Look at Some Characters and Faces from the Sanguacha (Images)

Centuries Old Ritual Tradition

 

The Sanguacha is an event that takes place on Henza Island in Okinawa, Japan.

Further research and translation will be needed before I have a complete story to publish.

But, I can give you a peek at some of the folks and things I met during the Sanguacha.

This brightly-colored fish appears to be the village mascot.

Much of the prayers and rituals are dedicated to the success of fisherman.

The whole entourage proceeds to a small off shore island to conduct ceremonies.

Villagers, of every age, participate.

There could be as many costumes as you would see in New Orleans Mardi Gras, for all I know.

Every major brand of camera and video recorder are there, too.

It's always a pleasure running into those who know what they are doing.

These guys cracked me up.

They knew how to stuff a bra but, forgot to shave the armpits.

To keep confusion to a minimum, I won't try to name any of these characters.

It would have been nice to get photos of everyone but, I had to move quickly.

The procession covers a lot of ground so, there's no time to waste, sitting down.

It was a really warm day.

Those people wearing rubber masks must of been awful hot.

When the crowd stopped at a tent for some opening ceremonies, I took a break.

There was a drink machine, in the shade and I bought some cold water.

While everybody in the tent was praying or, whatever they do, I was over here.

 This sweetheart invited me to sit down and cool-off.

And, we just entertained ourselves.

Everywhere you go at the Sanguacha you run into friendly people.

Sometimes, I pop-up from behind the camera and blow a kiss, to see what will happen.

Hah.  I better not let the wife see this one !

 The Henza Community Center is where everything started and ended.

There were plenty of dances and performances, that probably lasted all night long.

One of my favorite characters, is the Shishimai; that purple guy above.

The two youngsters, under that fur, had to be roasting, dancing in that contraption.

This was where I took my parting shot, for the day.

Some Photo Printing Needs to be Done

 

 

A pile of photos of these faces and characters will be made for my return trip to Henza Island.

Maybe, I should just burn them to a CD for the village office.

Out of all the faces, I took photos of, I only came home with one, signed model release.

That means, I have to track some folks down for signatures if I want to get them published.

Can you guess who, from the photos above, already signed one ?

Photo: A Simply Beautiful Woman From Henza Island Okinawa

Over a thousand photos, using three camera, were taken today.

It will probably take me a week to go through all of them.

But, this is one that just jumped-out at me so, I'll share it with everyone here.

Just because she was one of the fantastic people I met on Henza Island.

And, I think, she's simply beautiful.

Plant Photos: The Bird Nest Ferns of Okinawa, Japan

This Fern Deserves Five Photos

 

Months worth of procrastination have gone by while this fern waited for me.

I see these plants every day growing in flower pots or city gardens.

But, I wanted to put something together to show how they grow naturally.

Finally, everything came together.

The photos were all taken yesterday at the Natural Stone Garden in Motobu, Okinawa.

If you don't have a green-thumb, you should get some of these ferns.

They grow anywhere, even on rocks.

So, I walked all over the place and shot them growing out of rocks to prove it to you.

 They have these awesome-bright green leaves, year round.

Somebody, over in the UK, gave this plant high honors.

It got an Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society. Hah !

 If you are very observant, hiking through the jungle, you'll spot this plant growing in trees, too.

 Do you know any folks with bad breath ?

Well, the Wikipedia channel tells me you can use this fern to fix that.

But, they don't give the recipe.  Just tell your friends to chew the stuff and see if it works.

Thorough Research Gives Best Results

 

Don't ask how I find these things.  Maybe, I'm just lucky.

Researching this plant led me to the Natural History Museum and, I got hooked-up good.

They let me join-up and get access to all kinds of neat stuff.

Makes me feel like some kind of royalty.

Here's a link to the Bird's Nest Fern, if you want to learn more about it.

When I'm in the Natural History Museum, I wear my blue flip-flops.

Now, I'm changing back into the yellow ones to visit Dave's Garden.

He has stuff about the Asplenium nidus, too.

Travel Scene: Kouri Island Okinawa "Hangin' at the Beach"

This was the scene I spotted on Kouri Island at 4:30PM today.

Camera: Pentax KD10

Lens: Pentax 18-250 at 142mm

Exposure: f/32  1/30  ISO 100

RyukyuMike TripAdvisor Photos Selected by Property Owners

Ten Travel Photos 

 

It didn't surprise me when I got the first email from TripAdvisor, about one of my photos.

There's a good chance an owner will select your picture to represent their property.

Especially, when no one else has reviewed the place or, taken a photo of it.

 

Little Kitchen in Kin-cho

Back in August 2012, I did a review on this place and gobbled down that garlic chicken dinner.

This was the first of my photos selected by a property owner, to represent their business.

That reminds me, I haven't been there in a while.

Maybe, I'll sneak out of the office early today.

Ginoza Museum

Here's another location, that had never before been reviewed, I'll be visiting again.

It's actually a small museum but, I can't get enough of it.

Kin-cho Cantina "T"

Hardly a month goes by before I start craving one of this restaurant's beef steak dinners.

 They serve my favorite beer, Orion, too.

Blue Seal BigDip is way down in Urasoe

Ice cream is what I go there for but, Blue Seal is rated #1 of 12 restaurants in that town.

Yambaru Wildlife Center

Located up in Kunigami-son, way north of here, this place is another favorite of mine.

They don't serve any food but, are the experts on wild plants and critters.

So, the place makes my mouth water, anyway.

Kunigami-son Yonaha Dake

Why the owners of Mt. Yonaha selected this photo, beats me.

This is just a miniature landslide I walked by. 

If they want something to scare hikers away, I could submit a much larger one.

Maybe, they just want to show the terrain can get rough.

And, they want travelers to see, it isn't very flip-flop friendly.

Captain Kangaroo in Nago

These guys must really like me.  Why else would they select my photo ?

All they got from me was a 3 star rating and "... Ain't What It Used to BE."

In the review, I did mention maybe they were having a "bad chef day."

If they replaced that Tartar Sauce with some real special sauce, I'd go back and do another review.

 Delicious Club in Chatan

For this photo, I should have stretched out a tape measure, to give a sense of scale.

That is one humongous platter you are looking at.

Left side of the frame and halfway up, see that carrot ?

It is so large in diameter, it could cover my beer mug and, not fall-in !

Chef Satoshi, makes the food look, almost too pretty to eat.

But, we ate everything, anyway.

 Uminoeki Ayahashikan

Don't try to pronounce this when you are chewing something.

It is really just a road station, on a causeway leading to Henza Island in Uruma.

So, instead of calling it a road station; it's a ocean or, sea station.

Anyone driving to Okinawa's outer islands should be sure to visit this place.

Unbelievably tender steaks and pretty girls.  Who needs sightseeing ?

Yomitan's Ocean Pizza

They only way to get a picture, with no motion blur, in this place, would be after hours.

The food is fresh and delicious but, buffet-style, it goes fast.

When I've been there, in the past, I forgot all about the cameras and gobbled down the food, too.

The day I shot this photo, I remember well.

That's because, I decided to just take pictures and, not eat.

Some manager-type kept hinting at an employee, "Get that old geezer and make him pay."

Well, the gal left me alone, thank my lucky stars.

Real quick-like, I snapped a few photos and ran.  I wasn't hungry.

Next time I go back over that way I'll make up for it and pig-out.  OK ?

Plenty more of my photos and honest opinions about Okinawa's treasures may be seen on TripAdvisor.