Stop and Think: How Many Characters Named Donald Do You Know ?

Pottery District of Naha

Down in the district know as Tsuboya I ran across this scene one day.

A Donald Duck doll was taking up space at a table, where I wanted to sit to eat.

Not many yachimun (pottery) shops serve food but, this one had a small menu.

The name of the place slips my memory at the moment. But, the curry was unforgettable.

Photo Comes in Handy Today

The little, flashy dude stands out among all the ancient-looking urns, vases and shisa.

Anachronism, might not be the best way, to describe this scene.

The clay pottery sells fairly quickly, from those little shops in Naha.

So, the stuffed character is as old or older than, those items. I'll post this blog and share it.

It will hit a wider audience over on Facebook and, I'll ask two Questions.

1. Does anyone know the name of this pottery shop ?

2. How many people, do you know named, Donald ?

A Day in Naha with Shisa and the Sweetest Gal in the City

There Was Some Racket Down the Street

 

The weather didn't look too promising today.

We packed up our cameras and headed for the big city.  That's normal for foul weather days.

No sooner than the car was parked, we heard the sound of Eisa drums.

Sonovagun, if today wasn't Shisa Day.

We just missed this huge statue being uncovered and all the excitement that went along with it.

But, got there in time to shoot some photos of Miss FamilyMart, I guess.

And, this dude wearing a suit, with some pottery on his head.

 

They were real nice people.  Even took the time to pose and growl for me.

To be honest, I had no idea it was Shisa Day.  Doc informed me.

So, I said, "Good.  Let's go shoot some Shisa."

The Tsuboya Disrtict of Naha, Okinawa has tons of them.

We went there for awhile and took lots of photos but, I wanted to do something else.

Uehara-san is the sweetest gal in the whole city and I can't go there without visiting her.

She is one incredible woman.  She breaks out in smiles every time we meet. 

Years ago, the first time we met, she told me to sit down on a concrete stool, in the shade.

In the local dialect, I said, "I can't, my ass hurts from hemmorhoids."

And, she laughed hers-off !

We have been good friends, ever since.

Her photo is in an article I did for Matador Network Jul 15, 2009.

The Traveler's Guide to Okinawan Dialect

They don't Make People Like This Anymore

It's been months since Doc and I have seen Uehara-san.

The last time I was with her, I bought her some green tea.  She didn't forget.

Today, she dug through her purse and pulled out a thousand yen note, to buy me coffee.

Trying to be polite, I showed her a handful of change and told her I was good to go.

She has a hard time standing-up, without walking to the coffee machine.

She wouldn't let me refuse her gift.  She insisted.

Doc, told me,  "You have to let her buy you the drink.  She won't take no for an answer."

The damn stubbornest woman I ever met, walked painfully over to the machine.

All I could do, was hold her arm and escort her both ways to get the coffee.

Men, shouldn't have tear ducts.  That's what I say.

Once Uehara-san was back in her seat at the shop we all did a "Kampai."

We chatted for awhile.  When it started to rain we excused ourselves.

We explained, we had a long drive ahead of us and had better get going.

We left the sweetest gal in Naha at her store.  And she sat there smiling.

Men really shouldn't have tear ducts.