Top Five Attractions on Ie Jima: An Okinawa Island

Preparing for Another Visit

 

It's getting to be that time of year, again and these 5 sites are in my plans.

It doesn't matter how many trips, I've made on the ferry.

Almost every year, we hit the flower festivals but, I like these spots, even more.

The Niya-thiya Cave

That's because 1,000 people survived the Battle of Okinawa, living in there.

Everybody came out alive. That's a good story.

Plus, they have this legendary fertility stone in there.

So, I go in there every time just to check.

None of my daughters or, granddaughters better be in there fooling around with that thing.

  Wajee View Point

From this location, you should be able to catch a good sunrise or, sunset photo.

It's still on my list of things to do because the weather hasn't cooperated, yet.

One of these days, we'll getterdun.

The Statue of Hando-gwaa

This is located in Shimumuraya Tourist Park.

I'm still searching but, TV series and operas have been made of this tragic drama.

The poor girl, allegedly hung herself, with her own hair, up on the mountain.

She got mixed up with the wrong dude and, took her own life.

Last century, the mother-in-law, made the teenage daughters watch it on TV, Wednesday nights.

What a hoot. If there's a heaven, guaranteed, she made it there !

Mt. Gusuku or, Tachu

The island is really flat, except for this one peak, which is only 172 meters tall.

It's another location, I have, yet, to catch under favorable light.

But, I'm kind of partial to tobacco so, I shot this scene, anyway.

The Ernie Pyle Monument

If you've never heard of this guy maybe, you should do some reading.

He had a knack for reporting how miserable life on the battlefield can be.

This is the spot where his career ended. 

So, I think, it's kind of sacred ground.

A Million Easter Lilies Festival 

Towards the end of April, this island becomes overwhelmed with tourists.

That's when the white lilies will be in full bloom.

It is really a sight to see and, I will try to keep everyone posted on the flower situation.

Just in case (like me) you want to avoid the rush on this tiny island.

Go over there, any other time and, hit my favorite 5 attractions with your camera.

More About Ie Jima

A Million Lilies Festival

June 13, 2013 Crescent Moon and Sunset Near Ie Jima

Sometimes the Sun Won't Cooperate

 

Last night a break from processing Dragonboat Race photos was in order.

The Map It Okinawa dude came by and wanted to go somewhere for sunset photography.

We drove from one island to another trying to make the best of the situation.

Low hanging clouds can sure ruin sunsets.

The plan, was to get a beautiful, bright sun, going down behind Ie Jima.

Scouting positions around Sesoko Island we figured it wouldn't be possible, from there.

Back on the main island of Okinawa the sun was already dipping below the horizon.

That's alright for silhouette photography, if you like the colors in the sky.

The scene didn't thrill me.

So, I shot the crescent moon.

Then, backed up all the way to 18mm and got the moon, along with the sunset.

 Map It Dude had no idea what I was doing next.

Off the seawall and out in the street, I went and squeezed his silhouette in the frame, too !

The above photos taken with a Pentax K5 and 18-250mm lens.

Location:  GPS N 26 39.528   E 127 53.098 on Motobu Peninsula.

Travel Photo: View of Ie Jima from Motobu

Barely visible, on the horizon, silhouetted against a cloudy sky is, Ie Jima.

The island is only a 30 minute ferry ride away.

It looks small from the Motobu Peninsula in Okinawa, Japan.

Three days driving and exploring, on foot wasn't enough to see the whole place.

It looks like the cameras need to be packed and it's time to hitch a ride back over that way.

Hando-Gwaa Statue on Ie Jima Okinawa and Advice for Parents

The Poor Girl Didn't Have to Kill Herself

 

This statue is a monument to Hando-Gwaa, a girl who fell in love with the wrong guy.

After the fact, she found out the dude was married.

So, she climbed up Mt. Tatchū (タッチュー) and hanged herself with her long hair.

The statue is in Shimamuraya Tourist Park.

That's way down below Mt. Gusuku or Tatchū, whichever you prefer to call it.

Now, I know Okinawan parents use this monument to teach children lessons.

But, I'll put my thoughts in simple English for everyone to read.

Advice for Parents

 

 

Teach your daughters there are some people we call Slick Willies in this world.

Before a girl lets a guy wiggle his way into love, she has to know how to check him out.

Look for concealed wedding rings and, stuff like that.

And, even more importantly, when out on a date.....

Don't Get Too Stoned ! 





 

Travel Photo: Tobacco Fields of Ie Jima and Mt. Tachū (タッチュー) and a Gripe

Photo composed to give a view of Ie Jima tobacco fields with Mt. Tachū in the background.

Called Mt. Gusuku, in travel brochures and advertising, it's best to know some local dialect.

Most Okinawans, when they see this hill on Ie Jima, immediately recognize it.

They call it, Tachū (タッチュー) so, that's what I do, too.

Tobacco, I can't complain about that. We all agree, tobacco is tobacco.

The Gripe

 

 

When, you try to research this little mountain on Ie Jima you find all kinds of stuff online.

And, just because some genius spelled  it "Tacchu" on Wikipedia, everybody else does.

It makes you wonder what they do.  Maybe, just copy and paste the stuff !

Trust me.  I ain't a linguini expert er, nuthin like that.

Just browsing through a few Japanese, Okinawan and English dictionaries.......

...there doesn't seem to be any words with two "C's" like that Tacchu word.

Rekin we could get some scholar to go in and kerrect that ?

Some Photos and a Short Tribute to Ernie Pyle

His tour in Okinawa Lasted 18 Days

In the Ryukyu Islands people don't call it World War II.

They don't call it the War of the Pacific, either.

It is simply called the Okinawa Senso.  The Okinawa War.

The battle began April 1, 1945.

The photo above shows the Ernie Pyle Memorial Stone on Ie Jima.

Ernie was respected by the Army, Navy and Marines because he walked with them.

He walked the walk and, talked the talk.  He was a war correspondent.

He traveled and reported the war through Africa, Europe and the Pacific.

Ernie was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for correspondence in 1944.

He died on Ie Jima August 18, 1945.

Yesterday, at Peace Memorial Park, I searched for Ernie Pyle's name on the walls.

Over 240,000 names are inscribed there, from victims of all nations.

We couldn't locate Ernie and almost gave up.

Then Doc Graff got the idea to do a computerized search.  And, it paid off.

Pyle Ernest T, was engraved amongst the American civilians killed in the battle of Okinawa.

Anyone wearing a uniform and going into combat should read his writings.

The leaders of the world's countries, before sending young men to war, should read them, too.

The Indiana University School of Journalism can tell you more about Ernie Pyle than I can.

That's where I found a photo of Ernie on patrol with Marines in Okinawa.

Look at this column Ernie Pyle wrote and let it soak-in.  It's the best tribute I can give him.

The God-Damned Infantry

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Museum Photo: Ryukyu Islands License Plate a Classic

This photo was taken in a museum on Ie Jima, an Okinawa island, not far from here.

It sure makes a person miss the good old days.  Don't it ?

It may vary where you come from but, a feller would have to go to prison in my hometown.

It's probably against the law to make your own license plates these days.

That's what's wrong with the world.  Too many governments got involved.  Huh ?





2013 Lily Festival on Ie Jima Starts Tomorrow

This Just In: A Million Lilies Blooming !

 

Three days were spent out on Ie Island in Okinawa, checking things out.

We were busy doing other things but, made sure the white lilies were in bloom.

The five photos you see here, were taken this morning.

Weather has been a bit unpredictable but, some blue skies did manage to peek through.

 Sometimes called Easter Lilies, those flowers are native to the Ryukyu Islands.

 They smell real good and will be blooming for about three more weeks.

That means anyone, from anywhere around the globe, could hop on a plane and come see them.

So, if you like nature and flowers, that's exactly what you should do.

What's everybody waiting for ?

Bright Red Lilies in a Rock Garden (8 Photos)

Almost in My Backyard

 

These brilliant red lilies started opening a few days ago, right behind my office.

Normally, I wouldn't hop somebody's fence to get into their rock garden.

But, nobody was home so, I did.

 It reminds me, I have to get some information on the Lily Festival going this month.

That's over on Ie Jima, an island not far from Okinawa.

They have something like a million white lilies on display every year.

 Have you ever seen a red lily before ?

They must have a different scientific name for these plants, than those white Easter Lilies.

For these first three photos, I just handheld the Canon G12

Playing around with the manual settings, I shot a few different compositions.

There Was Still Nobody Home

 

So, I decided to put the Canon away and bring out the Pentax and tripod.

It looks a lot more professional and people probably won't think you're a thief.

There is just one lily plant in the whole rock garden, as far as I can tell.

I monkeyed around with some settings and compositions.

But, had to keep looking over my shoulder, to make sure nobody was coming.

Really, I'm no expert at shooting flowers so, I make all kinds of shots.

When it comes to jumping fences though, I do alright.

Did I ever mention that time I escaped.......... ?

Never-mind.  You don't want to know.

As soon as I figured I had enough bright red lily photos, I jumped back over the fence.

Then, put the cameras away and went back with a broom.

There were flip-flop tracks in the dirt.  I had to get rid of all the evidence.

Wouldn't it be fun, having me as a neighbor ?

Travel Photo: A Cave on Ie Jima an Island in Okinawa

This is a photo of a cave taken on Ie Jima about three years ago.

Getting ready to return for another trip, this year I pulled it up to remind me of something.

There was a wooden sign (in Japanese) alongside the cave entrance.

At the time, I was in a hurry and, didn't get a photo of the sign for translation.

But, I was told, the sign mentioned something unusual.

Human and animal bones were found in there.

They were thousands of years old and the animal, was a deer. 

Note to self:  Get photos of everything, this time.

Researching, in advance, I found some great information on the caves of Ie Jima.

National Geographic put some photos and video together on the place in November 2005.

It's always a good idea to learn as much as you can about a destination before you travel.

There are many more things to be learned from the caves of Ie Shima.