Ten Photos From The 2012 Okinawa Azalea Festival

The hills in northern Okinawa, Japan for the 2012 Azalea Festival came to life yesterday.

There was a marching band that came from far away to entertain the crowds.

So, while they were getting ready to play,  I sneaked off to shoot some flowers.

There are lots of hills to climb with azaleas sprouting all over them.

Traveling in the People Avoidance Mode was the best way to shoot the azaleas.

So, that's what I did.

A few times, it looked like a storm was going to come from offshore but, it never happened.

Looking at all the unopened flower buds, I'd say, there will be a few more weeks of Azaleas.

It's real easy to spend three, or four hours walking the hills.

And, if you get tired, there are plenty of places, along the way, to take a break.

Going up and down all those hills is great exercise but, it can wear you out.
 

Like, I even met this lady, dragging her cat along on a leash.

SHE WAS HOT !

The cat, I mean. 

So, she laid down and took a catnap.

When I had my fill of Azaleas, I went and joined the crowd.

Some Okinawa dance and sanshin music in a festival tent was where I ended the day.

The 2012 Okinawa Azalea Festival was fun but, it wasn't like that time I ran into the 

PRETTY GIRL WITH AN ALIEN

Maybe, I'll go back to take photos of the azaleas next week, again !

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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.