Grandma Ellie

So grateful for this time to visit my lovely, funny, wonderful grandmother. 

Brrr

Glad I packed all the cold weather gear and carted it around 3 countries.  Barely needed even my coat in Korea or Japan, but I just landed in Reno and it's 32 and 18 tomorrow morning. Little shock to the system.  

More than worth a little frost nipping at my nose to see my grandma!

Last homely house

Bilbo described Rivendell as 'a perfect house, whether you like food or sleep, or story-telling or singing, or just sitting and thinking best...'

That's what Hawaii is. Whether you like mountains or beach, rest or acitvity, solitude or a party, rain (a little) or sunshine, silence or music, it offers it all. Everything except winter.

This morning, while Ive been sitting on my deck lazily listening to the waves crash against the shore and eating banana bread from a roadside stand, I saw people rowing a traditional canoe, and two long distance swimmers in the bay. 

Every little spot on the Big Island has its own feel and different ecosystems. Every one of them has been lovely.

Luau

The resort

Staying in a resort is kind of like being on a cruise. Sun, activities, poolside bars. Missed the hula and ukulele lessons,  so I won't torture anyone with my amateur theatrics when I get home. 

Taking a few minutes poolside, before cleaning up for the luau!

she gets wet!

After 3+ weeks of being surrounded by water and island hopping all over the southeast asia, I finally got in the ocean. Snorkeling today at Two-step and Kahal'u beaches. 

We saw lots of yellow and black tangs, parrot fishes, sea urchins, angel fish, and one sea turtle! 

I haven't snorkeled much before, so I felt a little brave going out in the big blue. Momentary claustrophobia as I tried to convince my brain that it was ok to breathe underwater, followed by a deep sense of connection and serenity.  

Morning Yoga by the ocean

Had a great morning yoga practice overlooking thr ocean. During one stretch I was looking up through a palm tree at the moon. 

Its fun breathing in time with the ocean.

Namaste

Volcano House

It seems all hobbit tales lead to a mountain and fire. So perhaps my journey was always destined to come here to the Halema'uma'u crater of Kilauea.  The home of Pelehonuamea, goddess of volcanoes and creator of new land.

Another stroll in the dark and a chance to view one of the primal forces of nature. 

The photos are a little more dramatic than the reality, but it was awe-inspiring to see active lava.

 

Volcano National Park

So many cool things to see here. 

Started the trip with a stop at the Lava Cafe in Volcano Village, and got an Eruption Burger 

Went to Lava tubes

And the Sea Arch

And some beautiful scenery

And some alien landscape

Sea turtles

Stopped at a little beach just outside of Hilo, with black sand beaches and sea turtles

Check out the ripples left by the lava flow

take the good and the bleh together

So a little hiccup in our accommodations, we had no running water for about 36 hours. Its up and running now, thank goodness. 

We also lost power for about 10 mins, but that was no real inconvenience since we were star gazing from the deck again. On the up side, we saw about 10 shooting stars between the two of us. So balance in my favor...

Also, this is my view

the fauna

Been posting a lot of the fauna of Hawaii,  but we're surrounded by animals too. Seen lots of geckos on the deck of the cabin (and sometimes inside). 

There's a ridiculously loud tree frog called a Koki frog, that whistles loudly from just before sundown until 1 or 2 am. It was charming for about 15 mins. 😁

We've seen chickens, cows, and horses on the farm and around the island. There's a bit of a cowboy culture here.

And wild turkeys,  pigeons, and songbirds. Lots and lots of songbirds