Pampas Grass in Motion (GIF) from Kin Dam

Uncooperative Birds Inspired

Weather Guru's were wrong, again today so, off to the dam, I went with a camera.

Let's backup, a minute so, you can see how this adventure got started.

In the dimly lit sleeping quarters, I occupy, the clock said, "6" so, I got up.

Sleep still in my eyes, I stumbled to the kitchen and, let the dog out, along the way.

Normal routine, drink iced coffee and smoke a few cigarettes, check the weather report.

During the second cup of coffee, I focused on the clock, in a room with lights on.

Eyes wide open, I made a discovery. It was three o'clock in the morning. Grr...

Little Things Shouldn't Let You Down

By 8 O'clock, I decided the weatherman was wrong.  It was windy but, a nice sunny day.

So, I packed some lunch, grabbed a tripod and camera and, walked to the Kin Dam.

The Big Sigma, with a converter attached, gave me 700MM of lens.

A couple of bird shots were taken but, none worth saving, in my opinion.

Hiking halfway around the dam, it started getting hungry out there. So, I ate.

Ospreys flew around a few times but, never in the right light.

It's best, to shoot birds, when the sun turns their eyes golden. Didn't happen.

On the return trip, I planned to exit the dam from up, above the Kin Bridge.

Late afternoon, that's a good spot, to catch ospreys flying, sometimes.

The wind was picking up and, my stomach started telling me, I was wasting my time.

To entertain myself, while waiting for birds, to not show-up, I composed this scene.

THere's no sense, walking to the damn dam and, coming home empty handed.

More About Pampas Grass in Okinawa

Okinawan Folktale: Pampas Grass and the San

Fisherman Makes a Large Haul

 

 

On an island to the north of Okinawa a fisherman danced with joy.

He had made an unusually large catch and decided to celebrate into the evening.

After the sun went down, he built a fire and cooked a huge pile of shells and fish.

Ghosts Arrived for Dinner

 

 

Several of them, showed up and began eating the fisherman's dinner.

Frightened, he kept his distance and watched them eat.

   

No matter how much they consumed, the pile of food remained the same size.

The fisherman, would approach the meal, only after the spirits were gone.

The routine continued for several days and nights.

Great amounts of fish were caught every day and, every night, after dark, ghosts came.

Pampas Grass

 

 

 

One day, before sundown and cooking the meal, the fisherman cut some pampas grass.

After the meal was prepared, he placed a san on the plate of food.

The san, is made by tying pampas grass in a loop.

Then, he invited the ghosts, to come and try some of this special meal.

They showed up promptly after dark and gathered around, looking at the feast.

The san, frightened them and, they all flew away.

Since then, an Okinawan serving a meal after dark, will place a san on the dinner.

And, a san is placed at the corners of property, to ward off evil spirits.

From an article on the flowers of Hanafuda, concerning pampas grass:

"In Okinawa, the leaves are knotted as talismans against evil."

REFERENCES:

Okinawan Folk Stories ISBN978-4-99009-146-0 P.46

Condensed from: The Story of the San

Okinawan-English Workbook ISBN 978-0-8248-3102-8

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