Happy Easter and Happy Passover to those who celebrate…Happy Sunday to all others…

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With spring in the air, the Plumeria trees have begun to bloom.

In years passed, Easter was a highly anticipated and celebrated holiday for our family, filled with laughter, games, traditional events and familiar foods all prepared with the utmost of love, added to the spiritual meaning of the Easter season as well.

Each year, we made no less than 18 Easter baskets, filled with goodies befitting each family member, 14 for us humans, and more for our kids’ pets and our dogs. I spent days making the name tags, bows, and careful placement of the goodies in each of the baskets, smiling all the while.

An Angel Trumpet flower wilted due to a lack of rain these past two weeks.

Tom and I would conjure up a playful game for all of the grown-ups to play in an effort to find the colorful plastic eggs filled with money that we’d strategically hid in the most surprising spots in our home along with easier games for the six grandchildren to find more eggs filled with candy, toys, and money.

The frenzy that ensued created a level of laughter that rings clear in my ears, even today, three years later. The sounds of the kids laughing and squealing as they ran through the house are sounds we’ll never forget. 

You may ask, “How could we leave all of that?” We answer, “It wasn’t easy.”

Not an Easter lily, but an orchid will do.

After over 20 years of illness, always in pain, always pretending to be fine while living a full and busy life and then, in 2011, becoming well again due to a strict adherence to a restrictive way of eating, one day in January 2012, 10 months before his retirement, Tom said, “Do you want to travel the world while your health is good?”

I was shocked by his question. After a week of careful research, spreadsheets, and calculations as to the feasibility, I answered, “Yes, I do,” with the same excitement and fervor I expressed on the day we were married saying, “Yes, I do.”

We’d spent our lives thinking and living for others, our kids, our other family members, and our friends, all of whom we dearly love. We never felt we could do enough. But, it was our time and for however long my good health would remain intact, we would carry on.

This flower baffles me with nothing online similar making it possible to identify. How unusual.

Now, 2½ years later, we have no regrets and much to our surprise on holidays such as today, we don’t feel lost or sad. We’re grateful for a lifetime of memorable holidays and celebrations with our kids, who now are all in their 40’s, knowing they’d do just fine without us, having become strong and independent many years ago.  Over the years, they developed many of their own holiday traditions which at times, didn’t include us. That’s how life is. 

Perhaps, in a way it’s not unlike the Laysan Albatross, the chick sits atop the nest day after day while the two parents fly back and forth to sea for their food to return to feed the chicks who hungrily grasp at their beaks for the regurgitated meal. And then one day, when the chicks are four to five months old, the parents don’t return from the sea.

The chicks lie in wait, wondering where the next meal will come from as days pass, as they also miss the preening and loving care of the parents. Finally, one day they realize that the parents won’t return, that it’s time to go out to sea on their own to begin their lives, able to care for themselves. In many ways, this outcome made us sad, the thought of the chicks waiting and waiting and the parents never returning.

Pets deserve acknowledgment on special days.

The chick picks up his pudgy body from the safety of the nest, walks to the cliff’s edge and fledges, wings spread and flies out to sea, maybe to return to the same spot in years to come to have offspring of their own, as the life cycle continues on.

This is not unlike our lives. They grew up. They built lives for themselves and it was time for us to go. They are fine. They are independent and self-sufficient for which we are proud and pleased. And, it was us who walked to the cliff and fledged, out to sea to care for ourselves and in essence, to be free.

No longer do we work for days preparing Easter Baskets, cooking, devising games and activities, each year new and different, in order to build a tradition that in time, we’ve passed along to them to recreate in their own ways with their children. It’s the cycle of life.

A Koala bird trots along the grass.

From time to time we meet some people who are shocked that we left our family to travel the world. “How selfish,” we read from the look in their eyes. At times, they even ask, “How could you leave your family?” 

We answer, “Our journey isn’t about leaving them. It’s about freeing us…to experience life as we’ve never done before…to share our story with readers from all over the world and to leave, however, small a footprint in the sand wherever we may go. 

We love and cherish this amazing earth that God, or whatever higher power one believes, has left for us to explore, to love, and to care for.

The common Hibiscus is blooming in varying colors throughout the island.

Today, not unlike every day, we thank God as we remain in awe of the world around us, the freedom we’ve been given for the experience, and the ability to make it happen. 

For however long the good health remains, we feel blissfully committed to carrying on, with so much of the world yet to explore and a passion to see as much as we are able.

Last night, at the Full Moon party, I became engaged in a conversation with a lovely couple. As we stood beneath the palm fronds of a tree as the rain began to fall, the wife, slightly younger than I said, “You’ve inspired us to make some changes in our lives.”

Please help us identify this flower which we can’t seem to find online.  They’re growing prolifically outside our door.

The husband with a few health issues of his own will read yesterday’s post about health and resources that I’ve utilized in my life-changing way of eating. 

If we’ve been given this opportunity, it becomes our responsibility to share whatever morsels we can with others along the way, as so many have shared with us. 

Whether its a positive review we’ve posted online for the owner of a small business or a tiny bit of inspiration to a reader or person we’ve met along the way, its all worthwhile, as we too glean so much from our readers and new friends, offering us morsels of wisdom and insight into places we’ll visit along the way. 

We’re grateful, we’re humbled and we’re happy, today on Easter and every other day in our ongoing journey to see the world.

                                              Photo from one year ago today, April 5, 2014:

Out to dinner in Marrakech, the sunset was beautiful.  For details on that date, please click here.

Full Moon Party tonight!…Decided on a pu pu…Recipe sharing…Today’s post is for “foodies” only…

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Not quite sunset, sunny views over the bay.

Whenever we bring a dish to share, we consider the tastes of the other guests rather than impose a recipe that is only befitting our dietary concerns. Many recipes for delicious and outrageously contrary-to-our-way-of-eating are my appetizer recipes from years ago, still taking up space in my brain.

Recently, when we invited a couple (who were on vacation) to our home for happy hour, I made an old favorite from the days when Tom and I first met and we entertained quite a bit. It’s high carb, high fat, high starch, and high sugar, which I never eat but, Tom does on occasion.

The rushing waters below at high tide.

Please share this recipe below with your friends who have no illness, no high blood sugar or diabetes, no heart disease, no clogged arteries, no dementia, no risk of Alzheimer’s disease, no pain, no signs of inflammation anywhere in their body, and, aren’t overweight and can eat anything they want without gaining weight. For those lucky folks, here’s the recipe we’re bringing tonight, which is NOT SUITABLE for my way of eating:

Jess’s Apricot Almond Brie en Croute 
1 medium-sized round Brie cheese
¾ cup apricot jam (not jelly)
½ cup slivered almonds
1 package refrigerated Pillsbury Crescent Rolls
2 T melted butter 

Preheat oven to 350.  Cover a baking pan with nonstick tin foil or parchment paper. Top the unwrapped Brie cheese with apricot jam. Sprinkle half of the almonds atop the jam.  Pinch all the seams together of the entire package of crescent rolls and carefully wrap the dough all the way around with the Brie keeping the jam side up. Make it look as nice as possible, leaving no gaps or holes. This takes one minute. Brush melted butter over the top. Poke holes in various spots in the top to allow it to expand during baking.  While butter is still moist, add the remaining almonds to the top.  Use a spatula to transfer it to the prepared baking pan. 

Place in the preheated oven for 40 minutes or less, checking to ensure the top doesn’t get too brown during the last 10 minutes (based on how hot your oven cooks).  This dish is very hot. Be careful handling it. Serve with a variety of crackers and plates, forks, and knives. May be prepared 48 hours in advance and cooked at the time of serving. Reheats well in the microwave.

When our guests visited, they loved this recipe so much they asked for it which prompted me to finally write it down for them via a PDF document. I hadn’t made this dish in years. 

Late afternoon sun over the sea.

I suppose I have hundreds of recipes stuck in my brain, not unlike the useless documents and files we end up transferring from an old computer to a new computer over and over again as we make new computer purchases. How I wish that one day I’d feel rambunctious enough to remove that clutter.

And, how I wish I could remove the clutter of old recipes from my brain in the same rambunctious manner.  Yesterday, I found myself looking for a recipe for Moo Shu Pork, a favorite I often made when preparing a meal of Chinese food. (Is it PC to still call it “Chinese food?” I could call it Asian food but there are many regions of Asia that cook many different styles of food. Hopefully, I don’t offend anyone).

Why was I looking for this recipe, so far removed from my modern-day reality? I’d found a recipe on Dr. William Davis (Wheat Belly) site for low carb, grain-free, gluten-free, sugar-free tortillas, which could substitute for the Mandarin pancakes required in the recipe for Moo Shu Pork. I thought if I could find my recipe for the food that goes inside the Mandarin pancakes (like a tortilla), I could adapt it to my way of eating.

A pair of Nene birds, Hawaii’s state birds, wander around the golf course which they seem to love.

Oh, dear, I’d better post Dr. Davis’s tortilla recipe or I’ll get 100 email messages asking for it (of which I always, happily and quickly respond to each):

Dr. William Davis (Wheat Belly) Tortilla Recipe 
Make 4 tortillas      
1 cup golden flaxseed, ground
4 tablespoons almond meal or 4 tablespoons almond flour
1⁄4 teaspoon fine sea salt
2 eggs

Preheat oven to 375°F. Prepare a large baking sheet by lining with parchment paper. Add ground flax seeds, almond meal/flour, and salt to a medium bowl and whisk together. Whisk in the eggs just until combined. Divide the dough into 4 equal balls.  Using 2 pieces of parchment paper, roll each ball between pieces until 6” round. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 5 minutes, or until golden.

After I spent considerable time looking for a recipe similar to my old version of Moo Shu Pork, casually mentioning it to Tom he said, “I never really liked that dish anyway. Don’t bother to make it for me.”

Oh. it was one of those dishes I made in our “younger days” when he was courting me while pretending to like my “non-meat and potatoes” recipes. Now that we’re old, he doesn’t try so hard to impress me. My feelings aren’t hurt. I’ll make the tortillas and use them for my adapted recipe for Mexican food (Is that OK to say?)

A gnarly tree trunk at the edge of the golf course.

Anyway, here’s the third recipe of the day for which we received zillions of requests after mentioning it in a post a few days ago; low carb grain-free, sugar-free, starch-free high fat protein bars. 

I found this recipe online and adapted it to my taste and way of eating and voila, its a heavenly dessert, energy booster, and plain and simple meal substitute loaded with nutrients that won’t raise a person’s blood sugar if eaten in moderation, the size of an average protein bar. 

A strained branch holding a cluster of bananas.

From all the research I’ve done thus far as a layperson, on what foods raise blood sugar and subsequently increase inflammation I began testing my own blood sugar. In doing so it proved to me that eating any foods in excessive amounts, even low carb foods, can raise one’s blood sugar, even if I ate too large of a portion of protein, for example, a huge steak.  Moderation is always the key in life, isn’t it? 

Watching animals in the wild was a good lesson for me about eating in moderation, eating only until one is satisfied and not uncomfortably full. Animals never overeat (other than our household pets if we’ve  been feeding them “people food”). 

I believe this is papaya tree.

Wild animals only eat until full and comfortable. We never saw a lion while on safari eating the last morsel off the carcass he’d killed. He/she was always leaving some to savor at a later time, with the female leaving some for her cubs or often letting the cubs eat before her. Not so much with the males who would often steal the food from the females, never sharing with the female or her cubs.

If you make these delicious bars, please place individual portions into baggies to store in the freezer, taking out one bag at a time to eat frozen. They are so good they could trigger a frenzy of overeating.

Here’s the recipe:

Jess’s Low Carb High Fat Keto Bars
1 cup organic extra virgin coconut oil, melted (Don’t use
microwave.  Use room temperature)

1 cup organic almond butter
½ cup any lowest-carb protein powder (I used hemp)
1 cup shredded coconut, unsweetened (the large unsweetened coconut chips  found in the healthy section in grocery stores or a health food shop, are good to use)

½ cup chopped almonds, macadamia nuts, walnuts, pecans or
hazelnuts (I used macadamia nuts, grown here in the Hawaiian Islands)

½ cup sunflower seeds
½ cup unsweetened cocoa chips (found in health food stores)
1/3 cup erythritol or other preferred 0 carb sweetener,  (found in health food stores)
2 tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp Himalayan or sea salt
Whisk together oil, nut butter, protein powder until smooth.  Add remaining ingredients and stir. Pour onto lined parchment paper baking pan being careful to have pan fully covered with parchment.  Cover and place in freezer until frozen (3 hours).  Break or cut into bar size pieces, keeping single servings in plastic bags in the freezer.  Keep and eat frozen.

These low carb recipes that I post are suitable for a low-carb way of eating where the body is burning its own fat stores for fuel, not burning the sugar we’ve consumed. These recipes are not intended to be eaten in combination with sugary, high calorie, high-fat food for which in doing so may increase in weight could result.  Burning our own fat for fuel is referred to as “ketosis”, not ketoacidosis, a dangerous life-threatening condition.  These are two entirely different metabolic states. The reading material in the following paragraph explains this further.

For more on the science surrounding the low carb, high fat, grain, starch, and sugar-free way of eating which causes our bodies to burn our own fat for fuel and subsequently reduces inflammation, please read, Dr. William Davis (Wheat Belly) or Dr. David Perlmutter’s  book Grain Brain, and Jonathan Bailor’s books, all of whom have highlighted my story on their websites and in Jonathan’s recent book, Eat More, Lose More (about health) in which there is a full story and photo on my return to good health after an over 20-year struggle.

Here’s a link to my story which was posted on their sites a few years ago, all of which are similar.

A boat, filled to the max, looks for the last vestiges of the humpback whales, many of which have already begun the journey to Alaska for the summer.

These three links I’ve provided above today are direct to their free blogs in the event you want to read more before buying their books if, in fact, the subject matter appeals to you.  I wouldn’t be traveling the world, pain-free if it weren’t for the science presented in these professional’s books and websites.

Enough for today. No preaching intended. Write if you have questions.

Aloha.

Photo from one year ago today, April 4, 2014:

The colors in the displays in the souks were astounding. Four of our senses were all in full on mode as we wandered through the maze-like environment; the smells, the sights, the sounds, and the touch of the fabrics. As for taste, we proceeded with caution, never dining on any of the food in the Big Square, the Medina for fear it would contain ingredients contrary to my diet or potential gastrointestinal distress. For more details, please click here.

An interesting wildlife discovery…Green Anole…What’s that?…

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We speculate based on appearance, that there’s some sort of permanent pouch beneath this shedding skin of this Green Anole. We had difficulty finding details on the shedding process of these lizards.

Late yesterday afternoon Tom and I took off on a walk. The bright sun and heat of the day had waned with a cooling trade winds breeze wafting through the air. I wanted to show him a different perspective of the familiar ocean view I’d found on the prior day’s walk on my own. 

After admiring the view, he spotted some possible photo ops I’d missed the previous day while we’ll share tomorrow. He’s got quite the eye for spotting things I’d easily miss, which makes taking walks together enjoyable in more than one way. 

Apparently, this Green Anole, not a gecko is shedding his skin.

He never hesitates to remind me that he didn’t dream of walking when he retired. It wasn’t on his “bucket list.”  It was on mine. He walks more than I’d ever expected he would, merely to please me, bless his heart. However, for both of us, that which we find on walks together never ceases to amaze us.

When I sense he’s open to walking I bring it up and he usually agrees. Once we’re on our way he seems to get into it. He’s a good walker, able to navigate tough terrain better than I, and can manage a pace requiring me to practically run in order to keep up.

We were fascinated by the deep green color.

At the end of the major part of the 40-minute walk, we wandered over to the overlook across the street from our condo for that amazing view that continues to take our breath away.

A few weeks ago, he mentioned spotting a gecko in the vegetation along the railing, change from brown to green right before his eyes. Since that time I’d looked in that area many times hoping to see the same. I’d yet to see one gecko since his sighting, let alone one changing color.  Until yesterday.

He moved from leaf to leaf staying within our view for quite a while.

Although we didn’t see a gecko changing color, we did see the same species Tom had seen in his/her “brown” state.  More excitingly, we saw another creature which we assumed was a gecko with a most interesting white pouch as shown in today’s photos.

I was like a kid in a candy store while Tom was pointing out which candies to buy. Snapping one photo after another, I was squealing with delight as I carefully positioned myself to hold the camera as still as possible while I zoomed in for the shots.

This was a tiny weed Tom spotted as we watched the anole.

I’m no expert at macro photography, nor do we have the equipment that is sophisticated enough to do the kind of job I’d like to be able to do. But, I’m fascinated to be taking photos of “small things” as most of our long term readers are aware.

My biggest problem is avoiding the natural instinct to stand too close to the subject when it appears standing further back and zooming in provides the best result with the inexpensive (under $400) camera we use. 

This is the Brown Anole, the same species Tom had watched change color.  He was also shedding the skin around his mouth. It must be a springtime thing.

After taking shots of the what-we-thought was a green gecko of some sort, we headed home while I immediately began looking online for the name of the type of gecko. No luck. Not a single possibility popped us making me frustrated and hungry for more information. 

I knew my only hope was to contact Cathy Granholm, the knowledgeable docent with the Los Angeles Zoo for over 26 years, who helped me with information for my many posts regarding the Laysan Albatross, here in Princeville.  

Discovering this is Green Anole, not a gecko, was quite a thrill. Perhaps, some of our readers may find us goofy for our enthusiasm overseeing such a creature. We find all creatures and vegetation fascinating in one way or another.

Cathy’s not only a rare expert on the albatross which she monitors twice daily for seven months each year, but she also has a wealth of knowledge on wildlife in general. Surely, she was my best bet for information.

It’s interesting how each body part of a creature, including us humans, has a purpose. Our creator, whoever you may choose to believe, certainly didn’t miss a beat in creating life.

I couldn’t have been more appreciative when in a short time Cathy responded to my email with our question as to what we expected was a Green Gecko with this response: “This is not a gecko, which is nocturnal, it is a diurnal green anole, which is shedding.  Up until 5 or 6 years ago, I saw lots of green anoles in my garden, but they have been largely displaced by brown anoles. Neither species is native to Hawaii, in fact, there are NO lizards that are native to Hawaii.  

 I found this interesting article about how green anoles in Florida are evolving to avoid having to compete with brown anoles, which seem to be more aggressive.  I think some graduate students at UH should study the anoles in Hawaii to see if they are evolving in the same way. I can tell you that I rarely see green anoles on the ground or on lower branches of shrubs or trees, they are usually higher up.

I think this kind of adaptation is fascinating!”

From time to time, the Brown Anole would move her head to see what other predators may be in the area.

In researching the above link in Cathy’s response, there is considerable information about the Green Anole which is a lizard, not a gecko. It appears to be shedding its skin but, beneath the white shedding pouch lies another pouch-like protrusion from the neck, used in the male to attract the female.

She was far enough from us that our presence didn’t inspire her to change colors. Look at those toenails useful for climbing trees!

Oh, Mother Nature, you never disappoint. Keep presenting us with the opportunities to see what other gifts you have in store for all of us to treasure.

                                             Photo from one year ago today, April 3, 2014:

One year ago on this date, we didn’t post any photos we’d taken. Instead, we discussed the seasonal changes we’d experienced thus far in our travels, much of which was near the equator. For details of that post, please click here.

52 days and counting…Two years upcoming in the South Pacific…Has our stay in Kauai been too long?…Mindless dribble…

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Finding bananas and any fruit growing while on a walk is always delightful.

It’s hard to believe that in only 52 days we’ll be leaving Hawaii. As of today, we’ve been in the Hawaiian Islands for exactly 180 days when our ship, the Celebrity Solstice, arrived for a tour of the islands.

The pods from which bananas grow. We saw these in Madeira but they were a different variety.

It was on October 5th, that we disembarked the ship when it docked in Honolulu, Oahu, where we spent 11 days in a condo in Waikiki Beach. Next, we spent six weeks in Maui, six weeks on the Big Island of Hawaii, and now, the time is passing quickly as we make our way into the final days of over four months in Kauai.

Queen Emma Giant Spider Lily.

We’re confident that we visited the islands in the correct order. Kauai has been the perfect island on which to spend the longest period as mentioned in a zillion previous posts. 

When we originally discussed spending four-plus months in Kauai, we cringed over the concept of such a long stay which proved to be the longest period in any one location since we began our travels almost 30 months ago. Looking to the future, we have no intentions of staying in any one location for longer than 90 days with the exception of Bali, where we’ll stay twice for 59 days with a two-month gap in between.

The condos on the right have a fabulous view of the sea and sunset, but the walk down to the beach can be difficult for some. We’ve done it once and may not tackle it again.

The fact that we could take a cruise to Australia, rather than fly, making the journey itself an extraordinary experience, greatly contributed to our desire to stay in Kauai for this extended period. 

Another influential factor was our desire to stay put for a while after the expense of the family holiday on the Big Island over Christmas. Staying in one location provides us with an opportunity to financially recover when moving about always ups the expenses.

Overlooking the ocean on a sunny day.

Having paid, in part, as stipulated in various upcoming rental agreements and for upcoming cruises, we have less than $20,000 outstanding for rentals for the remainder of 2015, greatly putting our minds at ease. These sums are spread over a series of months as we near arriving at the various locations, making it not such a hard pill to swallow, all at once.

As the days quickly pass, in another month, we’ll begin thinking about packing, including the products we’re accumulating at our mailing service in Nevada that we have yet to be shipped. We continue to contemplate and research the availability of items in the South Pacific.

There’s always “vog” in the mountains, although, the stunning coloration of the hills can be easily be seen. 

Tom’s three pairs of jeans, cargo shorts, a staple in his limited wardrobe, are threadbare. We tossed one pair a few days ago and once the three new pairs arrive, we’ll probably toss the rest. Jeans are heavy, adding greatly to our baggage weight. 

Several of my tee shirts are being beckoned by the garbage can as well as some of my old shorts. When recently, I’d purchased and had shipped, four new pairs of shorts from Old Navy I ruined one in the laundry when I’d left two gel cap magnesium pills in the pocket which I take with dinner each night.

On a walk by myself, I was enthralled by the view as I approached our condo (not shown in this photo).

We’d gone out to dinner and I’d stuck the two pills in the pocket, hoping to remember to take them at the restaurant. We were having such fun that I forgot to take the pills. When checking the pockets before washing, I didn’t reach deep enough into the pocket to take them out.

Alas, the pills ruined the shorts in a bleach-like manner. Thank goodness, they didn’t ruin the remainder of the dark-colored laundry. Gee, and I swallow these? 

Pink Ginger plant with colorful leaves.

I’m stuck wearing these ruined shorts around the house almost daily in hopes of wearing them out enough to give them the “heave-ho” before we leave. I’m not about to pack a pair of ruined shorts in my luggage when space is limited.

With more supplies yet to arrive in the next package from our mailing service, we continue to search online and consider the availability of certain products we frequently use in our travels that may not be available in the South Pacific; our special toothpaste, a few cosmetic items, a few adapters suitable for the upcoming locations (lessons learned from burning out the old adapters).

This was the first time we’d taken photos from this side of the Pali Ka Kua condos in our area.

Tom is still wearing his original batch of tee shirts. He, unlike me, will wear the same tee-shirt over and over again (while I wash it every other day), until it finally bites the dust.  You’ve probably noticed this in the photos I’ve taken of him. 

In our old lives, we’d only wear a tee shirt one time and wash it.  Now, we wear them twice, extending the life of the shirt by 100%. It’s the washing and drying that wears out clothing. In the South Pacific, our clothing will be hanging outside to dry, again extending their life by about 25%. Clothes dryers are seldom used outside the US.

The Makai Golf Course runs through many areas of Princeville, creating beautiful scenery.

Whoever thinks of this stuff but us? None of this ever entered our minds in our old lives; the long-term preservation of clothing. If a sock had a hole, we tossed it and the entire pair if it didn’t match any others. 

All of our socks are of the same brand and style. If one sock is tossed, we save the mate which goes into the flow with the others, eventually finding a mate.

Considerable amounts of lava rock exist in Kauai, although most beaches are sandy.

This may all appear to fall into the mindless drivel category. For us, what may appear to be trivial and unimportant falls into a category of mundane conscientiousness that somehow, we both manage to address in our daily lives.

Today? Soon we’ll be off to the pool and fitness center and later, the market. Saturday night is yet another outdoor Full Moon Party, hosted by dear friend Richard. We plan to show early to help Richard set up the tables and chairs in the vacant lot used for this event, the second month in a row.

We’ve seldom seen such bright colors as there are in Hawaii. These appear to be a type of Plumeria, flowers used in making leis.

We’re deciding on which pu pu we’ll prepare to bring to the party. Many of these events stipulate that guests bring a pu pu to share, I’m running out of ideas. I love it that my big challenge of this week is which pu pu to make! Any suggestions?

                                              Photo from one year ago today, April 2, 2014:

Taking a cab in Marrakech, we wandered through a neighborhood with many shops and restaurants. For details from that date, please click here.

No April fool here…Good humor travels well…Beautiful and freaky sunset…Living with leftovers…

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This scene made us squeal with delight! How magical! See below for more.

As a person who always got on board for holiday-related festivities, I’ve never been much interested in April Fool’s Day antics and trickery. Oh, I don’t mind observing the antics of others, often finding considerable humor in their efforts.  

For us, every one of our days has a wide array of silly antics and events that make us laugh, whether it’s something we’ve said and done to one another or the antics of the familiar birds that visit us several times a day.

This was the first view when we stepped outdoors onto the front lanai, the sunset over Hanalei Bay. The sky was covered with dark clouds except for this opening.

Last night, while it was still light, we sat down to an early dinner at 6:15 to find three of our bird visitors standing on the railing to the lanai looking at us, chirping loudly at us, as if to say, “What’s for dinner?” 

We only feed them a small amount of raw unsalted nuts a few times each day. Perhaps, the smell of our dinner attracted them, although we’ve never given them “people food,” nor will we. We often see tourists feeding the chickens and birds bread crumbs, chips, and fries. This can’t be good for them. 

We thought it would be gone in seconds.

We learned not to feed wildlife “people food” in the wild. We don’t feed the animals anything other than that which they may find in the wild or, in the case of Marloth Park, the nutritional pellets developed specifically for them. Birds eat nuts, seeds, worms, grub, and whatever other morsels nature provides for them.

We laughed over their chirping at us but stayed put, relishing in our delicious meal while watching a Season 3 episode of “Sons of Anarchy” on my laptop which we strategically placed on the small table. We often watch a “Sons” episode during dinner each night, having started with Season 1 a few months ago. It’s a great show, surprising both of us that I like it.

We assumed this was its final descent, turning to walk back inside.

After dinner, Tom took care of the dishes as always while I put away the leftovers we’ll again devour tonight. In reality, I only cook three or four times a week, always making enough for two, or even three nights of leftovers, if it’s a favorite. We’ve found that making larger quantities of our favorite meals with leftovers is a perfect way of saving money and time. 

Any foods leftover after three days we dispose of but, after doing this for the past few years, we’ve become adept at preparing the almost exact correct amounts. If on the first night, we notice we have more than three nights of a particular item, we’ll freeze an extra portion, label it to place in the freezer. 

As I began to turn off the camera and cover the lens, Tom spun me around and said, “Wait, Sweetie!  It’s peeking out from the clouds below.”.

It’s just as easy to make a larger quantity of a dish than to make separate meals each night. Having lost interest in standing in the kitchen for hours at a time, our low carb meals are usually quick and easy to make. 

Even the low carb, grain, starch, and sugar-free pizza I made on Monday didn’t take more than 30 minutes of prep time and 40 minutes of baking time. Of course, we don’t prepare extra steaks or chops, instead, making those fresh each day.

As quickly as possible I restarted the camera and flicked off the lens cover to get this peculiar shot.

On Monday night, I ate a slice of the tasty filling pizza with Tom later deciding to let him have the leftovers on Tuesday and Wednesday when it’s one of his favorite meals. Last night, I opted for a bacon-wrapped wild-caught salmon burger from Costco, which was as good as the pizza, along with a salad. 

Tonight, I’ll wrap a second salmon burger in the leftover uncooked bacon and pop it into the oven for 30 minutes at 400 degrees. Yesterday, I made a big romaine lettuce salad with lots of veggies and enough for leftovers again tonight. 

It rapidly progressed leaving unique scenes in their place.

This morning Tom had those low carb breakfast “muffins” a recipe I posted a few weeks ago in the form of a baked dish instead of muffins. Now, for ease and time savings, I make the entire recipe, pouring it into one glass baking pan lined in parchment paper as opposed to making it into muffins. (The paper tends to stick to the eggs and also to the pan if there’s an overflow). 

Then, cutting the baked egg dish into 12 squares when cooled from the oven, I place three pieces into each of four Ziplock bags and freeze them, taking out a new bag every three days, letting it defrost in the refrigerator overnight. This way, Tom heats the square every morning for 30 seconds after cutting it into smaller pieces to ensure even heating. Voila! A quick and easy breakfast.

I could barely hold the camera still, I was so excited. Next time, we’ll use the tripod.

If I have an inkling for an evening snack, a handful of macadamia nuts or a piece of a homemade protein bar hits the spot. (Most store-bought protein bars have sugar, chemicals, carbs, and grains whereby homemade bars do not). Tom’s picky taste buds leave him few options for snacking at night. He may have a few slices of cheese or some low sugar jerky (found here at Foodland). 

Once a week, I do some baking; his eggs, our low carb muffins and scones, and now my latest passion for these protein bars, easy to make. (OK.  I know we’ll get requests for the recipe for the bars, so please write to me if you’d like it).

As soon as the dishes were done, Tom grabbed my hand and said, “Let’s watch the sunset from the front lanai.  The sun’s moved to the north since we arrived and now we can see it from there.” 

Almost gone, still exquisite…

When last month the condo maintenance people trimmed the trees in front of the building and the sun’s position had changed, we now have a perfect viewing spot from the front of the building. Also, recently it’s been cloudy at sunset, and it’s been a rare occurrence to be able to watch the sunset.

We chuckled when we stepped outside on the lanai. Tom counted 18 cars parked on the street in order for both tourists and residents to watch the sunset across the street from the lookout. Also, dozens of sunset watchers were rushing on foot clamoring to get a good spot for viewing.

We had a “birds-eye view” without crossing the road. I had changed into my lounging pj’s and loved it that I didn’t have to change back into my clothes as I’ve done on a few occasions when earlier we hadn’t been able to see the sunset from here.

Gone, amid my tilted camera angle, so enthralled with the views.

When taking sunset photos, I often take a few dozen shots. The challenge is attempting to decide which are worthy of posting here. Actually, this is often the case with many photos we take. Over time, I’ve reduced the number of shots I take of any particular scene, often taking only one shot and checking it out on the viewfinder.  

A sunset deserves multiple shots as it changes in the blink of an eye. Today, as we often do with sunset shots, we show the best shots of the progression. It’s funny, throughout the world we all have the opportunity to witness the sunset and yet, our perspective and subsequent photos are always unique and breathtaking.

Have a fabulous April Food’s Day, antics and all…

                                             Photo from one year ago today, April 1, 2014:

A year ago we stumbled upon this excellent restaurant which we later returned to for another meal. The food was amazing, the service exceptional and the ambiance inviting. For details from that date, please click here.

Part 2…Why would YOU want to visit Kauai?…Today, the flip side…Any reasons, “why not?”

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Overcast days at the beach still present a pleasant experience.

Whenever we make suggestions or recommendations we consider that many people may not be candidates for our suggestions for any number of reasons. Under certain circumstances, travel may not be an option due to health issues or concerns, personal finances, or merely a distaste for the nuances of travel of which there are many.

We also understand that a certain faction of our readers have no interest in travel itself but enjoy following our day to day activities. Our vast number of readers are somehow inspired to follow our day to day posts for which we are very grateful for their interest. 

These downed trees not only provide shade but also a habitat for insects and small critters of which there are few in Kauai.

As a result, we feel it is only fair for us to disclose our perceptions on the flip side of any suggestion we may make. What are the drawbacks? Within that framework, if only one reader decides against following our recommendations and chooses an alternative path, then we’ve done our job by showing both the good and not so good.

Isn’t all of it about perception anyway?  If someone had told us, “Kauai is mostly for serious hikers with many dangerous trails and tide pools from which many tourists are killed each year,” we may have stayed away.

There’s always a chicken on the beach.

Instead, we came to Kauai, safely experiencing a few of the more difficult trails realizing that tough trails aren’t for us. However, Kauai offers so much more than tough hiking trails and dangerous tide pools as shown in our past 2½ months of daily postings with hundreds of photos.

Please click these three links for disheartening news stories on injuries and deaths that incurred on the rough trails in Hawaii, not exclusively in Kauai:

News story #1
News story #2
News story #3

What are the drawbacks to visiting Kauai from our perspective which, please keep in mind, maybe very different from yours after staying here for this extended period of time? (However, we’ve yet to meet one person who doesn’t love Kauai).

These billowy white clouds are seen almost daily.  There’s rarely a time of solid blues skies in Kauai for longer than a few hours.

Let’s take each point, one by one:

1.  Price of vacation rentals: Renting a modest single-family house under $10,000 a month is difficult if not impossible to find.  However, if two couples shared in the cost of a multi-bedroom house for a few weeks it becomes more affordable, certainly no more costly than a hotel. For an average condo rental, small such as ours at 700 square feet, the rental rates vary from approximately $150 to $200 per night. Many offer special weekly and monthly rates.  In our case, due to our frequent mention of the condo here on our site, providing great exposure for the landlord in addition to our long-term stay enabled us to benefit from a significantly reduced rate which is often the case for our long-term rentals. You know…a bird in the hand. Having a condo with a full kitchen cuts down on the necessity of dining out for each meal.  More on that in a moment.
2.  Price of hotels: St. Regis in Princeville starts at about $550 per night, the Westin Princeville at $337 per night, and the Hanalei Bay Resort at $199 with numerous other options in between. Other areas such as Lihue, Kapaa, and Poipu Beach have prices beginning at $175  a night on up. Of course, staying in a hotel adds to the rate when including WiFi fees when not included, tips, taxes, resort fees, meals, and tempting purchases.

Zooming in on a tiny bud.


3.  Cost of meals in restaurants with tax and tips: Considering each time we’ve dined out, each at mid-range restaurants, we’ve spent an average of $72 per restaurant visit, keeping in mind I don’t drink alcohol and Tom never ordering more than one cocktail. Also, we don’t order appetizers or desserts.  That’s for one meal for two people. If one had two or three meals out per day at mid-range local restaurants the cost would be from $125 to $200 per day or more depending on alcohol, sides, and desserts. However, these costs may be typical for most resort type areas. Dining in the hotels is considerably more costly, as much at 100% higher.
4.  Cost of groceries for dining in: In reviewing our Excel spreadsheet with the cost of literally every expense for food including trips to Costco, farmer’s markets, health food stores, produce stands, and grocery stores, we’re currently averaging at $47 per day. Considering that I only eat one meal a day (intermittent fasting) and Tom has one main meal and two light low carb snacks/meals, the cost for three meals a day could reach the $80 per day range. The fact that we eat no processed or packaged foods, soda, fruits, or snacks also reduces costs.  In part, our costs may be slightly heightened by eating mostly organic locally grown foods which are approximately 10% higher than mass-produced foods. The grass-fed meat we’ve been purchasing at the gas station from Curly’s Princeville Ranch is no more expensive than the grain-fed meat at Foodland. These figures may not be considered high for some travelers but for many, they could be prohibitive.

These pods are less than one inch long.

5.  Cost of airfare: Let’s face it, Hawaii is not conveniently located. From most locations, it requires multiple layovers and high fares. The average cost for each of our 12 family members that visited at Christmas was $1300 per person, round trip. In the off-season, the fare is as much as 40% less. For senior travelers with medical concerns, multiple layovers and long flights may present a problem. Also, fees for checked baggage and overweight baggage is a factor to consider.6.  Recreational Activities: If we were to list the most popular tourist activities in Kauai, as much as 85% require some level of fitness, especially the treacherous and difficult hiking trails. Many resort areas throughout the world have museums, art galleries, historical buildings, and sites easy to navigate. Hawaii, especially Kauai, is mostly about nature, although there are a few small museums. Yes, there are many tours in vans and buses but, many of these include getting out of the vehicle to view the scenery. For some seniors, this may be an obstacle and result in frustration. Many of the boat tours include rough waters with considerable bouncing about which may be difficult for some.

It’s not unusual to see many downed trees still showing signs of life along the beaches.

7.  Medical care: Most residents of Kauai with whom we’ve spoken, young and old, fly to Oahu for medical care at a cost of around $150 or more, round trip per person, for a daytime flight. If one requires frequent doctor visits, this cost and inconvenience can add up. When adding the cost of taxis, tips, and meals when arriving in Oahu, for those on a fixed income, these only increase the expense. Of course, emergency medical care and medical clinics are available on the island but, from what we’ve determined one may be more inclined to head to Oahu, if possible. It isn’t unusual for a patient to be airlifted from Kauai to Oahu for medical care. This type of insurance is vital for average travelers. (Our insurance policy includes these fees).

These downed trees are perfect on sunny days for those seeking a respite from the bright sun.

8.  The weather: Kauai is the garden island. It rains a lot. We’ve seen our next-door neighbors arrive for a week’s vacation and never experience a sunny day. For us, this is fine. For those spending upwards of $3500 for a week’s vacation, this could be very frustrating. Many of our neighbors haven’t minded the rain and have still spent every day exploring the island. But, for serious hikers, which many are, the trails are slippery and dangerous when wet. A few of our neighbors have experienced minor, non-life-threatening injuries on the trails on rainy days. For us, rainy days as for many retirees is a good day to stay home unless we’re committed to attending a social event. We’ve also experienced several sunny days in a row. During our 75 days on the island, it’s been the rainy season. With spring in full bloom, we expect we’ll see more sunny days. But, even the summers in Kauai may be rainy. If one is looking to lounge in a lawn chair by a pool, drinking tropical cocktails, occasionally walking along the beach, and dining out in fabulous restaurants, Kauai may not be a perfect choice.  Maui and Oahu may be better choices during their prime seasons with less rain. Of course, it can rain in the morning on any of the islands and become sunny for an hour or more, which is more common than not. The trade winds result in drastic weather changes in a matter of minutes. Many days, we put on our swimsuits hoping for a visit to the pool, only to change out of them a short time later when a dark cloud cover has suddenly appeared. 

The rope of this tree is ideal for a swinging splash into the water.

9.  Long drive to Lihue from many locations for shopping: Princeville has a small shopping center. One may purchase a good pair of walking shoes for $195, a dress or men’s shirt for a special occasion for $175 or more, and a pair of costume jewelry earrings for $65. The shopping center in Princeville is not unlike shopping centers in other pricey resort towns. For a 35 minute drive, one can head to Kapaa where there’s a more well-stocked larger grocery store, Safeway, Long’s Drug, and a GNC, and more, none of which are located in Princeville. If one desires to make a trip to Costco, Walmart, or a regular mall with chain type stores, a trip to Lihue, a long hour’s drive in traffic, is necessary. We’ve been to Lihue on two separate occasions to go to visit Costco and to Kapaa three times. 

None of these “flip side” observations should prohibit most tourists from visiting this glorious island of Kauai. If only to drive around the islands as far as the roads go, only occasionally getting out of the car, one would see scenery the likes of which they’ve never seen before. 

A downed tree on Anina Beach.  Children were playing off to the right.

Even sitting on the quiet, easily accessible Anini Beach on an overcast day is a pleasing experience that Julie and I enjoyed when she was here. Add the friendly people everywhere, and there’s no place on earth that we’ve seen so far that compares to Kauai.

Oops, although I’m dressed for the day, the sun just peeked out. Should I change into a swimsuit? We’ll keep an eye on it and perhaps a trip to the pool and a walk later in the day may be on the agenda. If not, we’re still content.

After all, we’re in Kauai and the view from where I am sitting at the moment is unbelievable.  Check out these two photos below for that view.

This is the view with the screen door open from my seat on the sofa as I post each morning.
By standing up and walking a few feet we’re on the lanai for this view.  It’s obvious why we love Kauai.
 

Photo from one year ago today, April 1, 2014:

Tom’s eyes scanned the interesting décor in the restaurant. For more photos, please click here.

Part 1…Why would YOU visit Kauai?…Facts about the island…

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If one can safely make it down the cliffs in Kauai to the beach, a treasure awaits them such as in this location, Kauapea Beach, also known as Secret Beach. This is my sister Julie’s photo.
Many people we’ve met during these past 2½ months in Kauai have asked if we’ll ever return to Kauai. The answer for us is clear. If and when we ever stop traveling the world, having decided to somewhat settle down, perhaps living between one or two or three locations Kauai would definitely be on the list. But, then again, so would Marloth Park, South Africa, certainly my two favorites to date. Tom says he can’t commit as to his favorite location since he hasn’t been there and it’s yet to come.
Many paths down to the beach begin innocuous such as this ending up to be quite challenging as it nears the ocean. One must exercise extreme caution on many of these trails. Almost every evening on the news we hear of yet another tourist falling to their death on difficult treks.

Today, based on our longer than usual vacation/holiday than the average traveler, we offer our perspective, as to why you, our reader, may choose to visit Kauai (and tomorrow, why not).

First, let’s start with some basic facts about the “garden island” as Kauai is so well known.

Kauai General Facts

Kauai Highlights:
Napali Coast: Take an air tour or a boat tour to witness the towering cliffs along Kauai’s North Shore.Waimea Canyon: Enjoy the panoramic views of “The Grand Canyon of the Pacific.”Wailua River: Kauai has the only navigable rivers in Hawaii and Wailua is one of the most popular. Daniel K. Inouye Kilauea Point Lighthouse: Visit this beautiful scenic point at the northernmost tip of the island.Kauai Beaches: From Poipu on the South Shore to Hanalei Bay on the North Shore, explore Kauai’s amazing beaches.
Airports:
Kauai’s main airport is Lihue Airport (LIH) in southeastern Lihue.
Kauai Resort Areas:
There are five major resort destinations on Kauai: North Shore (Princeville), East Side (Coconut Coast), Lihue (Kalapaki), South Shore (Poipu), West Side (Waimea).
Capital City: 
Lihue
Population: 
68,434 (2012)
Time Zone:
Hawaii Standard Time (GMT-10 hours), 5 hours behind the US East Coast, 6 hours behind during Daylight Saving Time (Hawaii does not observe Daylight Saving Time).
Languages:
English, Hawaiian
Flower:
MokihanaFive Largest Towns:  Highest Point:
Kawaikini Peak (5,243 feet)
Island Color: Purple
State Bird:
Nene
Land Mass:
552 Square Miles
Currency:
US dollar. Credit cards are widely accepted. Traveler’s checks are accepted at many businesses.
Climate:
Average temperature: 75˚ – 85˚F.
Ocean Temperatures:72- 80 degrees year-round
Average Daily Visitor Population:
16,160 Kapa‘a 9,472, Līhu‘e 5,674, Wailua Homesteads 4,567, Kalāheo 3,913, Hanama‘ulu 3,272

Miles of Shoreline:  90

Number of Beaches:  59
Area Code/Cell Phones:
The area code for all of Hawaii is (808). Cell phone coverage is readily available in most places if you’re coming from the United States.
Internet Access:
Internet access is readily available on Kauai and at many hotels.
Accommodations:
Luxury resorts, hotels, vacation rentals including cottages, homes and condos, as well as bed and breakfasts are located throughout the island.
Transportation:
Rent a car at Lihue Airport (LIH) to explore the island. Other options include tour buses, taxis or city buses.
Clothing:
Dress casually. Bring a light jacket for nights. Semi-casual dress clothes for restaurants and nightlife. Suits and ties are rarely worn.
Tipping:
U.S. standards apply 15-20% on meals, at least $1 per bag for porters, and at least $1 – 2 per night for housekeeping.
Kauai has more miles of beach:

And hiking trails than any other island in the Hawaiian Islands.
Kauai has been the backdrop to many Hollywood movies including Soul Surfer, Pirates of the Caribbean, Six Days Seven Nights, Jurassic Park, South Pacific, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Honeymoon in Vegas, Tropic  Thunder, and many more.

Some of the above facts may be useful in aiding you in making a decision to visit Kauai.  Of course, when arriving in the Hawaiian Islands, most visitors tend to stay a few nights or more at the other major islands, as we’ve done since arriving in late September by cruise ship:  Oahu (where Honolulu and Waikiki are located; Maui (where Lahaina and the road to Hana are located); Big Island, aka Hawai’i, where Mount Kilauea is spewing lava at present) and of course, Kauai, the garden island.

Many palm trees grow giant pods such as these from which more leaves and flowers bloom.

There are other islands to visit, also beautiful but, more remote. Many tourists visit these four major islands before heading out to Molokai and Lana’i which we haven’t visited at this time. 

Plumeria is often used in making leis. Many years ago, when I visited Hawaii, (before Tom), one would exit the plane via steps down to the tarmac. Waiting at the entrance gate, Hawaiian people would be waiting to drape a plumeria lei over the heads of visitors. This tradition has long since passed unless privately arranged in advance for a fee. 

As appealing as it would be to see these other two islands, the cost to travel to stay for a night or two wasn’t included in our budget. And, of course, we’ve been happy being able to visit Oahu, Maui, Big Island, and Kauai during this extended period of time.

This photo, although taken on a cloudy day easily bespeaks the beauty of mountains, lush greenery, and the sea. 

Let’s review some of our reasons why we’d suggest visiting Kauai, in order of our preferences:

1.  Kauai is the most beautiful island we’ve seen to date: If you’ve followed us in our travels it’s evident we’ve visited many islands to date, some for only a day on a cruise ship and others for longer periods. Without a doubt, the combination of the vast coverage of lush green vegetation over land and mountains and, the aquamarine sea and pristine beaches have made Kauai the most visually appealing island we’ve visited to date.
2.  Friendly people: Aside from South Africa, there is nowhere in the world we’ve visited that is easier to meet people. Not only have we been fortunate to meet friend Richard who’s been instrumental in including us in many social events with the local residents, which has extended to many budding new relationships. But, on our own, we’ve met literally dozens of friendly tourists most of whom have frequently visited Kauai and keep coming back for more.

Although there are many beaches in Kauai in some areas such as the northern coast a hike is often required to get down to the beach, at times treacherous and difficult unless one is in great physical condition.

3.  Grass-fed meat, non-GMO products, organic locally grown produce: Although prices on food are high in the islands, we’ve found the prices on grass-fed meat, free-range chicken and eggs, and organic products to be slightly less than we’d paid three years ago on the mainland in Minnesota. The Hawaiian people are dedicated to keeping their meat, fish, and poultry, and eggs as free from chemicals as possible. Of course, there’s plenty of lower-priced farm-raised fish, poultry and beef available at the grocery stores if one so chooses.
4.  Low crime: Lihue is the largest city in Kauai where the airport, many restaurants, shopping centers (Costco, Walmart, and more) are located. As is the case in most larger cities, the crime rate is considerably higher than in other quieter areas. It is these numbers that throw off the overall Kauai crime rate statistics. We’d never stay in Lihue with our aversion to larger cities with traffic, lines, and a higher risk of crime. Away from the “big city” the crime rate is low. Bear in mind, our comments are based on our perspective both from experience and speaking with locals. There is no available statistic on this variance from Lihue to the more remote areas.   Never on a single occasion during our time here in Princeville or in visiting the resort areas and sightseeing in other areas of the island away from the big city, have we ever felt unsafe. That feeling of safety doesn’t prevent us from locking doors, securing our equipment, and keeping a watchful eye wherever we may go.

It’s only a one minute walk across Ka Haku Road in front of our condo to the ocean and this beautiful coral sea.

5.  Chickens and birds: Although most of Hawaii’s wildlife lives in the sea and we’ve certainly seen our share of the Humpback whales who’s season in the islands is coming to a rapid close, we’ve particularly enjoyed bird watching; the Laysan Albatross and the wide variety of birds even seen from our lanai on a daily basis. But, the chickens have provided us with an enormous amount of heartwarming and laugh-worthy experiences we’ll always remember. Sure, many locals are annoyed by the constant presence, some taking extreme measures to keep them off of their property. We’ve heard tourists complain about being unable to sleep with the rooster’s crowing beginning as early as 4 or 5 am. For us, in a matter of a few days, we adapted to the noise eventually not hearing it at all, as is the case for most locals. As for them running around parking lots, on the side of the road, at every venue where food or people may be present, we’ve loved it all. Also, Hawaii is a bird watcher’s paradise, particularly when hiking and visiting more remote locations. 
6.  Multitude of recreational activities: At this point, we’ve toured almost all of the island accessible by our tiny rental vehicle. There are endless opportunities for surfing, swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, zip-lining, hiking (a hiker’s paradise but with many dangerous trails), or simply walking and taking in the scenery. With 59 beaches in Kauai, one could easily enjoy visiting as many as possible. Also, a strong sense of community pervades Kauai and many planned social activities and events are open to the public, some at no cost and others for a nominal fee. 

Ah, a lazy day sitting under a tree with a cold beverage and a good book in hand is all many visitors to the island require to make a glorious vacation. Not everyone is into adventure hikes and sightseeing. Many tourists come to the islands to get away from a “must do” lifestyle, preferring to relax and unwind from busy everyday life.  Lounging on the beach, dining in a fun popular restaurant, and drinking Mai Tai’s is all some travelers need for a perfect vacation.

7.  Easily accessible roads: It’s easy to get around Kauai and almost impossible to get lost. There are only a few highways that wrapped around the island from beach town to beach town. If traffic and road construction weren’t an issue, one could easily travel from one side of the island to the other in 90 minutes. However, with traffic in certain areas and road construction often in the works, one must plan their travels accordingly. The northwest coast of the island is inaccessible by road suitable for most cars. Thus, one cannot drive around the entire island.

A scene of a part of the grounds at the Dolphin Restaurant in Hanalei where Julie and I had lunch a few weeks ago.

Other travelers may add to or change this list based on their personal preferences. For us, senior citizens, world travelers, these are the reasons that we’ve loved Kauai and are most glaring. If you’ve spent time in Kauai please comment sharing your experiences at the end of today’s post. We’d love to hear from you!

We’ll return tomorrow with “Part 2, Why would YOU visit Kauai?” including some of the reasons, you may not choose to visit Kauai or for that matter, Hawaii in general. Please check back!

                                              Photo from one year ago today, March 30, 2014:

We posted this video when it was raining inside our riad in Marrakech. During rainstorms, we stayed in the salon, one of the many rooms that surrounded the open air courtyard. For details of that day’s post, please click here.

A native of Kauai, a professional photographer shares her art…Fine art, that is…

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Hanalei Bay Beauty

Last Sunday, at the monthly Princeville Artisan Fair, I met Alia DeVille, a talented and passionate young woman born in Kauai who has adopted the fine “art” of photography.

Chicks in a Coconut

Alia has a skilled and knowledge-driven technique and the ability to create some of the most artistic photographs we have seen in our world travels. As many of our creative and tech savvy photographers /readers are aware, simply taking a good photo of a good scene in itself is an art; the lighting, the angles and the perspective are integral in the creation of a fine photo.

Hanalei Taro Field Glow

With technology at our disposal, there are many complicated, intensive use apps and tools available, many acquired at extraordinary expense, that in the right hands can take a good photo and turn it into fine art. The ability to create this magic is definitely evident in the delicate and crafted hands of Alia DeVille.

Upon meeting her at the fair, I couldn’t take my eyes off of her work. As an amateur photographer with my own passion for a good photo, I was particularly interested in her art. 

Emerald Pool

For myself, as a somewhat tech savvy individual who’s never done more than remove a power line from a photo using the $20 app, Inpaint, or darkening or lightening a photo in the free Fotor app, I can only imagine the intricate work required to turn a good photo into fine art. Alia DeVille has done just that with a finesse one seldom has the opportunity to discover along the way.

Enchanting Makana

Alia is a self taught professional landscape photographer with a love for nature and her island of Kauai. Since childhood, she dreamed of traveling the world as a National Geographic photographer but has found herself entrenched in the exquisite beauty right here at home in Kauai.  

Action and Reaction

Alia expresses in her own words, “Born on the North Shore and  growing up on with the Na Pali Coast and the trails of Kauai as my playground has seeded a strong passion for the incredible natural environment.”

Hanakapi’ai Revealed

For Alia, it its “Not about rules and norms, more about telling a story about a place, embracing the scene and expressing what I see and feel. Waking up to see the mountains towering over the turquoise ocean continually inspires me to capture the immense beauty that surrounds the island.”

Lumahai Radiance

She continues, “Art has always been a passion, and expressing my love of art in photography is a dream come true. Native plants, the beach, the garden, and the stunning beauty of Kauai, provides endless inspiration for my photographs.”

Paradise Found

“To love what you do is the real drive for my life and photography. Seeking moments that seem to take your breath away and make you see the splendor of the ever changing natural world is what I aim to convey.”

“In photography and in life you may not know if you’re in the right place, at the right time, but if you turn around before you get there, you just might miss something amazing. Take that step…that adventure…and it will be well worth it.”
A Blaze of Light
Today, we’re excited to share a few of Alia DeVille’s photos. For many more exquisite works of art, please click one of the several links posted here today with her name to be directed to her website where any of her art may be purchased, if so desired.
Thank you, Alia for sharing your art with us* for our readers and for all of the world to see! 

*Please respect the integrity of these copyrighted photos by Alia DeVille by not copying them for any purposes whether personal or business use. All rights reserved. Federal copyright law prohibits unauthorized reproduction of these photos by any means and imposes fines up for violation. 

                                              Photo from one year ago today, March 29, 2014:
A year ago today, we posted a series of facts about the country of Morocco including information about its monarchy, population, size and government.  Please click here for more details.

The days turn into nights…And the nights were never ending…Puff the Magic Dragon…

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This scene of Hanalei Beach looks out to a sleeping dragon-shaped mountain that inspired Peter, Paul, and Mary to interpret the song written by a friend, “Puff the Magic Dragon, lived by the sea and frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Hanalei.” There’s considerable speculation that the words to the song were mainly centered around smoking marijuana which grew prolifically in Hanalei. In the future, we’ll be writing more about Hanalei where many movies have been filmed over the years. Here’s a good video that further explains the shape of the dragon.

When I was 12 years old I started writing poetry, shortly after my father passed away from a tragic accident.  It’s ironic how creativity is often born of tragedy and sorrow. For years I wrote poetry with delusions that one day I’d be a great poet.

The heading in today’s post is a line from a poem I wrote at 12 years old that popped into my head as soon as I awoke this morning after a fitful night of tossing and turning. I blamed it on too much hot tea late yesterday, excess caffeine having a profound effect on my sleep.

A colorful Adirondack chair behind a rope fence.

It’s not as if I’m worried about anything in particular. Oh, you know, we all worry about this and that, impeding our ability to sleep. I’m certainly no exception. If I don’t have anything to worry about, which I don’t, I can always conjure up a shortlist to keep me busy while wide awake at 3:00 am.

With upcoming travels in mind, flights on small planes, long distances, and the unknown as to the quality of where we’ll be living, a litany of worry options is always readily available.

This puff flower was no larger than the size of a dime. It’s fun to notice the “little things.”

Why didn’t I pursue becoming a poet? Life, as they say, got in the way; married at 17, a mom at 19, divorced at 26, owning a business, two boys to raise on my own, leaving little time for dreaming of poetry.

And now, why don’t I do it now? Why don’t I write the book I dreamed of writing for most of my life? I certainly have the time. By 11:00 am each morning, I’m done posting here leaving my only task for the remainder of the day to get out to take photos for the next day’s post, a pleasant task we do more days than not.

This tiny blue flower was smaller than the size of a pea. Zooming in I noticed this sweet looking bloom.

What else do I have to do? Cook a little dinner? Watch Dr. Phil at 3:00 pm while we’re still in the US? Go to the pool and fitness center? Set the table for dinner using dish towels for linen napkins and placemats when none others are on hand? 

Oh, dear, I don’t mean to sound boring. I am never bored, not for a minute. This little brain has a magical way of entertaining me one way or another if merely a flash of apathy wanders through its neurons. Instantaneously, I twirl on my heels and a new idea pops into my conscientiousness and I’m off on a new tangent, excited, energized, and interested.

In Hawaii, many trees produce berries that proliferate into new leaves and flowers.

I decided against writing the book. Most certainly, we’d have plenty of fodder for what may prove to be moderately appealing to the growing senior population as to the nuances of travel for us older folks, whether short or long term. But, I’ve totally lost interest in writing the book. 

If we got a publisher (for which we’ve been approached) or if we self-published (popular these days) it would seem like the dreaded WORK. Nothing, money nor notoriety, could possibly appeal enough to either of us to put ourselves in a position feeling as if we’re working again. Nothing.

It’s hard to imagine that at future points in our travels, we won’t be a stone’s throw from a beach.

As for poetry? Ah, that desire is long gone. I don’t have enough angst in my life these days to be able to translate that pain and sorrow into poetic prose. Nor, would I want to summon up the sorrowful memories of decades long passed. I’m too happy now to write poetry other than occasional playful, rhyme-ful, iambic pentameter. Those days are long gone.

Fulfillment? What does that look like now? It looks like this life The simplicity of idle time, the simplicity of taking photos, the simplicity of observing wildlife, scenery, and vegetation fill my heart to the brim.

Hibiscus, Hawaii’s state flower, are everywhere, growing throughout the year. This was surely the largest Hibiscus we’d seen to date, larger than a baseball glove and the first we’d seen in this gorgeous shade of orange.

Then, his companionship; the lively banter, the romantic moments and the touch of a hand ever so lightly, coupled with an eye crinkling smile easily fills in any possible gaps if, but for a second I may wonder, I may question, “Is this really my life? How did I get so lucky?”

Tom says it’s not luck. It’s a lifetime of hard work and planning. But, I look at it more esoterically, as being a gift from heaven bestowed upon me for patience, perseverance and above all, for hope.

The lovely beach overlooking the dragon.

Writing here each morning, come “Hell or high water” so they say, has filled me with a deep sense of fulfillment, added to all of the above, that makes me incapable of deserving, or of taking, a moment to pine, to worry, to lay awake at night conjuring up worries. So what if I have a fitful night that seemed “never-ending?” 

The morning light offers up a new day to embrace with awe, wonder, and gratefulness and, boredom, dear readers, is never on the agenda.

                                             Photo from one year ago today, March 28, 2014:

The riad in Marrakech was filled with mirrors. We counted 17 as we took photos of many of them to post one year ago today. For more photos, please click here.

How could we not share this live testament to life? Plus, new photos from a walk…

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PLEASE CLICK THE FOLLOWING LINK FOR THE LIVE ALBATROSS CAM FROM CORNELL LABS HERE IN KAUAI THAT WE’VE BEEN WATCHING SINCE THE CHICK HATCHED.  IT’S AMAZING!

Albatross Live Nest Cam

Often times, the birds, hang out together, that may or may not be related. This could be the parents of the smaller bird from a previous season or the bird of another family.

As we’re certain that all of our readers are aware, we’ve spent considerable time observing the life cycle of the Laysan Albatross since we arrived in Kauai in January. The adult albatross build their nests in November and equally spend time sitting on their solitary egg.

We had no idea that these birds that we’d occasionally seen momentarily landing on our cruise ship or flying above our heads at sea would provide us with such a strong passion and interest in their life cycle and well being.

This chick is getting fatter each day. It can survive for many days when the parents head out to sea for food, utilizing its own fat stores for water and fuel.

For our readers with little interest in birds, we hope we haven’t bored you with our frequent posting as to their progress. It wasn’t too long ago that we developed a keen interest in birds which has escalated as we observed the albatross.

With little wildlife besides birds in the Hawaiian Islands, we’ve found ourselves replacing our interests in big game and wild animals, to birds while in Kauai for these long four months, surprisingly never disappointed. 

By no means are we avid bird watchers nor do we profess to know anything about birds besides the albatross for whom we’ve learned quite a bit. However, the more time we spend in Kauai, the more of an interest we’ve developed in all species of birds. 

And yes, every morning and several times per day, when we open or stand by the windows and door to the lanai, the same pairs of Brazilian Cardinals aka, Red-capped Cardinal, Northern Cardinals and Zebra Doves, have stopped by to visit hoping for a taste of the unsalted raw walnuts we’d purchased at Costco.

This Red Cardinal stops by several times per day with his smaller female partner, looking for a handout which we generously provide.

Even one particular Brazilian Cardinal has come to know me well enough that his scratchy little feet climb onto my hand to quickly grab at a bite of a chopped walnut from the palm of my hand. My heart always does a flip flop.

The Northern Cardinals are shy and there are a male and a female to whom we refer to as his “wife” who often stop by together peacefully sharing the bits of walnuts, at times taking morsels from each other’s mouths. We swoon when we watch them interact.

Zebra Doves often stop by to scare away the smaller birds from enjoying the morsels of raw nuts we leave for them. Tom calls them “pigeons.”

At times, there’s a scuffle between breeds but, it’s interesting how the same breeds get along so well. For all, we know they have a nest somewhere which they’re returning to with our tenderly offered morsels presented several times each day.

I stumbled upon the above webcam as I scoured the web in an attempt to expand our knowledge of the Laysan Albatross. Having met Bob Waid, the author of the beautiful book on the albatross, and spending considerable time with Cathy Granholm who has been a docent for the Los Angeles Zoo for over 26 years, we feel we finally have an amateur understanding of the life cycle of the Laysan Albatross.

Yesterday, we walked to the beach at the St. Regis Hotel.  All beaches are open to the public and anyone can use the beach. The challenge is getting there down steep paths to use the beach.

We’re grateful to both Cathy and Bob for sharing some of their vast knowledge and familiarity of these amazing birds who nest in their own yards in the nearby neighborhood here in Princeville.

The webcam shown here today is from another area in Kauai close to the sea, near the town of Hanapepe. After watching the local chicks develop close to our home and stopping by to visit every few days, we also feel a close affinity to the chick on the webcam, south of here by no less than an hour’s drive.

Red berries growing on a palm tree.

In these past weeks since the chicks hatched in early February, we’ve had the opportunity to watch the parent’s magical process of feeding the chick on the webcam, at a closer vantage point than when we’ve visited the neighborhood where the families reside.

Frequently, the parents head to sea for days or perhaps weeks, searching for food for the chick which when they later return, they regurgitate for the chick to eat. Being able to see this process is exhilarating, to say the least. 

A view of the massage cabana at the St. Regis Hotel in Princeville. Room rates start at $550 per night, more for ocean views.

I must admit that I’m a little obsessed with watching the webcam, often finding Tom looking over my shoulder to also get a glimpse. We giggle and laugh aloud over the antics of the chick and then, when on occasion, both parents are at the chick’s side feeding, preening, clacking, dancing, and singing with pure joy in their hearts.

Yesterday, we watched a third, then a fourth grown albatross come by to inspect the chick. Both the mom and dad flapped their wings, clacked their beaks, and raised their heads in protest of the intruders. The outsiders quickly departed.

Some of the other adult’s eggs never hatch and yet both parents will continue to sit on the bad eggs for weeks until finally the egg breaks or disintegrates and they realize they are not going to be parents this season.

The views from St. Regis are exquisite.

Later, they take off back out to sea until next season when most will return to the same spot to breed and nest once again. Oh, Life…so magical.

In months to come, the parent will fly out to sea one day, usually in June, July, or as late as August, and never return to the now pudgy chick who sits in the nest day after day waiting for food. When days or even weeks pass and the parents purposely fail to return, the chick’s appetite and newfound maturity will finally inspire her/him to fledge at long last, when she/he is already six or seven months old.

I can only imagine having the kind of “safari luck” to see the moment in time when the chubby chick in this webcam finally fledges and heads out to sea. Oh, would that we could actually see this miraculous event!

Another view of the grounds of the St. Regis Hotel.

The chick will remain out to sea for five to seven years, resting in the water from time to time, feeding and flying thousands of miles to distant shores, to possibly return to the exact home of their birth at which time they’re finally matured and they’ll mate, often for life, repeating this same cycle in this same location. It’s truly a miracle.

Last night, we went to dinner with new friends Cheryl and Paul who are leaving Kauai today, to the local TikiIniki restaurant, a venue we’d experienced in the past. The menu offered few options for me but the staff went overboard to ensure I had a satisfying meal. 

Tiny flowers for which we “zoomed in” to take this photo.

Today, after dining out three times this week, a bit of chopping, dicing, and meal prep is on the agenda as we prepare for tonight’s dinner and also pot luck dinner to bring to Richard’s home tomorrow night. 

An hour-long walk in the neighborhood, an hour by the pool at the Makai Club, and time spent at the overlook across the street will provide another fine day in our pleasing, yet simple lives.

Have a fantastic Friday!

                                          Photo from one year ago today, March 27, 2014:

Doors in Morocco hold a lot of significance in the lives of the Moroccan people. Beautiful and unique doors may be found at every turn when walking through the Medina, aka the Big Square and the souks. For more details and photos, please click here.