Pigs from the Sea Anniversary Coming Soon

 It happened on September 27, 1948

The Governor of Hawaii declared Pigs from the Sea Day on the 70th anniversary.

The Okinawan spirit of Yuimaru - Helping each other is seen in this story.

Let the monument do the talking.

LINKS

Pigs from the Sea Day 

YouTube Video

Google Maps 

Blood Moon SEP 2025

 Some Before and  After Images

It all started with climbing upstairs to the roof, hauling camera gear around six PM.

A few minutes before 7 PM, the moon appeared.

It's been a while since the last time we've seen a full moon on this island.

Clouds or rain have kept the moon hidden over the past few months.

This time, a power line ran across the bottom of my photo.

Cropping it out was easier than Photoshopping. So, that's what I did!

Blood Moon Peaks at 2:09 PM

Not so sure about what most 70-something folks are doing at that hour. I sleep!

Here's a shot taken with a 100mm lens from the back door of my house.

Time: 0348

Parting Shot

At 6 AM, the moon was setting over Ishikawa when I took this photo.

From the bypass on HWY 329, the dog pulled me uphill so I could nap at home.

End of Full Moon story.

It's Almost Spring

 Okinawa Got Warm

To long-term residents of the island, anything below 70 degrees is freezing.

We get temperatures in Celsius. 70 F would be over 21 C degrees for me.

Sumba Falls

Here's an iPhone 13 image shot while traveling up north near the end of February.

It felt so warm, I took my jacket off and left it in the car.

For folks back in NY  State (where it snows) I screenshot this chart.

It was 20 degrees C at this waterfall. That's 68 degrees Fahrenheit!

Well, the warm temperatures lasted a few days. Now, I'm wearing a jacket again.

But, the weatherman says this week it will get warm again.

Springtime is coming!

Waterfall Therapy

 Only 92 Steps Away From Parking Area

There's only room for 2 or 3 vehicles to park and it's along a winding stretch of road.

Folks like to speed on this highway so, I wouldn't bring pets or wild and crazy kids.

Water cascading through the forest makes some soothing sounds.

Location: Sumba Falls in Kunigami

JUN 2024 Full Moon Over Okinawa

 It's Been Awhile

The Moon hasn't appeared in my viewfinder since March of this year.

And, it tricked me by showing up way farther south than I had expected.

A few quick adjustments and, by 7:30 PM a final shot was made and, I got off the roof.

June 21st happens to be the first day of Summer.

So, I decided air-conditioning was where I needed to be!

Scene from Sueyoshi

 A Park in Naha City

Sueyoshi Park

DEC 2023 Full Moon Over Okinawa

 

Maybe Weather Will Be Better Tomorrow

Cool and cloudy outside tonight this was the clearest shot I could get.

No promises but, tomorrow a better image might be obtained.

Enjoy the Holidays!

November's Full Moon Took Some Patience

A Few Hours Ahead of Time

 The tripod and gimbal were hauled upstairs and positioned on the roof.

Due to some recent surgery, no heavy weight-lifting is allowed.

So, I put the 560 MM lens in a backpack and pretended it wasn't heavy.

Clouds Have A Way Of Ruining Photos

Every month I attempt some Full Moon Photography but, the weather doesn't always cooperate.

A quote stolen from Forbes via screenshot came to mind so, I hung around and waited.

The time between the first and second moon photo: One minute!

OCT 2023 Full Moon

 Shining Over Okinawa

This was shortly after 6 PM and the moon was only 99.6% full. That's close enough for me!

A Favorite Photo From The Harvest Moon Festival

 Moon Covered by Rain Clouds

It's been 4 years since the Kangetsusai (Moon Viewing Festival) was held in Kin Town.

Rain wouldn't stop the show from going on!

AUG 2023 Full Moon Over Okinawa

Called A Blue Moon

Better late than not at all, here's how it appeared from the roof of my house. 

Some Wi-Fi problems (typhoon-related) kept me from posting earlier.

Does it look like a Blue Moon to you?

JUL 2023 Full Moon Over Okinawwa

 

It Was Tricky

Climbing the stairs to my rooftop an hour before sunset gives me time to prepare.

The tripod is set up, the lens gets cleaned and some basic adjustments are made.

While I was setting things up it started to rain.  It was just a sprinkle and wouldn't last long.

The rain eventually quit but, threatening black clouds kept appearing.

The moon could be seen from my location shortly before 8PM.   But, it was windy.

Clouds would roll in and out, making it impossible to capture a clear shot of the moon.

Out of three dozen shots, only three full moon images will remain in my files.

This was my favorite one.

Have a safe and enjoyable 4th of July!

March 2023 Full Moon Over Okinawa

 It's Been A While

Finally a decent image of the Full Moon in Okinawa.

Amen

End of January Special Things

 A Few Photos Plus A Video

Cherry Blossoms with Different Background Colors

Sometimes you'll see blue skies in the Winter.

Occasionally dark backgrounds highlight the scene.

A white building always helps that pink flower pop!

But, nothing beats surprising a Special Someone on their 77th birthday:

DIY All Natural Fruit Fly Killer

 Just A Drop of Dish Soap

There has been way too much rain this month for my usual Full Moon photography.

It did make some short appearances but, avoided my fooling around with the camera.

Spending plenty of time indoors I noticed fruit flies hanging around the kitchen.

 

In Japan, this is what Apple Cider Vinegar in a bottle looks like.

It's been a while since I searched the internet for a natural way to eliminate these bugs.

So, you might want to Google it yourself for recipes.

Here's how it all started. Just put one drop of dish soap in a container.

If you like feeling silly, sing a Mary Poppins song, the pesty insects might like it, too!

The Bottle of Vinegar May Last a Whole Year!

Sometimes I'll put a splash of vinegar on my salad but, not even a teaspoon full.

For the month of December, I'm posting a photo of how many fruit flies have drowned.

 Not bad, considering I spilled the thing once after the first week, trying to count the bugs.

There aren't any more fruit flies buzzing around my apples, bananas, and pears.

Some folks would probably suggest keeping fruits in the refrigerator.

But, that would put way too much restriction on how many beers could fit in there!

Here's a Pioneer Woman's Recipe, I found for you to try.

Have Safe and Happy Holidays!

Horrible Blood Moon November 2022

 Wind and Clouds with Camera Shake

Normally I wouldn't post terrible photography like this or, even process the images.

But, I got thinking. "Why not show the world how it really gets sometimes?"

The clouds blocked out the moon many times and the wind was blowing, shaking my camera.

This is how the moon looks sometimes after 10 too many beers.

About a dozen times I tried (unsuccessfully) to get a nice sharp image.

It Never Happened

The photo I would have liked to publish never got taken.

But, I was out there and got to witness the Full Blood Moon of November 2022.

Some photo editing was done to attempt to clear the blurred image.

But, shaky hands don't do the best job of patching things up.

If you all don't mind now, I'll go back to bed.

Ghost of Nanachi-baka

 Located in Makishi, Naha, Okinawa

Not far from Miebashi Station on Yui Rail is a hill we'll call Nanachi-baka.

Best translated as Seven Tombs for the family burial sites which stood there.

Surrounded by the concrete of Naha, it's on private property but the woods are visible.

Thanks to Google Earth Pro you can see the terrain. There's a bit of greenery in the image.

Whenever you spot a grove of trees on a hill in the city, assume it's some sort of sacred place.

If it weren't special, developer bulldozers would have claimed the land.

Another scene borrowed from a Google Earth screenshot at ground level.

Miebashi Station is on the left side of the image frame.

Show Us the Ghost!

Alright, alright first let me do some explaining.

After three days of unsuccessfully trying to reach Banksy here's what I decided.

Draw the pictures myself or attempt to sketch them with a pencil and paper.

Should a real artist show up, these sketches will be replaced. I promise.

Nearby this grove of trees a young woman would purchase candy around closing time.

She hands the cashier Japanese yen to pay for the sweets. Then off she goes.

The problem is, the next morning the shopkeeper noticed the money had changed.

The yen note had turned into uchikabi (symbolic paper notes) given to dead spirits.

Kind of Mysterious

These little mom-and-pop stores are in competition with some big chains.

So, to stay in business, you have to keep an eye on the profits.

Next time that gal comes into the store late at night she's going to be followed home.

Sure enough, another night the woman comes by and gets more candy, paying with yen.

The store owner follows from a distance. It's dark outside.

The girl with the candy goes into the woods of Nanachi-baka and disappears. 

At one of the tombs, a baby could be heard crying. The storekeeper looked inside.

The woman who bought the sweets was dead.  Candy wrappers were near the baby.

Local villagers made sure the mother got a proper burial and raised the child.

The ghost was never seen again.

Happy Halloween!

PROMISE

This is the last time I will try doing sketches!

October 2022 Full Moon Over Okinawa

 The Rabbit Showed Up Again

A few months out of this year the monthly full moon was hidden by clouds and rain.

Last night we got to see the lunar event and the rabbit was sitting upright, as well!

Just in case there wouldn't be any lunar events visible that night, I had a plan.

Early the morning before the full moon, I could try to catch the moon setting.

And, just in case I don't get around to posting again this month, HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

August Full Moon Over Okinawa

 Last Night of Obon

For those unfamiliar with local customs, Okinawa, Japan has a three-day holiday called Obon.

It is believed that the spirits of the deceased visit their family during this time.

The light of the full moon guides them back to the heavens.

 The weather had us worried because clouds and rain periodically ruined the view.

At 10 minutes past 8 PM the shutter was snapped on the scene.

July 2022 Full Moon Over Okinawa, Japan

 It Peeked Through Clouds at 7:47 PM

For the past few months, Full Moon Photography was practically impossible.

Last night, just a few minutes were spent on the roof, capturing this shot.

Can you see the Rabbit?