Social Distancing: Don't Stand So Close To Me

Keep Your Distance

Before 8 this morning this photo was taken and it would be a good two hours before I got home.

Along the way, I had lots of time to think of a title but, it wasn't easy.

With that Coronavirus thing going around, everybody seems to be in a panic.

So, I got the idea, to look on YouTube and see if I could find a tune for this image.

How's this sound?

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.

A Sunny Day with White Clouds Blowin' By

Rooftop Scene

Walking to the office this morning, I stopped to buy some coffee at mom and pop store.

They were watching TV and got all excited about something.

Looking up, I saw what it was; Tropical Cyclone #18 might be coming to Okinawa.

The skies were beautiful today so, I climbed up on the roof to get some sunshine.

Things could get pretty dismal around here next week; lots of rain and no sun, for me.

After about two hours of soaking-up vitamin D, I had 180 photos to download.

The animated GIF doesn't have any music, to go along with it but, I like it best.

Some cool tunes were located, to spruce up the YouTube video.

Maybe, I'll go back and see if, I can make a better video, while it rains next week.

Wordless Wednesday MAY 25 2016

Related post: May 2016 Full Moon

Down the Red Hallway

A New My Place Opened in Town

 

 

They had a grand opening, I missed out on last weekend and, I felt sort of bad.

So, when I heard they were open last night, I had to check it out.

It's probably been over fifteen years since the last time I've entered this building.

It's been remodeled and, is a bit smaller than, I remember it being back in the old days.

A cooperative staff, customers and, an assistant cameraman, helped make this video.

How many people remember the original My Place ?

After a Hard Day at Work It's Time for Some Peace

It Should Be Quiet Tonight Too

 

 

A new smartphone and some other gadgetry has been keeping me occupied, lately.

Just when, you think you've mastered the stuff, all hell breaks loose.

Today, I walked around snapping pictures with the android, instead of a real camera.

Then, got the bright idea to upload a little movie, it made for me via YouTube.

The thing is still  being repaired by the fixer-uppers, as I type this blog.

Whoa.  Here it comes !

Now, it plays a little fast and, doesn't give you much time to read the text.

All I can tell you if, you want to read the words, is stop the damn thing and, read.

Or, you could just listen to the music I swiped and, forget about the reading part.

Now, you know, why I need to get some peace and quiet !

Testing the Pentax K1 Full Frame on a Bug in Flight

Dragonfly Landing

 

 

Camera: Pentax K1

Lens: Pentax 300MM F4

Exposure:  f/11   1/6400   ISO 12800

Location:  Kin Town, Okinawa, Japan

Date and Time:  MAY 4 2016  11:26AM

Moving a Little Slow Today

 

 As much as I need to learn all the functions of this new camera, I took yesterday off.

It's Golden Week and, some time had to be spent with the family.

Another high-tech gadget, I've been learning to use, came along to the beach with me.

Unbeknownst to me, the thing makes movies, whenever it feels like.

Totally unedited, here's a minute movie, showing some of yesterdays events:

 

Incredible Blue Skies Over Okinawa Island

Image Was Slightly Tweaked

 

 

That's what photographers have to do, before posting on the internet. Sorry.

This afternoon, after a night of heavy lifting, I woke up, showered and walked to work.

 There wasn't a cloud to be seen, up there in the sky. I kept checking.

In fact, I bumped into three telephone poles, not watching where I was going.

And, I don't even own one of those Smartphones, yet.

Just walking around, like some redneck, visiting that big New York City.

Damn, my head hurts !

Just for the Heck of It A Photo of the Sky

 

At the office, I removed the camera batteries from chargers and, was itching to shoot.

So, I stumbled out the door and, took one shot of the sky.

There probably, won't be any more photography for today. The itching stopped, already.

Damn, my head still hurts !

Researching Blue Skies

 

There's a whole bunch of Willie Nelson songs on YouTube. 

People who don't like Willie Nelson probably, wouldn't be too fond of me, either.

The way that guy sings through his nostrils, is just classic.

And, he strums, his beat up old guitar, all kinds of whacky/out of tune, like a professional.

So, I went through several versions of his song, "Blue Skies" to get the best one.

Damn, my head hurts. But, I came up with a dandy, for y'all.

Before Kenny Rogers Got His Face Tweaked

Some guy, named Larry, got an award for Outstanding Sound Mixing, on this video.

So, it isn't just some run of the mill, crappy YouTube edition. You don't have to thank me.

Listen to them play and sing the tune.

 

Then, tell me, you don't feel like, walking around with your face pointed towards the sky.

Just, be careful and, don't try it on no city sidewalks. OK ?

Damn, my head still hurts !

Wildlife Image: Giant African Land Snail

Dangerous Critters

 

 

This gastropod is another example of humans messing with nature.

It's a poisonous critter, some dingbat, brought to Okinawa, to be used as a source of food.

If you see some little footballs, crawling around in the garden it could be one of these.

It' a good idea to wear gloves when handling them if, you don't want to catch meningitis.

For example, should you decide, to toss the little footballs over your neighbor's fence. 

A Few Facts

 

 

Scientists, would call them Achatina fulica. The Wall Street Journal says they're aliens. 

They can chew their way through a stucco wall and, eat over 500 types of plants.

Each snail has both male and female thingies, for reproduction.

It's pretty disgusting reading, how they do it so, I won't write about it.

Instead, I'll let this naturalist, Mark Brazil tell you:

"In this case the romantic gastropods may spend hours in courtship, first tentatively touching tentacles and sensing, then engaging more (how shall I put this?) — moistly. At this stage of their relationship they flow onto and around each other, writhing in slow motion in pursuit of a common goal — as I recently observed in Brazil between two of the largest snails I have ever encountered.

As part of the mating process, excited snails vie to fire love darts into each other, akin to being stabbed at close range with an arrow. These darts carry hormones that are involved in the reproductive process, and their firing is a precursor to copulation and sperm exchange."

The snails are in the top 100 of invasive alien species, according to Encyclopedia of Life. 

The Florida Department of Agriculture wants your help, eliminating the creatures.

Kin Town Geese on YouTube with GPS Information

Go on Your Own Wild Goose Chase

 

 

Or, you can just sit at home and watch the video Map It Okinawa created.

With the tricky February weather, we've been having, the video may come in handy.

For those ambitious bird people who want to visit, GPS coordinates are given in the video.

 

This clip is entertaining to watch and, I enjoy the background music.

Where these geese are located, isn't very flip-flop friendly.

So, I think, I'll just hang around the office and watch the geese where it's dry and warm ! 




You May Also Like: Mysterious Goose Situation in Kin Town

Remember That Song -- Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On ?

Well I Went and Googled It for You

 

 

It's always nice to have a tune to go along with a picture.

And, nobody does it better than this guy.

The other day, this flock of Cattle Egrets came by.

They aren't all that entertaining to watch but, one stood out in the crowd.

So, I nabbed it on the camera for you and, sent the photos in.

The Google+ Auto Awesome Dude, put them all together.

Then, I went and found this Jerry Lee Lewis tune for your listening pleasure.

 

Turn the music up REAL LOUD

All you gotta do is, stand in one spot and shake like that red-headed bird.

Tell me, if that don't make your day !

Tomorrow: The First Ever World Wildlife Day

Somebody Should Have Thought of This Years Ago

 

 

This guy, speaks much more eloquently than I so, I got you this video to watch.

 He doesn't  cuss and, you can switch YouTube to the language of your choice.

If I get lucky, maybe, one of my Japanese friends could do me a favor.

Let the mayor of Tomigusuku know about this world wildlife thingy.

And, he might do something about those ducks, stuck in the muck !

You never know.

Travelers and tourists might start showing up and boost Okinawa's travel and tourism industry.

That would be alright, I guess.



Related Post: Who Fouled Up Tomigusuku Wetlands ?

Travel Photo: The Striker for a Buddhist Bell

Close-up View of the Business End

 

 

This should you give an idea of what is used to ring the bell at shrines over the New Year.

Doing some research on the temples and shrines, proved interesting.

A survey done by the government of Japan discovered this in 2002:

Total persons, registered as Shinto followers at shrines: 106 million

Total persons, registered as followers at Buddhist temples:  95 million

The total population of Japan at the time:  120 million

When you add 106 to 95, it comes out to something like 201 million. Right ?

The explanation for this discrepancy, may be found in Japanese Buddhism Today.

Or, you can take my word for it. Some people practice both religions.

Another little goodie, I found for you is this video.

Some people get classes on how to ring the bell loudly !

Ten Photos of the 2013 Itoman Mayor's Cup Sabani Race + Video



It all starts with the wave of the red flag.

There is also a lot of noise made by a gong and a conch shell.

Pretty much immune to noise (hearing impaired) I ignore all the sounds and just shoot.

The goal, for me, is to get good photos, of as many sabani boats as I can.

As a cameraman, covering an event, you have to be impartial.

Shoot all the boats, coming and going.

It doesn't matter if there's a favorite boat on the water.

At an event like the Mayor's Cup, getting photos of every boat is what counts.

Why do I make sure I get a photo of every boat ?

Well, just think about it for a minute.

Remember your high school yearbook.  Look at it if you can still find it.

How would you feel if everybody else was in there and, they just left you out ?

Video from Okinawa, Japan: Itoman Mayor's Cup by Hiroyuki Nakagawasai

 

Why You Should Let Someone Else Do the Fishing

This is a photo I shot at a local fish market.

Some people just aren't the best at catching fish and, I'm one of them.

So, I have to count on real fisherman to get the job done and pay their prices.

Watch this video.  I bet he learns to fish better or, starts paying, like I do.



Okinawa Travel Photo Plus a Travelers Tip and a Tune

This photo was taken at Hedo Misaki in northern Okinawa, Japan.

  

The mission, I was on, to capture a beautiful sunrise, didn't happen.  Grrrr.

  

The sun was coming up, over the horizon, covered with dark clouds.

Anywhere, in the world you go, sunrises and sunsets can be disappointing, at times.

Here's the tip:  Don't let that get you down.  Look the other way.

Find a scene with some colors and contrast and, shoot that.

  

Just in case it starts raining or, something like that, I found a tune you can listen to.

It doesn't have anything to do with cameras or, sunrise but, I bet you'll enjoy it.

.



Wildlife Photo: Black-tailed Gull Visiting Okinawa Japan

This bird is a youngster seen at Red Beach Okinawa, Japan.

The Black-tailed Gull is not a resident of these islands so, I'm guessing it's just a visitor.

More than likely, it followed a ship from somewhere up north.

This seagull's scientific name is Larus crassirostris.

We don't get many seagulls around here.

They may pass through these parts but, can't survive for long.

Something in the corals of this island kills them, I've been told.

So, this gull better find another ship to follow and go to a safer environment.

There's a place in Aomori Prefecture he'd probably like.

At Hachinohe City in mainland Japan, they built a Shinto Shrine for these birds.

And, some brave gal named Rie Hara was dodging bird poop to make this video for you !

What a gal.  Huh ?

March 4th is Sanshin Day in Okinawa Japan

One of the Best Days of the Year

 

It almost slipped my mind but, when I turned on the radio, I knew, immediately.

Today is Sanshin No Hi and I'll be listening to the music until well after dark. 

Here's a photo of a sanshin it a dimly-lit bar.

It was taken one night when I was dimly-lit and decided to use the camera flash.

But, it shows you the three strings and snakeskin of an Okinawan sanshin or, samisen.

Thanks to a guy from Australia, Wolfsleepwalker, I have this treat for you.

Playing the song Sanshin no Hana (三線の花) is Eisho Higa, along with the band Begin.

There isn't a better video of anything on YouTube, if you ask me.

So, before I practiced stealing screenshots of this, I asked for permission.

And I got a reply.

"Hi Mike,  Take as many as you want.  
My best regards,
Wolf."





Now, my plan is to take the rest of the day off so I can enjoy Sanshin no Hi.

All you have to do to celebrate Sanshin Day, wherever you are, is go listen to this band.

If you're anything like me, you can't resist giving them a Thumbs-Up.  Enjoy !


Follow Begin on Facebook




Related Posts:

Today is Sanshin Day in Okinawa and the Islands are Rocking !

Okinawa Sanshin Day: A Photo Essay

A Buddhist Church That Tickled My Fancy

That You Tube is the best thing that came along since they invented canned beer.

Just a few minutes ago, I found this Buddhist Church video.

It made me run and grab a six-pack of beer out of the refrigerator.

A popular song in Okinawa, Japan is Ojii Jimanno Orion Beer.

They were singing the song, on stage, at the Gardena Buddhist Church.

Shucks.  I've drunk enough (lots) of that stuff in my lifetime.

I may have been declared a saint, three or four times over, already!

 Where the heck is Gardena, anyway?

Nakabaru Vestige Photo: An Early Okinawan Dwelling

This photo was taken on Ikei Island Okinawa, Japan April 10, 2012.

It shows what some of the earliest Okinawan dwellings looked like a few thousand years ago.

There isn't much to be found researching these structures online.

Not in English, anyway.

But, I did find a video posted on YouTube.

Check it out, if you'd like to see the inside one of these homes. 

Meanwhile, I'll keep digging until I get the whole story for you.