15 Hibiscus Photos from Ie Island in Okinawa

Fifteen Favorite Flower Pictures

 

In all fairness, I have to give Map It Okinawa Dude credit for this idea.

Going to Ie Jima to explore the island and checkout the lilies was the original plan.

The great outdoors is where we usually can be found hanging out not, in greenhouses.

These hibiscus flowers are too pretty to describe so, I'll just ramble about how we got there.

The trip to the island was a three day event.

Camping on a beach overnight and in a cave entrance the second evening, is what happened.

Like islands everywhere, the weather can get wet, at times.

So, we got plenty of experience, building campfires with rain-soaked wood.

On the last morning of the trip, the plan was to get photos of the lilies.

But we didn't think it would be a good idea to take the photos in the rain.  Duh.

One of the travel brochures had this Hibiscus Park listed in it.

A quick look around the outside grounds was enough for me. It must be off-season, I thought.

Very few flowers were blooming so, I packed away the cameras and headed back out the gate.

Back in the vehicle, I was chugging iced coffee, smoking and wondering.

"What's taking Map It so long?"

In about six hours, we had to be on the boat or, make camp another night.

Sleeping in caves on rainy nights isn't that much fun.

Why else do you think so many people started building houses ?

Twenty minutes must have gone by, when I decided, it was time to find Map It Dude.

Halfway down the park trail, I spotted him.  He was all excited, motioning me to bring the cameras.

 It got me thinking, he must have inhaled something bad at the campfire.

Who wants to walk around in the rain shooting the dozen, or so, hibiscus flowers we spotted ?

 Now, I'm saying, "Dude, we have important stuff to do.  Let's get out of here."

He started telling me, I had to see what he found in the greenhouse.

There are over 1,000 different kinds of hibiscus plants in that place !

So, if anyone goes to the Lily Festival, and it starts raining, here's what they should do.

Checkout the Hibiscus Garden

2013 Lily Festival on Ie Jima Starts Tomorrow

This Just In: A Million Lilies Blooming !

 

Three days were spent out on Ie Island in Okinawa, checking things out.

We were busy doing other things but, made sure the white lilies were in bloom.

The five photos you see here, were taken this morning.

Weather has been a bit unpredictable but, some blue skies did manage to peek through.

 Sometimes called Easter Lilies, those flowers are native to the Ryukyu Islands.

 They smell real good and will be blooming for about three more weeks.

That means anyone, from anywhere around the globe, could hop on a plane and come see them.

So, if you like nature and flowers, that's exactly what you should do.

What's everybody waiting for ?

When I'm Hungry: Where's the Beef ? Short Rant/Photo Essay

 

Hungry Cameraman Needs Red Meat

 

 

There's nothing wrong with the vegetarian crowd.  I ain't pokin' fun at you.

Fruits and vegetables are an important part of my diet.

But, I'm carnivorous, too.

After hiking a few hills in the northern part of Okinawa, it gets hungry outside.

And, my stomach starts dreaming about woofin' down a big, juicy lunch.

The best hamburger in Okinawa would be nice, is what Map It Okinawa and I were thinking.

Once, I saw a dude eat two of them in one sitting.  

Four or five times we got to the Toto La Bebe place and couldn't get in.

They must have changed their hours of operation.  What a bummer.

With juicy, red meat on our minds and stomachs growling, we headed to Nago City.

Then stopped by the Cafe Gusto.  I've had hamburgers here before.

It's a really fancy place so, I hid in the corner.

When the waitress came by I asked for a hamburger. But, they don't serve them anymore.

What you do then, if you want a decent meal is this:

Point at whatever looks good on the menu that is within your wallet's capability.

Some sort of hamburger-tasting thing was on my plate, covered with a diet sauce.

It tasted alright.  I woofed it down too fast to take a photo.

Probably, should have ordered two.  Because I left there saying...

...where's the beef ?

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 ?

Discovered Another Castle and Got a Surprise (Images)

For Now Just Call It Wee Castle

 

Today preliminary investigation was begun on this castle I found a few weeks ago.

The place has been around for centuries, I'm sure but, it's a new one, to me.

Call it Wee, Oui, or whatever you prefer.

The sign at the entrance says, ウイ グシク.

It was the wrong time of day for outdoor photography so, I'll just give you a peek.

 

From this old rickety platform you can look out to sea.  That's the East China Sea.

There will be more on this castle at a later date.

The surprise ?

You will have to examine the next two photos carefully to see what else I discovered.

Going up the hill to the castle there were lots of butterflies, mosquitoes and weeds.

Next time, I will remember the insect repellent.

See that mosquito, about an inch behind the butterfly ?

Well, the dang thing went after it.

Now, I've seen mosquitoes bite people, dogs, cows, horses and even me.

Who would have thought they bite butterflies, too ?

What I'm really hoping, is they weren't mating or, anything like that.

I didn't hang around the castle long enough to find out.

That would be an awful thing if they developed a hybrid mosquito with big butterfly wings.

It would be a lot easier to swat them when you saw them coming, though.

For now, let's just hope the little pest just bit the butterfly.

You'll sleep better !