Flower: Lipstick Plant -- Facts and Photos

Aeschnanthus Radicans

 

 

Don't try pronouncing the Latin name, just call it a Lipstick Vine. OK ?

This is another flower, nobody in the Kin Library or flower shop could identify.

Thankfully, a Facebook friend, named it for me within five minutes.

If that guy ever visits Okinawa, I promised to buy him lots of beers.

The plant was spotted, blooming just a few minutes walk from my office.

So, I took a few props along, to use as background material for my photos.

Once, I got a botanical name, off I went, to gather these nifty facts.

Number One:  The plant originated in Malaysia.

Number Two:  It's an evergreen that resembles lipstick coming out of a tube.

Number Three:  The fruits and plants are not for human or animal consumption.

Number Four:  The plants grow naturally up where branches meet trees.

Number Five:  They are members of the African Violet family, called Gesneriaceae.

 REFERENCES:

Backyard Gardener

Botanic Plants Japan

Costa Farms

Missouri Botanical Gardens

Plant of the Week

Tropicals

University of Illinois

Then and Now (Photos) A Narrow Passage

Ginama Northern Okinawa

 

Meandering through the hills, killing time, this historical sign was discovered.

They should make meandering a religion.  Us meanderers wouldn't ask you for any money.

When, it came time, to get to heaven, we'd be the last ones through the door.

That was a short sermon.

Ginama is a small community, situated between the shore and mountains.

There isn't much arable land for farming, at lower elevations, along this coastal area.

To reach any land worth tilling, people had to do some climbing uphill.

The trail, leading up to farmlands was very narrow. It wasn't wide enough for two persons.

To pass someone along the trail, somebody would have to backtrack, to a wider spot.

It became known as the "Backtracking Path" or, Modoru Michi.

Over 100 years ago the principal of Hedo Primary School decided to fix the trail.

He got a bunch of volunteers, to widen it and, make it safer for passage.

They did such a good job, horses and oxcarts, had room to pass each other.

Fortunately, someone from Keystone Studio, took this photo in 1960.

More than likely, it was done by Blackie the Photographer; I'll ask his son.

Notice, the road is unpaved and people smiled.

Smart phones and selfie sticks, weren't even invented, yet.  They had genuine smiles !

Typhoons, landslides and erosion may have caused some re-routing of the passage.

Here is what the scene looks like today.

Travel uphill, past the stone formation in the left side of the previous photo and, look back.

It gives a sense of appreciation for the widening of this trail.

If, you happen to be driving and, someone in a vehicle, comes your way, guess what ?

One or, the other will still, have to do some backtracking ! 





More: Then and Now Photos

There Was a Big Dead Snake in the Middle of the Road

Habu Snakes Are Active Again

 

The Okinawan Habu, comes out of hibernation this time of year and, I'm happy. 

These critters are venomous so, I'm glad the first one, I met this year, was dead !

It was way after, leaving the scene, some investigating took place. 

 

Everybody, wants to kill the habu snakes because they are poisonous.

There must be something, we can do to make use of the rascals, after they're gone.

Tan Their Hides and Make Belts

That foot-long flip-flop should give you an idea of the length this snake reaches.

If, it wasn't so badly damaged, it could have made a nice belt for my bluejeans.

The next time, one of these big snakes comes along, I'll be ready for it.

Just, whack the head off of the varmint  and, I'll make me a brand new belt.

The little investigation, I did gave all sorts of advice and instructions.

Get a sharp knife, some tanning materials and, somebody with a sewing machine.

Maybe, I'll find a snake, long enough, to make sandal straps, too.

References:

All About Habu Snakes and Warning

Skinning and stretching

Tan a Snakeskin

How to Make a Snakeskin Belt

Sashiba (サシバ) Grey-faced Buzzard Eagle - A Mirgatory Visitor

These Birds Leave Our Island Soon

 

 

Normally, our feathered friends visit from November through March.

Then, they head back up to northern climates in China, Japan and Russia.

Luckily, we spotted this guy perched in a tree, while it was raining.

The farthest, I could reach, with the lens being used, was 250MM.

The bird probably, didn't feel like flying and, getting its wings all wet.

So, I snapped a few good shots before he got riled and flew away.

Any bird that eats mice, snakes and rats, as well as bugs, has to be a favorite of mine.

It's too bad, they migrate away from here during the warmer months. 

Another thing, I hear these birds eat, is frogs and, that upsets some folks.

Well, people eat frogs, too.  Don't they ?  They shouldn't complain about birds, doing it then.

Try this sometime, when you go to a French restaurant.

Ask the waiter if, he has frog legs.  Then if, he says,  "Yes, of course," have some fun with him.

Say something like, "Great.  Hop in to the kitchen and get me a plate of French Fries."

More About the Grey-faced Buzzard Eagle (Butastur indicus) in previous posts.

Cheap Eats: The Japanese Bento Box Lunch

All That for Under Five Bucks

 

 

The platter of food above could be breakfast, lunch and supper for some folks.

And, I got to do the DIY (Do It Yourself) thing at a place, just visited today.

It was my brunch and supper, I guess you could say because, it's not all eaten, yet.

A Light Bulb Made Me Do It

 

After a few months of the wife complaining about a light that kept flickering, I took action.

The thing got unplugged and stuffed in a plastic bag, for me to carry to the light bulb store.

The girl, who waited on me convinced me to buy two of the things and, save a lot of money.

One florescent light was about 10 bucks but, you could get two of them for 15.  Imagine that.

 I bought them and, walked, looking for a place to spend some of the money, I just saved.

That's when I remembered, someone had told me about Ofukuro Bento shop.

 They hand you a tray with some rice on it and, you get to fill it up anyway, you want.

This was my first stop, checking out the meats, waiting to be devoured.

   Health fanatics might go for the Yaki Soba but, I'm not one of them.

So, I sampled some of the pork, potatoes and carrots.

 It's been awhile since, I had green beans and, there they were.

The owner, of the place, let me take photos, when I asked his permission.

Using a Smart Phone, I got the job done.  Big cameras, stayed at the office.

Someday, I'll go back and, shoot the place up, the right way, with the big guns.

 There's what I wound up, carrying back to my office, all wrapped in a plastic bag.

No way could, I eat all that food for one meal so, some would get nuked, later in the day.

It came to a grand total of, somewhere between 3 and 4 dollars at today's Yen rate.  Hah !

Now, I'm wondering if, I should grab a few brewskies with the rest of the money I saved.

Or, go home and listen, to the wife complain about, the light that ain't blinking, no more ?

Do you want to learn more about Japan's Bento lunches ?