Looking Forward to AUG 2016 Full Moon

Hope for Clear Skies

 

 

Tomorrow Obon Season starts and, lasts for the next three days.

Like many activities on island, this event is scheduled according to the Lunar calendar.

Tonight, after 5:30 I went out and shot the moon, to create this animated GIF.

The moon isn't quite full yet but, it will be soon. 

If, you're in the Ryukyu Island Chain, I can give you 3 good reasons to get out at night. 

1:  It's lots cooler outdoors, after the blazing sun goes down.

2:  Eisa groups will be out, dancing, chanting, whistling and beating drums.

3:  If you're lucky and, in the right position, you might be able to catch them under the full moon.

Here's some links, giving the August 2016 full moon schedule:

Farmer's Almanac says it will be at 5:26AM on AUG 18.

Moongiant gives us, AUG 18 at 09:27 UTC.

Space.com 

Has the full moon listed on AUG 18th and, says this:

"It will peak at 5:27 a.m. EDT (0927 GMT), but will appear full to the casual stargazer a day prior and after the peak day."

Time and Date says, the full moon will be on AUG 18th at 18:26.

Check all the resources for the best time, to view the moon at your location.

A Little Tip

The wife has a Chinese/Lunar calendar, hanging on the fridge and, I always mark it.

It says the full moon, this month, is on the 17th of August.

Wednesday night is the last day of Obon in Okinawa and, the ancestors, return to the heavens.

The spirits, depart under the light of the full moon.

Can you guess what I'll be doing the night of the 17th ?

Maybe, doing stuff like, pretending to be a casual stargazer, the night prior to the moon's peak !

 

Okinawa's Obon Festivities End After 3 Days (Photos)

A Busy Time of the Year

 

 

 

The ancestors have finished their annual visit and everyone has gone back where they came from.

It has been an extremely busy week.

A friend wanted to know if I'd like to go to Uruma City and watch Eisa.

Heck no !    I've been chasing Eisa dancers and, the full moon all week.  Burnout !!!

Eisa, takes place on almost any little village street, throughout the Ryukyu Islands.

Loud music, is played through speaker systems and you hear thunderous drum beats.

The dancers chant stuff like "Hai  EEE Yah".

If you want to pretend you're somebody's drunk uncle and join-in, that's OK.

It was real tempting but, I had photos to shoot.

The Eisa dancers are all twenty-something and full of energy.

They have been known to perform, all over the island, until the wee hours of the morning.

And, being old enough to drink, they may tip a few when they're on a break.

The first night of Obon, they are welcoming the ancestral spirits. 

The second day, they entertain them.

And, the last night of festivities, is to send them off in good spirits.

With Obon season, over and done, my cameras are all packed away, resting-up for the weekend.

So, I was thinking I should take a night off.

There was this place, I found, in my travels that has some good spirits, I'd like to try.