Travel Photo: Shioya Bridge in Ogimi Okinawa

Could There Be Ghosts Living Nearby ?

 

 

Ever since, researching for this photo, I ain't sure I'll be camping under this bridge, again.

It used to be one of my favorite hangouts, on hot summer evenings.

But a friend of mine, named Okinawa Soba, got me thinking.

He tells the story of Shah Bay Resort over on Flickr.

It seems, Shioya Bay, used to be called Shah Bay.

And, the resort, abandoned, around 1995, has become something else.

It sounds like a goldmine, for ghost hunters and photographers.

Heck with the bridge, I'll camp out at the Ghost Resort, next time, I'm up that way !

CAUTION: Read This Before You Go

Travel Photo: Sunset from a Bridge I Like to Sleep Under

Every once in awhile, it's a good idea to pack up the cameras and, get outta town.

It's too late to catch the sun going down tonight.

The northern areas of Okinawa have some nice, secluded places where you can camp, for free.

If I time this right, I can park the car and walk to a karaoke bar.

Get a little beer drinking and song singing done.

And, be up before the sun, looking for wild critters, to shoot.

Have a great weekend.

I'm outta here !

Photo: Ducking Out for the Weekend

To all those who celebrate Thanksgiving, have a happy and safe weekend.

This one will be a busy one, for me.

There are things like, a kayak event, some camping, karaoke singing, beer drinking and

Goat Fights, I have to attend !

So, I'm ducking out for the weekend, early today.

Visit my homepage for today's Feature Photo

Photo From Motobu Okinawa: Ie-Jima at Sunset

Heading back up there today, I decided to post this sunset from last night.

The bags are packed, cameras fully charged and it's time to go to work.

Right now, I have no idea if I'll make it home to download cameras tonight.

It all depends on them lively gals who will be doing the Shinugu dancing.

When the camera-shooting is all done, I may have to tip a few drinks with them.

If that's the case,  it would be a good idea to not-get-behind-the wheel-of-the-car.

When I'm done camping, maybe, I'll catch a sunrise in Motubu for you !

Flower Photo: Sunflower Stage Left Just Because

Just because

I posted a photo of this FLOWER ON A STAGE IN AUGUST

And just because  THE LADY OF THAT WEEK

Liked it and asked to see more

Just because the people of Ada Village in Okinawa, Japan are so friendly

And just because I happened to have another Flower on a Stage Photo

Just because when I go to their village festival

They let me camp right outside the Village Office

And just because they are coming to my village festival

They will get to camp in my office this weekend

Just because

OH CRAP,  I FORGOT TO TELL THE MISSUS

Enjoy the Sunflower Stage Left,  just because...

I'm outta here.

Sunday's Silly Sign SEP 25, 2011: Dam Management

This Sunday's Silly Sign was spotted at a dam in Okinawa, Japan.

Let me help by translating for those who may not understand.

Don't let your dog run loose here

Because he might poop.

Take your trash to the dump, not the dam.

Campgrounds are for camping,  dumps are for dumping.

Don't camp here.

By Order Of The Dam Management

Sunday's Silly Sign (Photo) May 29, 2011

Traveling from the lower lefthand corner on this Sunday's Silly Sign, here's what we've got for you, up in the YD Forest of Kunigami Okinawa, Japan.

Knowing not everyone has the extra cash to spring for a room in the Dorm, we built this place where you can do like lots of folks hit by hard economic times. Sleep in your car, down there, at the Auto-Champing Area.  That'd be just like CAMPING but, we want you to feel like a CHAMP.

Once you've found a good spot and settled in, you may want to get out on the nature trails.  There's the Fig Tree Rute (Route) not too far away, by map.  And if that ain't enuf to work the kinks outa yer legs, try the Lakeview Rute.


NOTE TO MY REGULAR READERS HERE:
Typhoon Songda is long-gone. Thank you for all the well wishes.  Power has been restored.  The sun is shining and there isn't a cloud in the brilliant blue skies.  I'm outa here. Gotta find more material for Sunday's Silly Signs.

Look at What I Stumbled Upon !

UNBELIEVEABLE GOOD FORTUNE !

This is a scene I literally stumbled upon around 1PM yesterday afternoon.

Months of preparations, visits to the remote location, translators helping, interviews with the locals, researching online, nothing prepared me for this.

Saturday night we drove to the village of Ogimi. We scouted out the area in the rain as the sun was going down.

In a little Mom and Pop store I found sake. I asked the woman at the checkout which was the most popular with the locals and bought a bottle.

We asked about the village office and discovered it was still open. We got a ride there in an air-conditioned van. It was quite a distance away and I'm glad we didn't have to walk in the rain.

My translator met with some officials. She gave them the sake and they put it on the table with the sake and beer they were drinking.

Real nice folks, they shared some drinks with us while we asked lots of questions about the events that would take place Sunday. The Unjami is a Festival held only once a year. I like to know what's going to take place and where so I can get the best photos possible when it happens.

We camped out under a bridge right alongside the ocean. The place had a great breeze and felt better than air-conditioning when I'd been there before.

It rained on and off all night long. It was dry under the bridge but I almost froze to death. It was cold.

I cat-napped on and off all night long. It rained on and off all night long.

It was good to see the sun come up. I wanted it to get back up in the 90's like it usually does. I like it hot even if I do cuss the heat occassionally, I'd rather be hot than cold.

It warmed up pretty well after sunrise but, still rained on and off through the morning.

We had three seperate districts to visit in the village to catch all the festival events.

It was pretty much a gaggle of photographers stumbling over each other at every event I went to throughout the day.

A mad dash here, rush to get there and set up a camera to shoot from the best location. Then, just when you think you're all set, another dozen idiots with cameras show up. And they screw up your preparations. You move, adjust and recompose. And another dozen idiots show up.

Then there was a mad dash back towards town where the main event would take place in a harbor.

No parking was available. Streets were blocked off. No problem, we drove back to the outskirts of town. We'd park under the bridge where we slept and walk back into town.

That's when I stumbled upon this scene. No other photographers were there.

To be continued.....