Wordless Wednesday: My Travel Checklist

Checklist: Sakura Photography Tomorrow

5 Things to Remember

 

 

Normally, you wouldn't catch me going back up north during cherry blossom season.

Some guests want to go and shoot photos so, I'll be getting ready.

Before leaving the office, I decided to make this checklist, to remind me of a few items.

1. Weekends are the most crowded days for people and traffic. Don't go unless you have to.

2. Weather forecast: 70% chance of rain. Bring an umbrella and waterproof jacket.

3. A stepladder puts you above the crowds.  Bring one.

4.  Japanese White Eyes (Mejiro) love sakura (cherry blossoms). Bring along a big, fast lens. 

5.  If it rains all day, take Teru Teru Bozu off the mailbox and, throw him away !

RyukyuMike's Packing List for an Overnight Island Hop (Image)

Traveling Light

 

This is a quick checklist for a weekend visit to an outer island in Okinawa, Japan.

Not anticipating being able to go online, the laptop and external drive can stay home.

Bags are packed but, here's what it looked like a few minutes ago.

On the bottom of the pile is the Coleman 3 - in - 1 Blanket.


In no particular order, here's a list of things that get stuffed in the pack or, tied on the outside:

Two Pentax DSLRs.  From Sigma a 10-20mm, and a 50-500mm. One Pentax 18-250mm lens.

My flea-market backpack that helps me look like a homeless dude.

A jacket and change of clothes.

The Manfrotto 725B tripod will be hand carried along with the camera used to shoot the photo.

Hiking shoes and an extra pair of yellow flip-flops.

Moist towelettes, baby wipes, whatever you want to call those things that make you smell good.

Flashlight, cigarette lighters, emergency food, lens cleaning gear and a knife.

Toothpaste, toothbrush, body soap, insect repellent and a pair of socks.

A pill box created out of some camera and lens covers, for medicine, Aspirin and Rolaids.

Utility cord, of various lengths, always come in handy.

There are other items, such as a towel and underwear stuffed in the bag for cushioning.

I figured, the ladies wouldn't want to see that stuff.

The only thing I have to remember to do before I travel, is stuff the wallet with lots of cash.

That's just in case they have food and beer on the island I'm going to.

A camera holster will be hanging off my shoulder.

That contains extra batteries, SD cards and model releases.  I'm traveling light.

Can you think of anything else, I should add to this checklist ?





 

Ginowan City Museum: Stained Glass Photo

This photo was taken, just inside the entrance to the Ginowan City Museum in Okinawa, Japan.

Museums are great places to visit on cold or, rainy days.

They can be challenging for the photographer, though.

Many of them don't permit photography so, it's always best to ask, ahead of time.

One of these days, I'll make a checklist for museum photography.

That's after I do all the other checklists, I've been promising.  I'm always busy.  You know.

Genuine stained glass is becoming hard to find these days.

So, whenever I spot some, I shoot it.  It always makes a great subject.

The Ginowan Museum allows cameras is certain locations.  Not everywhere.

The staff are friendly, polite and, even go out of their way to help research, for me.

So, I'm going to post a link to them for other travelers who may want to visit.

Ginowan City Museum English Information

MORE OKINAWA MUSEUMS

Komaka Island from Different Viewpoints (Photos)

There's A Madness To Our Method

It just dawned on me today.

When the Ryukyu Dudes go off to another island there's usually some sort of plan.

Islands we can't drive to, we try to figure out how to get there economically.

So, we look at them from every possible angle.  Some are too far away to walk to during low tide.

Komaka Island looks like a little speck on the horizon, left side of this photo.

The boat filled with tourists was returning from the island.  So, I watch them closely.

You can tell a lot about people by what kind of gear comes off the boat with them.

For example, if I see a beer cooler, I want to know if they had to rent it.  Or, can I bring my own ?

We get important information about the ferry at the nearest port.

Things like departure and return times, what there is to see and do, and costs.

 Then, we go around and look at the island from different locations.

Talking to the locals on this island, you can get some valuable information.

They know exactly where the sun and moon rise and set in relation to where you're going.

And, they can tell you about other islands you may see that aren't on anybody's map.

These different viewpoints give me ideas for my photography.

See that guy sitting under the tile roof looking at the outer islands ?

It makes me wonder if folks on those islands are looking back at him.

Some Serious Checklists Need To Be Made Here

 

The day started off with a big sheet of paper and Sharpie Marking Pen.

One, two and three day island hopping trips will be planned.

Don't worry.  It'll get done just as soon as things get caught-up around here.

All The Important Stuff Will Be Listed In Great Detail

 

That will help me remember to take photos of these viewpoints from the outer islands.

And, not forget to ask some lady if the toilets work over there !

Related Post: The Tern that Rules Komaka Jima

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Scenes from the Trip to Komaka Island: Going and Coming

Here is a photo taken while heading out to Komaka-Jima.

The island is just a little speck on the horizon in the center of the frame.

This photo shows what things look like heading back to Okinawa.

Lately, I've been doing TripAdvisor Reviews on some of the places I've hit in my travels.

But, this island, I'll probably have to visit again, to do an honest review.

It's hard to believe, three Ryukyu Dudes went there and forgot something important.

None of us checked the toilets.

Women and people with kids need to know about the toilet facilities.

They want to know stuff, like, is it a squatter, or not, I would imagine.

They probably need to know if they need to bring their own crapper-paper, too.

Dang it !   Why didn't we think of that ?

There's a girl in California, I could probably ask but, I'm sorta shy.

I guess we should make some checklists for these excursions.

Because I'm getting the itch to hop on another boat and see some more Okinawan islands.

 Maybe, the Map It Okinawa Dude will ask a girl about the Komaka-Jima toilets.

That would allow us to save our money for a trip to somewhere we've never been.

See, I remember important stuff like asking if it's OK to bring a cooler and beer.

But, I have to write things like checking toilets down on a paper, or I'll forget.

Here's what I'll do.  I'll make some checklists on this blog.

Then, Mapit Dude can ask that girl about girly stuff.

Sounds fair to me.

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