azalea Festival in Higashi-son Okinawa A Pretty Girl and an Alien

If you like flowers, you'll love what's going on up in the Village of Higashi-son in northern Okinawa, Japan.

               How about 50,000 or more of these Azalea flowers covering the hillsides?


     There's a footbridge named "Azalea Bridge" crossing  between two hills covered with Azaleas.


A good pair of walking shoes and a jacket would be what to wear. It can get windy and a little chilly. 

   It was windy the day I took these photos and the petals of the flowers were getting blown off.


       So, instead of shooting pretty flowers, I found this alien and got a girl to hold it still for me. 

                        She signed a release form for me so I could publish the photo. 

                Then, I got her email address on the form so, I could send her the picture.

I sat at a table in her food tent and ordered some pizza.  Then, along comes this woman who happens to be the pretty gal's mother.

She's wondering "What's that old foreigner doing" and "Why is my daughter giggling and looking at his camera"?  I can read the frown on her face. The daughter says, "Look Mom. He took my picture".

Groan. Why didn't I just shoot the azaleas blowing in the wind and get the heck off the mountain ?

Think quick. Think Quick. Think quick. Think of something to make the older gal smile. Think! Quick!

So, I say "Huh, you don't look old enough to be her mother. You're her older sister, right?"
Well, that got her to crack a smile and she says she's the gal's mother.

While I'm still in Quick Thinking Mode, I look back and forth at both of them and say "Well, now I see where your daughter got those pretty eyes."  Hah!

It worked like a charm but, just to be on the safe side, I ordered another pizza. Don't ask why.

Anyone planning to visit the Higashi-Son Azalea Festival needs to get up there soon. It ends on March 21, 2011.







4 comments:

Unknown said...

So lovely!

RyukyuMike said...

Neva,
Thank you. I hope you see flowers blooming in your part of the world soon, too!

Ryan said...

Stunningly colorful gardens Mike, phew that was a close call with the girls mother....lucky you are sharp as a tack or that could've been a sticky situation. I always get a good laugh on your blog mate.

RyukyuMike said...

Ryan,
Glad to have you visit and comment here. I enjoy reading your Scotland Here and Now, too !