Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Lady of the Week: A Travel Photo from Okinawa

The lady dancing around the fire in the darker robe, she's got to be the Lady of the Week.  What a gal !

This photo was taken 7:30PM on July 31, 2011 at the Shinugu Matsuri in Ada Kunigami Okinawa, Japan.

Shortly after sunrise that morning I met this lady picking flowers.  It was 6:30, or earlier and she was the first human I'd seen since arriving in the village.  She was taking wheelbarrow loads of plants and flowers to the village office.  She decorated the stage in the place for a special event.
It's the 35th anniversary since the Shinugu Matsuri (festival) was made an Official Intangible Cultural Asset.

She was all over the place, all day long, doing whatever women do at Intangible Cultural Asset events.  Women weren't allowed up on the mountain when us guys did our secret stuff.  But, as we came back down out of the hills all sweaty and smelling like wet goats, this Lady of the Week tried to hand me a cold beer.  I thanked her and explained I couldn't drink because I was working.  Shucks.

During the course of all the events, I got a dozen great shots of this gal but, I forgot to ask her name.  Duh.

When I get all my developing done, I'll print some photos and go back up to Ada so I can give her one.  Until then, I'll just keep calling her the Shinugu Matsuri Lady of the Week and show her off on TRAVEL PHOTO THURSDAY.  That'd be worth a cold beer.  Dontcha think ?





11 comments:

Gene said...

Worth a beer for sure ,, Quiet a Gal ,knew her stuff and lives right I'd bet , Thanks

RyukyuMike said...

Gene,
Yep, she was something else. I think the wife will be going back up there with me. Fraid I'll run off on her. LOL

Muza-chan said...

Great photo, Mike. I'm looking forward to see the rest of the photos. :)

RyukyuMike said...

Muza-chan,
Thanks. It'll be awhile before they all get processed and I'm not even sure I've downloaded all the SD cards I filled up, yet !

manonthelam said...

She looks like she's having a blast!

Cathy Sweeney said...

She's wonderful! I'm glad you'll be going back to give her the photo -- remember to ask here name. Great photo, Mike!

strux said...

NIce shot! I look forward to seeing the others too!

Jim said...

She'll love you for the photo reciprocal...maybe you'll accept the beer this time. Knock off work before you meet her.

RyukyuMike said...

Manothelam, Cathy Sweeney, Strux and Jim,
Yeah, she's quite a spry gal and I know she enjoyed every minute of the hours she participated in the matsuri. I'll make sure she gets the best photos.

Kumoji So Hostel,
Thanks for stopping by and leaving your kind comment. Advertising here without my consent is considered SPAM. That's not tolerated here.

cherrysberries said...

She sounds like a sweetheart! Look forward to hearing how she likes the photo you give to her.

RyukyuMike said...

Cherrysberries,
Just an amazingly active gal and a real sweetheart. I'll give her the best photo I shot.