Big Island Love

On my last morning in Hawaii, Pip, Tabs and I went looking for shells. In one tide pool we found a baby eel. It was about 6 inches long, black with white polka dots on its body--blending perfectly with the lack lava rock and white coral. Mistaya had seen a large one of these very same eels while snorkeling at another beach. It was very shy and tried to hide under rocks to avoid my prying eyes.
The flight home was tiring and I am still on Hawiian time. Hawaii is 3 hours earlier so getting up at 7am is 4am Hawaii time. Peter left early this morning to pick up Mistaya from Nelson. He is meeting Auntie T in Castlegar and driving back with our Mist.
Pip was too tired to go to preschool so I've kept her at home today. I have to take the oldest girls to piano this afternoon. Back to the grind already.
I am planning to use my knowledge from Hawaii to better my life. Little things I've learned. Such as, I need more vitamin D all winter long! I'm going to start painting for $. I love donkey balls!--had to put that one in--donkey balls are made at only one shop on the Big Island, just outside of Kona. They are giant balls of chocolate with a macadamia nut in the middle. The size, shape and texture of the chocolate balls makes them irrisistable. I am incorporating things subtly, to enrich my life. The Hawaiian culture is unique and fascinating. I loved people watching as much as whale and turtle watching.
The Okanagan has provided me with a kind introduction back into Canadian culture--the weather is beautiful, much like a Waimea morning in temperature.
* My spell checker has decided to go on the ftitz again so please be patient with any mistakes you encounter!

Big Island Boogie Boarding

Pics of the entire gang at the beach: Tabs body surfing, Theresa and Pip looking glam, Mistaya, Joop, Peter, Kyran and I at various stages of boarding. The South Pacific Ocean is asthetic in every way. It looks beautiful, feels silky and warm on the skin, sounds wonderous, smells fresh, and doesn't even taste too bad--just salty. Yet still...its power never leaves my pysche for a moment. Every moment of enjoyment coexists with a moment of great thankfulness for the great priviledge to be there, sharing the ocean with so many other wonderous creatures. As well as with a moment of alertness, always noticing any subtle change--have the waves/current changed in size? Direction? Force? Depth? Clarity? Temperature? Are  the seacreatures changing in size? Number? Speicies? Everytime I spotted a new amazing sea creature my excitement was tinged with slight fear--what if the next creature is something a little bit too big, with perhaps too many sharp teeth? It is like any sport worth persuing--always a little fear to add to the thrill of it.

Humpbacks in Love

I promised whale pictures. It took patience. I saw one splash out of the water periodically, but every time I grabbed my camera, she disappeared. Finally two decided to dance. They were totally in love as not one of them felt the need to thrust themselves out of the water completely. They were content to just be close to one another.

Another amazing day at a new beach: Hapuna. The most beautiful beach in N. America, apparently. We did some serious boogie boarding and some serious snorkeling. I LOVE boogie boarding! It is amazingly good fun. And Theresa and Joop and Kyran led Mist and I out on a very long snorkel in the ocean--in deep water--no where to rest one's weary flippers. The closest shore was shear rock, no beach. I felt triumphant that I was able to snorkel so far. T and Joop continued on even farther, into a bay. But being a relatively new snorkeler, I headed back to shore with Mist and Kyr.

Pip so wanted to boogie board--so I helped her. All was fun and games until a big wave capsized her sideways and she rolled off and under the surf. I decided perhaps she is still a little too young to boogie board. Tabs isn't that keen on snorkeling--when she actually sees fish she becomes afraid that they'll attack. However, she spent alot of time out, playing the the waves.

Theresa had our family back to Morning Fire Ranch for a most delicious Hawaiian meal. SO good: Hawaiian chicken, rice, papaya salad, green beans and oranges. Tabs got burnt yesterday despite sunscreen and I broke out in a horrible blotchy, itchy rash all over my body. I think I got too much sun--a type of allergic reaction to the intense heat. The afternoon heat is intolerable for us fair skinned orchids.

We are supposed to go to another amazing beach this morning. I am definitely sitting under the umbrella all day when I'm not snorkeling. And poor Tabs cheeks and nose are the worst--I don't even want her in the sun today. But this is Hawaii--we want to be in the ocean all day. What to do?