Malificent & Orko

Malificent & Orko

Image by greyloch
Belle dressed up in her very sexy Malificent outfit ... and Taliesin as Orko. I've been experimenting with using different angles on my photos - sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't - this one worked!!

My best guess is that Orko will be the ritual sacrifice? *laughs*

Tech stuff: background was blurred via Gaussian blur in PS and "smooth & flatten" filter in Topaz; then used Topaz Adjust's "Crisp" filter on Belle & Orko. I also did some splotch fixes on Belle's costume and make-up - primarily where the body make-up wore off of her skin and on to her costume.

(1) LOOKING FROM THE DOWNSTREAM POOL TO THE ENTRANCE OF ROCKY GORGE -- THE DEEP AND NARROW APPROACH TO THE LOWER FALLS, AND THE AS-YET-UNSEEN UPPER FALLS AND EMERALD POOL BEYOND

Image by Okinawa Soba
WELCOME TO A LITTLE KNOWN SPOT IN THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTHERN OKINAWA -- WHERE A COUPLE OF NICE LITTLE FALLS THAT ARE LACKING IN HEIGHT MAKE UP FOR IT BY TOSSING IN A DEEP ROCKY GORGE, AND AN BEAUTIFUL EMERALD POOL.

♥ In 2008, this river and the falls were used as one of the Filming Locations for the full length, live action motion picture GE-GE-GE KITARO --- based on the long-running cartoon series beloved in Japan !

You can read on BELOW, or see the full set of pics at a glance right HERE :

www.flickr.com/photos/24443965@N08/sets/72157629653609042...

IE FALLS

This is the first photograph in a series of 18 numbered images that will take you on an up-stream trek to one of the most interesting waterfall groups on the main island of Okinawa.

After making a search, and finding no English language Blogs dedicated to these falls, I am intentionally uploading a large batch of pics that show the "order of attack" for my fellow waterfall and river-walk lovers on Okinawa.

The photos are all free to re-blog under Flickr's community guidelines.

Due to the shapes of the rocks combined with some camera angles, some of the photos might appear crooked. However, they are all straight and on the level.

The borders were added to give the series a "snapshot" look. You may remove them if you want to.

THE APPROACH

You make the relatively easy 350-yard river-walk from Highway 70 in less than 10 minutes, at which point you will come to the beginning of yet another un-mapped bit of beautiful nature, that, for lack of an "official name", I'll call "IE FALLS" (IE is pronounced ee - eh), after the IE RIVER that appears on Japanese maps as 伊江川 (IE-GAWA).

While calling this section of the river IE FALLS seems to imply a singular or isolated cascade, with the usual pool at the base, the story here is far different than at any other Falls you will encounter on Okinawa.

"IE FALLS" actually consists of the following, in ascending as you move up the river :

(Photo #1) A wide and deep swimming pool of fresh, clean, and clear mountain water, followed by...

♥ (Photos #2-4) a long, deep, and narrow gorge that can be safely jumped into from the rocky outcroppings on either side. This "Rocky Gorge" is in the same class as some of the popular river gorges in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

♥ (Photos #5-6) An unusual "Hin-Pun" Rock that contains the BUBBLE BATH basin at the foot of the first falls, while actually hiding the base of the fall from those looking upstream from below. Technically, you and a couple of friends could sit there in the natural JACUZZI BUBBLE TUB, and while chatting away, be hidden from view by the rest of your party who has come to look for you !

♥ (Photo #7) The short but effective LOWER FALLS that is the "aerator" and "bubble generator" for the basin at its base....from when you may easily rock climb the falls to come face to face with the....

♥ (Photos #7-8) SAND DIKE, WATER MORAINE, or NATURAL DAM --- whatever you want to call it. From below, this odd-looking pile of sand, rocks, and other detritus looks very out of place, and gives the impression that some farmers are trying to bulldoze a river-crossing into place above the falls. HOWEVER, you discover instead that nature has made something unusual....

♥ (Photos #9-14) The EMERALD POOL, a pristine basin like no other on Okinawa. Though lacking the presence of a high cascade as a backdrop (such as the pool at the foot of TAA FALLS down in Ogimi Township), this spot makes up for it in a picturesque way, giving your camera a lot more sky and jungle greenery than can be captured in some of the "darker" fall environs found elsewhere.

♥ (Photos #9-14) THE UPPER FALLS. As seen in the photographs, the upper falls comes in at an angle, leaving its "bridal veil" of foam trailing off to the left. At times of heavy flow (such as rainy season, and especially during Typhoons) the counter-clockwise motion of the waters in the pool, combined with the force of the deluge, pushes up the natural dike to the left, leaving the right side low enough for the water to break through and form a channel to the lip of the lower falls.

♥ (No Photos) ABOVE THE UPPER FALLS, the river continues its placid, picturesque way up into the mountains, with natural pools of varying depths along the way.

♥ (Visible in all Photos) The low height of both upper and lower falls make them easily climbable for an adventuresome, stage-by-stage ascent of these various geological wonderments.

♥ (Photos #15-17) And before you start back, you can stand on the SAND DIKE and look back down through it all to the river shallows that brought you up from the road.

Having such a succession of POOLS, DEEP WATER GORGE, BUBBLE BASIN, SAND DIKE, SWIRLING EMERALD POOL, and TWO, FUN-TO-CLIMB FALLS --- each with it's own look and personality --- as well as the geologically odd HIN-PUN (Hiding Gate or Hiding Wall) ROCK in midstream below the lower falls, are an unusual "Package Deal" that will be hard to beat.

♥ (Photo #18) When your little adventure is over, your CAR (and perhaps a beach party under the bridge?) is waiting for you just around the bend on the last easy leg of the river

THE FINE PRINT

Any drawbacks to this adventure ? YES !

It's one of the farthest river falls and river walks from Central Okinawa you can get. Prepare in advance, and leave early. The falls and river are six kilometers south of OKU VILLAGE (where Highway 58 in the north becomes Route 70 headed south. It's a long haul no matter which road you take --- either east coast or west coast.

IE and IE RIVER are found on most maps and atlases. Locate it on the map before you leave. Park in the Parking lot at IE BRIDGE, cross the road, head down the river path, and you are on your way.

DON'T FORGET TO GET SOME SHOTS OF THE SHORELINE AND THE RIVER AT THE START OF YOUR ADVENTURE.

In less than 10 minutes of walking through the river, you will be at the first deep pool, and will be facing the GORGE. From there, safety is paramount.

DEPENDING ON THE SEASON, WATER
TEMPERATURE CAN BE NICE, OR NOT NICE. "NOT NICE" MEANS COLD !

If it's too cold, don't force it. In any case, any Okinawa river adventure is always best in the Summer, or after several days of warm weather.

FINALLY, it is the opinion of this author that is it SAFER to see all of what IE FALLS has to offer by SWIMMING THROUGH THE GORGE, AND CLIMBING THE RIVER-BED DIRECTLY TO THE UPPER POOL AND FALLS.

WHY ?

Attempting to stay dry will force you to climb the rocks and find or make a trail high above the water in rough jungle that has not been cleared.

There is an old trail that follows the river on the left side (facing the gorge from below), which must be reached by climbing the first rock face. This trail is very old, seldom used, over-grown, filled with spiders, and in some places only six inches wide where it is cut into the cliff face. Further, due to an old washout, you are forced to stop above the emerald pool, and must either slide down the washout, or find a place to cling to rocks and tree-roots in your attempt to reach the EMERALD POOL.

To remain dry while attempting to get above the upper falls is even more difficult.

That's why I recommend SWIMMING YOUR WAY UP AND BACK, while keeping your camera, snacks, drinks, and other valuables in a waterproof enclosure until need them.

WARNING : As with all falls and river walks on Okinawa, the rocks and boulders can be very slippery. Wear appropriate foot gear, be sure of your footing before shifting your weight onto any rock you are not familiar with, and respect the potential dangers of ANY new place you are exploring.

That's it !

Enjoy the pics !

And, if you ever get up that way, may you be blessed with good weather, and enjoy your time along the IE RIVER --- From the Mountains, all the way to the Sea !

[ KEY WORDS : 滝 瀑布 落水 Okinawa Waterfall Waterfalls ]

♥ THIS SPECIAL "CELEBRATION SET" POSTED ON MAY, 10th 2012 (Japan Time) --- Today, this photostream received its 16 MILLIONTH HIT on the pics, sets, and collections. Thanks to all of you who have taken a peek at these photos during the past 4 years. ♥


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For those tired of water and waterfalls :

RANDOM SOBA : www.flickriver.com/photos/24443965@N08/random/

365 Days - March 2009

Image by Kaptain Kobold
1. 01/03/2009 (Day 3.60) - Sometimes I Kill Myself ..., 2. 02/03/2009 (Day 3.61) - Men Have Called Me Mad; But The Question Is Not Yet Settled, 3. 03/03/2009 (Day 3.62) - Rug, 4. 04/03/2009 (Day 3.63) - He Looks Cute Now, But People Forget How Big They Can Actually Grow, 5. 05/03/2009 (Day 3.64) - Suit You Sir!, 6. 06/03/2009 (Day 3.65) - Stripes, 7. 07/03/2009 (Day 3.66) - WPM, 8. 08/03/2009 (Day 3.67) - Shadowmancer, 9. 09/03/2009 (Day 3.68) - Another Monday, 10. 10/03/2009 (Day 3.69) - Iceman, 11. 11/03/2009 (Day 3.70) - Illusion, 12. 12/03/2009 (Day 3.71) - Leo's, 13. 13/03/2009 (Day 3.72) - The New Adventures Of Kaptain Kobold (Part 7), 14. 14/03/2009 (Day 3.73) - Calculating Pie, 15. 15/03/2009 (Day 3.74) - Do Not Adjust You Set, 16. 16/03/2009 (Day 3.75) - Head In the Oven, 17. 17/03/2009 (Day 3.76) - Things Behind The Sun, 18. 18/03/2009 (Day 3.77) - Where Are All The Bird Bones?, 19. 19/03/2009 (Day 3.78) - IT Training, From The Ground Up, 20. 20/03/2009 (Day 3.79) - Window To The Soul, 21. 21/03/2009 (Day 3.80) - There Has Never Been A Day When I Have Not Been Proud Of You, I Said To My Son, Though Some Days I'm Louder About Other Stuff So It's Easy To Miss That., 22. 22/03/2009 (Day 3.81) - Perfect Sunday Morning, 23. 23/03/2009 (Day 3.82) - Wot? No Marmite?, 24. 24/03/2009 (Day 3.83) - I Am Uninspired, 25. 25/03/2009 (Day 3.84) - This Is A Box Filled With All The Time In The World And Most People Are Amazed It Fits In Such A Small Space, 26. 26/03/2009 (Day 3.85) - This Is Filled With Bits Of Stuff He Learned In Science Class, 27. 27/03/2009 (Day 3.86) - That Was The Day The Ancient Songs Of Blood And War Spilled From A Hole In The Sky ..., 28. 28/03/2009 (Day 3.87) - KK, 29. 29/03/2009 (Day 3.88) - Walking To The End Of The World, 30. 30/03/2009 (Day 3.89) - When The Easter Bunny Goes Bad, Eating Too Much Chocolate Is The Least Of Your Worries, 31. 31/03/2009 (Day 3.90) - She Says I Make Her Laugh32. Not available33. Not available34. Not available35. Not available36. Not available

Created with fd's Flickr Toys.