Flower Photos: 2017 Azalea Festival Higashi Village Okinawa

First Day of Spring

There were heavy clouds and some sprinkles of rain in the hills of Okinawa today.

But, that doesn't keep nature loving people of the island, from getting out for a matsuri.

Rather than, shoot photos of people with umbrellas, I did some zooming with the lens.

Climbing the walkways through this hillside, was some exercise my body needed.

Some of those blossoms, give off a strong scent, I can't really describe. Let's see.

Well, they smelled lots better than, some of the perfume, on the gals walking around. Hah !

If, the sky would have cleared, photos with blue sky, would have been taken.

That wasn't going to happen until, long after I, headed back to my office.

Before long, I noticed something. There were only three colors of flowers.

Red, pink and white. Don't they have orange, purple or yellow ones, they could plant ?

It was nice, to be out in the fresh air and, climbing hills but, sort of a wet day.

Suddenly, I got an idea. "Maybe, people want to see the skyline."

Lots of folks might be thinking. "This is boring, show us the sky."

For Those Not So Crazy About Flowers

 

A decision was made, to go out of my way and, present something different, today.

I told my friend Doc Graff, sometimes folks like to see crappy weather. Not me.

Here's the view, from the azalea festival, I got while facing Okinawa's east coast.

It doesn't exactly lure visitors to the island for beach parties or swimming.

We got down off the hill and, stopped at a tent for some festival food, just in time.

It was a first, for me, eating this variation of Yakisoba. First time, in a lifetime.

Barbecued pork ribs (soki) on a pile of yakisoba. Mouthwateringly delicious, it was.

It was a tad more expensive than, normal matsuri food. About 10 bucks or, 1000 yen.

Would I go back there and, eat a meal like that again?  YUP !

Mrs Yamashiro's Shisa

She Asked for a Picture of Her Flowers

 

 

Those bright red azaleas blooming in the background, were supposed to be the subject.

The gal, who maintains the garden plots and home by my office, asked a favor.

She wanted a photo of the flowers, blooming outside her house. 

Directions to the residence, were sort of figured out using Google Maps.

Senior citizens have a bit of difficulty with those googly things so, I wasn't sure.

When, I found this two story home with red azaleas blooming, I just started shooting.

Well, out of the house came Mrs Yamashiro so, I knew this was the right spot.

Then, I asked her if she had a step ladder, I could borrow.

She, went back inside and, came back with just the gadget, I needed.

A two step ladder, put me high enough in the air, to snap this photo of the shisa.

Down on earth, the critter's head couldn't be composed, with the azaleas in the background. 

Now, I'm not sure, which photo Mrs Yamashiro will like best.

But, I printed this one, to give her, with all the focus, on the shisa statue.

That's because, next Sunday happens to be, Shisa Day in Okinawa.

Whenever Mrs Yamashiro needs something heavy moved, she comes and gets me.

She's a real sweetheart, who's always giving me coffee, tea and beer.

So, I figure, she deserves a free photo, once in awhile for all the nice stuff she does for me.

For example, when she's not around, lots of things in her garden get volunteered.

Snip, and they even come into the office, to get photographed !

Don't you wish, all neighbors got along as well, as she and I do ?

The Azalea Festival That Turned into a Flower Carnival

 Azalea Matsuri ( ツツジ まつり) in Higashi Village

 

Little did I know about how this event has grown, until yesterday.

The 15 photos posted here are just a sample of what may be seen this month.

 After leaving the Iris fields we decided to check on the azaleas in Higashi.

 To our surprise, the Azalea Festival had already begun.

It started looking like rain so, we made a quick camera tour through the place.

 When the wind starts blowing and it rains, I don't really want to shoot flowers.

 They look a lot better on a sunny, blue sky kind of day.

As long as I had to climb the hills, I figured, I should take some photos.

That way, you know, I really went up there.

One last shot with some grey sky and, I came up with an idea.

 

Keep the sky out of the frame, where I could.

A little bit peeked through, trying to make this composition.

Then another idea, popped into my head.

Get down low, someplace where the rocks block the breeze. 

Another trick was, get off the trails and find someplace where there was no wind.

Reds, pinks and whites seemed to be the most popular colors.

So, I tried to make sure, I got shots of all three.

I'm not much of a flower fanatic but, I know many people are.

We meandered down off the hills, taking photos out of the worst winds.

And, I took one last shot, before going into the festival food tents.

There, I got to sit down and have a hot meal and some warm tea.

You really don't want to see photos of that.

How Did a Flower Festival Become a Carnival ?

 

Well, it started on the 1st of the month and, lasts until the 23d.

They have all kinds of entertainment.

There's karate, marching bands, folk and popular music, magicians and comedians.

You could go dancing, drinking and shopping there.

They even have some kind of marathon, ending there !

Have a peek at the schedule on their website. 

The Google Translate feature might be helpful if you can't read Japanese.

My plan, is to wait a week or, two for the weather to warm up a bit.

Then, the place should be in full bloom and, a lot more beauties will be out up there.

More Info at Stripes Okinawa and Map It Okinawa 

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.