.: Hata3's Free Note :.

Photo by myself of the plants of the southern countries.

In Tokyo, rain continues to fall from last week and temperature is low for August. Although my work began, I feel nostalgic for a holiday in Okinawa. I upload some photos of the rare plants of Okinawa today. I don't know that name and I've never seen them in Tokyo.

Today's Photos:
♥ Plants of the southern country 1
♥ Plants of the southern country 2
♥ Plants of the southern country 3

Photo by myself of a sea turtle, in Tokashiku beach of Tokashiki Island, Okinawa.

I challenged underwater photography in this trip for the first time. Because the sea was too clean, I saw the inside of the sea very well. Thus I have bought a disposable underwater camera unintentionally at the stand of the hotel. That camera was a thing such as the toy, but came out quite well.

After all we have met a wild sea turtle by a happy chance. It is said that even a local people can rarely watch a sea turtle. But we watched a sea turtle with our own eyes more than 30 minutes. That was very lucky for us. I was slightly scary first because the body of sea turtle was very big. However, sea turtle was a gentle animal, and he just ate seaweed innocently.

The photography in the water is very difficult. My body is not stable, and the fish do not stop for me. But I was extremely happy.

Today's Photos:
♥ A Sea Turtle in the sea of Tokashiki Island
♥ Kodack disposable underwater camera
♥ Underwater Photo 1
♥ Underwater Photo 2
♥ Underwater Photo 3
♥ Underwater Photo 4
♥ Underwater Photo 5

Photo by myself of Tokashiku Beach on Tokashiki Island.

On the second day of our summer trip, we went to Tokashiki Island in Kerama-shoto Islands. There is the island in the place of one hour by a ferry boat from main island of Okinawa.

Our purpose was to enjoy snorkeling in the beautiful sea called "Kerama blue". The blue sea and the sandy beach was more beautiful than I thought. I'm the type who don't believe in a guidebook. But I have been knocked down in the white sandy beach with the blue sea which shined incredibly beautifully of Tokashiku beach. I am anxious that I cannot go to the sea of Kanto anymore after I watch the so beautiful sea like Tokasiku beach.

Anyway, I want to go to this beach again sometime.

Today's Photos:
♥ Tokashiku Beach 1
♥ Tokashiku Beach 2
♥ Tokashiku Beach 3
♥ Tokashiku Beach 4

Click image for larger view.

On August 14, we boarded a ferry toward Kerama Islands. It was a very comfortable day by beautiful weather. And the sea breeze also was very comfortable to us.

Hata3 and my partner went for Okinawa trip from August 13 to 16 in latter half of our summer vacation. It was the first time for me and was the second time for my partner. But she said to me that it's been 30 years since she went to Okinawa last. We have just come back home yesterday.

We had two purposes of this Okinawa trip. The first purpose was to watch the exhibition of the teacher of our Art school days. The teacher's name is Shigeo Kategawa, is a painter who was born in Okinawa prefecture. He was famous as an avant-garde artist in Tokyo in 1950's, however, he has left major painting circles of Tokyo in 1970's. Therefore, his exhibition in this Okinawa Art Museum is an exhibition for the first time in 30 years.

The upper photograph is an entrance of the Okinawa Prefectural Museum & Art Museum in Naha city, Okinawa prefecture and a poster of the exhibition of Shigeo Kategawa.

The second purpose was to enjoy snorkeling in a beach of the Kerama-Shoto (Islands). We stayed at the hotel of Tokashiki Island for two days and enjoyed snorkeling very much. The blue sea called "Kerama Blue" was truly beautiful, and we were greatly satisfied. Besides, I have taken this trip photograph more than 1,500 pieces.

Because I don't come out of the excitement of this trip, I will write some entry for a while about Okinawa from today.

Related Links:
♥ Okinawa Prefectural Museum & Art Museum
♥ Okinawa Prefecture: Wikipedia

Photo by myself of an old man who takes a rest under the tree in the Kinuta park.

Anyone is bored by the intense heat of the day after day in Tokyo. When I went to usual Kinuta park for a walk a few days ago, one old man took a rest under the tree. He read something alone with his pet-bottle drink. I don't know why his back seemed to be lacking in the afternoon summer lights.

Photo by myself of a runner in the Kinuta park on a day of cold winter. It's a slightly old one.

The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games has started from August 8. I watched the Olympic games in TV in the first half of my summer vacation. The ways of activity of super athletes of the world are strong impressed to me and I pray for the luck of all players.

How about you?

♠ The Beijing 2008 Olympic official site

Photo by myself of the colorful flower near my house.

I don't know what is the flower's name. But the flower shined in the leaf around with a very vivid color. It seems to me that the flower looks like the small sun of the garden.

Photo by myself of a small butterfly in the Kinuta park.

A small butterfly stopped on a leaf. The butterfly seemed to take a rest calmly to me. Will the butterfly be tired under the hot weather, too?

Click image for larger view.

Photo by myself of a cast-off shell of a cicada at Kinuta park.

When I was a little child, I used to collect insects with an insect net and a cage. And then I made a specimen of insects well for my homework of the summer vacation. So, when I found this cast-off shell of a cicada at the Kinuta park, I remembered my elementary school days with fondness and I was excited a little bit.

However, I have never seen a child doing insect-collecting in Tokyo. Many of children of Tokyo might be fascinated with their computer games or might be busy going to the private cramming school. It is the slightly sad situation for children, isn't it?

Today's Photos:
♠ Cicada's shell 1
♠ Cicada's shell 2

Photo by myself of the waves of the beach of Izu Peninsula in last summer.

Many of Japanese people likes bathing in the sea. Hata3 and my partner also go for a swim in the sea at least once a year. We have not yet gone to any beaches this year. But we have a plan to go to Okinawa this week. At last a summer vacation came for us! Yoo-hoo!!

Today's Photos:
♠ Waves at the beach of Izu Peninsula 1
♠ Waves at the beach of Izu Peninsula 2

Photo by myself on the road around the south exit of the Shinjuku station.

A man was sleeping on the road. I don't know whether he is a homeless or not. He may have got drunk. In either case, it was the sad situation that was sleeping on a street under the hot weather of temperature 36 degrees. But nobody minds it.

Today's Photos:
♠ a sleeping man
♠ around the south exit of the Shinjuku Staton

Photo by myself of a sunflower in a flowerbed of the apartment block near my house.
Sunflower is a kind of flower of the summertime in Japan. When I watch the sunflower, I remember a summer vacation in the days of the child.

Speaking of the sunflower, there is a famous picture of Van Gogh. Many of all Japanese likes pictures of Van Gogh for some reason. I don't understand the reason. But I also like the picture of Gogh's sunflower.

about Van Gogh
♥ Van Gogh Museum
♥ Sompo Japan Museum of Art

Photo by myself of the Chinese tea set, a show window of a Chinese restaurant in a department store in Hutago-tamagawa town.

Although this photograph is slightly old, I like its atmosphere.

Photo by myself of the highway fence, taking around Hutago-tamagawa.

I sometimes feel the quiet rhythm from an artificial construct.
How about you?