Rainy Season in Okinawa Ain't All Bad

 

Stay Home and Complain if, You Like

The full moon was hidden from us this month and that was a little disappointing.

We can't let the rainstorms ruin our whole month. So here's what we've been doing.

Call it Back Roads Waterfall Photography.

It's Therapeutic

We're not talking about some famous falls like Niagara in the USA.

Not even visiting the famous waterfalls in Okinawa.

During the rainy season, some waterfalls, just pop-up out of nowhere.

They may not be bubbling, babbling, and spitting out water in the jungles all year long.

In the hills of Kunigami, there are falls you will hear before you can see them.

Not as famous as all those tourist attractions waterfalls sound good to me.

Here, you can enjoy the exhilarating, breathtaking, calming, splashing outdoors nature.

Call it whatever you like, it's soothing to me and, an important part of Okinawa's rainy season.

It's National Foundation Day in Japan and More!

 That's like the 4th of July in the USA

It's a National Holiday and most people have the day off. Schools are closed.

Some sort of tropical storm is blowing cold wind and rain so, I hung around inside all day.

 

About 4 PM the wife and a daughter returned from a shopping expedition.

And the young one presented me with this ice-cold six-pack of beer.

I'm really not celebrating National Foundation Day for Japan. I'm American.

Naturally, I thanked the daughter for bringing my favorite beer.

Little did she know, I was gonna celebrate New Year's Eve tonight.

First, we must get back to the Japanese holiday.  

They say Japan began (as a country) in 660 BC.

That's all I can tell you. Read the history of Japan HERE if you need all the details.

How Did New Year's Eve Get in Here Today?

When I thanked the daughter for the Orion Beer I told her it's New Year's Eve.

She looked at me like I was crazy so, I had to explain. It's Chinese New Year's Day tomorrow!

Some folks in Okinawa still use the Lunar Calendar. 

And, the stick with the rituals, holiday routines, and planting of the Chinese Zodiac calendar.

Learn all about the Chinese New Year at this Site.

Adding a little more to all this holiday confusion, the daughter handed me another gift.

Some chocolate, as well as the beer, was her gift to me for Valentine's Day!

It's been a long (almost photoless) day. Two quick shots of the beer and I'm done.

One photo from the front and another displaying the top of the six-pack. That's it.

It's getting dark outside and I have some Lunar New Year's Eve business to tend to.

AMEN

Ducks Can Brighten Up a Rainy Day in Okinawa

 

Out for a quick four-hour walk in the wind and rain, this was one image I decided to save.

Normally, the dog and I would be out for five hours or longer in better weather.

Lots of time was spent getting shelter from the cold drizzle, beneath a highway overpass.

The ducks (Northern Shovelers) hangout in wetlands, sucking what they eat from the water.

Sometimes a flooded field and other times, this canal they're seen taking flight from.

They migrate here for the winter months and I photograph them almost daily.

It's lots more fun, taking long walks on sunny days with blue skies.

But, any time spent outdoors beats sitting around stuck indoors, on a day in December.

What do you do for excitement on foul-weather days?

MORE ABOUT NORTHERN SHOVELERS

Wordless Wednesday: Wet Dog Walking Home in Rain

Wordless Wednesday: Cobwebs in the Rain

Travel Photo: Sueyoshi Park

A Bit of Country in the City

The few times I've visited this attraction, I have never run across many tourists.

Maybe the travel and tourism industry keeps it secret. Everything's free!

One of these days, I ought to make a travel guide, listing all the freebies on this island.

If enough people bought it, I could become a millionaire.

Back in 2011, when the photo was taken, a sudden rain squall hit the place.

That sort of ruined chances of getting any wildlife photos, with a zoom lens.

The storm didn't last more than a few minutes and the sun started shining.

The place got quiet like the critters knew another rain cloud would move in.

A forest is a special place, just after the rain falls. It becomes refreshing.

 I backed off and created this wide-angle image before, leaving the big city behind.

Camera: Pentax K5

Lens: Pentax 18-250 at 22 MM

Exposure: f/16   1.6 sec   ISO 100

Location:  Sueyoshi Park, Naha, Okinawa, Japan

Date and Time:  OCT 15 2011  3:45 PM

They Predicted Rain - I Went to the Travel Agent Academy

All Part of the Master Plan

The weather gurus were a little bit off with the forecast today but, it didn't kill me.

Up bright and early, I checked the weather channel and, it wasn't looking good.

The rain was supposed to start at 7:30 so, after breakfast, I went back to bed.

Somebody poured way too many beers down my throat last night.

By 9AM, I was stumbling around, as usual, in and out between the garden and kitchen.

And, whacked a toe on something sharp. Ouch, I almost cussed.

The wife noticed the blood, all over the floor. It was probably an hour, after the toe got cut.

So, I told her, "Check the stupid dog. He probably did it."

Before long, it was discovered, my little toe, was where all the blood came from.

Everything's fixed and patched up, now. Maybe, I'll buy her a steak dinner.

Next, I promised there wouldn't be any strenuous exercises or drinking done today.

Leaving the house, I told her and the dog, I was going to school.

Japan Travel Advanced Master

It's not really like graduating from some elite university, with a Master's Degree.

Heck, I've lived over half my life, in Japan. It should be a breeze, for me.

It was a little tricky, though. They made me do the basic course, all over again.

That was completed a few years ago and, I guess, my certification expired. Groan.

It took about two hours of testing, to get me certified so, I could go to the next level.

That series of quizzes and final exams, took another four hours.

It was worth all the effort.  Now, I get access to all kinds of hookups, throughout Japan.

It kept me indoors, most of the day. Now, it's raining and, I forgot my umbrella.

Here's the Plan

No heavy lifting or hiking was what I said, as I left for the office this morning.

Something I saw on the internet, gave me this idea.

Take a yoga mat and place it close to a wall.  Lay down with the feet, propped against the wall.

It's supposed to be good for relaxing and, get blood, back in your brain.

Then, I'll get some takeout steak dinners and, ride a taxi home !

Finally Somebody Came Along with a Lifetime Warranty Umbrella

Windjammer® Is the Name of This Model

There must be half a dozen broken, twisted umbrellas, I've been saving.

We get some pretty wicked rain and winds in Okinawa and, I don't like getting wet.

When a typhoon comes along and wrecks my umbrella, it ruins my attitude.

But, I keep the busted things in a collection, for future use, as models.

Don't you think, that would be an interesting subject ?

A bunch of different colored umbrellas, all mangled together, supporting each other.

Next I Want to Become a Test Pilot

I got this idea, when the rain stopped, just about the time, I wanted some.

They claim, this gadget has been tested in some sort of win tunnel.

People in Portland, Oregon are the designers for this rain gear.

And, they are like experts on rain because, it rains a lot over there, I'm told.

So, I plan on writing to, whoever the Windjam Dude might be and, make him an offer.

Typhoon season will be on our island shortly so, we have to hurry a bit.

Here's the deal, Mr. Windjam - A free test pilot is volunteering.

A few of my friends are crazy enough to video, me walking in the rain during a storm.

If, these umbrellas can handle it, we could sell plenty of them for you.

62" Is a Huge Umbrella

This model is large enough to shelter three, normal-sized people and probably, more.

Suppose a bunch of young ladies, decided to accompany me, for whatever reason.

That way, you wouldn't have to worry about, me getting carried away by a typhoon.

We would all squeeze and hang on tightly together, for safety.

Waiting Patiently

Until the rain starts pouring down and high winds come along, I'll be patiently waiting. 

Let me know if, you're interested in selling these umbrellas to my friends.

Or, was that just a joke, the part about the lifetime warranty ?

Checkout the ShedRain Website

Sky Over Kin Town the Day After Christmas 2016

There's a Chance of Rain

The weather gurus tricked me, again. I decided not, to take a long camera excursion.

They claimed, we'd have scattered showers. Maybe, it'll happen after dark.

That's alright though, I climbed up onto the roof and, took two quick photos.

Looking east, ocean is barely visible, at the horizon.

This position is where I shoot the moon from, when I don't feel like going on a long hike.

The wife and I, went on sort of a Christmas date last evening and, partied hard.

By 3 AM, we figured there was enough cold preventative medicine in us to last all winter.

We took a taxi, to get home and, I believe, she's probably, still sleeping.

It was 3 PM, when I climbed the stairs to the roof of my office and, shot this photo.

There's not enough daylight hours left, for me to get a few hours of walking done.

So, I think, I'll listen to my body, go home and get some rest.

Then, grab a raincoat, go see what's going on downtown and, do some conditioning.

There's another holiday weekend, coming soon and, I want to stay in shape !

Okinawan Eisa Dance in Kin Town

5 More GIF Images - 2016 Kin Eisa Matsuri

 

 

This team of Eisa dancers is kind of special to me and, I had to make sure, I shot the girls.

Last year my granddaughter was out there with them.

She couldn't join this year because, she's off to some beauty school.

When she was out there, I got orders from the Supreme Commander of my house.

If, I failed to get images of family, I would probably be in solitary confinement.

So, ladies in pink kimonos, always get my attention and, I shoot them, close-up.

Backing off, I stood on a slightly elevated spot to capture the whole team, dancing.

Normally, I would take a couple of cameras, lenses and a tripod to an event like this.

Yesterday, I traveled light; no tripod and, just one camera with a zoom lens.

It had been raining, on and off, all day and, I wondered if, the festival would be cancelled.

It poured down a few times and, everybody ran for cover or, opened umbrellas.

It wasn't raining, while this scene was photographed and, I'm glad.

Look at that little guy, to the left. He's beating a drum and dancing, just like the big fellows !

If all those seated in the audience, opened umbrellas, I would have missed the kid.

Notice, the umbrellas and, folks moving around in the crowd, for this image.

A little sprinkle of rain feels good in August, to me and probably, to the dancers, too.

As long as, you keep water drops off the glass, Pentax cameras work great, in the rain !

Getting a little bit closer to the stage, you can see the musicians, playing sanshins.

And, the barefooted guy (chondara) gave me an idea for next year.

Why wear stuff on your feet, when it rains ?

Dancing around barefooted, in the wet grass, must feel great on a hot summer day !

Things to Do on a Rainy Day in Okinawa

Snails and Selfies

Mother Nature tries to keep me cooped up indoors sometimes and, today was one of those days.

It isn't like there's not enough stuff that needs to be done around the office.

People like me, need to get outside for fresh air and cigarettes, once in awhile.

This snail, was so small, ten of them could fit on my thumbnail and, still have plenty of room.

So, I used a 300MM lens to take about 75 shots and create this animation.

There are only 5 or 6 images, I used to make the GIF and, the rest got thrown away.

Playing around with the new Pentax K1 and 15-30MM lens, I did some selfies.

People can probably tell, I'm not really into studio photography or, trimming beards, either.

Plenty of my self portraits, got thrown away today, too but, I saved a few.

Maybe, I'll post some more over on Facebook, just for laughs.

If anyone ever asks me, where to get studio photography done, I'll send them to Chris Wilson.

Meanwhile, I'll be hoping rainy season on Okinawa goes by quickly so, I can get outdoors again.

Wordless Wednesday MAR 16 2016

These Boots Ain't Made for Walking

Never a Dull Moment at a Festival

 

 

At the Kin Dam Matsuri yesterday it seemed like every band liked playing the same tune.

Or, it could be it's a requirement, to obtain a musicians license in Japan.  I don't know.

"Smoke on the Water"  is a catchy tune all right but, hearing it once is enough for me.

After the third time, hearing that tune, I decided to do something different with the camera.

The heck with shooting teeny-bopped bands, I went for boots instead.

It was raining and, everything outside (including me) was soaking wet.

The shot had to be made, when this singer, wasn't bouncing around, too much on the stage.

Camera:  Pentax K3

Lens:  Pentax 18-250 at 230MM

Exposure:  f/6.3   1/30   ISO 200

Location: Kin Town, Okinawa, Japan

Date and Time:  FEB 6  2016  6:03PM

Plenty more shots of the action were taken, 635 of them, to be exact.

Maybe, one of these days, I'll create some GIFs of the event, to post here.

Meanwhile, I'll be resting up and, listening to some other sort of music..

Now I'm wondering if several cold beers might get that  guitar twanging, out of my head.

If you aren't familiar, with that tune, click on the link above.

That way, you can add to over 6 million other people, who listened to the song !

Rain Can't Stop Cherry Blossom Lovers

Wet and Breezy on the Mountain

 

 

Just to keep everyone informed, another trip was made up Mt. Yae, yesterday.

Luckily, Map It Okinawa Dude was driving; that's too far of a hike, for me.

The higher up that ear-popping mountain, you go, the colder it gets.

Wind blowing and rain falling make photography more challenging than usual.

 I figured it would be a good idea, to jump out of the car and snap a few photos.

Here's an image taken from almost the exact spot, I stood at, two weeks ago.

The shot couldn't be duplicated because, too many vehicles were coming up the road.

Standing with a tripod, in the middle of the street, can be dangerous.

 These young ladies, were out there in the rain, taking pictures and, doing selfies.

They saw the old man, with a furry face and posed for me.  Good girls.

 Where a Pentax camera, come in handy, is when it's raining outside.

Other than, keeping raindrops off of the lens, I didn't have to worry about it getting wet.

 The cell phone, I use is water resistant, too so, I snapped this photo.

The folks at the camera store know, I put their stuff through some rough tests.

They should send me free stuff and, see if it can be broken. I'd do a bang-up job for them !

 The trees, sort of blossomed sporadically, this year and, I wouldn't say they are at full bloom, yet.

Maybe it's fifty percent at full bloom, at this point; there are lots of barren cherry trees.

 It would have been, much more enjoyable, up there on a sunny day.

Maybe in the next weekend or, two the whole mountain will busting out in pink flowers.

Some of my camera-shooting friends live up there in Motubu.

They should do like, I do.  Sneak out of the house before the women wake up.

And, spend the whole day, snapping photos of cherry blossoms.

When, there's no blue skies, to add to the scene, I climb high and shoot down into the valley.

The colors and contrast make an interesting scene, I think.

Once my clothes were soaking wet and I was half frozen, it was time to get out of there.

Do you, love cherry blossoms enough, to visit them in the rain ?

Flower Photo: Cherry Blossoms on a Rainy Day

Mount Yaedake

 

 

A quick tour to check on the sakura (cherry blossoms) was made today.

Full bloom is probably a week or so away but, tourists are arriving, anyway.

The next, two weekends, it's guaranteed, traffic on the mountain will be heavy.

My estimate:  Maybe 20-25% of the trees are blossoming not, much more.

Tents are set up and the Sakura Matsuri, on Yaedake begins tomorrow.

And, some crazy weathermen are predicting snowfall on Okinawa next week !

Don't expect to find me, going up that road, until after the place thaws out !

Camera: Pentax K3

Lens:  Pentax 18-250 at 250MM

Exposure:  f/6.3   1/30   ISO 100

Location:  Mt. Yaedake, Okinawa, Japan

Date and Time:  JAN 22  2016   1:47PM

 Related Post: Cherry Blossoms on Mt. Yaedake in Okinawa

Could Use a Little More Sunshine Around Here

Somebody Opened the Spigot Again !

 

 

It was almost like a summer day, yesterday and, I got a good six hours of sun. 

Well, I must have insulted, somebody up there because, the island is getting hosed today.

To cheer myself up, I dug up this photo from last June, taken from a boat.

It's better than, walking around, outside, with an umbrella but, it didn't quite do the trick.

So, I went over to YouTube and found a tune that might tickle everybody.

Hearing Johnny Cash and June Carter, sing that tune was alright.

But, watching them, get the audience going, was even better.

Someone needs to figure out a way to re-distribute rainfall and sunshine, around the globe.

Okinawa got a fair share of water.  Give the rain to somebody, who really needs it. 

Then, I promise, I'll sing this tune in the shower, everyday !

First Official Work Day 2016 in Japan

Holidays Are Over

 

 

The schools re-opened and most people, throughout the country, went back to work today.

Some of them, throw a party at work, to celebrate having a job, I guess.

Well, I try to work everyday but, it was raining so, I couldn't do what I really love.

Nobody, I know, enjoys walking around with a camera in freezing rain.

 Pretending, I was doing something official, I took a few bags of garbage out of the office.

Then, I cut up some wall calendars, to use as writing paper.   

Did you know, you can get four pages out of each month of the year ?

There's no sense, in throwing perfectly good stuff away, when it can be reused.

In case, I never told you; I happen to hate writing.  It's a real chore, that's a pain in the neck !

Outside Is Where I Belong

 

Stuck in an office, makes people like me, miserable so, I had to think of something.

With the blank side of the calendar pages, attached to a clipboard, I got out.

There's a picnic table out behind my office and, it kept me out of the rain.

It's lots more fun, scribbling the old fashioned way than, typing on a keyboard.

Every now and then, I'd get up to stretch and, sniff the fresh air.

My iced coffee stayed cold plus, nobody saw me smoking cigarettes.  What a day !

If writer's block started sneaking up on me, I just shrugged it off.

Go look at all the green stuff in that rock garden for a minute or, two.

For some strange reason, it's relaxing, being out in the fresh air even, when it rains.

Before you know it, I had four pages of writing done.  They'll get typed someday.

There might be 1,000 words on those scraps of paper.  Who knows?

The word counter, will figure all that out, when I get around typing it into a document.

The Picture ?

 

Maybe, I'll print and frame, a great big one, to take home and hang in the kitchen.

Next time, one of those grandchildren complains about homework, I'll let them have it.

"Get used to it little suckers.  Grandpa has to do homework, too."

More Animated GIFs from the Ishikawa Eisa Festival

It's Silver Week in Japan and this Eisa  Matsuri got the festivities off to a great start.

There are always plenty of activities for children, such as, flying airplanes.

Some of the younger generation, would rather dance Eisa with the adults.

These young taiko drummers put on an extraordinary show.

Senior citizens danced in a circle to some classic Ryukyu music.

The martial arts demonstration always gets plenty of attention.

Before the fireworks display in the evening, it started pouring down rain.

Heading back to Kin Town from Ishikawa, I saw fireworks, through a rear view window !

Tachigaa Waterfall in the Rain Ain't the Same

This visit to the waterfalls provided a good opportunity to do some GPS stuff.

The rains, we had yesterday sort of ruined things for photography.

This animation demonstrates how muddy the water can become at the base of the falls.

One way to eliminate the mud from the scene is to crop it out.

That can be done in camera with a zoom lens, as shown here.

Or, by walking closer to the subject if, you are not equipped with a zoom.

Other options, would be, to crop the dirty water out in post processing.

Or, go back to visit in September, when it's a little cooler and the water clears up !

Related Posts:

A September Scene at Tachigaa Waterfall

Travel Photo: Tachigaa Waterfall A New Angle

Tachigaa Waterfalls Revisited

Photo Essay: The Surprise at Tachigaa Waterfalls

Okinawan Folktale: Salt a Treat from the Ocean

Rainy Season

 

 

This story takes place during a period of never ending rain.

Dark skies and a continuous downpour made travel by land or, sea impossible.

The King was confined to Shuri Castle and, worried about the island's crops.

To End Depression

 

 

The king had the servants brought together to tell stories. 

He asked, if anyone might have an idea, what types of stories, could cheer him up.

One servant, suggested, talking about tasty foods, might help end the gloom and doom.

They took turns, describing the most delicious foods, they could imagine.

Some, considered rice to be the best food.

Others, preferred fish, goat or wild boar as their favorite choices.

Finally, the king asked the original servant, to describe his favorite meal.

Standing proudly before the king and all his court, he said, "Salt is the best thing in the world."

This made the king angry and, he thought the servant was poking fun at him. 

The king quickly, banished the servant to Yaeyama Island. 

Rain Ruined the Crops

 

 

 

Torrential downpours left the crops rotting away in the fields.

With nothing fresh, to flavor meals, the king complained about his tasteless dinners.

Servants dreaded bringing him meals and, hearing him grumble.

  

Mysterious Tasty Dish

 

 

One afternoon, the king tasted his soup and, smiled.  It was delicious.

He wanted to know what had been added, to make this meal so mouthwatering.

The servants told him, nothing special had been added to the meal.

The king insisted, something  different had been put in the food and wanted to know what it was.

A cook, checking the pot of fish, lifted the lid. And, something dropped into the soup.

It had come from the rafters, overhead.

When the servant looked to see what it was, he found a bag of salt, soaked from the rain. 

Sea salt was the magic ingredient, that made his food taste so good.

The king remembered the man he sent into exile for his comment about salt.

Now, he felt badly and, wished for that servant to return.

A messenger was dispatched to Yaeyama, to find the exiled man.

The servant refused to return to Shuri Castle, as the king had banished him for lifetime.

The king sent a second mission to do whatever it would take for the servant to return.

The servant agreed to return to Shuri only under a certain condition.

Three Harii (dragon boats) would have to come to get him and race home to Naha.

The king odrered the Harii boats, to be built and, they sailed to Yaeyama.

 The boats raced back to Naha, carrying the servant in the center harii.

The rainy season, stopped, as the harii and exiled servant returned to Shuri.

On the 5th day of the 5th month of the lunar calendar, each year, the Naha Harii takes place.

  

It helps, stop the rain and, the God of the Sea is thanked for the delicious ingredient; sea salt.

REFERENCE:

 Okinawan Folk Stories ISBN978-4-99009-146-0 P.119

Condensed from Salt Is the Number One Treat



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