Travel Photo: Onna-son Sunset

This photo was taken, about a year ago, as the sun was setting.

Sometimes, after the sun dips below the horizon, I wait and watch for scenes like this.

When the clouds are right, you can get all sorts of colors in the sky.

Living on the east coast of the island, we don't get sunsets, just sunrises.

 Camera: Pentax K5

Lens: Pentax 18-250 at 18mm

Exposure: f/22   1/2sec   ISO 100

Related Post: Photos from Onna-son, Okinawa Summer Festival 2013

This Rock Requires Further Investigation

 

 

Criminals Used to Hangout Here

 

 

Named Fere Rock, it's located in Onna-son, Okinawa, Japan.

Mr. Miyagi, from the Onna-son Museum, gave me a Onna History & Culture brochure.

The nice thing is, the manual has both English and Japanese writing in it.

That's how we located this historical site.

And, we would never have heard about the highway robbers, if we hadn't read the book.

Everybody Loves a Dumb Criminal Story

 

 

Way back in the days of the Ryukyu Kingdom the mountainous road was well traveled.

This rock, standing tall alongside the highway was the scene of repeated crimes.

Fee-ree, according to my Okinawan Dictionary, means, holdup or, stick-up.

And, these bandits used it to their advantage.

People, going along this highway would have their belongings snatched.

The highway robbers would be perched on top of the rocks.

They took long poles with hooks at the end and grabbed traveler's valuables.

 

How Slick Was That ?

 

 

It got me thinking. They hadn't even invented the helicopter, yet.

Once they snatched someone's saddlebags, where the hell did they think they were gonna go ?

As the story goes, some gal from Itoman, chased them away with her wits.

And, another version says, a karate dude ran the crooks off using his sickle.

 

We Better Go Back and Climb That Rock

 

 

All bandits aren't as stupid as:  The 10 dumbest criminals in the world.

What if these guys had an escape route somewhere inside that rock ?

Mr. Miyagi, please, don't give away any more of those books, until I check it out !


Directions for those wishing to visit this historical site

Travel Photo: Subtle Sunset Silhouettes

Every Photo Has a Story

 

This photo was taken on the west coast of Okinawa, Japan.

The location isn't exactly where I would have gone to shoot a sunset.

But, I had some time to kill and decided to make this composition.

Along came this dude, maybe, in his 50's.  He wanted to see what I shot.

So, I showed him the image on my LCD screen.

He was carrying a point and shoot camera.

It was a fancy model.  He claimed, designed for shooting in low light.

He said he remembered me, from one of the outer islands.  I didn't remember him.  Groan.

What could I do ?   Say, "Yeah, I remember you, too.  The guy with the black hair !"

Instead, I just said, "Really ?"

Then, I mumble to myself something about pretty girls in bikinis.

Anyway, on with the story.

The guy said the photo I took, reminded him of Tahiti.

Well, I couldn't argue because, I've never been there.

But, the thought occurred to me, "I wonder if thought he saw me there, too ?"

Watching him try to compose the same shot I had taken, I noticed he couldn't hold steady.

So, I told him to rest his camera on my tripod and he got a somewhat similar shot.

He thanked me and, went on his way.

Now, I'm wondering.  Does Tahiti really look like that ?

If it does, I have a suggestion for the Mayor of Onna-son.

Quit planting firework launchers on the beach.

Get some girls in bikinis !

For more camera tricks: Photo Tips

 

 

 



Photos from Onna-son, Okinawa Summer Festival 2013

 

Don't Miss This One Next Year -- It's a Blast !

 

 

 

Locals call it the Una Matsuri but you can get by saying, Onna-son Festival.

 

With several villages having festivals, all weekend, I chose this one.

 

 

 

 

The people of Onna-son really know how to throw a party.

This field, where the festival took place, is just a few steps away from the East China Sea.

When I first got there, only a few hundred guests were out in the hot sun.

As evening arrives, the crowd gathers around the stage to see the entertainment.

Trying to get a better look, I zoomed in on these performers playing classic Okinawan folk music.

That guy, playing the guitar looked like he had something strange on his head.

Catching the group before they disappeared, I took this photo.

Would you believe, the dude does his own hair styling ?

Dang.  I wish I could do stuff like that !

Before the sun disappeared, I started setting-up to shoot fireworks, near the beach.

When it got really dark, I decided this would be where I'd catch the fireworks.

The beach was roped-off so, nobody could get any closer and, I wondered why.

 BOOM !  ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE !

 

The illumination launchers were planted on the beach, just a few meters away.

The fireworks were popping directly over us.  So much for making a scene over the ocean.

Tens of thousands behind me and there's nowhere to go.

Babies are screaming and crying; teenagers cheering and saying, "Oo, ah and kawaii."

In the crowd, there was no way to move the tripod and camera and catch the bursts overhead.

It was like being downtown PANDAMONIUM !

So, I farted, as loud and long as I could.

It worked.  Hah !

Museums Can Be Cool Places to Visit on a Hot Day

Being Outdoors is Fun but Sometimes it Gets Hot

 

 

Not to worry, it isn't as if I'm turning into a couch potato or, anything like that.

The temperatures on Okinawa have been getting up there lately.

During yesterday's travels, plenty of outdoor photography took place.

There were a few fish jumping out of water shots taken.

Some hills, sugar cane fields and even, another island were visited.

When the mercury hits between 33˚C (91.4˚F) and 40˚C (104˚F) I need a break.

Have a look inside the Onna-son Museum.

This place is climate controlled and comfortably cool.

It cost Ɏ100 to spend as long as you wish in the air-conditioned rooms.  Hah !

Making sure, I took my time, I covered every inch of the place.

Now, I have an idea what it looked like, building some of those straw-roofed huts.

And, I saw what it took to make the stone walls at Zakimi Castle.

They didn't have any fancy tools or, uniforms back in the old days.

It was probably a lot more fun being an architect than a construction worker back then.

You could say stuff like, "Let's hurry and get this room done.

Move that rock a little more to the right but, be careful.

We don't want anyone getting their toes crushed.

C'mon guys.  Don't you know it's hot out here ?

We gotta getterdun and go drink some beer !" 

MORE OKINAWA MUSEUMS

Note Local Travelers: Map It Okinawa Gives Directions