Never Ending Discoveries in Okinawa, Japan

Decades Could be Spent Finding Them All

 

The question is asked frequently.

"Do you think you will ever run out of material to photograph and write about on Okinawa ?"

The answer is, "No."

The photo above, is an example of a recent find. 

In over 35 years of traveling up and down this island, I had never heard of or, seen this place.

It is called: Nishihara Village Office Wartime Underground Shelter.

It seems that, in the 1940's, the Japanese Imperial Army needed to occupy some buildings in town.

Local residents were (ahem-ahum) employed to dig this underground shelter.

That way they could store all the important papers and documents.

If you worked in the village office, you could take stuff out and work on it at home. 

Then, bring it back at night, to be stored in a safe.

A Quote From the Historical Marker

 

 

"Today, in Nishihara, the office shelter is one of the few important historical artifacts left from the war.

Such remains constantly remind us of the hardships and tragedies of war, even as its lessons fade with time."

Bird Portrait: Rock Thrush on the Rocks

Today, over on the island of Senaga Jima, this Rock Thrush posed for a second.

Over the past few days, we've been out shooting all over Okinawa.

And, on some of the outer islands accessible by car.

So, there are over a thousand photos of birds waiting in my (ahem-ahum) project bin.

 Not to worry. Everything will get caught-up around here when the weather turns cold.

The sun is shining and I don't have to wear socks with my flip-flops.

So, like a farmer, I have to make hay while the sun shines.

If you don't hear from me tomorrow, that could mean I'm taking care of an itch.

Itchin' to hop on a boat and hit some far away island.

And, if anybody asks what I do for a living, I know what I'll tell them I do.

JUST LIVING !

Visit my website for today's Feature Photo

October Full Moon: Another Okinawa Festival

Up in the northern hills of Okinawa, Japan the other day we came across this.

Whenever you see those Orion Beer lanterns strung-up a festival is going to happen.

It seems like, every time there's a full moon, somebody has a celebration.

For the sake of simplicity, I'll call this a hand-dancing party.

The gals were just rehearsing for the big event, which takes place tonight.

They were wearing their everyday outfits.

Tonight they will all be dressed-up in white kimonos.

So, I decided, while rehearsal was going on, I'd concentrate on the hands.

There has to be some meaning to the gyrations they put their hands through.

There are a few resources (English) online, about this form of dance.

But, so far, they just look like stuff (ahem-ahum) borrowed from Wikipedia.

What I plan on doing is getting more reliable information for my story.

These gals will be dancing around in circles, tonight, under the full moon.

They will have their hair all done-up in traditional style.

And, be singing some classic songs while they gesture with their hands.

It would really be awesome, if I could catch a photo like the 1st one above.....

.....with a full moon shining down on all those gals, hand-dancing in kimonos !

Dontcha think ?

Blue Moon Photo 2012: The Second Full Moon of August

After a couple of days and nights chasing the so-called Blue Moon, here's what we got.

This photo was taken in Kin Village Okinawa, Japan.

The science community might want to argue about this one with me.

As I was walking home after a day of hard work and bar-hopping, it peeked through the clouds.

'twas the night of August 31st when I cracked my first beer.

So, this photo was in my Aug 31, 2012 photo folder.

But, the camera says it was 3:03AM on the 1st of September when the shot was taken.

That's Japan Standard Time because (ahem-ahum) that's where I live.

One of my astronomy buddies will have to tell us if this qualifies as the blue moon.

It sure don't look blue, to me.

There's too many definitions of a blue moon running around on the internet, if you ask me.

ABC News is supposed to always tell the truth.

So, you can go see what they had to say, if you're interested.

If I'd have really thought I saw the moon turn blue that night here's what I'd have done:

Toss the camera in the house and run back to the bar for a few more beers !

Visit my website for today's Feature Photo

Photos: Published, Contest Finalist and Off to the Book Printer

The day started off with an email from Yahoo. My latest article is online:

We All Know About The Sinking of the Titanic--

How About the Tsushima Maru ? 

Then, after I took a short break going through the 30, or so daily Junk emails where I'm always

winning lotteries in foreign countries, getting offers from girls who can't spell Facebook and 

Canadian doctors who want to enlarge me, I get back to work.

Do you spend three hours a day answering all those people ?

It's got me thinking, I could just be wasting of my time.

So, for now, I think I'll just forward them to some other country's leader.  Hah !

The Judges at Better Photo made this a Contest Finalist.

Unfortunately, I don't post the high-resolution photos they see, here.

There are people (ahem-ahum) who like to borrow stuff like that without paying.

One of these days I'll do a Photography Tip to show you how to protect your photos.

 As if there wasn't enough excitement around here for me today, along came another email.

Somebody in the United Kingdom saw this photo and wants to publish it in a book.

Well, the stuff I post online isn't fit for publishing on paper.

So, I dug up a few different versions of this Tsushima Maru model.

I made them high-resolution.

And, off to the book printer they went.

Now, I'm done for the day.

As long as Mrs. RyukyuMike doesn't go out lookin' for me and find me here's the plan:

Find an air-conditioned bar with dim girls, pretty lights and cold beer.

Er, pretty girls and dim lights, I meant.

AND CELEBRATE !!!

Recently Published Photos and a Little RyukyuMike Secret

My favorite, of five photos published this week at YAHOO.COM is this one.

That's just because, ahem-ahum, I sneaked one of my favorite granddaughters in there. Hah !

Then, a few hours ago, this Coconut Crab grabbed some exposure over at

ENVIRONMENTAL GRAFFITI

I opened up my Adobe Elements and flipped the photos over so they face the other way.

And, what I'll do next is put them on Flickr.

Then make links back to the nice folks who published them for me.

That's one of the little secrets a Blogger can use to reach a million views.

There are a bunch more ways to get there. 

But, they have to stay secret awhile longer.

Photo Opportunities on the Trek to Hira Taki Waterfall

Lately, I've been going off the beaten path with a camera and tripod a lot.

Hira Taki is one of those places Map It Okinawa located for his adventurous followers.

He estimates the trek up to the falls takes about twenty minutes.

That's probably correct for someone who is in a hurry to get there.

What I like to do (ahem-ahum) is pretend I'm a senior citizen and take my time.

There are some beautiful colors and textures nature provides along the way.

Rocks, ferns, trees, deadwood, moss, and even muddy water, are all fair game, to me.

What I do is wait for a passing cloud to block the glare from the sun.

My camera and I consider those few seconds photo opportunities.

If you go on a trek to Hira Taki with me, plan on spending an hour traveling, each way !

Learn more about hiking up Okinawa's Hira Taki Waterfall  here.


RELATED POST: Another Waterfall in Okinawa






 

Ten Photos from the 2012 Itoman Okinawa Dragonboat Races

They weren't kidding about Itoman's Dragonboat Races ending rainy season in Okinawa.

Here is a photo showing what the skies looked like over Itoman Port this morning.

RyukyuRusty and I spent the night mingling with the locals.

My head hurts but, that sunshine sure cheered me up.  Burp.

For now, I'll just post 10 photos here and a few on Facebook.

Sometimes when I go on these (ahem-ahum) assignments, I forget to tell the wife.

So, I won't be explaining these photos but, I'll tell you they are in the order they came out of my camera.

Some of the people in the boats may be looking to see if I took their photo.

They only have the Dragonboat Races in Itoman once a year.

And, not everybody gets to see their photo on the front page of the newspaper.

So, I try to shoot pictures of as many boat teams, in action, as I can.

While all the Dragonboat people are looking for their photos on my site...

 

I'll be trying to figure out what to tell the wife, when I get home.

Wonder if I could get away with, " I told you last week.  You just never listen."

"I SAID I WAS GOING TO ITOMAN OVERNIGHT TO SEE IF THEY CAN REALLY MAKE RAINY SEASON END BY HOLDING DRAGONBOAT RACES."

By the way.  Does anybody know how to get rid of the hiccups ?

Sunday's Silly Sign (Photos) FEB 26, 2012 Swimsuits Optional

This Sunday's Silly Sign comes from somewhere on the west coast of Okinawa, Japan.

It says, "SWIMSUITS OPTIONAL BEYOND THIS POINT".

Not sure if the sign was for the beach or the beach house.

It's too cold to go swimming this time of year and nobody was home.

So, I guess we'll have to wait for summertime.

Then, ahem-ahum, I'll see if I can get somebody to find out for us !

VISIT MY HOMEPAGE FOR THE PHOTO OF THE DAY

Weird News: Ahem, Ahum the Dude Slipped and Fell

Tis the season to be jolly, ya know.  My morning routine usually consists of wading through piles of emails deleting half of them before reading the stuff I think is important.  Then, I try to pick something interesting out of what's left to open first.  There's no sense starting off your day reading the boring material.  I save that for around lunchtime.  It helps prepare me for my midday power nap.
  
                              Well, my cousin Paul emailed me this weird news that just cracked me up.

              The old geezer is sort of a redneck, ahem, ahum, like me and he knew I'd enjoy this immensely.

It's about a dude out shopping for a computer in Augusta, Georgia, USA.

Only he wasn't planning on paying so, slipped a laptop under his jacket.  Confronted by an employee, the dude knocks him down, pulls a knife and heads for the door.

Four United States Marines were just outside doing what they always do around Christmas time.  They were  collecting Toys for Tots.

They stopped the dude.

He stabbed one of them.

That's about the time he slipped and fell off the city sidewalk

Poor feller got two broken arms, a broken ankle, broken leg, some missing teeth, multiple contusions and lacerations, broken nose and jaw and maybe, some cracked ribs.

"City sidewalks, busy sidewalks

Dressed in holiday style

In the air there's a feeling of Christmas

Children laughing, people passing

Meeting smile after smile"

Now, I got that crazy SILVER BELLS TUNE stuck in my head.

Thanks, Paul and the US Marines for bringing me some early Christmas smiles.

NOTE:  This may be a true story.  Check out THE POLICE NEWS

BE CAREFUL WHEN YOU GO SHOPPIN IN THEM BIG TOWNS

YOU COULD SLIP AND FALL OFF THOSE CITY SIDEWALKS !