Animation from Hippie (ヒーピィービーチ) Beach

This GIF was created May 5 2017 using the iPhone 7 Plus camera.

Every year, during Golden Week, we have our family beach party at this location.

Knowing, thunderstorms were in the forecast, I didn't bring any fancy cameras.

Most of my equipment is water resistant. So, rain really wouldn't have been a problem.

The alcoholic beverages, I knew I'd be consuming, would be cause for ditching cameras.

Thunder was crackling, in the skies, around early in the day but, only a few raindrops fell.

Grandkids, enjoyed beach activities and played in the sand, until sunset.

Behind me, charcoal fires were being tended to by, the younger generation and friends.

Sons, daughters and in-laws, took care of all the cooking and, treated me like a king.

It seemed like, every time I stood up, they thought it meant, I was out of beer.

More than a few pounds of steaks, chicken and grilled vegetables were consumed by me.

And, I believe, I put a good sized dent in a case of beer.

When the sun went down, out came the fireworks and the beach smelled like gunpowder.

Shortly after the smoke drifted away, I thanked everyone for the grand time.

And did the Grandpa thing.  Sneaked a ride back to town and, went to bed.

NOTE:  Google Translate calls ヒーピィービーチ, Heepy Beach.

But, I like the sound of Hippie better so, that's what I call it.

Here's How to Find It

Tobacco Aficionados Check It Out

Visit Okinawa to Get These Smokes

It began when I walked out of a bar to buy a few packs of cigarettes.

At the local grocery store, I ran into an old friend, who was hanging out, watching TV.

We drink beers together sometimes and, I had noticed him with Uruma cigarettes.

He had bummed one of my Mild Sevens, before I spotted his red pack of smokes.

It seems, he's trying to quit. The Urumas are helping him.

They are so strong he says, "After smoking one, you don't feel like having another for 3 hours."

Products Sold Only on Okinawa Islands

Way back in the late 1800's the government of Japan took over the tobacco industry.

It became a monopoly for the purpose of  taxing people so, the country could get rich.

Many years later, they figured out, private industries could make them, even richer.

The monopoly, got done away with but, the government still gets to hold one third of the stock.

When Okinawa, reverted back to Japanese control in 1972 the farmers weren't happy.

They had been raising their own tobacco and making these cigarettes, for Okinawa.

So, the big boys, up north, decided to give the tobacco farmers a break.

Before investing a total of  ¥ 630 or, about six bucks on those smokes, I did some research.

That's how I learned, these are brands exclusive of Okinawa, Japan.

Taxes drift upwards sometimes but, not as high as they would on any other Japanese smokes.

The way to get some of these gems, is to come to the islands. You can't buy them online.

Just for fun, I read some reviews of Uruma cigarettes on a Japan website.

A customer said, "They are a little bit pungent and sweet."  He recommends them for women.

When he, opened a pack, it smelled like some fancy liquor.

Another dude (in Osaka) met an Okinawan girl, who was smoking Uruma cigarettes.

He was a non-smoker but said, everyone around him was sucking smokes.

So, he decided to start sucking them, too. And, he liked to sweetness.

He's looking forward to, having that girl, smuggle him some from Okinawa on her next visit !

Some Do's and Dont's

Do: Plan on me getting rid of these smokes tonight. I ain't smoking them.

Don't: Send any correspondence, asking me to get some for you, back in the USA.

Reason: Once, in the custody of Uruma police, I promised, to be law abiding forevermore.

 More Information

Each cigarette, of both brands above contains:

Nicotine: 1.2 milligrams

Tar: 17 milligrams

Source: Learn Okinawa A-Z

Chasing the May 2017 Full Moon Over Kin Town

Limited Visibility

Here's one of the reasons, I plan on shooting the moon, three nights a month.

The weather and cloud conditions can be tricky and sometimes, make it impossible.

Yesterday, I was awake before sunup and had an extremely busy day.

In the evening, I downloaded the camera and began processing a few hundred photos.

As the sun went down, I checked the skies, every few minutes. Things didn't look good.

Heavy black clouds, kept drifting across the sky. I figured, the moon would never appear.

Having taken photos of the near-full-moon on the previous two nights, I was alright.

The seventeen hour day began wearing me out. I was beat and, ready to call it quits.

Too tired, to put the camera away, I left it on a tripod and, placed the lens cap on my desk.

That would remind me, to charge the battery and, lock the camera up in it's storage container.

Around 10 PM the Moon Began Showing

Heavy clouds were blowing and portions of the moon, peeked through them.

If that moon showed up and I, didn't catch it, things would be mighty miserable around here.

A quick U-turn back to the office. Grab the camera and tripod and get back to work.

Twenty minutes to half an hour, might get the job done. The moon's gonna show !

Some Sample Shots in a Slideshow

Normally, I would use the camera timer, to get the sharpest images.

But, those clouds were moving way too fast, for such a luxury.  And, it was windy.

The best thing to do, was use continuous firing mode and, take 3 rapid shots at a time.

Once, I was satisfied, two or three sharp images were captured, I went back inside the office.

The camera battery was removed for recharging and, I locked it up.

A little trick: Store the camera upside down, until morning. Lens cap, on my desk.

That would remind me to download the images and replace the battery.

Close to 100 photos were on the SD card and, 60 of them were deleted.

The photo at the top of this page, was one of three, I really liked.


Camera:  Pentax K1

Lens: Pentax 300, 1.4 converter - Focal Length 420MM

Exposure:  f/16   1/100   ISO 100

Location:  Kin Town, Okinawa, Japan

Date and Time:  May 10 2017  10:01 PM



See my Photography Tips for Shoot the Moon

Photo of the Day: Seaside Rituals

Camera: Pentax K1

Lens: Pentax 15-30 at 28MM

Exposure:  f/3.5   1/4000   ISO 400

Location:  Yaka Beach, Kin Town, Okinawa, Japan

Date and Time:  May 10 2017  9:58AM


Here's more of what took place at Yaka, Kin Town today:







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Flower Photos and Facts: Peace Lily

First Some Nomenclature

Common Name: Spath or Peace Lily

Botanical or Scientific Name: Spathiphyllum

Japanese:  スパティフィラム属

Native of Tropical Americas and Southeast Asia

It is not a member of the lily (Liliaceae) family.

The leaves and flower are mildly toxic. Don't eat them.

The plants are grown for landscaping and make good houseplants, as well.

Recognized for it's ability, to purify air, it's good to grow them indoors.

The plants, remove toxins from rooms and, produce oxygen.



Those practicing Feng Shui, claim these plants work wonders.