These Photos Got Me Itchin' to Go Back Inside Shuri Castle

UNESCO Shuri Castle Is the Most Popular Attraction in Okinawa

 

 

Something possessed me today, to look at some old photos, I shot back in 2008.

There was a folder from October with undeveloped RAW files so, I processed them.

Just looking at all the bright colors and that shiny gold got me thinking.

The last time, I went inside this room, was almost, six years ago.

It's not like I haven't been to Shuri Castle lately.

If somebody, was keeping score, I've probably been there more than a hundred times.

One year, I even bought a Shuri Castle Park Passport.

That was probably, the smartest thing, I ever did in that town.

It costs 800 Yen admission fee, to visit the castle one time.

If you buy a Passport, for 1600 Yen, you can visit as many times as you want, for a whole year.

They even allow people to go in there, wearing flip-flops.

Well, I think it's high time, I got back down there and, buy me a new passport.

Then, I'll make sure, I follow all the rules and, shoot some more of that gold.

Once upon a time, we got in a bind for not-following-the-rules.

That was the day, I took these pictures. And, I haven't been back in there, since.

Well I'm older and a little bit wiser, nowadays.

If that security guard hasn't already retired maybe, he won't recognize me, anymore.

A few more grey hairs and a bit longer beard, may fool him.

It would probably be a good idea to wear blue, instead of yellow flip-flops, too.

That does it. I'm going back inside Shuri Castle.  Sounds like a plan.

More About UNESCO World Heritage Shuri Castle

 

 

Photo and Travel Tips

Shuri Castle Day and Night at the Moon Viewing Festival

UNESCO Shuri Castle at Night

The Sacred Water of the New Year

The Critters of UNESCO World Heritage Shuri Castle Pond

Shuri Castle Pond Again and Again

Shureimon Then and Now

Five UNESCO Castles on One Small Island: Okinawa, Japan

Looks Like Okinawa May Have Muscovy Ducks (Photos)

They Aren't Communists Though

 

 

There's still some confusion about these birds.



How they got a Russian name, beats me.  Their Latin nomenclature would be Cairina moschata.


In Japan they are called Nobariken (ノバリケン).

This pair of ducks was found at a dam in Yomitan.

The one with the bright colors would be the male.

They are wild birds.  We couldn't get anywhere near them.

Muscovites don't quack, like other ducks and, they're supposed to be good eating, too.

If what I read about them is true, they have claws on the end of those webbed feet.

That's so they can fly up into trees and hangout.



That got me thinking.  Maybe, I should hide in a tree and have someone chase them to me.



The only way we can be sure these are Muscovy Ducks is inspect their feet.



Well, I got looking around and know where I can grab one, now.



They look just like the ducks I spotted at Shuri Castle Pond.



Have you ever seen a duck with claws on the end of his paws ?


Don't worry.  I won't kill the bird. I just want a picture of its feet !

Travel Photo of the Week: New Year Ritual in Okinawa

Okinawan Priestesses Known as Noro

 

This photo was taken December 30, 2012 at Takushi in Okinawa, Japan.

The Noro, are the women in white robes, making offerings.

After they pray, water is drawn from Hiijaa, a well to their right.

The water is then taken to UNESCO Shuri Castle.

In a ritual which dates back to the days when Okinawa was the Ryukyu Kingdom,

water from this site, is mixed with water drawn from a well in Hedo, northern Okinawa.

The blessed mixture of water is presented to the royalty of the castle.

It signifies a desire for peace, prosperity and health within the kingdom.

The ceremony is timed to take place around the beginning of  the New Year.

Today's Feature Photo

In the Spotlight: Two Wakamizu Beauties

Meet Shingaki Sanae and Teruya Mami.

They were part of the Okinawan ritual known as Wakamizu.

Plenty of other beautiful ladies in kimonos were at Shuri Castle for the event.

But, these two were the only ones I had time to get model releases from.

Hundreds of photos taken over the past two weekends are waiting development.

And, there is lots of research to be done on this cultural event.

It happens only once a year in Okinawa, Japan.

The story will have to wait.  Wet cameras an old whiskers need to be dried.

Then, I have to email these beauties their photos.

UNESCO World Heritage Castle Gate at Night (Photo)

守礼門

This photo of Shureimon was taken at 9:51PM on Nov 3, 2012.

The gate, also known as a torii, is at the main entrance to UNESCO Shuri Castle,

the most popular World Heritage Site in Okinawa, Japan.

Related Posts:

Then and Now Photos: Shureimon

UNESCO Shuri Castle at Night 

Shuri Castle Day and Night

Photo: Editor's Pick for the Month of May 2012

Shuri Castle Gate

The hunt for tunnels has been put on hold temporarily but, I'll keep you posted.

Meanwhile, I have to chase down these two girls who modeled for the above photo.

Whenever someone poses for a picture and it becomes an Editor's Pick they get a print from me.

Instead of traveling up north to Motobu, I have business to do down in Naha.

Okinawa's Never Ending Festival Season (Photos)

                IT'S A RYUKYU ISLAND THING

September 25, 2011 SHISHIMAI FESTIVAL

UNDOKAI OR SPORTS DAY: ANYTIME SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER

GUINNESS WORLD RECORD NAHA TUG-O-WAR  OCTOBER 8-10, 2011

A HATAGASHIRA (Pole Dancing) FESTIVAL  OCTOBER 15-16, 2011

THE 5TH WORLDWIDE UCHINANCHU FESTIVAL OCTOBER 12-16, 2011

SHURI-JO CASTLE FESTIVAL OCTOBER 28-30, 2011

There is no way I could possibly list them all on this blog because Okinawa, Japan has a NEVER ENDING FESTIVAL SEASON.  Check the links for dates and times and double check before packing up to attend any of these events because the weather may throw some changes into the plans.

                          IT'S A RYUKYU ISLAND THING AND I LOVE IT !

IF YOU ENJOY FESTIVAL PHOTOGRAPHY VISIT FESTIVALS OF OKINAWA

Shuri Castle Day and Night at the Moon Viewing Festival

It was a busy day and night for me at Shuri Castle in Naha Okinawa, Japan today.  I got there early because I knew the place would get crowded and I wanted to make sure I could find a parking space.

Other people, like these tourists got there early so they could pose and jump in front of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, I guess.

When too many visitors started getting into the courtyard, I just started aiming my camera higher.

As the sun began setting, clouds rolled in.  That's not a good sign when you're having a full moon party.

The lighting crew did a fine job of illuminating the castle.  This was the first time I've ever been to Shuri Castle at night and got a chance to take photos out from under the blazing, hot sun.

The dragons on the roof look great lit up with spotlights while a dark sky serves as a background.

They had some sort of competition to select a King and Queen. All five of the girls were pretty.

The guys, ahem, ahum, I had to save my batteries and SD cards in case the moon came out.

You probably should ask a girl if she took any pictures of the guys. I had more important stuff to do.

Walking around to some of the other castle gates, I kept hoping the moon would peek through the clouds.

It showed up a few times but, it wasn't going to give me one of those see-the-craters type of shots.

This was one of my favorite photos of the night and shortly after I took this shot I decided to leave.

It's a good thing they lighted up the trail for me because it was a long walk back to where I parked.

Hah !  Right now it is 1:15 Monday morning.  My batteries are charged and I'm all set for tomorrow's Full Moon Festival.  I enjoyed Shuri Castle's Moon Viewing and got some photos of the place looking like I've never seen it before but, I'm beat. It was a two hour drive each way to Naha.

Tomorrow's Full Moon Festival is within walking distance of my home.  And I know they'll have beer !

Sunday Photo: Okinawan Dance with Pretty Girls and Some Ugly Ones, too.

It started off being a real bad day today. I was heading to Shuri Castle for the second time in a week. Supposedly, I was going to take some shots of a friend's mother playing a Japanese harp.
It rained all day. The event took place on a porch of the castle. The people playing their instruments were tucked away in a dark corner of the stage. The spectators were seated in a tent in the rain! I wasn't exactly what you'd call Wu Hu Hu happy about the situation. Not until.....

                                    THE PRETTY OKINAWAN DANCERS SHOWED UP !!!

They were mostly beautiful women. There were a few ugly ones, too. I'm not joking or trying to be mean. Some of them are supposed to be ugly and they played their parts well. So, I took photos of the pretty ones and the ugly ones, mostly the pretty ones, though. There are really no ugly women here so, in order to make themselves ugly, pretty ones had to wear masks. It was a classical dance called Shundo which tells the story of how pretty, but cold-hearted women and not so pretty, but warm-hearted women influenced the culture of Okinawa. I just developed the pretty Okinawan dancers today, I'll get around to showing the ugly ones later.....