Wordless Wednesday: Downtown Crackdown

Seeing Hacksaw Ridge

Not the Movie - The Terrain

War movies aren't something you'll catch me watching very often. War kinda sucks.

We've heard about the film "Hacksaw Ridge" and, seen a few promotional clips.

Doc Graff and I, decided to take a hike, with cameras and, check the place out.

It was a blazing hot August day and, we were sweating like a few hogs in a roaster.

There's a little museum-looking building we came across and, saw this poster.

The building is called Urasoe Youdore and, it's well worth paying 100 yen to visit.

The staff are friendly and gave us permission to take photos. Little English is spoken.

But, we get by with our pidgin Japanese and Okinawan Hogen.

There are all sorts of treasures in this climate controlled building.

They have archaeological, historical and war-related artifacts on display and, I found this photo.

It shows Medal of Honor recipient, Desmond Doss, visiting Okinawa in 1995. 

For those who never heard of Desmond Doss or Hacksaw Ridge, I shot this photo.

The stone marker, dedicated to him, has been moved over the years.

We had trekked the lower levels of the hill but, wanted to walk Hacksaw Ridge entirely.

That's because there's a spot named Desmond Doss Point, up there somewhere.

All along the walkways, going up and down those hills, there are caves.

The vegetation is too thick, to see many of them and, it's fairly rough terrain.

Not far from the Urasoe Castle walls, we located Desmond Doss Point and, this photo was taken.

The Original Stone Marker

The day wouldn't be complete, without locating the stone dedicated to Pfc. Doss.

A gentleman, working at the museum, gave us directions to the Adventist Church.

It's located far from Hacksaw Ridge, in Kitanakagusuku.

The International Seventh-day Adventist Church, maintains the marker.

The church was located and, a middle aged woman came out to show us the location of the stone.

We thanked her and, asked if photography would be allowed. She gave the OK.

The back side of the stone is etched in Japanese. I can read Desmond T Doss.

When we were done, the lady at the church, invited us to go inside the buildings.

We're sweating like a couple of goats in heat by now and, I ain't crazy about churches.

So, we thanked her and, said it was time for us to get back on the highway.

Church people are alright and, I try to be respectful around them but, don't get too close.

They're religious and I'm sacrilegious so, don't want none of my stuff getting rubbed into them.

 If, you decide to visit Hacksaw Ridge, there's parking at the bottom of the trail. 

For a shorter hike, I recommend parking at Urasoe Youdore ; don't forget to visit the toilets.

There are no Men's or Women's facilities once you leave that parking lot !

Grabbing a Burger at 50's Cafe from California

New Improved Location

 

 

Lots of my foodie friends were disappointed when the old hamburger shack closed down.

At a busy intersection along the highway, there was very limited parking available.

Sonovagun if they didn't pack-up and, move into a big shopping mall !

 

The 50's Cafe is now located in the Uruma City Don Quijote store.  Yay !

Several hundred cars can probably fit in the parking lot, over there.

That would be a great place to send somebody shopping, while you get to go eat.

 The owner and his wife let me shoot anything, I wanted to, in the place.

So, I thought it would be nice to let everyone see what the joint looks like.

 It's a little bit tricky, taking photos without any people in the scene.

Who wants to be bothered by a cameraman when they're eating ?

After placing my order, I ran all around the place with the tripod and camera.

Every few minutes, I had to run outside, to get the GPS, turned back on.

Beyond this sign, is the tax free shopping center, which I, kept out of just, because.

Some people might enjoy shopping.  They should go in there; not me.

Remember the 1950's ?  Men were men and women were ladies, back in the old days.

Smoking was good and, they even had 2-way cigarettes.

Chesterfield was the best one for you, according to this sign.  Hah !

And, if you go for the big, strong, silent type --  Hop into a Dodge.  Oops: 1963 Dodge.

This sign, in English and Japanese, is for fussy customers.

Most people, around here, just trust the chef, to feed them, whatever is right.

If they want to "have it their way" they should go to another country to eat, I think.

The sign says, "Burgers The Way They Should Be" and, I take their word for it.

It's a good thing, I don't run the place.  I'd tell fussy customers to "Git."

But, the mom and pop, that run this joint are real nice people.

 Probably, it wouldn't be a good idea to complain about anything, while I'm in there.

Somebody from Jehovah's Witnesses business tried inviting me to an event.

Being, the polite person I am, the best thing to do was say, " Sorry, I'm busy that day."

Then, I got far away, in the corner and, shot some movie star's photos.

This was what I had for lunch yesterday and it was scrumptious.

After all that work, taking photos and, telling a fib to the holy people, I was starved.

Restaurants are where people go to eat and, I love this one.

People can practice whatever religion they want and talk to any god, they feel like.

It just isn't a good idea to try and convert me when, I'm waiting for my chow.  Amen.

 Website: Don Quijote

Directions and Map Courtesy of Goya Republic

Sunday's Silly Sign (Photo) Aug 7, 2011

Technically, this isn't really a silly sign.  I spotted this work of art the day I took the wife up to the village of Bise in northern Okinawa, Japan. 

It was being used as a sign, though.  The village of Bise has some very narrow streets.  An old guy at the far end of town must be a follower of Donald Trump.  He came up with the idea of charging all the tourists about five bucks to park their rental cars.

Well, I didn't feel touristy that day so, I looked for some place to park for free.

Driving back through town, I noticed a good-sized lot that was lined with fukugi trees and figured that would be a great place to pull off the road and park in the shade.  This Pop'n House thing was propped up against a tree at the dirt road entrance.  It sounded like some sort of touristy, high class place to me. Nobody else was parked on the lot. So, I didn't park there.  I parked illegally in the shade on the narrow street instead.  This old boy don't fall for those tourist tricks, ya know.

Once I got out of the car to stretch I read the sign for the first time.  Hah !  It was in English; my favorite language.  What a happy day it is today!   I have never seen such a stupid man.  Oh, look out!  Help me! 

Perfect for Sunday's Silly Sign !   But, the lighting was horrible.  I didn't want to shoot a photo of a sign with splotches of sun and dark shadows on it.  So,  I looked around to see where the Pop'n House might be. 

I couldn't find the place anywhere.  Good.  I'll see if I can move the sign to better light !

The wife would have a fit if she saw me but, she was exploring some trinket shop.  Good, again.

She probably thought I was staying outside having a smoke and keeping an eye on the illegally-parked car.

Nobody was watching so, I moved the sign to a spot in the shade.  Click, Click, Click.  Gotterdun !

Just as I was thinking "What a happy day it is today!" because I got my Sunday's Silly Sign a car beep, beep, beeped at me.  I was blocking the entrance to the lot with my tripod.  Caught !  Groan.

Having been caught a few times in my life doing stupid (or illegal) things with a camera, I've learned there's better ways to handle the situation than just running for your life. 

Sometimes, an explanation along with a smile works.  Sometimes bribery works. 

Other times, it would be best to just run.  But, I had the wife and a car to worry about.  Damn.

So, I moved my camera setup, stepped back, bowed and hand-motioned Gomenasai (sorry) and let the guy drive onto his property. He drove over to park in the shade.  Next he'll be confronting me.

Think quick, think quick, think quick !  HERE HE COMES !

Silver tongue, don't fail me now.  You've got to explain to some angry Papasan why you moved his sign and blocked his driveway. 

Speak some local dialect.  Explain why you moved the sign.  Show him how you used your shirttail to wipe it clean for the photo.  Let him know it's for a feature on Mike's Ryukyu Gallery. 

It's for Sunday's Silly Sign facrynoutloud.  Buy the guy an ice cold tea. 

Well, I did all of the above.  He cracked up laughing. 

YEAH !

When I picked up the sign to place it back exactly where I found it I noticed what was so funny.

It was a child's folding table.  The legs are folded into what I thought was the frame of a sign.

It was sodai gomi (garbage too large for a regular trash day pickup) and that's why it was propped up against a tree on the corner.  The trash truck would be able to spot it easily there.

When I told the Papasan it kept me from parking on his lot he said "I know" and laughed some more.

The copyright in the lower lefthand corner, I'll translate for you.  It says KF Product.

I'll bet Colonel Sanders and his gang never dreamed they'd be featured on Sunday's Silly Sign !


RELATED POSTS:

SATURDAY'S SHOOTIN IN BISE OKINAWA, JAPAN

TREE LOVERS, HERE'S FUKUGI TREES


FOR MORE SUNDAY'S SILLY SIGNS: VISIT THE DOOZIES.