Banana Spider Captures Cicada: Animation

Death to the Noisy Al Qaeda Bug

Early this morning (about 5 AM) I headed out with the camera. It would rain later today.

The plan was, to walk the dog, shoot some bird photos, and get home before 9 AM.

It's unbelievably hot these days, in Okinawa; like August arrived early.

A couple of bird photos were captured but, these bug images turned out to be my favorite.

These bugs, I like to call Al Qaeda, start screaming as the weather gets hot and muggy.

Some folks like the critters, I suppose. I wish spiders would eat them all.

If you like, learn more about these Cicada at Japan Today.

Joro Spider (Nephila clavata) or Banana Spiders may be seen throughout Asia.

LOL, today I learned they call this a Whore Spider in Japanese mythology!

Check out my source: Spider Identifications

Summer 2018 - Final Full Moon

This Hot Summer Will End Soon

All my furry friends should stop complaining about the hottest summer on record.

Next month, it could get even warmer for all we know.

For sure, about the third week, it won't be summer anymore.

In the wee hours of the morning, I went out to check on the moon.

Surprisingly no rain came pouring down so, I decided to attempt moonset photography.

Here's what I saw at 4:46 AM.

As long as the weather kept cooperating I would keep walking and shooting.

The plan was to get closer to the ocean for moonset and catch the light over water.

It's 5:01 AM and the ocean isn't visible yet. I walk slowly in the dark.

At 5:20 AM  the sea is visible below me but, I wait for the moon to get lower.

The first three images were taken at a focal length of 700 MM.

Get Ready Furry Ones

We're standing on level ground, several meters above sea level, using a tripod.

Below lies Red Beach Pier with Ishikawa (Uruma) in the background.

Here's my final full moon photo for the summer of 2018.

It's 5:36 n the morning and I've been awake for 3 hours. Go home and get breakfast.

My furry friends should quit complaining or, do like I did once. Shave!

An Ocean Breeze and Some Shade Is All You Need

When Okinawa Gets Too Hot

Temperatures and humidity have been going off the charts recently on this island.

An early riser, I'm usually up and about before the sun rises.

It's cool enough outside, to take the dog for a walk, while buying my morning iced coffee.

Once the sun rises above the surrounding buildings, it gets too hot for outdoor activity.

So, I've been hanging around at home, enjoying the air-conditioning and, going to work late.

Late afternoons, some buildings provide shade, along one side of the street.

Even when there's no wind blowing, shadows provide some relief from the blazing hot sun.

On the hottest, most humid day, a tree, shade and an ocean breeze, are gifts from heaven.

This photo reminded me of one of those days, I was thanking the heavens for shade.

Camera: Pentax K1

Lens: Pentax 15-30 at 23MM

Exposure: f/11   1/1250   ISO 400

Location: Horizon Curry Works, Chatan, Okinawa

Date and Time: JUN 28 2017  12:44 PM

Cloud Therapy on a Hot Day in Kin Town

Summer's Here

Rainy season has officially ended in Okinawa, Japan and it's sweltering hot.

Trying to be thrifty, I'm holding-off, turning the air-conditioners on to keep cool.

Just a few fans in the office and at home have kept things comfortably cool.

Last night, I went out to see how the AC was working in a few bars.

It's much nicer, when someone else is footing the electric bill.

Along came some (what you might call) explosive people and, I enjoyed their company.

We had so much fun and, drank so much beer, I sort of floated home.

The result , was something like, I didn't go to work until around noon today.

A project I'm working on, kept me tied up at the office all day.

Every time, I stepped out the door for nicotine replacement purposes, I looked at the sky.

It would be criminal of me, not to capture some photos of today's skies.

So, between 4 and 5PM, I got up on the roof with a camera and tripod.

About 48 of the photos, taken today were made into this slideshow.

The processing of images for the task, I was supposed to be doing, can wait for another day.

It's time for me, to go check out the bars again and, make sure nobody's exploding.

Travel Photo and Thoughts -- Where'd Summer Go ?

Time to Get the Santa Suit Ready

 

 

It seems like just a few weeks ago, people were cussing the heat around here.

Now, I'm wearing a jacket and have socks on with my flip-flops.

This photo was taken during an annual Harii or, Dragon Boat Race in the summer.

 I remember, it being a long hot day, in the sun and, I miss those days.

Camera: Pentax K5

Lens: Sigma 10-20mm at a focal length of 10mm 

Exposure: f/11   1/320   ISO 100

Location: Itoman Port, Okinawa, Japan

Date and Time:  JUN 19  2015  10:10AM 

6 Pages on the Calendar Later

 

An invitation to represent Santa at a school, that's never been graced by my presence cams in.

They want to know if, I need a Santa Claus uniform for the appearance. 

Digging through the closet, I found my boots and glasses and, will dust them off.

All year long, I've been working on the tummy so, I won't need to use a pillow.

It's been twenty years that, I've been doing the Santasan thing, now.

So, I guess you could say, I'm a seasoned Santa Claus but, I still miss summertime.


Related Posts:

How I Became Santa Forever 

A Dozen Brightly Colored GIF Animations from Itoman City

10 Photos of Activities in Okinawa Way After Sunset

Great Ways to Beat the Summer Heat

 

 

Some people go to the beach when the thermometer rises.

Others, just find an air-conditioned place to hangout or, go shopping in a mall.

  

What we do in our daily travels, is look for indicators like these paper lanterns.

Festivals, in many small villages, aren't listed in local travel guides.

If you spot paper lanterns in daylight, something will be happening after dark.

And, many times, they string them up, days before the event will take place.

The car, comes to a screeching halt when we find these things in daylight.

And, go poking around, asking the locals, what's going on and, when.

 That's how to find unadvertised things, like this Okinawan Sumo Wrestling.

It took place, after a tug-o-war, held in the evening.

 

Gals, in summer kimonos, danced around a fire on a summer night.

Talking to folks in the village office, way in advance, got us an invite to this event.

 It was the Shinugu Matsuri in a village called, Ada.

An event, called a Shinigu, in Gushiken, Motobu, took place during daylight.

 But, the gals, insisted on having me stick around for the party afterwards.

Right after taking the above photo, I locked-up the cameras. So, no photos after that.

We filled a couple of taxi cabs and, went to some cool bars.

Yellow flip-flops. What a buncha gals.

Driving the lesser known roads, above Nago City, we saw the Orion Beer lanterns.

It was during daylight hours and the event took place the next night.

If we hadn't asked at a little mom and pop store, we would have missed this one. 

 The performers, you see here, danced after a tug-o-war on Hamahiga island.

That's another festivity we wouldn't have known about.

Visiting the village offices really pays dividends.

This event takes place, again, next weekend.

  Okinawa's Obon, happens next month.

But, if you listen carefully, the drums are beating, at practice, all around the islands.

Live Houses are always air-conditioned.

Just when you think Monday night is a good time to rest up, along comes Ridea.

She's coming back from a tour in Tokyo and, I have to see her.

This coming Monday night.

Once things get caught up around here, I have to get a driver.

Down in Okinawa City, there are lots of cool places to hangout at night.

And, the mineo (traditional Okinawan) music, this guy plays, is even cooler.

Why Don't Travel Agents Advertise these Places ?

 

 

Maybe, there is a good reason to, not promote the lesser known events.

If all the tourists, started showing up, it would get too crowded.

And, people in the travel and tourism business, wouldn't have a place to chill !

Catching Up on Okinawa's Seemingly Endless Summer

This Isn't a Complaint

 

 

 

 

It's as if there are only two seasons on this island.

Hot.   And, Not.

It's  November.  So, that's how I got dressed this morning. 

Long trousers, t-shirt with sleeves and, I hand carried a jacket; November stuff.

Now, I'm at the office, thinking about turning the air conditioner on.

It's nice enough, outside, to take a swim at the beach.

But, all the running around with cameras has got me way behind on the website stuff.

Forcing myself to get caught up, turned out to be a good idea.

 

 

That's How These Editor's Picks Were Discovered

 

 

 

Hanabi in Okinawa

Taken: JUL 27, 2013

Dragonfly:  Okinawa Cho-tombo

Taken: AUG 28, 2013

Into the East China Sea

Taken: SEP 4, 2013

Where the Sun Don't Shine

Taken: SEP 11, 2013

Split Decisions

Taken: SEP 14, 2013





Dam Duck

Taken: SEP 18, 2013

Harvest Moon

Taken: SEP 19, 2013

Ayakaji at Ou-jima

Taken: SEP 22, 2013

All the Activities on Okinawa Make You Lose Sense of Time

 

Somebody should remind us when summer is over.

Chasing wildlife, festivals, belly dancers, bugs, ballet and bar-hopping gets a guy confused.

It's looking like we're getting caught up on all the administrative details.

But, I'd better double check everything, tomorrow.

Before you know it, the not so hot season will be here.

And, Santa Claus, is supposed to come to town !



Related Post:  How I Became Santa Forever



Friday Travel Photo: A Never Ending Summer

 

Just catching up on processing photos from August, I decided to share this one.

It was taken on August 11, 2012 at Igei Beach  Okinawa, Japan.

Shucks.

Only five more days of photos from that month to develop and I can start on September's.

The Dragonboat Race got me thinking.

This weekend's schedule has me going to some boat races, again.

It seems like a never ending summer around here, to me.

And, I love it !

Whacky Ritual (Photo) Okinawa's Shinugu Matsuri (Festival)

 

This photo was taken in the Village of Ada Okinawa, Japan August 22, 2009 during the festival known as Shinugu.  Pictured here are the males of the village.  They are at about the halfway point coming back down from a mountain where this ritual takes place, once every two years. Women are forbidden from attending the ceremonies on the mountains.

What's whacky about this festival ?

Nothing, really.  It's a tradition that has been carried on for hundreds of years.

The women are waiting in the village for the men with their jungle trimmings and carrying tree branches to descend the mountain.  They use the branches to swat and shoo away evil spirits.

When the guys get back to town, they form a circle around all the women and use the branches to whack the evil spirits out of them, too !

It's all ceremonial, of course, so nobody gets whacked really hard, as far as I can tell.

Read more about the Shinugu Matsuri in OKINAWA HERE

Are there any Whacky Rituals or Festivals held during the summer months where you live ?

Laptop Cooling Tower: The Redneck Version (Photo)

Spring has sprung and the flowers are blooming all over the island of Okinawa.  That means, anyday now, it will get so hot my flip flops will start sticking to the blacktopped roads.  It'll be just like Summer ! 

I love hot weather but, those poor laptops of mine don't.  They started meltdown today.  Not one to present a problem without a solution here's my version of the redneck cooling tower.

Mind you, this is just a prototype the Ryukyu Mike Research and Development Staff is working on but, so far it's an all-systems-go.  If your better half is as fussy as mine about housekeeping you might want to consider spray paint, or something, for the blocks before placing them on the kitchen table.

What prompted this ingenious set-up?  Well, I remember one day last summer, I had a skimpy little cooling tower.  It consisted of a pair of real fancy, custom made flip flops a gal gave me for my birthday.  They were too nice to wear so, I used them to prop up the back end of my laptop.  That gave it about half an inch of air circulation and I put this humongous floor fan right next to the kitchen table.  It worked alright for awhile.  But when it got really hot in the summer my keyboard started sagging in the middle.  I suspect it wasn't getting enough cooling air.

Do you know, if the supposed genious laptop builders had any brains they would make the things with built-in fold down legs.  Then people like me wouldn't have to run around the neighborhood looking for nice clean cement blocks to borrow.  But, it could be they want our laptops to melt so we have to buy new ones every few years.  Not me, Buddy.  I ain't that stupid.

Just in case any of those wise guys try to steal my Redneck Laptop Cooling Tower idea get this:

I AM THINKING OF GETTING SOME OF THOSE PATENT PENDING STICKERS FOR MY CEMENT BLOCKS. 

I BETTER NOT CATCH ANYBODY SNOOPIN AROUND MY INVENTIONS.

GET YOUR HANDS HIGH IN THE AIR WHERE I CAN SEE THEM, TURN AROUND AND WALK AWAY SLOWLY !

If you are one of my friends who isn't a millionaire and it gets hot in the summertime, in your neck of the woods, you have my permission to experiment with this invention.  Friends are good people.

Just  be careful not to drop any of the parts on your toes during assembly. OK ?

What's An Eisa Dance?

Living in Okinawa for over half my life I sometimes forget that things I may see everyday and take for granted would be news to folks back on the other side of the world.   Eisa Dancing?

It's something that has its roots in Buddhist Culture and has to do with Ancestor Worship, old time religious ceremonies, stuff Priests and Priestesses would do at funerals.

There ain't no sense in me trying to explain all the morbid details here when you can Google or Wiki-whatever and see what the experts have to say.

This time of year I get real busy running all over the island trying to keep up with all the Festivals going on and catch as many photos as I can to share with the world. There aren't enough hours in the day for me to keep shooting, developing and posting new material, daily on my blog and website so, I get caught recycling not-so-new material, every now and then.

Well, this picture and the one on my Homepage are brand-spanking new, shot last night, just down the street from where I live.

In fact, I have to chase these gals down and get them to sign Model Releases. I don't throw anybody's photos out for public viewing without their consent, usually.

These gals are no problem. They want their photos on my website. They know, once they sign my Release Forms, they'll get a High-Gloss Print for free and maybe even a framed picture of them will adorn the walls of my bar.

There will be a crowd of anywhere from 30-50 of these characters filling-up my little karaoke bar , singing and drinking 'til the wee hours, every weekend from now until the end of Summer.

See, they're regular customers of mine and if I get any complaints about the photography it'll be from the ones who didn't get their picture taken, not those who did get captured on digital film.

During Obon, the season where all this dancing and drum-beating originated, they even bring the whole gang of twenty-some year olds inside my bar and perform, making a racket that'll split the ceiling plaster.

If you want to know more about Eisa Dancing and see a variety of photos, some that may surprise you, have a peek at Matador Network. I've got to charge my batteries, clean some lenses and get back out on the road before Summer ends.