The story for May

One sunny August Saturday in 2012, I brought some of my best blue-green seaglass and some seashells to a nearby beach for a photo shot. I had this picture in my mind of a cupped hand with seaglass and seashells in it, the golden beach and turquoise sea in the background.

I held the camera in my left hand, and tried to shoot my gracefully cupped right hand with the seaglass and seashells in it. I twisted and turned my arm around, my back and neck craned to extreme angles, while sweating profusely in the sun. However hard I tried, I just couldn't get it right. My hand looked cramped and unnatural, the sea looked more turbid than turquoise, and garbage on the shore looked more conspicuous than ever.  I realized it's an impossible feat unless I have a tripod for my camera, or a model to pose for me.

Then my stomach rumbled and my thirst has become unbearable. It's time for home, or at least, a lunch break.

So I headed back, and on my way, passed a rocky part of that beach.  There was a small stretch of sand surrounded by large rocks. I thought, no harm trying again, this time, without my hand? I placed my best gems on the sand, and lying flat in front of it, assumed the 'crab's eye perspective'. The picture turned out so nice that it became the cover photo for the calendar!

 

Okinawa

Okinawa is one of the loveliest places I've every visited! Being the southern-most island, it is the only place in Japan with near tropical weather. Coral covered seabed and beach-lined coast promise great snorkeling and all sorts of beach related activities. There is no high rise, busy traffic or crowds. What impressed me most is the people - gentle, curteous and very, very helpful! They won't hesitate to go the extra mile, helping a foreigner find her way around.

As souvenirs, I've brought back starry sand grains from their famous Kaiji beach; 'sand of love' or 'lucky sand' as they called it. I've kept these in miniature bottles with colored sand. I've brought back lots and lots of photos and happy memories. I've also brought back a few extra pounds from the good food and rest, LOL! All I'm giving back is goodwill and well-wishing to everyone in Okinawa! I miss you all!