Full Moon Party…Great outdoor turnout in the cloudy weather!…Pu pu’s…Social life continues…A trek down to Hideaway’s Beach…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 0 Comment
Partway down the steep trail, we spotted this view, a few days ago when the sun came out and we headed down the path to Hideaway’s Beach. Wow!  Today’s remaining photos are of the trek down to the beach, not the Full Moon Party.

We thought the planned outdoor Full Moon Party would be canceled due to bad predicted rain.  When it was cloudy but not raining when it was time to go, we grabbed our beverages and our homemade “pu pu” (appetizer in Hawaiian), and off we went to Richard’s house to help set up a few tables.

We were surprised that the steep path was paved most of the way down. If a person has knee or back problems this would be too steep of a trek to the bottom. 

With our fabulous normal height Costco beach chairs, our beverages and dressed in warm clothes, we made our way to the ocean view vacant grass trimmed lot where the party was to be held.

We noticed that photos do a poor job of illustrating how steep a path may be.

Tom helped Richard set up the tables in the relatively heavy winds, while I stood bundled up trying to stay warm. At that point at 6:00 pm, as the darkness fell, I assumed few would show and we’d be packing up everything and heading home in no time. Hawaiian residents are hearty. Rain or shine they’re ready for a good time.

The clarity of the seawater below was breathtaking.

Some of these monthly parties are held at the homes of local residents and others are held on this beautiful vacant lot. Much to our surprise, by 6:10 other bundled up guests were making their way to the sheltered spot we’d selected. By 6:30 there may have been 25 party guests and the fun began. 

Turning around to shoot the path we just climbed, we laughed over how it didn’t appear as steep as it felt.

Richard, bless his heart, is the coordinator and planner of many of these events. In his usual social director style which we all love and appreciate, he makes sure that all is in order and plenty of people are coming. 

We weren’t the only ones visiting this remote location.

We met many wonderful new people we hadn’t met last month and saw many we’d met in the past, spending considerable time with a new couple, Beverly and Sam who invited us to their home this upcoming Saturday for their twice a month “movie night.” They invite numerous guests to come to their home for a huge screen movie viewing event with guests bringing more “pu pu’s” to share.

Areas of Hideaway’s Beach are covered with lava rock but not nearly as much as the beaches on the Big Island, where there are few sandy beaches.

Saturday is our 20th wedding anniversary. Today, we’ll cancel the dinner reservation we made at a local restaurant, instead, going to the movie party. With many less than ideal reviews on most local restaurants, we surely won’t miss anything not dining out. What a great way to celebrate!

By the time we reached the bottom, we were warm.  With the sun peeking out, the temperature and humidity climbed considerably.

Again, thanks to our dear friend Richard for orchestrating and including us in these events which invariably result in us making more and more friends, many of whom are experienced world travelers, many having seen more world than we have in the past 29 months since we left Minnesota.

Almost to the bottom, we stopped at a level area designated for a picnic with tables and grill. It would be great to picnic here but carrying a cooler up and down would be tricky.

We never felt a drop of rain and after a while, the wind died down a bit making the event in the dark all the more enjoyable. Back home by 9:00 pm and hungry since there was little I could eat of the pu pu’s, I whipped up a quick bite to take off the edge.

The flat open space near the end of the path.

Today is a workout day. As soon as I’m done here I’m off to the golf club to work out with Richard whom we meet there many mornings after uploading the day’s post. We won’t use the pool today in the cool cloudy weather.

Finally, the sandy beach was before us.

There’s still no sun and the temperature is in the 60s, not Hawaii’s usual 70s and 80s. We’d lucked out with sun most days during our first month in Kauai and hardly feel frustrated at this point after two full weeks of rain and clouds.

The hardest part is the lack of desire to get out and do any sightseeing in the less than ideal weather. With 79 days remaining in Kauai, surely the sun will shine again.

Looking up, we realized how far down we’d come. More photos tomorrow.

Today’s photos are those we took a few days ago when the sun came out for about an hour. Immediately, we took off on foot to check out Hideaway’s Beach, a steep incline to the below the cliffs across the road from us.  We’ll share these photos over a period of a few days with too many to post at one time.

Have a happy day!

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

Hamoudi, the owner of a spice shop in the souk with Tom. We wandered around the maze-like souks, the most popular of which is the Jemaa el Fna, located outside the front door to our riad. For more details on that date, please click here.

Perfect day with friends…More rain predicted…Nothing like a comfy chair and friends…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 6 Comments
It’s no wonder the chicken proliferates and hang out at the beaches when surfers and bathers can’t resist feeding them their lunch. No one seems to mind the chickens and roosters, instead finding humor in their presence, as we do.

Yesterday, we spent the entire afternoon at friend’s Elaine and Richard’s home meeting a new couple, Carol and David. Oh, good grief, we all had so much in common and many stories to share.

We told Richard he was the best matchmaker of people in the world, a true proverbial social director and people connector. It requires tremendous self-confidence to be able to step back from the limelight in a friendship to introduce one’s friends to new people. Not everyone can do this. Richard is an expert in this area and we appreciate both he and Elaine.

At times, on clear days, a perfect stretch of beach is unoccupied such as shown here.

They set a beautiful table and their gorgeous home was, as always, impeccably appointed and inviting. Sitting in the beautiful living room after our delicious meal all of us relaxed while the animated conversation continued.  Richard insisted I sit in a comfy chair next to his favorite chair.

As I reclined, finding the soothing comfort in the chair, I was reminded of my comfy chair in our old life, a chair that offered cocoon-like ease that allowed my mind to flow with thoughts, plans, and ideas as I sat there for 11 months, day after day, planning our worldwide travels. 

Alternate view of a section of Anina Beach.

I‘d stop only long enough to head to the health club for my workout, a quick trip to the grocery store, a fast meal preparation, or a visit with family or friends. 

Day after day, I sat in that beautiful Flexsteel chair, two of which we’d had made specifically for that room many years prior, each slightly different. Writing here, documenting, calculating, and planning every possible element of the first two years of our travels, now since the past was spent in that chair. 

Bathers continue to visit the sandy beaches on overcast days.

I know I’ve mentioned this in past posts but, for those who’ve come in partway in reading our over 900 posts to date, that chair held a special meaning for me, far more than any item we had in our home that we’d acquired together over the years. That chair.

In October 2012, when the estate sale professionals came to our house for four days, (we’d moved out to live with my friend Karen) in order to sell our belongings, my heart ached over the eventual sale of the chair.

Anini Beach shoreline on a cloudy day. 

At the end of the first day of the sale, the estate sale company owner asked me to stop by to see how the first day had gone and to discuss price reductions for the next day. I arrived too early. The sale was still in progress.

As I walked around the house, I saw my chair in the dumpster. That chair. Apparently, someone had purchased it and when moving it out a leg broke. It was placed into the dumpster. Who’d buy a chair that couldn’t stand on four legs?

One of our favorite dinners consists of meatloaf stuffed with hard-boiled eggs, wrapped in bacon, green beans, coleslaw, and our homemade coconut biscuits, all low carb, grain-free,  gluten-free, starch-free, and sugar-free.

My heart ached as I stood at the dumpster looking at that chair and for the first time, asking myself, “What in the world are we doing, selling all of our worldly possessions, leaving everyone we know and love for some elusive dream?”

Not one to cry easily, I returned to my car parked out of sight and cried my heart out. “Let go!” I reminded myself, “Just let go!”

There’s another grocery store in Hanalei, Big Save. Unfortunately, their inventory is less robust than the Foodland in Princeville which is lacking in some products we use frequently, requiring us to drive 30 minutes to Kapaa where there’s a health food grocer and a larger Safeway.

After 20 years of pain and poor health, totally at bay due to the dietary changes for over a year at that point, we could finally travel, see the world, spread our wings, and stretch ourselves beyond the self-imposed limits of a lifetime. 

“Don’t cry over “stuff.” I told myself. I “pulled myself up by my bootstraps” as they say and went back to meet with the estate sale guy. I can’t say I never cried again before we left. After all, leaving everything and above all, everyone, wasn’t easy.

We continue to encounter one-lane bridges in Kauai. A posted sign states, “No more than seven cars may pass at one time.” Drivers are courteous in complying, counting the cars as they pass.

But, like the fulfillment of all dreams, sacrifice is a necessary element. Nothing worthwhile comes easy, a painful lesson we all learn in life as we mature into adults.

Agave plants can grow these snake-like protrusions.

So, yesterday, as I nuzzled into Elaine and Richard’s comfy chair, surrounded by friendship and love, a wave of divine happiness washed over my heart in such a way, it almost felt as if it rolled over in my chest. 

These types of signs prevent lifeguards from answering endless questions.

No, we don’t own a house or have an apartment somewhere. We don’t have a car tucked away in a friend’s garage. We don’t have storage space with “stuff” awaiting a time we’ll settle down. And, we don’t have a comfy chair we call our own.

A sign posted at Tunnels Beach.

What we do have travels well, isn’t heavy, and doesn’t require any special handling. Its passion, enthusiasm, optimism, and hope. Its curiosity, a sense of adventure, awe, and wonder. For this, we are grateful. With this, we are “home.”

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

No photos were posted on this date one year ago. Finally, after an overnight and day of travel, we’d made it to Morocco and we busy getting situated. Tomorrow, we’ll share our first photos of our arrival in Marrakech. Please check back. 

The challenges of posting daily with photos…One year ago today we left South Africa for Morocco…A sad goodbye…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 0 Comment
With little wildlife in Kauai, other than chickens and roosters, we find ourselves more attracted to birds than we’ve been in the past. These Zebra Doves are commonly found in Kauai although not native to the Hawaiian Islands.

When we first started posting in March, 2012 we seldom posted photos. During the early period, I posted every few days, occasionally adding a photo as we were in the early stages of planning to travel the world. 

The marina in Port Allen, Kauai.

For those of you who entered our site somewhere in between, here is our first post from March 14, 2012, posted without any photos.

As time marched on, I began to write more frequently. When we realized that adding photos was to be an integral part of this site, gradually we added photos, more and more as my skills reach a level where it wasn’t embarrassing to include my feeble attempts at photo taking.

A view from a single lane bridge we crossed along Highway 56.

In March 2013, a full two years ago as of tomorrow, we began to post daily, including photos, only missing a few days here and there due to a poor wifi signal, power outages, or travel days. Although on most travel days, we’ve posted something, albeit short and without photos.   

It’s ironic that there were milestones in March in both 2012 and 2013 but it’s a mere coincidence. Sometime this upcoming summer we’ll hit our 1000th post. It’s hard to believe I’d consistently do one thousand of anything, let alone write every single day. We’ll certainly mention that day when it arrives in July.

The mountains, a few days before the rains.

I’m not tired or bored with doing this nor is Tom with his fact-checking, research, and proofreading. It’s a labor of love coupled with a passion for sharing our sometimes exciting, sometimes mundane, lives with those who will listen. I suppose if I started reading such a continuing story I’d always be curious as to what happens next.

We’ve thought about whale watching tours such as this but after spending over $400 on such tours with no sightings, we tend to hesitate to book another.  Perhaps, we’ll wait for whale watching in the South Pacific.

No words in this amateur writer’s vocabulary can possibly express the gratitude we both feel for our loyal readers who follow along with us even on the dull days with few exciting photos or with photos they may find less interesting. 

A hazy zoom to houses built into the side of a mountain.

My photo-taking skills continue to grow but can only grow as fast as the quality of the camera we have at any given time. On our third camera since we first left the US on January 3, 2013 (we left Minnesota on October 31, 2012), we still have a long way to go. When does an amateur photographer ever feel they can stop learning or improving their equipment?

Rock gardens always baffle us as shown at Russian Port Elizabeth. Of course, in August, 2014 we visited Stonehenge, the premier rock garden of them all.

One of the biggest challenges has been having enough photos to share each day. Its on our minds daily, where shall we go to take more photos? At times like this, when its been raining for three solid days, neither of us have much desire to get out and walk or even drive looking for photo ops.

Not all beaches in Kauai are sandy and pristine. 

At any given time, I have no less than 50 photos I’ve yet to post which I keep in a folder on my desktop, each day moving the photos I’ve used that day to a permanent file. On occasion, when we do post the same photo more than once, I say so in the caption. That’s not to say I don’t make an error from time to time. Gosh, try to write an essay with photos everyday and not make mistakes.  It goes with the territory. 

If perfection were the objective, one would tire of doing this rather quickly. Knowing our readers give nary a thought to our occasional error, I go at it each morning between 7:00 and 11:00 am (our time) with a passion only I can explain. Its been almost three years since the first post, two years since posting daily.

A breakwater with a warning light and a small fishing boat.

This morning as I perused our remaining yet unseen 78 photos, I contemplated the nature of a theme in the photos, which invariably I attempt to include although not always mentioned. 

Today, I’m at a loss so please bear with me. There is no theme, no rhyme or reason to these photos and perhaps those over the next several day’s photos as the predicted week-long rain continues.

One day we stopped by the Kilauea Lighthouse which was closed for the day, hoping to see whales. We’ve yet to tour the lighthouse with it been so crowded on the days it’s open, Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm. We didn’t see whales but will return for a tour as the tourist season wanes in a few months.

Once the sun shines again, we’ll be back out walking and driving enjoying the wonders of Kauai, telling our story in both words and photos, sharing them with all of you the next day.

Luckily, although its raining, we still have a social life. Today, we’re off to friends Richard and Elaine’s lovely home for a midday party with another couple we’ve yet to meet. There’s no doubt it will be a delightful day, although indoors, as we revel in the privilege of having friends in Kauai.

A craggy shoreline in our area of Princeville, where most beaches are located below a steep and treacherous cliffs, often inaccessible. A mere 10 to 15 minute drive will take us to exquisite sandy beaches as shown in past posts.

As soon as I’m done here, I’ll make the second dish I’m bringing to share upon my own insistence. Yesterday, I prepared the first dish. Since our cozy condo is simply too small for entertaining anyone other than ourselves, we feel highly motivated to bring a dish (when appropriate) when visiting other’s homes.

Rain, snow, or shine, we all tend to find ways to keep ourselves entertained and hopefully, engrossed in whatever we choose to do. Happy Saturday!

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

We took this photo, our last sunset in South Africa, as our plane headed out of South Africa. Tears welled up in my eyes not only when saying goodbye to our many friends but also to the many visitors that oddly came to call over the last several days as if they knew we were leaving. (Oh, well. Its romantic to think that anyway). Someday, we’ll return. In the interim, our hearts are filled with memories we’ll carry with us for the rest of our lives. For details from that day as we made our way to Morocco, please click here.

Rain predicted for a week…It’s still paradise…More new photos…A year ago mascot as time to leaving South Africa neared…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 0 Comment
Before the week-long predicted rain, it was clearer than we’d seen since our arrival, with considerably less “vog.”

It’s been sunny in Kauai almost every day since we arrived over six weeks ago. One of our new friends has said we brought the sunshine with us. Many locals have mentioned it rains a lot in the winter months as shown in this chart, but until these past two days, we haven’t had much rain.

Nawiliwili, Kauai, HI Weather
Temperature (Fahrenheit)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
High 78 78 78 79 81 83 84 85 85 83 81 79
Low 65 65 66 68 70 72 73 74 73 72 70 67
Temperature (Celsius)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
High 26 26 26 26 27 28 29 29 29 28 27 26
Low 18 18 19 20 21 22 23 23 23 22 21 19
Precipitation
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Inches 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 2 2 5 5 6
Centimeters 13 10 10 8 8 5 5 5 5 13 13 15
Precipitation Days
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Days 15 13 17 17 16 16 19 18 16 18 18 17
Humidity
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Percent 82 82 81 81 81 80 80 81 82 83 82 81

Many times it rains only at night or for a few minutes during the day. On Tuesday, while the sun was shining we headed out for our walk only to find it raining when the sun is shining, not unusual in Hawaii. With the fear of getting the camera soaked, we went back inside. It’s been raining since.

Yesterday, when I headed to the club, I got soaked from the car to the fitness center and again when I stopped at the Foodland market for a few items. I never see a local using an umbrella, only the tourists. In an effort to fit in during our extended stay and the fact that we don’t have an umbrella, I was soaked along with everyone else.

Blue waters.

It was funny to see all the soaked hair and clothes while grocery shopping including my own. Oh well, I was dry shortly after returning home and my hair was resolved by a quick swipe or two of the flat iron.

Today’s photos are from our last walk on Tuesday when the sun was shining.

With our extended stay of four months, with less than three remaining, we find ourselves feeling more and more like locals than ever before. At the grocery store, I found myself buying the quaint local newspaper, The Garden Island, later reading it from cover to cover, savoring every word as if it all mattered to me. Somehow it did.

The vibrant greenery with the sea as a backdrop creates an appealing scene.

This happens to us when we stay in a locale for three months, more so than a stay of six weeks to two months.  Perhaps, that feeling of inclusion is self imposed by some innate desire to “belong” as we’ve observed in the wildlife kingdom where familiarity is the foundation of feeling safe and secure. We, humans, are like that too.

Traveling down the cliffs to get to this cozy beach is too treacherous for us old-timers.

I suppose that’s why those of you who are armchairs readers of our posts, for whom we are very grateful, find yourself only dreaming of traveling the world unable to conceive of letting go of that which you know and love.  We get that.

Tom and I are the “weird” exception to the instinct of nesting. We often wonder if it’s due to a few facts; one, we both had kids as teenagers and faced responsibility so early in life, and two, my years’ long illness prevented us from traveling. 

The craggy rocks and vegetation are common along the shoreline in the Hawaiian Islands.

Neither of us had ever dreamed of traveling, let alone unencumbered with “stuff.” Four years ago, before we ever conceived of this idea, I couldn’t have imagined giving up my comfy chair in the family room, the various artwork on the walls, or my four colored sets of Fiestaware.

The colors are of the sea are breathtaking.

We were like most people who feel proud of the various items we’d discovered throughout the years incorporating them into our lives as treasured possessions. 

As the tide rolls out…

Besides all the obvious challenges of leaving all the people we love, we left the neighborhood where we’d spent 26 years for me, 21 years for Tom; the familiar walks in the neighborhood, the sounds of the loons calling to one another a distance from the shore, the giant owls hooting in the trees at night and what Tom affectionately called Big Bird, the blue herons that often stood on the end of our dock while we oohed and aahed each time they came to call.

Spring flowers begin to bloom as spring comes early in tropical climates.

Do we miss all of that?  Surprisingly, only for a moment when we’re reminded of something special. Instead, we’ve found new treasures, not a comfy chair or a hand-carved lamp made from downed trees in the yard.  We’ve found other treasure, none of which we can take with us.

Cattle egrets are common in the islands.

This morning, another rainy day that isn’t predicted to clear, I sit here in a less comfy chair with the sounds of roosters crowing in the yard. My little “birdie” friends will soon arrive chirping at me for yet another morsel of the raw walnuts I put outside on the veranda railing every day.

Soon, I’ll head back to the grocery store when last night I realized I’d forgotten an important ingredient for the dishes I’m making to bring to a luncheon at the home of friends tomorrow. And, once again, I’ll get soaked in the rain and once again, I won’t mind.

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

The caption I wrote last February 27th, on the day before leaving South Africa holds true today in regard to the small things: “Thank you, Mr. Tree Frog for serving as the mascot for all the “small things” that brought us so much pleasure during our time in Marloth Park. Even you will be remembered.” For photos of other visitors that came to say goodbye on our final days in Marloth Park, please click here.

Continuation of the road trip to Poipu Beach…A wide array of sites to see…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 0 Comment
The horse seemed happy to see me as I approached the fence,with giving us his version of a smile.
As we drove away, the horse’s eyes stayed with us. He, too, enjoyed the short interaction.
Unable to see the Waimea Canyon due to the vog (fog and volcanic smog) the ride back down the mountain was relatively quick.  As we lowered in elevation, the air began to clear, although the sky was still hazy.
Back at sea level, the sky cleared and the scenery was breathtaking.

With a plan to turn right toward Barking Sands Beach (photos tomorrow) once we reached the main highway, Highway 50, we continued along the road, spotting the photos ops we’re showing here today. 

This creek wandered along the quiet road.

When the above horse smile at us, animal lovers that we are, we couldn’t stop laughing. It only takes a minute of interaction with an animal to get my head spinning longing for more. 

Another road leads us to another area of the military installation, located on the ocean.
Military installations were positioned at the end of several roads we explored, preventing us from going further.

After seeing this horse, I began looking at the chickens and roosters along the highway with a renewed interest.  OK, I’ll admit it.  I’ve loved the chickens since the day we arrived in Kauai. I continue to look at everyone we pass. 

Shortly after we were back on Highway 50, we stopped at the Kawaiele Waterbird Sanctuary, only spotting a few birds as we wandered the grounds.

Not unlike my fascination with warthogs in Marloth Park, I have a special affinity for the chickens since discovering that they are much smarter than previously assumed. 

Here’s the ‘Alae ke’oke’o as shown in the poster below, one of only a few birds we were able to see at the Kawaiele Waterbird Sanctuary.
This poster helped us determine the bird we’ve shown in the water.  Not quite sure how to pronounce it but it’s an ‘Alae ke’oke’o. Many Hawaiian words and names are difficult to learn to pronounce.
The wetlands at the bird sanctuary.

Lately, I’ve been making a clucking sound at the roosters and surprisingly they approach me with fascination, thinking I’m “one large hen” they need to pursue. One almost climbed into the car with me as shown in this photo below. It all provides us with fodder for laughter.

This rooster wanted to jump into the car with me after I’d made clucking sounds. 

Once we reached the highway after the interaction with the horse we headed along the western side of the island. With a map in hand we were able to locate appealing attractions along the highway stopping many times to investigate and take photos, enjoying every step of the way.

This dirt road would have taken us to the very end of the road as shown on the map on the western portion of Kauai. Unfortunately, the little car would have been damaged on the rough road forcing us to turn around.

Tomorrow, we’ll share our tour of the Kauai Coffee Company where we had an opportunity to see how coffee was roasted, taste a variety of their blends, and wander a path through the coffee estate, a former sugar cane plantation. We had no idea how much fun we’d have visiting a coffee farm!

See you later with lots more!

                                           Photo from one year ago today, February 21, 2014:

A year ago on my birthday, Nomsa and Zeff stopped by to sing Happy birthday in Afrikaans to me and exchange warm hugs while we were living in the African Reunion house. Having cared for our needs for three months it would be difficult to say goodbye a week later. Notice the sign behind Zeff’s head, “Take risks. If you win you will be happy.  If you lose you will be wise.” Then and now we find significance in those words as we continue in our travels. For details from that date, please click here.

On the road again!…Mini vacation, here we come!…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 2 Comments
The flower blooming season is yet to come, which we’ll have the opportunity to experience before we depart in May. Even without flowers, the greenery is colorful in its own way.

On Friday, it will be my birthday. Away from family and old friends and with a desire to avoid making a commotion with new friends, yesterday we decided to head to Poipu, Kauai to see the Waimea Canyon and other local points of interest.

Tom in deep thought while gazing at the sea.

Leaving this Thursday morning, we’ll make the 70-minute drive to the hotel, the Sheraton Kauai, to drop off our stuff (one duffel bag) and check out some of the sites in the popular beach town. Later, we’ll spend a little time by the hotel’s pool and to check out the hotel’s amenities.

By using the Hotels.com link here on our site, we’ve been able to accumulate enough points recently for three nights in hotels. Recently, we used one of those night’s credits in Hilo before the flight from Big Island to Kauai and now a second credit for this hotel in Poipu.

With rates over $300, a night at the Sheraton Kauai including the “resort fee” ($30 extra charge hotels often charge in order to beef up their revenue), our credit for $216 was useful. 

By the time we visit the Waimea Canyon on Friday morning, we’ll have traveled almost the entire perimeter of the island at one point or another. Once we arrive at the northern tip of the Waimea Canyon, we’ll be relatively close to Princeville. However, the only way to return is the way we came, heading south following the eastern side of the island back up to the north. There are no roads from the Waimea Canyon area to Princeville.

Trees near the beaches provide welcome relief in the shade on sunny days.

It is the remote nature of many areas of this island that are particularly appealing to us. Of course, the towns along the way are crowded with tourists, not so much with the locals when the entire population for the island as of 2013 is only 69,512. Over 1,300,000 tourists visit Kauai each year.

In March, the road from Princeville will be under construction in parts. We had hoped to make this trip before it began. Now is as good a time as any to visit the Waimea Canyon.

Unlike many other beaches in the world, Kauai’s beaches are surrounded by vegetation.

As for the birthday thing, it’s of little importance to me and for that matter to Tom either. When we began our travels, we decided to forgo any hoopla about holidays, birthdays, cards, and gifts. Instead, we feel the love each and every day. 

The gift we’ve given one another of joyful, peaceful, and stress-free travel is all either of us need from the other. And this, we give to one another in abundance for which we both are very grateful.

The beach is equally beautiful on cloudy days.  Now, is Kauai’s rainy season and yet we’ve been fortunate to have many sunny days.

The age thing only plays any relevance to either of us in the hopes that our current level of health and fitness is maintained through many years to come. If I had a cake with candles to blow out (and surely it would be many candles) my only wish would be for the health and well-being of those we love and for our continuing health in our travels.

A few days ago we met a wonderful couple well into their 80’s that travels for most of the year. Although they have a home, unlike us, their goal is to be able to continue on. 

The rich colors of the rocky cliffs.

In essence, our lives are easier in many ways than for those who travel part of the time. We don’t have to go back to repack, pay bills, arrange maintenance for a house and yard, read the piles of mail, and tend to all the responsibilities of daily life. All we do is move to a new location every two to three months which now, with our reduced amount of luggage, can be accomplished in minutes not hours. 

We’re often surprised by how few people there on the beach each day.

One last comment on the age thing; I will be 67 on Friday, a number that has little effect on me one way or another. I have never been shy about my age. Age is only relevant in that time seems to be ticking a little faster as we’ve grown older. 

A bonfire, ready to light.

Working out with vigor once again makes me feel revitalized and more youthful. I am committed to continuing to find a place to workout wherever we may live in the future. It was impossible finding workout facilities in the mountains of Tuscany, the hills of Madeira, and in the bush in Africa. 

Waves, ready for surfers.

When we’ll soon head to Australia, New Zealand and some of the countries in which we’ll live in the South Pacific it appears there may be some types of accessible workout facilities. If not, I’ll manage a workout routine at home. 

We never tire of the beauty of the sky and surf.

We’ll continue to post each day including on Thursday morning before we leave Princeville and then again on Friday while in Poipu. We’re looking forward to sharing many new photos and adventures of our upcoming “get away” in days to come.

Have a happy day!

                                           Photo from one year ago today, February 17, 2014:

One year ago, we were on our final bush braai, a cookout in the bush at night in Kruger National Park, wild animals all around us and guards with rifles protecting the perimeter of our camp. For details, please click here.

Life in Kauai with more wonders at every turn…Hearts turning over…Magic moments…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 0 Comment
In the past several days, trees were trimmed at our condo complex providing us with a better view of the sea from the front of our condo. With a view of Hanalei Bay from our lanai, it’s wonderful having views from both the front and back.

Our lives don’t entirely revolve around searching for the next good photo and story to share, although it may seem so to new readers if they step in midway making an assessment that we’re always looking for the next day’s topic. 

Nor, does life center on the mundane, although pleasant aspects of daily living that include housekeeping, cooking, grocery shopping, and a degree of lounging ensconced in mindless drivel.

The Nene Bird is the Hawaiian Island state bird, evolved from the Canadian Goose of which we’re very familiar after living in Minnesota.

For us, somehow we find ourselves relishing in the details of the above, however infinitesimal or grand, that brings us to a moment of ultimate joy and pleasure.

It may be as simple as the first bite of a good meal we’ve prepared, the music and credits running at the end of a great movie we’ve watched, or such an experience as we had on Friday with knowledgeable, albatross whisperer Cathy.

Cliff scene on our walk.

Or, it may be the result of the two red-crested cardinals that stop by several times each day, alighting on the veranda railing squawking at me for yet another bit of the chopped raw walnuts that I share with them each day. Magic moments. They come in all shapes and sizes.

And, from a more intimate perspective, they come from people we meet, the friends we’ve made, a kindness, a generosity, and a well-spoken or written expression that affects us in such a profound way, that it almost feels as if our hearts are turning over in our chests. 

The black rock lining this cliff’s edge in lava that formed the Hawaiian Islands eons ago.

So was the case yesterday morning when Cathy sent us an email message after reading the first of our posts, an email that made us smile from ear to ear with appreciation and reverence from the depth of the core of her intention. 

A Hala Tree.

She wrote:
“I have really enjoyed reading your blog! And thank you for the kind words, you have no idea how much it means to me.  You got all of the information correct, I am very impressed. The albatrosses need all the friends they can get, and I appreciate your appreciation and respect for them. As the sea level rises and they lose nesting areas, we may start seeing more of them here.”

The thoughtful message continued on with suggestions and offers of information from this wildlife expert that only such a passionate individual would take the time to share. We gobbled it all up in one fell swoop and later went back, reading it again in bite-size pieces absorbing each word.

A closer view of the pods growing on the above Hala Tree. In a way, it resembles a pine cone.

Easily, a reader may interpret our sharing this morsel as a case of “tooting our own horn.” Perhaps, in a way, we’re doing exactly that. Who among us is exempt from absorbing and enjoying a kindly expression? Living life away from those we love who on occasion fed us such a compliment may make us more prime to accept such a fine morsel.

However, the words in her quote that gave us the most gratification were “You got all of the information correct, I am very impressed.” Most recently, we wrote a post as to how we don’t profess to be experts on any particular aspect of our travels or of life itself. You know, “jack of all trades, master of none.” That’s us.

Many of the rocky beach areas are inaccessible and dangerous with many warning signs posted along the edge.

How we strive to get the information right in our daily posts is more profound than we can stress here. At times, we deal is vagaries in hopes of avoiding embarrassing ourselves with inaccuracies.

Then again, we shouldn’t beat ourselves up over this. Who writes with photos every single day of their lives for the world to see in the form of a loose essay, day after day for little remuneration other than the kind observations of others? 

Although we have zillions of readers worldwide (go figure) we hang onto their every word in email and posted comments providing us with feedback that fills us with all that we need or desire.

An oblong pool that is created each day during high tide.

Thank you to those of you who write and to those of you who contemplate writing sometime in the future. And for the lurkers who will never write, you too, give us a sense of great joy as we see our numbers grow into the hundreds of thousands, hoping that somehow our tidbits of life on the move may bring you but a moment of pleasure.

And now, on this beautiful day in Kauai, the doors and windows open to the filtering sunlight, the sounds of the roosters crowing, the birds singing, and the next best thing that calls to us to share with you tomorrow and tomorrow. 

                                            Photo from one year ago today, February 16, 2014:

A “retired general,” a Cape Buffalo, moseys on down the road hoping to meet up with a few cronies while we were on our final game drive in Kruger National Park. We were leaving South Africa on February 28th one year ago. For more photos and details of that game drive, please click here.

A busy day…A trip to Kapaa and an evening with friends…Local pub, Tiki Iniki Tiki Bar…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 0 Comment
The Kauai Path was a lot longer than it appeared when we first started walking. My walking shoes “broke” with new shoes arriving in a package from our mailing service soon. In the interim, shorter walks are necessary.

Yesterday was another busy day. We don’t head out on any explorations or planned activities each day until after we’ve uploaded the day’s post. Once it’s uploaded, Tom proofreads it while I make the necessary corrections he often brings to my attention.

At the beginning of the Kauai Path in Kapaa, there were restrooms and covered shelters for those preferring to stay out of the sun.

Once completed, Tom copies and pastes the content to his blind brother Jerry in Minnesota, after removing all of the photos but, leaving the photo captions intact, enabling Jerry to have an idea of what we’ve seen as he listens to his talking computer. It means so much to him, and to us, to be able to share our stories with him.

The tide was high and on its way out when we walked the path as shown by the water in these rocks.

Usually by 10:30 or 11:00 am, we’re ready to take off to the Makai Golf Club to lounge by the pool and or my high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workout after which I join Tom at the pool for a bit of time in the sun and idle chatter with other members. 

The paved Kauai Path in Kapaa was close enough to the ocean to allow for ocean photos.

Usually, I wear my swimsuit and yoga pants on workout days, making it easy to slip them off before crawling onto my lounge chair. On a few occasions, I’d brought along my swimsuit to change into after the workout, but had a dreadful time pulling it up when sweaty. 

On the opposite side of the paved path was an area being excavated for homes to be built.

I’ve learned my lesson and now shower (required before entering the pool) while wearing my swimsuit, rinsing off from the workout. By then, it’s already my second shower of the day with a third awaiting when we return home later.

After a pleasurable chat by the pool with Richard and Larry (a pool regular), we headed out to check out the popular tourist town of Kapaa, known for its convenient shopping for both tourists and locals with its Safeway market and numerous small shops located in a strip mall.

It was a mostly clear day making the walk especially pleasurable.

Another feature of Kapaa that has piqued our curiosity is the Kauai Path, a several mile long paved walkway that borders along the ocean a few miles from the town of Kapaa. 

As we passed this area, we heard many chickens and rooster clucking and crowing.

Easily finding a parking spot at the beach, we headed out onto the path walking for no less than an hour, never quite reaching the end. We stopped several times along the way for photos. With our upcoming planned happy hour get-together, it was necessary to cut it short. We still needed time for a stop at the Safeway for a few items I hadn’t been able to find at the Foodland store in Princeville.

I was pleasantly surprised to find all the items that I’ve needed this past month, necessary for baking a few grain-free, starch-free, and sugar-free scones and muffins that make this way of eating easier for Tom. He’s lost five pounds this first four weeks, even with a number of “splurges” along the way. 

Parts of the beach were overgrown with brush and covered with lava rock, although not nearly as much as we’d experienced on the Big Island.

Gaining weight is not an option for either of us when we have such limited clothing, all of which are the sizes we easily fit into 28 months ago. By Tom losing another 10 pounds all of his clothing will feel comfortable once again. Of course, there’s the health aspect. But, I won’t start on that now.

By 3:30 pm, we returned home from Kapaa, showered and dressed for the upcoming happy hour at 5:00 pm with new friends at the local pub, Tikiniki, owned by songwriter, record producer, and guitar player Todd Rundgren and his wife, Michele. 

My grilled steak with green was tasty but the portion was much smaller than it appears in this photo. That little cup in the upper right is about one tablespoon of mashed avocado. For an additional $2, I ordered a half of a sliced avocado on the side.

Our new friends, Cathi and Rick had invited us along with their friend Jane for happy hour and Pupu’s (appetizers) at the popular local spot after having met Cathi and Rick at last week’s “Full Moon Party” (to which we’ve been invited for each of our remaining three months in Kauai).

Last night, Todd Rundgren’s wife Michele, of considerable flair and charm, seated us. At the time we had no idea who owned the trendy establishment. Our new friends explained that the well-known couple were our hosts at Tiki Iniki Tiki Bar. Rick, a lifelong guitar player, and musician has worked with many well-known performers worldwide.

Tom’s cheese-covered beef and spam burger (bun top is on the left) and fries, hit the spot for him.

Four years ago, Cathi and Rick had been to Kruger National Park and on safari in Sabi Sands while in South Africa. They are returning again in June for another memorable safari experience. We couldn’t resist sharing stories of our African adventures along with our mutual passion for wildlife.

They were the first couple outside of Africa that we’ve met that have had similar safari experiences in South Africa.  The conversation was filled with both heartwarming and adventuresome stories. Jane is joining them in June and she was excited as she anticipates the adventures yet to come.

Both Cathi and Jane ordered this pizza type flatbread.

We ordered beverages and eventually a meal with few options for me. I drank plain iced tea and ordered a small steak salad and a side of sliced avocado. Returning home, hours later, I was still hungry, snacking on appropriate items we luckily had on hand; nuts, cheese, and a few squares of my homemade low carb fudge.

Rick ordered the spareribs which Tom will order next time.

Tom had a good burger and fries, his favorite item to order in casual dining establishments. We both agreed we’ll gladly return should the opportunity arise for yet another happy hour with a light meal in the months to come. As they say in Princeville, the food here is good but not great, although the service and ambiance are usually excellent as was the case last night.

We still had our Safeway rewards card we’d acquired in Maui saving us over $7 on $27 of odds and ends.

Having worked out strenuously and walking for an hour had little effect on my ability to sleep through the night last night. As is often the case for seniors, we both have difficulty getting what feels like enough sleep each night, awakening several times during the night. 

In Africa, we’d only observed a few male animals tending to their young along with the mom. However, in Kauai with its enormous population of chickens, we’ve repeatedly noticed roosters hanging out with the hens and her chicks, intending to ensure their safety. At times, we’ve seen multiple hens with chicks that he may be responsible for fathering. Apparently, not monogamous he’s still a good dad.

How active we’ve been during the day seems to have little, if any, bearing on how much sleep we actually get on any given night. I suppose it’s the nature of the beast (no pun intended).

The rooster and hen kept a watchful eye on their chicks in the Safeway parking lot. A few birds have also gathered when a store employee had tossed them some bread crumbs during her break.

For today, we’ll stay in Princeville. The dense cloud cover discourages any attempt to visit the pool but, a walk in the area may be on the agenda. Also, now that I have the necessary ingredients, I just may do a little baking after our walk.

Simple days are also to be treasured. 

                                            Photo from one year ago today, February 12, 2014:

When we’d moved to the African Reunion House we were concerned that visitors wouldn’t come. It took a few days but they finally began to arrive. It seemed they were attracted to the grounds at occupied houses, hoping for a pellet or two. For details from that day, please click here.

Our location…Google Maps…Commenting on our posts…The making new friends continues…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 2 Comments
This is where we are located in Princeville, located on Ka Haku Road, the road closest to the ocean in the group of condos shown on the south side of the road in the center of this map.

With all the whackos out there in the world, a few of which send us a comment from time to time that we don’t bother to post, we don’t list our exact address. One can never be too safe. There is no place in the world that is 100% free of danger.

The albatross continues to thrive in the neighborhood.
This albatross is sitting on an egg.  Both the male and female sit on the nest, the other heading out to sea for food.

As for comments on our posts in general, we absolutely love receiving them. The way it works is simple:
1.  At the end of each day’s post, there’s a place to comment by clicking on what looks like a pencil, a universal symbol used on the web for comments.
2.  Once selected, the reader is asked to identify themselves. If one chooses to be “anonymous,” they can choose to do so. We respond whether you name yourself or choose anonymously.
3.  At the end of your comment in the box provided you can hit save or upload.
4.  Within minutes, I receive your comment in my email inbox to review before posting. Once I read the comment, I can choose to post it or not.

Look at this face!  The eyes are intriguing.

We post almost every comment we receive. The only ones we choose to delete or report as spam are those of an inappropriate nature of one sort or another.

On occasion, we’ve received a comment that is bashing our lifestyle. We don’t feel we need to respond or post to such comments. Why give haters the opportunity to have an arena to express their views? This site is not intended as a political arena or a place to express hatred for the chosen lives of others, whatever that may be.

Many gorgeous homes line the golf course.

However, 99% of the comments we receive, we post exactly as written, always responding within 24 hours or less, except perhaps on our extra long travel days.

An empty lot in the neighborhood.  What a view!

Hearing from our readers means so much to us. We’ve made many wonderful friends from communicating via comments and later by email as relationships nurture and grow. At times, our readers prefer to communicate by email and if done so, we do not post the email, keeping the communication between us and the reader.

Another lovely home in the neighborhood of the albatross.

On occasion, one of our readers wants more information on my way of eating and how it improved mine and Tom’s health (when he’s up to following it). They choose to express this privately rather than in a public forum.  We always respect the reader’s privacy by keeping the discussion confidential.

Banyon tree in the neighborhood.

However, when readers choose to share a personal story, questions, or comments on our site, we are thrilled to post it, knowing that we and our readers may benefit from their experiences.

After all, a huge part of our joy in sharing these personal details of our daily lives is derived from the possibility that others may derive enjoyment, the fulfillment of curiosity, or a tidbit of knowledge from our crazy life on the move.

This hanging item is actually a rain chain as opposed to the downspout. Thanks to our reader, Annie for commenting and educating us as to what this is.

Let’s face it, this life we live is not for everyone. In actuality, we’ve yet to meet a couple who does it like us.  Surely, someday we will. We have no doubt that others very similar to us are out there. Wouldn’t we love to share stories with them!

The golf course side of a beautiful house.

Today, we’re heading to the pool for my workout and then an hour of sun before a predicted storm rolls in with high winds and rain. At 5:30, we’re heading to the home of new friends we made at last week’s “Full Moon Party.”

Another empty lot awaiting a new house to be built.

Ken and Barb (not Barbie, she graciously reminded us) live close to our friends Elaine and Richard. And again this Wednesday, we’re meeting up with more new friends from the party for happy hour at a local establishment. What a wonderfully busy week! We’re always so grateful to make new friends.

Another Monday. It remains to be an odd feeling each Monday when I don’t have to go to work. It makes me wonder if, in time, this feeling will dissipate and Monday will simply be Monday. 

Many gated communities have fountains.

After 45 years of hard work, as most of us retirees have accomplished in one way or another, at times, we struggle with this major change in our lives, however welcome retirement may be.

For us, having a purpose whatever that may be, makes retirement simply another chapter in our lives to cherish, to enjoy, and most of all to share with others.

Happy Monday. Happy life.

                                            Photo from one year ago today, February 9, 2014:

It was a year ago today that we visited friends Linda and Ken at their home in Marloth Park. Ken was excited to show us this shed snakeskin from the horrifying Black Mamba, one of the most dangerous snakes in the world. He found this skin in the second story veranda of their home. It made our skin crawl thinking how close they came to this dreaded beast. For details on this date, please click here.

Another boring day in paradise…Adventure or not?…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 0 Comment
An early evening from our lanai.

Just kidding! We’re not bored. We’re never bored. 

A few days ago while returning from the grocery store alone, driving down Ka Haku Road, the main road in Princeville, I asked myself an important question, “If this was our lives permanently, would we be happy?”

The residents of Hawaiian are very proud of their love and preservation of wildlife and their land.

After all, we’re in the most beautiful village either of us has seen anywhere in the world including in the US mainland; ocean and mountains all around us, perfect weather, exquisite vegetation, minimal traffic, friendly people, no worn and tattered neighborhoods, no visible local dump and quiet, except for the sounds of the singing birds, the crowing roosters, and the clucking hens.

Searching deep within my heart, the question lingered for the short drive home. As I pulled into our assigned parking spot, the answer became clear. With the wanderlust still deeply rooted within our hearts, we couldn’t stay put, here or anywhere else.

Eventually, we visited Kileaua Point after seeing this sign on the highway.

It isn’t about the “place” for us. Today, I recalled a day in late February last year when Okee Dokee took me to the dump in Marloth Park and I jumped for joy when we arrived when I saw all the Marabou Storks sitting atop the piles of garbage. (Soon we’ll approach that date and we’ll share the link and a photo at the end of the post as the “photo from one year ago today.”)

Good grief, I was at the dump and I was happy. Earlier, we’d been in the often higher risk cities of Mombasa, Nairobi, Istanbul, Johannesburg, Cairo, and more, and we were happy, grateful for the experience, absorbing the varied cultures. Potential dangers lurked in sidewalk cafes and street corners as we cautiously absorbed the knowledge these cities had to offer.

Yesterday, Tom and I took an online test (separately) to discover our “types” and we both were described as “adventurous.”

These bodies of water are part of the Wildlife Refuse encouraging the life cycle of many varieties of birds.

Often, one thinks of adventure as only high-risk sporting adventures. We’re too old, unfit, and unwilling to be injured putting a fast end to our travels with a broken leg or back. But, adventure means so much more.

Adventure is of the heart, of the spirit, of the nature of stepping outside of the “safe” zone for the experiences we’d never had staying permanently in one place.

Stretching ourselves to the limit and yet staying within the realm of safety knowing that I have a serious spinal condition that could teeter in a single fall making a degree of caution be the order of the day.

This area is not open to the public to preserve the integrity of its purpose.

Oh yes, we walked the torturous three-hour walk to Petra on rough terrain. Yes, we walked the steep hills and rocky terrain in many other countries. Yes, we went on unbelievably wild boat rides and 4×4 off-road adventures in various parts of the world. But, the adventure doesn’t begin and end there.

The adventure is in our hearts knowing every single day of our lives that we have no home. We have no place to go and repack our bags. We have no storage filled with stuff to set up housekeeping. We don’t own a frying pan, a sheet, a TV, or a car. 

We took these photos on a cloudy day which is difficult to avoid a few days each week.

“These are all good things,” so says Tom as I read this aloud to him as I write. When we were on our first cruise, the art auction people approached us asking if we’d come for the free champagne and art auction at 3:00 pm. I laughed aloud and said, “We don’t have any walls. Where would I put a piece of art?”

Tom stopped dead in his tracks, raising both thumbs with a huge smile on his face. Many times since, he’s used that expression, “We have no walls.” We both love what that means for us.

The scenery away from the ocean is beautiful.

If a medical issue immobilized us for a period of time or permanently, and I assure you, someday it will, we’ll be faced with the fact that one of us may be in a hospital and the other staying in a hotel with no home to return to.

That’s a risk but, in essence, it’s all a part of the adventure. We’ll figure it out. Either one of us alone is capable of figuring it out. And yes, we’ve discussed this possibility infinite detail.

Clouds lingering in the hills.

No, we don’t skydive. No, we don’t bungee nor do we do zip lines. No, we don’t do 12-mile treks up mountains and dangerous terrain. But, each and every day of our lives, we live with the reality that risk is at every bend in the road.

We’ve had a cobra at our feet. We’ve been within 10 feet of a lion in the wild. We’ve had poisonous insects inside of our shoes. We’ve had an angry elephant head toward our car in the wild.  

One of several one lane bridges we cross when exploring. The other drivers are very considerate when crossing.

We’ve spent 34 hours getting from one location to another with nary a complaint or a moment’s sleep. We sailed on a ship with 50-foot swells, all the while giggling and taking videos of the excitement without a moment of seasickness. We’ve sailed through the dangerous waters of the Gulf of Aden where the true story of the movie Captain Philips transpired.

So, dear readers, for a time we languish in the luxury and ease of life in Princeville, Kauai where the riskiest possibility is stepping in rooster poop.

View of a channel from a one-lane bridge.

And yet, we’re content for now, living in the moment (as Tom says, “Love the one you’re with”), and happy with the thought that soon we’ll be on our way to a slightly more adventurous location, Australia. We can’t wait for a safari in the Outback if there is such a thing.

Be well.

                                            Photo from one year ago today, February 8, 2014:

One year ago, we visited a restaurant on the Crocodile River and spotted this hippo with some bird friends. For details from that day’s story and more hippo photos, please click here.