Sneaking a Peek at Kin Dam in Okinawa, Japan

It Disrupted the Wildlife in the Area for a Few Years 

 

 

Now, that it's completed, most of the construction equipment is gone.

The critters, that thrive in this kind of environment are returning, to an improved home.

The photo above, was taken at 6:33AM from the center of the Kin Bridge.

By 9AM, I had taken a few 100 photos along the Okukubi River and visited the dam.

 The only lens, I brought along was a Sigma 50-500mm.

Another trip, will have to be made, with a wide angle lens so, you can see everything.

With, that big lens, some climbing, to higher elevations, was required.

Getting high enough, to see the water on the other side of the expressway, was easy.

They have a stairway, going up the the Dam Office, which sits on a hill.

If that doesn't get you high enough, you can climb about 100 damn stairs.

And, go all the way to the rooftop View Point.

From there, if you have a wide angle lens, you could probably view the whole damn dam !

One of these days, we'll getterdun.

Kin Dam, also known as Okukubi Dam (福地ダム) is the first of this type in the world.

Flower Photo: Shell Ginger Blooming in Okinawa

Scientific name: Alpina zerumbet

Japanese name: Getto (ゲットウ)

These plants are blossoming all over the island this month.

There are many traditional uses for the leaves of these plants, also known as Butterfly Ginger.

Most commonly, in Okinawa, the leaves serve as wrappers for the rice cakes, called mochi.

The fruits, which haven't  been captured by my camera, yet, look like miniature pumpkins. 

I better get out there and, find some for your viewing entertainment.

Meanwhile, you can learn more about these plants here.

The little pumpkin-looking things will be posted as soon as I getterdun.

Flower Photo: 21st Century Sunflowers

The title 21st Century Sunflowers was an easy one to choose.

That's because I spotted them growing in the 21st Century Forest Park of Nago, Okinawa, Japan.

Something tells me, I have to go back up there and do more scouting of that area.

It's hard to believe, no one has ever done a TripAdvisor Review on that attraction.

Give me one more sunny day, like yesterday and, I'll getterdun.

Meanwhile, I did some research for you and found this gem on eHow:

GAZILLIONS OF ARTICLES TO TELL YOU ALL ABOUT SUNFLOWERS !

Selected Scenes: The Hike Up Mt.Yonaha (与那覇岳) Okinawa

Ten Photos from Mt. Yonaha

 

This series of photos was taken, today as we hiked up the tallest mountain on Okinawa.

It should give the viewer a sense of what to expect to see along the route.

There isn't any special mountain climbing gear required to scale this big hill.

Sturdy walking shoes and the will to reach the top are all that's needed.

This landslide probably happened during one of last year's typhoons.

 Fallen trees, you have a choice.  Go over, under or, around them.

It's a designated Wildlife Protection Area so, I wouldn't mess with anything.  Not even a fallen tree.

There is a surprising amount of bamboo growing on the mountain.

Going under fallen trees got tiring so, I opted to go over some of them.

The trail is definitely, NOT Flip-flop, Baby Buggy or, Skateboard Friendly !

 If you wear a backpack or, carry little critters on your back, Be Careful.

Every once in awhile, I got hung-up or, unintentionally, banged my head on something.

Plan on spending an hour and a half or, two hours getting to the top.

And, the same amount of time on the return trip, so you don't slip and fall.

This 498 meter sign, is at the end of the trail and I figured we gotterdun.

But, Doc Graff and Map It Okinawa talked to some local gals and found out something.

Somewhere, around that place there's a higher point that comes to 503 meters.

That means, as soon as my legs and back quit hurtin' we have to climb back up Mt. Yonaha.

And, getterdun properly.  Dagnabbit !

Flower Photo: An Orchid Named Melody Fair

There are still hundreds of these flowers, waiting for processing.

After returning from the Okinawa International Orchid Show, I learned something.

There were over 30,000 entries.  I must have missed more than half of them.

So, the rest of the orchid photos can wait.

We have to go back up to Motobu and shoot the rest of them.

Meanwhile, I'll post a flower, like this Melody Fair, every once in a while.

And, I'll throw a special orchid over on the website, now and again, too.

Maybe, I should ask the staff at the Tropical Dream Center for a guide so I don't get lost.

That's the best way I can think of to getter dun!

Night Before the Full Moon in Okinawa (Photo)

Almost forgot about this month's full moon.

Up north chasing cherry blossoms today, we were sort of disappointed.

But, heading back home, this scene appeared in the village of Kushi.

Tomorrow night there will be a full moon.

If it isn't raining or, cloudy and windy, get out there and getterdun.  That's the plan.

Visit my website for today's Feature Photo

Yahoo ! It's a Dream Come True !

The good folks from YAHOO BROADBAND got this place back online.

It will take awhile to get everything reorganized around here.

Almost two months of work has managed to pile itself  on the back burners.

I want to thank everyone for being patient with me.

A few hundred emails and StumbleUpon mails are waiting for my attention.

Then, there's some editors waiting for articles.

Once I tackle all that stuff and getterdun, my normal routine of craziness will resume.

While you're waiting, you should get plenty of rest.

And, eat more fiber ! 

Visit my homepage for the PHOTO OF THE DAY

My Trip Advisor Travel Map Needs 100 More Places

Here is my Trip Advisor Travel Map.

You can view an enlargeable version at TripAdvisor Profile-RyukyuMike.

Just do what the Google Map Dude tells you to Explore the Full Map.  It's fun ! 

There are 100 places listed that I told them I've been.

There are probably several 100 more places I've been that I ain't telling anyone about.

Today, over on my FACEBOOK PAGE, someone made the comment:

"I just took a quick look at all your reviews.  Thanks for sharing!!!

There is not enough on Trip Advisor about Okinawa."

So, here's what I plan on doing,

There have to be at least 100 more places around here, somewhere in Okinawa, Japan

that need somebody to do Trip Advisor Reviews.

Just grab some cameras to go on out there and getterdun.

That way you can see 100 more places I've been on my travel map.

And, while you're snooping around in there, get you a Trip Advisor Travel Map, too!

A Scene From Within UNESCO Nakijin Castle Walls Okinawa

This is a photo taken from within the walls of Nakajin Castle during the month of July.

The position this was photographed from is probably one of northernmost points that can be reached inside the castle walls.

Experimenting with the Pentax KD 10, there were 3 shots taken at f/22.

Shutter speeds were adjusted to get one photo at perfect exposure, one at -1 on the light-meter and one at +1.  Then, combine all three in Adobe Elements to create an HDR photo.

What I didn't realize, at the time, was the clouds were moving fairly quickly.

So, this is one of those photos scheduled for the recycle bin.  My clouds got smeared.

The newer models of most DSLRs, and some point and shooters, have HDR capability built in to them.  I haven't tried the HDR Mode on any of my cameras, yet but, will, one of these days.

It would be interesting to do a comparison between HDR photos created in-camera and HDR shots created manually, I think.

All I have to do is figure out where those camera manuals sneaked off to and read the darn things, one of these days.

We're having some weather in Okinawa, Japan this week that makes a body feel like staying indoors and reading.  It just might be a good time to getterdun.



Going Down This Time Wasn't As Much Fun (Photos)

Usually, taking the cameras and tripods down in a cave is a blast.

Yesterday, was my first time in this treasure.

From the outside, it looked like it would be a gem for photography.

Two vans loaded with dive club members in wet suits leaving the cave should have been my first clue that it might be really, really wet inside that cave.  Duh !

There was, like a freakin ice cold river running through the place.  And, the farther you went down in the cave, the wetter you got.  Sometimes you could climb over the rocks and get out of the water.  But, most of the way, you had no choice; you waded.

Going down in this cave after it's been raining all week in Okinawa wasn't the most brilliant idea I've had this year, photographically speaking, anyhow.

Shoes, cameras, tripods, flashlights and camera holsters are drying out, right now.

When the water recedes in that cave, I'll be ready.

Going down in this cave was fun but, not as much fun as I thought it would be.

The next time I go in there with my cameras,  I'll getterdun properly.

See: HOW I GOTTER DUN. YOU CAN GETTER DUN, TOO

VISIT MY HOMEPAGE FOR THE PHOTO OF THE DAY

Sneak Preview (Photos) Two More Okinawan Castles

TAMAGUSUKU CASTLE

ITOKAZU GUSUKU

CASTLES ON MY THINGS TO DO LIST, NOW

These two castles are not on the list of UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES in Okinawa, Japan but, they are important National Historic Sites. 

One is the third largest fortress on the island and the other is the oldest castle on Okinawa.

Yesterday was the first time I'd ever seen either of them.  You'll only get this sneak preview today.

I want to make several more visits and shoot them from every angle and under the best lighting conditions. 

I provided links for anyone who just can't wait.  Don't worry.  I'll getterdun.

They're on my Things To Do List, Now !

Disaster Relief For Travel Photo Thursday, Getterdun !

Here's a scene from a Sunday afternoon in the parking lot of a DIY Store up in Nago City Okinawa, Japan.

The Eisa Dancers were raising funds to donate to the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

What really impresses me is the fact that Okinawa is the poorest Prefecture in all of Japan yet, these folks see someone needs a hand and do whatever it takes to lend their support.

There is even a word in the Okinawan dialect, which describes the spirit they are demonstrating in this photo,  Yuimaru.  The best way to describe Yuimaru would be everyone, in the community, joins hands and pitches-in to get the job done.  It's a spirit of cooperation that is just unbeatable.

This morning a friend contacted me concerning the relief effort for the people in Joplin, Missouri

When I saw the destruction in the photo it was like seeing the results of Japan's tsunami, all over again.

So, I went and clicked on the link SABINA LOHR  sent and showed those folks in Joplin a little YUIMARU.  


If you get a chance and would take the time to throw some change in the bucket, do like I did, click on the SABINA LOHR BUTTON above and getterdun.  It feels good !