Friday, February 13th, 2015
Grandparents went on a day long car trip which meant Lori and I were left with the most melodramatic one and a half year old ever.
It wasn't too bad really. We went to the beach and saw the underwater metal detective. After seeing him twice I can't not talk about him. This guy not only believes he will find someones missing treasure that he will claim as his own, but he's willing to look underwater for it. Looking for sunken treasure.
How much did this equipment cost? It was big and bulky and it looked like he could use it to catch ghosts (like the ghostbusters). He had snorkel gear on as well. Likely the most impressive thing was the waterproof headphones. Definitely committed to his craft. The amount of money invested leads me to believe this is a worthwhile endeavour although I'd be surprised if he drove to the beach in a car as opposed to public transit.
I'll post pictures soon...
- mp
DJOTD -
Monday, February 16, 2015
Watching whales
Thursday, February 12th, 2015
As I've mentioned, there are some pretty good whale watching from the deck of our rental house. Every morning we can see them spouting and the occasional tale flap. I didn't really see a need to go on a boat to see the whales, but thats what we did today.
For two and half hours we were on the boat, floating around looking for whales. We had another radio voice guy but this time he was the captain, I think. He told us all about the humpback whale, how much they weigh, how far they travel, how much they eat, what the proper whale watching protocol is... pretty much everything you'd want to know. I don't have the best sea legs in the world and Lucas didn't have the best patience in the world. The combination made for not such a fun time. We did get to see the whales up close and you really got a feel for how large these animals are so it was nice to see... once. And since the captain told us that we picked THE BEST DAY to come out (many times), I figure there's no need to go out again.
One couple had just moved to Hawaii, to live there permanently. Can't imagine living in a tropical paradise. Where would you go for vacation? Manitoba? Go for a ski trip? I asked the people are the supermarket where they go for vacation. They go to different islands...
- mp
DJOTD: Do you know why they call me Dan? Cuz thats my name
As I've mentioned, there are some pretty good whale watching from the deck of our rental house. Every morning we can see them spouting and the occasional tale flap. I didn't really see a need to go on a boat to see the whales, but thats what we did today.
For two and half hours we were on the boat, floating around looking for whales. We had another radio voice guy but this time he was the captain, I think. He told us all about the humpback whale, how much they weigh, how far they travel, how much they eat, what the proper whale watching protocol is... pretty much everything you'd want to know. I don't have the best sea legs in the world and Lucas didn't have the best patience in the world. The combination made for not such a fun time. We did get to see the whales up close and you really got a feel for how large these animals are so it was nice to see... once. And since the captain told us that we picked THE BEST DAY to come out (many times), I figure there's no need to go out again.
One couple had just moved to Hawaii, to live there permanently. Can't imagine living in a tropical paradise. Where would you go for vacation? Manitoba? Go for a ski trip? I asked the people are the supermarket where they go for vacation. They go to different islands...
- mp
DJOTD: Do you know why they call me Dan? Cuz thats my name
Not soccer Pele
Wednesday, February 11th, 2015
Today we went to Volcano national park.
With the non-travelling toddler, it was a very long trip. It was about a hour and a half drive from our home but with a couple of pit stops along the way it made it more like two hours and a half. Luckily, we were able to make our stops at bakeries and other park like areas. The bakery was pretty good; the claim to fame was that it was the southern most bakery in the USA. I was feeling a bit car sick myself, dealing with Lucas as well as the winding roads so I didn't try anything from the bakery aside from some water. Oh yeah, the water in Hawaii, at least where we are staying, that comes from the tap is pretty awful tasting. At least, it is to me. I'm sure its clean and there's nothing wrong with it, but man... I don't like it one bit. Mother in law, makes some tea with it and I can still taste the nasty bog water.
Volcano was cool. Big crater. Road down to lava making its way into the ocean was closed so we didn't see that. We went to see an abandoned lava tube... that was pretty cool. Amazing to think how hot the lava must be to just burrow its way through the earth like that. I imagined that it was made from a giant prehistoric earth worm.
There were some seismometers at the volcano observatory. They use them as a advance warning system for the next eruption. I would think that some passive listening and imaging may show fluid flow. Maybe some spectral information exists that show flow through faults volcano opening.
- mp
DJOTD: What do you call a dog with no legs. Doesn't matter, he isn't coming anyways.
Today we went to Volcano national park.
With the non-travelling toddler, it was a very long trip. It was about a hour and a half drive from our home but with a couple of pit stops along the way it made it more like two hours and a half. Luckily, we were able to make our stops at bakeries and other park like areas. The bakery was pretty good; the claim to fame was that it was the southern most bakery in the USA. I was feeling a bit car sick myself, dealing with Lucas as well as the winding roads so I didn't try anything from the bakery aside from some water. Oh yeah, the water in Hawaii, at least where we are staying, that comes from the tap is pretty awful tasting. At least, it is to me. I'm sure its clean and there's nothing wrong with it, but man... I don't like it one bit. Mother in law, makes some tea with it and I can still taste the nasty bog water.
Volcano was cool. Big crater. Road down to lava making its way into the ocean was closed so we didn't see that. We went to see an abandoned lava tube... that was pretty cool. Amazing to think how hot the lava must be to just burrow its way through the earth like that. I imagined that it was made from a giant prehistoric earth worm.
There were some seismometers at the volcano observatory. They use them as a advance warning system for the next eruption. I would think that some passive listening and imaging may show fluid flow. Maybe some spectral information exists that show flow through faults volcano opening.
- mp
DJOTD: What do you call a dog with no legs. Doesn't matter, he isn't coming anyways.
Friday, February 13, 2015
Luau on the Love Boat
Tuesday, February 10th, 2015
This day had some interesting things I could talk about: a nice breakfast with hawaiian uekele singer, snorkeling metal detector dude, snorkeling with turtles, but instead I'll focus on the luau we went to in the evening.
I have never been to a luau, so I wasn't sure what to expect. It started at 5 in the evening and we were seated near the back away from the stage. First clue that there was to be some sort of show. It all started pretty well with an open bar, where I consumed some mai tai's and other grown up drinks. There was some palm leaf origami, some hula dancing lessons and eventually the unveiling of the buried roast pig. By 7pm the buffet style meal was being eaten and the show finally began.
The host was a Hawaiian man in his late 40's with a radio voice. He introduced the cast, he told everyone about the meaning of a luau, and taught everyone some simple hawaiian phrases. Then, he began to sing. He sang in the manner of a Las Vegas lounge singer or the opening credits of the Love Boat tv show. With phrases like "From my family to yours, ... Mahalo! And welcome to nahano... Aloha!" or something like that. The dancers would come out and hula while the host would speak on the style of dance and then break into song. Had a stampede grandstand show feel plus a little bit of Sabado Gigante (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%A1bado_Gigante). I found it thoroughly enjoyable but likely not in the way it was intended. Lucas enjoyed it too as he spent most of the show part of the evening dancing in his high chair.
It rained a little, but it did little to dampen our spirits. By 8:30 we were back at home just in time for someones bedtime. Nice ending to the evening with Johnnie Walker on the deck playing some cards.
- mp
This day had some interesting things I could talk about: a nice breakfast with hawaiian uekele singer, snorkeling metal detector dude, snorkeling with turtles, but instead I'll focus on the luau we went to in the evening.
I have never been to a luau, so I wasn't sure what to expect. It started at 5 in the evening and we were seated near the back away from the stage. First clue that there was to be some sort of show. It all started pretty well with an open bar, where I consumed some mai tai's and other grown up drinks. There was some palm leaf origami, some hula dancing lessons and eventually the unveiling of the buried roast pig. By 7pm the buffet style meal was being eaten and the show finally began.
The host was a Hawaiian man in his late 40's with a radio voice. He introduced the cast, he told everyone about the meaning of a luau, and taught everyone some simple hawaiian phrases. Then, he began to sing. He sang in the manner of a Las Vegas lounge singer or the opening credits of the Love Boat tv show. With phrases like "From my family to yours, ... Mahalo! And welcome to nahano... Aloha!" or something like that. The dancers would come out and hula while the host would speak on the style of dance and then break into song. Had a stampede grandstand show feel plus a little bit of Sabado Gigante (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%A1bado_Gigante). I found it thoroughly enjoyable but likely not in the way it was intended. Lucas enjoyed it too as he spent most of the show part of the evening dancing in his high chair.
It rained a little, but it did little to dampen our spirits. By 8:30 we were back at home just in time for someones bedtime. Nice ending to the evening with Johnnie Walker on the deck playing some cards.
- mp
The emerald hike
Monday, February 9th, 2015
There is a "hidden" beach of the south coast of the big island that is home to some green sand (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papakolea_Beach). Its about a 3 mile hike just to get there though there isn't a lot of elevation gain to deal with. It was a bit rainy throughout the day and it seemed as though the further inland we were, the rainier it got. The drive to the trail head from home was about an hour and ten minutes. After some child travel grumpiness we eventually made it and I had decided that since we drove all the way here we may as well make the 3 mile hike to see the beach.
We rented a backpack so that we could take the little guy with us on this hike and initially he did seem to enjoy it. We were like Luke Skywalker and Yoda in Degobah running through the swamp training to be a jedi. Ten minutes into the hike he started to get bored and wanted to walk around, be held and go back to the minivan. We gave him some chocolate granola bar which he seemed content enough with that we were able to get him back into the backpack. Soon, he dozed off and was quiet the rest of the trip.
The beach itself was pretty small and not as green as the wife would have hoped (it definitely was green). I took off my shoes and went wading into the water. It represented the conquest over travelling with a toddler. A triumph over tantrums and stress and poopy diapers and inconvenient nap times. It was a humble and silent victory as I didn't want to wake up the sleeping menace. I was hoping to make it at least half way back to the minivan before he woke up, but that would have been too good to be true. Five minutes after we started heading back, the menace woke up. And it started to rain. And we ran out of chocolate granola bars. And he wanted nothing to do with the backpack.
All seemed to point to a patience exhausting hour long walk back to the minivan, but some locals took pity on us and offered Mom and son a ride back to the parking lot in their 4x4 trucks. I noticed later how these locals had caught me in a moment of weakness, where I agreed instantly at the offer. Normally I would have been much more suspicious and would attempt to make character judgements of strangers offering "candy". But given the circumstances, it hardly crossed my mind.
Fifty minutes later I was reunited with family at the parking lot, weary from the rest of the hike. We drove to a nearby town and had dinner then went home. I think its important to celebrate the small victories - the ability to accomplish such adventures with a headstrong toddler. I wonder if similar but different travelling challenges await when he becomes a teenager...
Pictures forthcoming
- mp
There is a "hidden" beach of the south coast of the big island that is home to some green sand (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papakolea_Beach). Its about a 3 mile hike just to get there though there isn't a lot of elevation gain to deal with. It was a bit rainy throughout the day and it seemed as though the further inland we were, the rainier it got. The drive to the trail head from home was about an hour and ten minutes. After some child travel grumpiness we eventually made it and I had decided that since we drove all the way here we may as well make the 3 mile hike to see the beach.
We rented a backpack so that we could take the little guy with us on this hike and initially he did seem to enjoy it. We were like Luke Skywalker and Yoda in Degobah running through the swamp training to be a jedi. Ten minutes into the hike he started to get bored and wanted to walk around, be held and go back to the minivan. We gave him some chocolate granola bar which he seemed content enough with that we were able to get him back into the backpack. Soon, he dozed off and was quiet the rest of the trip.
The beach itself was pretty small and not as green as the wife would have hoped (it definitely was green). I took off my shoes and went wading into the water. It represented the conquest over travelling with a toddler. A triumph over tantrums and stress and poopy diapers and inconvenient nap times. It was a humble and silent victory as I didn't want to wake up the sleeping menace. I was hoping to make it at least half way back to the minivan before he woke up, but that would have been too good to be true. Five minutes after we started heading back, the menace woke up. And it started to rain. And we ran out of chocolate granola bars. And he wanted nothing to do with the backpack.
All seemed to point to a patience exhausting hour long walk back to the minivan, but some locals took pity on us and offered Mom and son a ride back to the parking lot in their 4x4 trucks. I noticed later how these locals had caught me in a moment of weakness, where I agreed instantly at the offer. Normally I would have been much more suspicious and would attempt to make character judgements of strangers offering "candy". But given the circumstances, it hardly crossed my mind.
Fifty minutes later I was reunited with family at the parking lot, weary from the rest of the hike. We drove to a nearby town and had dinner then went home. I think its important to celebrate the small victories - the ability to accomplish such adventures with a headstrong toddler. I wonder if similar but different travelling challenges await when he becomes a teenager...
Pictures forthcoming
- mp
Thursday, February 12, 2015
Sharing the beach
Sunday, February 8th, 2015
After the hectic drive of yesterday, lucas would appreciate staying somewhere close to home. We decided to head to a beach walking distance from home where people could snorkel and swim as well as surf.
While in amongst the rocks there was a variety of aquatic life that one could see. What caught my attention was what excited people. Some people would be excited to see the smallest fish in the smallest tidal pools, meandering through sparse moss while others would hardly look up from their books if a great white shark came up onto the beach and challenged them to a game of Yahtzee.
I guess I'm somewhere in between. I'm a it envious of the super excited people - it's as if they are watching a super good movie that I've seen hundreds of times for the first time. I remember how I felt when I saw said movie for the first time and how fun it was. I wonder if I could choose to take every experience that way. In some sense every day is a new day with new possibilities and new outcomes. It should be exciting. Nothing is ever an exact rerun.
On the other hand, doing the same thing over and over again and being Sooo excited about it does make me wonder if there isn't a lose screw some where ...
- mp 
DJOTD - what did one tree say to the other tree? I'm more POPLAR than you.
Hiking down to the beach
Saturday, February 7th, 2015
Today was an adventure day. We drove north from our vacation home for about an hour and a half. We stopped about half way through to deal with the hunger we had built up since breakfast 90 minutes ago and our smallest passenger had just about enough of the car ride. We stopped in a town of Wanamea, or soemthing like that, and serendipitously joined them for their cherry blossom festival. Took us forever to find a parking spot. Once we did however and started walking around it seemed like a quaint festival that you would find in rural America.
We found a nice little restaurant where the food was quite good. One of the better meals, if not the best we had in Hawaii. Luna restaurant I believe it was called.
Once we done we hit the road where we ended up at a place where a 30 minute hike took you to the bottom of the hill where a secluded beach lay. My wife and I went down leaving the young one with the grandparents. At the bottom was a black sand beach where I tried to take artistic photographs that captured the beauty of the island ... And my wife.
The way back was a steep climb. We took it as a challenge, seeing how many people we could pass on the way up. Lori did quite well and never had to stop what was supposed to be a 45 min walk up was an 18 minute trek up the hill. I was sweating like a mad man, much like the guy looking for the perfect getaway on the Expedia commercial. Except g'nite sweaty and less hairy.
I like the exertion accompanied by the view that comes at the end. I think most people do. Don't really know why that's the case. I'm sure there are some good "stories" that explain this, but I'd like some scientific explanation.
- mp
DJOTD - what did one testicle say to the other? Why should we hang, slim did the shooting!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)