The Dragonboat Races in Naha Okinawa, Japan is where I plan on being tomorrow.
This photo was taken back in May of 2009 under bright blue, sunny skies in the early morning light.
It looks like rain tomorrow with a slim chance the sun may peek through. I'll be there.
Since I'm guessing this will be another of my 20 hour camera days, I'm posting this Wednesday night for BUDGET TRAVELERS SANDBOX and will hook-up the correct link to LadyE's TRAVEL PHOTO THURSDAY as soon as I can, sometime tomorrow evening.
She's a Canadian who hangs out somewhere in Korea. You have to be careful around those folks, you know. I remember watching TV when I was a kid. They always get their man !
LOCAL INFO: THE NAHA DRAGONBOAT FESTIVAL
These pink flowers caught my eye while over on the island of Ie Shima.
They were growing on the tops of all these plants in neat rows covering acres and acres of land.
Researching these flowers to find the exact scientific name for you, I came to this conclusion:
WHO CARES?
There are so many different species of this plant it's best for me to just give you the family name, Nicotiana and you can get some seeds and dirt, plant your own, and when flowers start popping out all over them, name the things whatever you feel like.
If you haven't already guessed, the Nicotiana plant is TOBACCO and it doesn't just grow and get used in Okinawa, Japan. It's probably one of the most popular recreational drugs in the world.
If you don't believe me, just ask MR. WIKIPEDIA.
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It gets real busy for me around this time of year. It's Golden Week in Japan.
While I was coming home on the ferry from Ie Shima, The Mud Festival in Kin Village Okinawa took place. So, I had to dig up these photos from the last Mud Fest I attended (Dorunku Asobu).
If you like mud, it doesn't matter how old or young you are, everyone is invited.
A field is flooded with water from tankers with plenty more kept on hand to keep the red clay nice and juicy.
If tossing a ball, swimming or splashing isn't enough fun for you, you can try riding a bicylce.
Wooden planks spanning cement blocks are used to make a bicycle bridge.
Not many riders have the skills it takes to get all the way across to the other side.
Sometimes their buddies do things, like throw rubber balls, to distract them.
Once in awhile a couple of riders start at the same time to see who'll win a race.
Other kids, just get bored and work their mud-diving technique.
School is out for a whole week so, teachers join in and demonstrate their riding ability/agility. Hah!
This kid was really persistent. After a few failed attempts, I was sure he'd make it.
But, he ended up making my favorite splash of the day.
So, I left the flooded field and looked for something else to do. I found this pretty girl singing.
When I went back to have another look at the mud I spotted my Grandson (center) and tried to get away before he spotted me. I was afraid he'd ask for a ride home. I would have said, "I'm walking, let's go."
If you'd like to find a Mud Festival, just memorize these words "Dorunku Asobu" and ask around.
They don't advertise these village events in any English language media, I've ever seen.
Dorunku Asobu, sounds like "Drunk" but, that's not what it means. It means playing in the mud.
They have festival foods, live bands and plenty of other things to do at these events, including a few people who actually go there to get drunk. I just go to take photos of the kids in the mud and if I see a pretty girl, by chance, I'll shoot her, too. And, I usually hide from my Grandkids !
For more about Golden Week in Okinawa:
APOGEE PHOTO MAGAZINE
JAPAN UPDATE
This Coconut Crab (Birgus latro) was found inside Niya-thiya Cave on Ie Shima in Okinawa, Japan on April 30,2011.
When I was developing this photo and the wife saw it she wanted to know why I only took pictures and didn't bring the thing home to eat. I'm a cameraman, not a fisherman. You know what I caught.
This crab was hanging out about 12 feet (4 meters) above the floor of the cave. I'm only half that size.
Photo specs: Tripod and shutter cable with a Pentax K10D and flash f/11 1/60 ISO 100 Lens at 250mm.
That's the trouble with the youngsters these days
When I was growing up we didn't have all this world wide web Tom foolery
We got out of the house an hiked to town with our backpacks
Went to the local lidrary an lernt histry and stuff
SUNDAY'S SILLY SIGN COURTESY OF THE HISTORY REFERENCE LIBRARY ( At least, I think that's what they were trying to say! ) ON THE THE ISLAND OF IE SHIMA OKINAWA, JAPAN.
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