Valugan Beach Intruders 1

June 27, 2010

Batanes, Philippines

Our group woke up very early.
We then sped to Valugan Beach (without breakfast!) in the hopes of catching the sun rise.











Of course, when you are in a big group, you cluster or disperse to the "best spots" ....but...you really have to strive to get a shot without any person in your viewfinder...









in fact, some "old-timers" who were there before us grumbled a bit saying we would be spoiling the scene.



I don't mind if people crowd way up front of me...I will just take them as part of the scenery and the experience.




I enjoyed just watching the sun slowly rise and turn the skies pink then a light gold...



Scattered around here are some pictures of our group members using their equipment to shoot the sunrise or the beach.

Below is a picture I grabbed from another group member to show how at one point some of us were positioned.

Salvaro and scrambled eggs...ah well..there's always a first time for everything...for dinner pa gyod...

Feudal Lord's Procession (Hakone, Japan)

Start:	Nov 3, '10
Location:	Yumoto Hot Spring Town City:Hakone-machi, Ashigara-Shimo-gun, Kanagawa, Japan

Daimyo Gyoretsu

The old Tokaido Highway that used to link Tokyo and Kyoto comes alive again with a faithful reproduction of the olden days' feudal lord's procession.

Picture from the net:


"The Daimyo Gyoretsu (feudal lord’s procession) brings to life the experience of traveling the Tokaido road with a total of 170 people dressed up as samurai warriors and princesses. The suite of retainers, each assigned with his role, and armed with spear, bow and arrow, or gun, march on as they carry their lord in the palanquin. The festival is made all the more merry by the performances of the marching bands at the front and at the very end of the daimyo procession, and the dance performances of the Geigi (women who entertain guests at sake parties with song and dance). Once the festival is over enjoy a relaxing bathing session at an onsen hot spring."

*thinks of only the onsen, never mind the Daimyo ..hehehe*

I'm beginning to detest the number 10.25 followed by the percentage sign. Whoever thought of loans with high interest rates should be beheaded....quartered, hanged, tarred and feathered, buried under a pile of old bones or something..

Rake Fair (Japan)

Start:	Nov 7, '10
End:	Nov 19, '10
Location:	Otori-jinja Shrine and other shrines City: 3-18-7, Senzoku, Taito-ku, Tokyo, Japan

Tori-no-Ichi

This fair in Asakusa features stalls selling lavishly-decorated RAKES (yes, rakes!).

The "kumade" rakes are thought to bring good luck and fortune. The good-luck rake is made of bamboo and is festooned and decorated with masks and koban (old gold coins), paper etc.

This famous annual event is held on the day of the Tori (Rooster) in Chinese calendar. Days of the rooster occur every 12 days in November, which means that the month of November has at least 2 or even 3 days of the rooster, depending on the year. The date changes every year as it is based on the lunar calendar.

This year, the day of the rooster seems to fall on 7th and 19th.

From the internet:

Btw, this is a woodblock print by Koizumi Kishio featuring the Asakusa Tori-no-Ichi Festival, September 1940.


Here's a link explaining about the fair's origins etc.
http://www.torinoichi.jp/english/index.htm

EID’L FITR (FEAST OF RAMADHAN)

Start:

Sep 10, '10

As September 10, 2010 as a regular holiday in the Philippines in observance of EID’L FITR (FEAST OF RAMADHAN).

Warm greetings to our Muslim brethren.

Seven-Five-Three Festival (Japan)

Start:	Nov 15, '10
Location:	Japan

Shichi-Go-San

This celebrates children of these ages (who were once thought of be in danger of imminent misfortune). Parents dress their children aged 3 or 7 (for girls) and boys aged 5 in miniature versions of kimonos, haoris and hakamas and go to the Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples. Because the date is not a national holiday, most families pay their Shichi-go-san respects on the weekend just prior to or after November 15.

A good photo opportunity!

Photo below from wikipedia: