Three days and counting…New photos…Our years long journey to everywhere continues…Link to our Princeville condo here…

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Free-range cattle poses for a photo.

It’s unimaginable to be saying this but, Hawaii has been a long haul. Oh, don’t get me wrong it’s been an excellent experience in tropical island living. With the mountains, the ocean, the fast-changing weather, the extraordinary vegetation, and its friendly people, it’s been a memorable leg of our year’s long journey to everywhere.

The pounding high tide surf over a rock formation jutting out from the steep cliffs in Princeville.

Overall, we’ve thoroughly enjoyed our time here. However, the wanderlust beacons us and we’re anxious to be on our way to the point of counting down the days over the past month.

A portion of the paved path that leads to Hideaways Beach, one of the many steep paths we navigated to beaches.

As the days wind down to a mere three until we load the car, make the hour-long drive to Lihue and fly for 20 minutes to arrive in Oahu for one day, we become reminiscent of the many months we spent in Hawaii including a total of 12 nights in Oahu, six weeks each in Maui and Big Island and now over four months in Kauai, totaling almost eight months.

Anini Beach is secluded in many areas.

When we recall originally booking the five various vacation homes in Hawaii, all based on our family coming to the Big Island for Christmas and, this upcoming cruise in May, it all made sense at the time. Hawaii, then off to the South Pacific with a relaxing, stress-free four-plus, months in Kauai in between. 

A path from a secluded area in Anini Beach to the street.

Looking back now, we could easily have spent a shorter time in Kauai, found a different cruise, and seen more world by this period in time. But, this isn’t the Amazing Race. It’s our lives, albeit our sometimes complicated lives that are interspersed with almost constant dreaming, planning, booking, and ultimately, living for days, weeks, or months in those places of our dreams.

Part of the charm of Kauai is its many chickens. chicks and roosters we’ve found everywhere.

We have no regrets. Our only time limit is life itself and continuing good health, or at least health issues we can manage along the way wherever we may be at the time. Feeling wonderfully well again, I’m reminded of the fragility of life itself. 

Ocean views are a huge motivator for island living.
We have no delusions about how quickly it all can be snapped away. Perhaps, this acceptance makes us a little more cautious than some may be on a vacation or holiday or, for a many month’s long respite from winter’s cold weather. 
Palm and coconut trees line the landscape.

We don’t take too many chances attempting to tackle high-risk physical adventures beyond practicality as we age. Why take the risk? It’s not as if our worldwide following is waiting with bated breath for us to bungee jump or hike a dangerous trail. 

This cow was particularly interested in us.

When we look back into our over 1000 archives of these past years since 2012, we giggle over the many adventures we have experienced, never thinking about what we “should’ve, would’ve or could’ve done.” 

Many large homes and estates have long and winding driveways.

As we wind down this lengthy stay we’re also reminded of all of the friends we’ve made, the parties we’ve attended, and the conversations we’ve shared with a seemingly endless array of fine people. 

It wasn’t unusual to see sheep grazing in Kauai. 

Whether our social activities were precipitated by the kindly social directing of our friend Richard, whom we met our first few days in Kauai, or those we met on the beach or at the overlook across from us on Ka Haku Road, or other travelers we’ve met who moved in next door to us for a few days or a week, every one of them mattered to us

Many property owners raise goats and sheep on their acreage.

A huge factor in making this extended period pleasant for us has been this condo. If you plan a trip to Kauai, you’ll also enjoy its comfortable bed and bedding, relatively good wireless broadband and cable TV, the washer and dryer conveniently located in a closet in the kitchen, and a good supply of kitchen appliances and gadgets, all of which have made staying here easy and convenient.

Whenever we’ve stopped for photos of the many grass-fed cattle in Kauai, they approach the fence to check us out.

Above all, the view from the lanai to the wild vegetation in the back with a breathtaking ocean view and another enticing ocean view from the front, also with a view of Hanalei Bay, has made awakening each morning a treat.

Horses are found on acreage, ranches, and farms.

And then, there are the birds we’ve come to know and love, the sounds of the roosters crowing and the chicks and chickens clucking, hidden beneath the palms in the surrounding yard and we’ve found this location and condo to be ideal. 

These pods are growing against the railing at the overlook across the street.  Many plants, shrubs, and trees in Hawaii grow large pods that bloom into gorgeous flowers or simply more leaves.

Adding the countless opportunities we’ve relished of visiting the growing Laysan Albatross chicks only a short distance away, from the parents sitting on the nests in January to the hatching of the chicks in February and as they matured, chucking their fluffy feather, soon to fledge the nest.

Sunset from our front lanai.

Today, we’re sharing a few remaining new photos and starting tomorrow, as promised, a recap in photos of our time in Kauai with a few remaining photos of our time on the other islands in Hawaii.

Hump day, think upcoming weekend. Have a great day!

                                               Photo from one year ago today, May 20, 2014:

After getting settled in Madeira, Portugal, we started getting out and navigating the steep hills of Campanario, the little village in which we lived. It was cool when we first arrived, staying in the cool ’70s throughout the summer. Tom is standing on the ground of a lovely restaurant we visited late in the day for an excellent meal. For details, please click here.

Continue reading “Three days and counting…New photos…Our years long journey to everywhere continues…Link to our Princeville condo here…” →

One week from today…Leaving Kauai!…A long haul in Paradise…Tom’s funny expression…Thrills?

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Our favorite bird aptly named Birdie, lives in our yard with his significant other, waiting for us when we open the blinds in the morning and looking at us as we have dinner each night.

It’s hard to believe that we’d make a comment about being in paradise for too long. How can that be?

Looking back, we could have spent less time in Hawaii.  Good grief, we’ve been here for eight months, certainly long enough. At the time we booked the long stay we had two reasons to be in Hawaii; one, our family coming to Big Island for Christmas, and two, taking the cruise to Australia on May 24th from Honolulu. 

The waning sun at the overlook.

Those two reasons resulted in these required extra months with the remainder on the front end in Honolulu/Waikiki, Maui, and Big Island.

For some odd reason, we assumed time in the US would be useful while doing US-type things; doctor appointments, dentist appointments, and some arbitrary paperwork which we’ve discovered we can easily do while living in other countries. We’ve never had the doctor appointments (other than my recent illness which is slightly improved again today) or the dentist appointments we’d planned. We hope to do this in Australia.

The overlook last evening.
We’ve learned a valuable lesson to never spend a straight, four months in any one location. It’s just too long for us.  We aren’t staying long enough in any one location to feel totally settled in and we aren’t leaving soon enough to give us that feeling of excitement and adventure we both so crave.

Not to contradict ourselves, we must admit that we’re booked in Bali for four months total but, in two separate two-month stints, separated by over two months. Hopefully, that will work out well for us. But, let’s face it, whatever the circumstances, overall we always have a good time, even if the only friends we made were the household help, the non-English speaking butcher at the meat market, or if available nearby, the property owner or manager.

A miniature orchid, smaller than a dime, growing along the railing at the overlook.

We’ve managed to do well without a living room only sitting outdoors all day in 100-degree heat (38C); living in countries where no one speaks English and we never made friends; living in Marrakech a year ago in the confines of the riad, the souk and the Big Square with little else to do and now this extended period in Hawaii. 

It’s like everything else in life, too much of a good thing is too much of a good thing. Tom has an expression he uses from time to time: “The most beautiful woman you’ve ever laid eyes on, there’s some guy who’s sick and tired of her “sh_ _!” He always qualifies it by saying that it goes both ways when I eyeball an adorable muscular 20 something at the beach. 

This yellow flower is not much bigger to the eye than a pea. Zooming in to capture its beauty is exhilarating.

This always makes me laugh out loud including moments ago when I asked him to repeat it. This comment reminds me that no matter how beautiful and friendly Hawaii has been it’s not perfect for us for the long haul. 

Why are we living this crazy life anyway? We could say to enrich our knowledge and experience by exploring various parts of the world. We could say to expand our personal horizons in this final hurrah of our lives to become more well rounded. We could say it’s to stretch ourselves beyond the confines of our previously pleasant but mundane lifestyle.

A colorful sunset.
The reality? I say this with a little bit of trepidation over a possible backlash from the few naysayers and haters that lurk out there. WE DO IT FOR THE THRILL!

Yes, there is a thrill in stretching oneself beyond our limits; a 4×4 day-long adventure in the mountains of Iceland; cruising through pirate-infested waters in the Gulf of Aden with specials forces on board; sitting in a tiny vehicle with 25 elephants blocking the road; dining at night in the bush with armed guards to protect us; standing outside for an hour and a half in the pouring rain in Versailles with no umbrella and yet a smile on our faces; taking the strenuous long trek to Petra to see The Treasury; chasing a fish truck up the steep road to ultimately catch it and buy an entire yellowfin tuna to watch the fisherman fillet it with a machete. We do it for these kinds of thrills.

Although this bloom appears to be a future flower its actually a growing leaf.

And then, there’s the joy and satisfaction of promoting local artists and businesses with positive reviews, stories, and photos posted here hoping that our worldwide readers will consider partaking of their services should they travel to their locations. We do it for these kinds of thrills.

Then, the other piece, however repetitive it may be for our less than interested readers, sharing our way of eating with information, links, books, and recipes, hoping that one person along the way may be able to make it work for themselves, relieving pain, improving health or eventually getting off or reducing the need for medications. We do it for these kinds of thrills.

Pretty flowers on a bush near the albatross.

We’re ready to move on from beautiful, magical, friendly Kauai. It’s been heavenly living on the Garden Island.  We’ve made many wonderful friends at social events we’ll always remember. We’ve loved watching the hatching and growth of the Laysan Albatross, a bonus we never expected. And, of course, we loved Birdie and the Redheads who’ve visited us several times a day singing their songs in an attempt to successfully gain our attention.

We move on with a sense of freedom and adventure knowing we gave Kauai everything we had to give and Kauai, in return, bestowed its wonder upon us.

Happy Saturday, worldwide friends! Thanks for hanging in there with us during this extended stay in Hawaii.  Soon, the thrills will escalate…

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

It was one year ago today that we were on the move from Marrakech, Morocco to Madeira, Portugal which resulted in a much more lengthy travel time than expected. Tom and Samir are shown in this photo wheeling our luggage at the airport. For details, please click here.

Cruise cancellation and results of vacation rentals date changes…New amazing photos…

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This chick was sitting close to the road wondering what I was doing.

As a result of next year’s cruise being cancelled and the necessity of booking a different cruise with two day’s difference in arrival and departure dates we waited anxiously to hear back from the owners.

When he realized I was no threat she relaxed a little.

Would they have availability for us to stay four days longer in New Zealand and arrive two days later to Bali, extending an extra two days at the end to compensate?

With the substantial time differences between New Zealand and Bali, 22 hours and 18 hours respectively, we didn’t expect to hear back for a few days. First, we heard back from the owners of the New Zealand property with a positive response…no problem with staying four days longer than our contract. For Bali, arriving two days later and staying two days longer is also a yes from the owner, neither of which scenarios resulted in any additional costs.

As he moved, we were able to see more of the white and black feathers which will soon replace all of the fluff.

We’re grateful for the availability and the kindness of the owners of both properties for their cooperation.  Problem solved. We had a backup plan ready to implement in the event either of these didn’t work out which included additional costs and monies lost. We’ve found that there’s always a solution. The question becomes, does one want to pay for that solution which is often the case?

Yesterday afternoon, a sunny day, we drove over to the neighborhood to check out the growth of the Laysan Albatross chicks. Being able to watch them morph from fat fluffy balls of inactivity and to actually see their new mature feathers was a sight we’d never expected to see in person.

This parent wandered from the chick for a walk.  Note the feathers on an adult as opposed to the fluff and feathers on the growing chicks.

As we slowly drove through the neighborhood, we spotted one chick after another in varying stages of molting their fluff. It’s crazy how they aren’t disturbed as we stop the car and I get out to take photos. We may be only 15 or 20 feet from them but they are as fearless of humans as the adults. 

They’ve been so loved and respected by the locals, they’ve had no reason to be afraid. Yesterday we watched a homeowner working in his yard with a chick and two parents only three feet away. Neither the human nor the birds paid any attention to one another as they each went about their usual activities.

Check out the chick’s huge beak!

Here’s a quote from National Geographic:

“On the Wings of the Albatross
By Carl Safina

An albatross is the grandest living flying machine on Earth. An albatross is bone, feathers, muscle, and the wind. An albatross is its own taut longbow, the breeze its bowstring, propelling its projectile body. An albatross is an art deco bird, striking of pattern, clean of line, epic in travels, heroically faithful. A parent albatross may fly more than 10,000 miles (16,000 kilometers) to deliver one meal to its chick. Wielding the longest wings in nature—up to eleven and a half feet (3.5 meters)—albatrosses can glide hundreds of miles without flapping, crossing ocean basins, circumnavigating the globe. A 50-year-old albatross has flown, at least, 3.7 million miles (6 million kilometers).”

One of the main highlights of our long stay in Kauai has been watching the life cycle of the albatross from the parents sitting on the nest when we arrived on January 15th, to the chicks hatching in early February and now the chicks maturing with only a month or more from the time they’ll fledge from the nest. 

Suddenly, she stood up giving me a great shot of the white feathers growing on her underbelly.

Although we won’t be here to witness them fledge which only occurs over a very short period as they run to the edge of the cliff and dive off to soar into the air, we’ll keep an eye out on the live video feed we’ve been watching many times each day at this link.  By watching this live feed with two chicks about 100 feet apart it’s possible to see the permanent feathers coming in and the fluff molting away.

This was our intent when we stopped by yesterday. We’d hoped to take photos of the gradual change in their appearance and were pleased to be able to do so with ease.

When the chicks sit on their back end, their weight causes their huge feet to lift off the ground.

Before we leave Princeville in 20 days, we hope to be able to follow Cathy, the Laysan Albatross expert, and docent, on one more of her two daily rounds as she documents the progress of the chicks, twice each day. She does this for seven days a week over seven months each year when the albatross return to the same neighborhood for the life cycle to begin again, year after year.

After returning home I prepared our pu pu for last night’s Full Moon Party. After attending four of these enjoyable monthly parties (last night was our final party), orchestrated by friend Richard, we’ve found these parties to be highly instrumental in enhancing our social lives. 

We couldn’t stop laughing when we shot these huge paddle-like webbed feet lifting off the ground as she leaned back on her butt.

Holding the party at the Makai Golf Club’s pool was especially fun last night. Although the crowd was slightly smaller than usual with about 20 in attendance, we had a marvelous time, again meeting new people.

Back at home by 8:30, we had a late dinner when I’d left a full meal ready for our return. Popping our precooked (earlier in the day) tasty well-seasoned chicken wings into the microwave (sans sauce), adding a salad and green beans we sat down at the little table to dine and watch prerecorded videos of “Shark Tank” and the new “Beyond the Tank.” Once again we had an excellent day and evening.

Months ago, the chicks slept most of the day. Now, they are alert and awake waiting for the parents to return with more food. They don’t interact with the other chicks although other parents may stop by for a visit.

Today, we’ll take a walk in the neighborhood, watch some golf, prepare Sunday dinner and play with Birdie and his friends, who as usual stopped by this morning as soon as we opened the blinds and the door. 

Have a satisfying Sunday!

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

This broken egg was outside our bedroom door when we awake that morning a year ago. With the riad’s open to the sky center courtyard we imagined that an egg fell from a nest somewhere in the house. How peculiar. For details from that date, please click here.

Part 2, National Geographic has done it again!…Life…its astounding…

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It was exciting to touch the vultures. We were told to keep moving while around the vultures. They only eat what appears to be dead meat.

Part 2. Please spend a few minutes watching this exquisite video from National Geographic. You won’t be disappointed and doing so will further explain the nature of today’s and yesterday’s posts.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/Hodomt6bBOw

After posting all the photos yesterday, I suffered a few moments of trepidation. Every time we post, we attempt not to be repetitious.  However, a by-product of posting daily is a certain degree of repetition.

An eagle on the mend at the rehabilitation center.

After all, we’re fast approaching a milestone number of posts which we’ll share in 10 days, a number that is hard for us to believe. After so many posts, we accept the fact that many new readers may not have seen many of our most exciting adventures to date and repeating them from time to time in the photos is the easiest and best way to share them.

For those of our readers unfamiliar with the archives by year and by month located on the right side of the home page each day, please take a look at them. They are under our row of advertisers, under the field that says “SEARCH.”

Tom donned a huge leather hand and arm protector and wad handed a huge chunk of fresh meat to feed this vulture at the rehabilitation center. It was quite a thrill to get this photo. I love the look on Tom’s face!  As their injuries healed, these vultures would soon be returned to the wild.

Every post from March 14, 2012, to the current date, is listed in the archives. If you’re looking for a particular post or a recipe, by typing the words into the “SEARCH” field a number of options will pop up that you can choose to read, not unlike performing a Google, Yahoo or Bing search when looking for a particular topic. The difference here is that you’ll be searching through our 100’s of posts as opposed to the entire web.

These two badgers are at the rehabilitation center to recover from injuries and had become good companions. Badgers are known to be viscous animals feared by others in the wild.

We understand that some of our readers may not be web savvy, mainly using the Internet for their email and an occasional search. Please don’t hesitate to email either of us if you’re having trouble with the archives or searching for a specific post or photo.  We’re always happy to help.  

We had an opportunity to interact with a cheetah at a wildlife rehabilitation center. The particular cheetah wouldn’t ever be able to return to the wild due to injuries sustained in the wild for which he was rescued. 

A link to our email is listed on the home page in the upper right under the photo of us in Petra, Jordan.  (Gee, that seems like such a long time ago when it was only two years). 

Although we were parked at a considerable distance, this lone elephant started approaching us. Quickly, Tom backed up the car and finally, the elephant backed off. There have been many instances in which elephants have been intruded upon by tourists getting too close, resulting in cars being tipped over injuring the occupants.

In selecting photos to share of some of our past wildlife experiences, prompted by our viewing the above amazing National Geographic video, I struggle a bit, when originally I hadn’t hesitated for a moment. 

The fifth animal in the Big 5, (Leopard, Cape Buffalo, Rhino, Elephant and Lion) this herd of elephants blocked the road as we drove through Kruger National Park.  Notice the babies are kept protected in the middle of the herd. The largest elephant, the Matriarch, is often twice as large as the other adult females, holds up the rear with a keen eye ensuring their safety. Seldom are elephants attacked in the wild based on their pack mentality of safety in numbers and their massive size.

In the past few years, my photo taking skills have improved and it was both frustrating and encouraging at the same time to see the changes in the photos. So please bear with my occasional lack of skills in some of these photos that we’re sharing over this two day period. 

There was one day we were visited by an entire troupe of baboons who can be very destructive. Tom held a broom handle over his head to show them that he was bigger than they are.  These monkeys have no respect for women who are known to feed them, which is never a good idea. However, they have fear of men carrying a big stick. They stayed most of the day, finally taking off all at once through the bush.

From time to time, readers contact us to tell us that they’ve gone back to the first post to begin reading as if its a book, albeit a very long book, and found it more entertaining following the full course of our travels, seeing how we’ve changed, our ups and downs and the endless lessons we’ve learned.

A Vervet Monkey and her baby peering at us one morning while we were sitting at the table on the veranda. Check out that thin pink ear of the baby.

Gone 30 months to date, we’ve only traveled the tip of the iceberg, (yes, we’ll go there too), with much ahead of us, health providing. We’ve seen so little of the world and yet in another way we’ve seen so much, as shown in these photos.

We howl every time we look at this photo of a monkey in Kruger National Park kissing the ground. Too cute!

Yesterday afternoon, we took a one hour walk, mostly talking about the future and further committing to one another our dedication in continuing on with a high level of enthusiasm and excitement. 

This photo was taken through the window of our cottage when we stayed at a resort on the Indian Ocean in Diani Beach, Kenya to celebrate our one year anniversary of traveling the world. The monkeys were hanging around as soon as we moved in. They knew we’d have the complimentary fruit plate provided to new guests at check-in which many guests often fed them. We didn’t eat the fruit nor did we give it to the monkeys who need to forage for their food.

We discussed that we’ve spent too much time in Hawaii, as much as we’ve loved it and are ready to move along. Who’d have ever thought anyone would say, “We’ve spent too much time in Hawaii?” 

A leopard, the fourth animal of the Big 5, all of which we’d seen in the first 10 hours on safari in Kenya.

It’s not about Hawaii. It may be one of the most beautiful places on the planet and we’ve loved it, especially our time in Kauai. However, as we’ve passed the 90-day maximum period we usually stay in one location, the wanderlust has kicked in for both of us. We’re ready to go. 

This Barn Owl was trying to figure a way out of the attic of our house in Kenya. Hesborn, our house man, helped it escape.

With a variety of social activities ahead of us, plenty of sorting and packing to tackle, a box of supplies for the next two years yet to be shipped, in about three weeks we’ll begin the preparations to depart Hawaii.

The White Fronted Plover, a bird often seen along rivers in Africa.

We always giggle to ourselves when someone we meet says, “Enjoy your vacation or have a good trip.” Although, we have a similar sense of excitement that one has when anticipating an upcoming vacation, holiday or trip, as we navigate our way from one location to another it never feels like a vacation. It feels like a glorious life for which we are grateful, humbled, and never take for granted.

We spent an entire day watching the activities of a group of thousands of grasshoppers as they moved from one tree to another.
Close up of one of the above grasshoppers dining on a cabbage leaf we’d left on the driveway.

It could all change in a minute by unforeseen circumstances. We choose not to worry about that possibility, perhaps that eventuality. As we discussed on our walk yesterday, we’ll always have the option to figure it out. 

The Golden Orb Spider web was located in the carport in South Africa.
This frog hung out in the rafters watching us each day during our entire time at the African Reunion House in South Africa.
Male frogs fertilizing the egg-laden foam nest made by the female frog overnight. Seeing the progression of this event occurring in our yard in South Africa was an amazing experience.

As we neared our condo we encountered a couple, a few years older than us, most likely tourists based on the camera hanging around his neck and the binoculars in her lap. She was in a wheelchair and he was pushing her along the same path we’d taken.

Having an opportunity to see an endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal on the beach in Kauai was a thrill.
We weren’t ever able to get a photo of a full breach of a whale. Once we get to Australia, we may have better luck.

We said hello in passing with both of us in quiet contemplation for several moments afterward. At the same instance, we turned to each other and spoke simultaneously in almost the exact words, “That could be us one day.”

We love the Helmeted Guinea Fowl. They visited every day, many with their chicks.
Look at the colors in this close up of the above Helmeted Guinea Fowl. Tom referred to these birds as Guinea Hens.

We agreed, “Yes, it could be us and if it is, we’ll carry on, one way or another.”

Enjoy the weekend! We’re off to explore today. Back tomorrow with all the new photos!

                                                Photo from one year ago today, April 18, 2014:

Le Jardin restaurant in the souks of Marrakech was a favorite we often visited. Two turtles wandered about the floor providing a degree of entertainment.  Please click here for details.

National Geographic has done it again!…Life…its astounding…

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Please spend only a few minutes watching this exquisite video from National Geographic.  You won’t be disappointed and doing so will further explain the nature of today’s post.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/Hodomt6bBOw

The above video reminded us of photos we’ve taken during our travels in the past 30 months.

A lone female stopping for a drink.  The edge of the open vehicle is shown in this photo illustrating how close we were to her.

Yesterday afternoon I noticed an email in my inbox from Tom. I must admit that he sends me a few items each week. When we began to travel he finally dispensed per my request with all those endless jokes and stories. 

Hippos along the Mara River while we were on safari in the Maasai Mara.
Crocodiles sunning along the Mara River.

As much as I enjoy a good laugh like anyone, I prefer not to spend time each day riffling through a pile of email messages, reading jokes and stories. 

The Cape Buffalo, one of the Big 5.
The cheetah and leopard are distinguishable by the cheetah’s tear lines running down her face, as shown here.

As a matter of fact, once I’ve completed posting here each day, take care of necessary business and respond to emails from our readers, I prefer to spend as little time at my computer as possible. 

A female lion looking for the next meal. The lion is the second of the Big 5.
The pride of lions from which we took the above photo of what appeared to be a mom.

My computer is kept on all day allowing me to occasionally check for email, new comments, and to receive phone calls from family and friends. We have a Skype phone number for which we pay $5 a month since we have no cell contracts on our phones, using SIM cards in other countries that aren’t available in the US without a contract (unreal).

In the first 10 hours on safari, we saw the Big 5. The black rhino is one of the Big 5. (The leopards and elephants we saw are a part of the Big which will be shown tomorrow). Note the birds which are oxpeckers who eat the bugs off of the rhinos and other wildlife’s hides.

Anyway, yesterday afternoon I received an email from my dear husband who now sends me only pertinent information or something he knows I’ll love seeing. When he sent me this National Geographic video yesterday and I began to watch it, I nearly wept.

Males lions are always on the lookout for a female making a kill. Why? So he can steal the kill from her.
This male was dozing in the bright sun. The Maasai Mara is cool in the morning

It’s five minutes long but, I promise you won’t regret taking the five minutes of your life to watch it. For us, the content was profound. As I watched it with Tom watching it a second time with me, my mouth was agape at the wonder of it all, especially for one particular reason…

A turtle climbing a hill to greet us.
We traveled across rough terrain to Tanzania to catch the tail end of the Great Migration.

It reminded us of all that we have done and seen thus far in our travels and, all that we have yet to do and see in the future. 

We couldn’t resist posting this contented lion who was, at the time, engaged in a mating ritual with the female about 15 feet from him, leaning on another tree.
Giraffes are a thrill to watch. This one was very close to us allowing me to take this headshot. Their cheeks are often puffed up due to the manner in which they eat storing the greenery in their cheeks.

The video inspired us in writing today and posting some previously posted photos. Somehow, we felt compelled to share them with our readers, including many new readers, as to the reasons and motivations that inspired us to travel the world. Also, we selfishly wanted to see them once again to remind us of how blessed we have been to live this astounding life.

Within hours of our arrival in Marloth Park, two moms and seven babies aka piglets, not all shown in these photos. This family became daily visitors to our yard.

Life. It’s all about life. It’s about the gift of life I’ve been given with renewed health by changing my diet making it possible for me to have a 34-hour travel day from airport to airport and continue to be “overly bubbly” without a word of complaint or exhaustion. 

This was one of the first zebras we spotted in Marloth Park, a fluffy baby, aka foal.
An adult male zebra standing under our carport on a hot day.

It’s about the life I’ve been given to be able to make the three-hour walk to Petra in Jordan, the trek down to the Queen’s Bath in Kauai, and every tough trek in between, all over the world, at times in 100-degree (40C) weather, at times sitting outside all day in the heat waiting to see who may stop by for a visit.

Males hang out together. We never saw a female and a male together other than when mating. On this particular day, we had seven zebras visit although only five are shown in this photo as they depart. They’d had their fill of our attention and nutritional pellets and were on their way after a one hour stay.
Male impalas will graze with the females and fawns.

None of this would have been possible 44 months ago. And then I say, “Life, so good, so solid, so much fun with this man I met almost 24 years ago, who never seemed like the kind of guy who’d suggest this life, embrace this life and ultimately love this peculiar life we live.” 

One day, over 100 impalas visited our yard.
There were monitor lizards in our yard, occasionally making an appearance from their holes in the ground. They were very cautious and skittish making it tricky to take photos.

So today, we share this video with our readers to celebrate life on a regular day, not an anniversary, not a milestone day but just any day in the life of two people traveling the world for years to come seeking, searching, and savoring every nook and cranny of the world for signs of “life.”

Stay with us, dear readers, there’s so much more yet to come including an amazing story of a special place in Kauai forty years ago.

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

Tom had a haircut in Marrakech but wasn’t thrilled with the way to charges were handled.  Please check here for details.

Part 3…A tour into a garden of paradise…Princeville Botanical Gardens…The chocolate making and tasting class and more

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The Jackfruit is known for its health benefits. See this link for nutritional details.

The next stop along the way during the final hour of the three-hour tour of the Princeville Botanical Gardens was to the sheltered chocolate tasting presentation.

An Anthurium, gone wild.

We all sighed with relief to finally be able to sit down away from the heat of the sun, sip the lemon-flavored water Mary Lou offered, and ogle over the several containers of chocolate she had placed on the table in front of her.

The Cacao Tree.

She told us the story of how the cacao pods are harvested, the seeds are removed, processed, fermented, and dried for a final product that owner Lucy uses to place into her chocolate-making machine, an at-home use sized melangeur. 

The huge cacao tree pods are fascinating.
These pods provide a perspective as to the size of the pods.

These final beans are called “nibs” which I use in making my Low Carb High Fat Protein Bars, a recipe I recently posted here. Nibs are chocolate in its purest form without any added sugar or ingredients. Nibs may contain as much as 53% cocoa butter, depending on the species.

This Banana Tree flower is in the beginning stages as we’d seen in Madeira almost a year ago. Please click here for our post about the morphology of the banana plant. The small bananas produced on this particular tree are decorative only.

After drying, the beans are then placed into the melangeur. Lucy, the owner, makes only a small amount of chocolate, enough for the garden tour guests to try and for her and husband Bill’s personal use.

Touring the Princeville Botanical Gardens was a fabulous experience for which we wrote a positive review on TripAdvisor. Click here to read our review.

For details of the chocolate-making process, please click here for an article comparable to the description Mary Lou provided us during the demonstration of the various types of chocolates available throughout the world, allowing each guest to try the different flavors. The final taste was Lucy’s which everyone seemed to enjoy.

Pink Grapesplant with interesting flowers.

Unfortunately, all of the chocolates offered for tasting contained sugar so I gracefully declined as I’d also declined the earlier fruit tasting. 

This is the Tree of Sorrow.  Click here for information.

Knowing that after dinner I could enjoy chunks of nibs in my Low Carb High Fat Protein Bar, (recipe is on this post) I didn’t mind a bit and thoroughly enjoyed the smells and the smiles on the faces of the others as they tasted each morsel. Tom would have enjoyed this part of the tour.

It appeared that birds had feasted on the sweet juicy seeds of this pomegranate.

I never knew much about chocolate although on occasion I’d savor a taste or more in the days before I had to forgo sugar in my life, almost four years ago. Tom, with his picky taste buds never cared for dark chocolate, preferring milk chocolate instead. 

The Noni Fruit, known as one of the world’s most nutrient-rich fruit. See here for details.
This is a tiny avocado, no larger than the size of a chestnut.

I had no idea, as Mary Lou explained that milk chocolate has powdered milk in its ingredient list to make it lighter and also more sugar than the dark chocolates to make it more enjoyable for those more particular taste buds.

Mary Lou held this flower from a Lychee Tree.

If chocolate is stated as 80% cacao it merely means that 20% of its labeled ingredients are those other than chocolate such as fillers, sugar, flavorings, etc. The nibs alone are 100% cacao. 

Mary Lou was busy setting up the chocolate presentation while we rested in the chairs.
For the tasting, she presented six different chocolate, the one closest to her, made by owner Lucy utilizing the cacao plants growing in the gardens.

Over the past several years, I’d paid little attention to all the news in the media of the health benefits of chocolate when every bar had sugar listed in its ingredients. Now, I better understand the significance of the percentages.

Many varieties of orchids are grown throughout the gardens.

The chocolate class lasted 30 minutes and once again we were on our way to another fabulous part of the tour, near the river, across the footbridge over the creek, and up and down some steep but beautiful areas.

Hong Kong Orchid Tree.

After stopping to take more photos, suddenly I heard a familiar voice and turned to find Tom. When he arrived early to pick me up, Harold took him on the quick tour via a golf cart, dropping him off the complete the final leg of the tour with me. 

A Breadfruit Tree.

I couldn’t have been more thrilled to see him. I introduced him to our small group, grabbed his hand and we were on our way. It was especially enjoyable to be able to share this final area with him, as he too was in awe of the beauty of the Princeville Botanical Gardens. 

We all loved the name of this tree, the Teddy Bear Redneck Palm.

Chatting on endlessly as to what we’d already seen and done, I looked forward to showing him the photos when we returned homes as we walked and continued to take more photos during the remaining 20 minutes of the tour.

When we reached the end, we wandered to the shop and check-in area to thank Harold and Mary Lou (leaving her a tip) and say our final goodbyes. It couldn’t have been a better day.

As we neared the end of the tour, we crossed this easy-to-navigate footbridge.
The creek below the footbridge.
At this point, Tom had met up with me and we crossed this footbridge together.

Although I didn’t have an opportunity to meet Lucy and spent only a minute with Bill, I want to thank them and their staff as well for the love and care they’ve given to this magical place, the Princeville Botanical Gardens.

Another Anthurium, gone wild.

If you’re ever on the island of Kauai, make sure not to miss this five-star event. I have no doubt it will prove to be as memorable for you as it’s been for me and hopefully, for our worldwide readers as we share our photos over these past three days.

As we walked over these stones it reminded me of “Alice in Wonderland.”
The varying shades of green and lush plants, flowers, and trees added to the exquisite beauty of the Princeville Botanical Gardens.

Today, we’re staying in to watch the final of the Master’s Golf Tournament, a usual pastime for us in this life we live. From time to time, it’s good to try something new.

At the end of the tour, we took a photo of another couple and they took this photo of us. It was a wonderful day, I’ll always remember.

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

Although we were back home in Marrakech, we continued sharing photos of our short-lived mini vacation. For details on why we ended it early, please click here.

Part 2…A tour into a garden of paradise…Princeville Botanical Gardens…

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 I squealed when I spotted these gorgeous Rhododendron at the Princeville Botanical Gardens.

The tour of the Princeville Botanical Gardens continued over a period of three hours and ten minutes up and down hills, following paved and unpaved trails and at times, up and down uneven stone steps.

The rich green leaves were a sight to behold.

Our group of eight managed well and we easily kept up with energetic Mary Lou, our guide who was as familiar and surefooted over these trails with the ease one would entertain in their own backyard.

In a shady area, we encountered these tiny mushrooms growing on the rocks.

The group was of various ages, ranging from 18 to me, most likely the oldest in the group, although there was one or two close behind me. Usually, Tom is with me on such treks and he takes special care to ensure the path ahead while I mindlessly peruse the surroundings for photo ops.

For details on this plant/tree, please click here. The seeds may be used in making body paint, cosmetics, and lipsticks.

On this occasion, I was on my own, having to watch my step over the often rocky path and yet, stay totally in tune with my surroundings. I managed to do both seamlessly and with a watchful eye and don’t feel I missed anything that I would’ve wanted to see.

We’re waiting to hear back from the staff at the gardens to assist with the identification of this tree. With the Princeville Botanical Gardens only open to the public for reserved tours on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Friday, I may not hear back until next week. 

Mary Lou was good at pointing out highlights but, on a few occasions, I found myself hollering out to the others to “Come see this!” when my newly discovered eagle eye went into play.

These flowers appear rather complicated with their many different shapes and sizes.

Both Tom and I are allergic to bees. Harold and Mary Lou made a special point of making me aware that certain areas contained more bees than others. Mostly, they were honey bees that are less inclined to sting but, have been known to attack in swarms.

The Floss Silk Tree. As Mary Lou stated, “No monkeys will be climbing up this tree!” Beautiful flowers are yet to bloom.

When we approached the dense area of the bees, I rolled down my BugsAway sleeves, tightened the ties around my ankles, and dug right into the area, relatively fearless but cautious non-the-less. 

We were surprised to note that many plants and trees were native to Africa, brought over to Hawaii centuries ago.

Seeing the many bees in this particular area was fascinating and although I ventured closer than I should have, I discovered something we’d have missed if I hadn’t gone that far. 

This is Heliconia Spectabilis.  For details on this plant, please click here.

I yelled out to Mary Lou and the group to come to see something amazing as shown in these two photos today.  Mary Lou hollers back, “Oh, we weren’t going to go that close to the bee area.” 

With many bees in this area, I chose not to move the green leaves for a better view of this exquisite bloom which was the size of a soccer ball. All of us on the tour were in awe of this exquisite flower.
Tucked away inside a mass of various greenery was this exquisite bloom, located in the area of the bees. I proceeded with caution to get a better view.

Having gone 10 feet further than the tour plan allowed me to be able to spot this magical soccer sized ball of an unidentifiable ball of orange fluff growing amid the dense greenery. 

Confederate Rose Hibiscus plant, currently not in bloom.

Our mouths were all agape as many cameras inched in for photos. I stood back awaiting my opportunity in the short time available as Mary Lou rushed us along to continue in order to stay on track on the tour. She too was enthralled with the find unsure as to what it could be.

More pretty flowers in varying shades of orange.

Later in the day, we encountered Bill, the owner (along with his wife Lucy) of the Princeville Botanical Gardens, whom I was thrilled to meet to thank for the opportunity to tour the gardens and write our story. 

This mishmash of colors, wood, and greenery caught my eye.

He, too, was pleased with us providing our worldwide readers with an opportunity to see that which he and Lucy have spent years developing with a love and passion for nature, well evidenced in the surroundings. 

A few of the couples with us were from Canada. With a similar climate and an abundance of trees in Minnesota (from whence we came), coleus such as this was a common plant used to fill in gardens since they thrive in shady areas.

I showed Bill the photo of the gorgeous “ball of orange” and he too was baffled. That’s the wonder of nature, continually growing and changing offering us “in awe observers” the chance to behold the treasures upon which we’ve been blissfully bestowed.

At every turn, there were exquisite flowers blooming on plants and trees.

At times, I found my heart pounding, not from the occasional climb, but from a particular find of a flower, plant, or tree that left me entranced by the uniqueness and beauty. Isn’t that what admiring nature is about anyway?

Many flowers appeared out of a tree or bush with few other blooms.

Whether it’s a wild animal, a bird, a frog, an unusual insect, or a flower, it’s all life and it’s all magical. As Mary Lou explained, something I often find myself saying in conversation…there isn’t anything in nature that doesn’t have a purpose; not an appendage, not a blossom, not an antler, not a fang, nor in the case in this tour at the Princeville Botanical Gardens, not a single step we took to one more sighting of a piece of Heaven after another.

African Nutmeg tree.

Tomorrow, we’ll be back with our final photos of the gardens including the chocolate tour and presentation and more scenic views. Again, we apologize for those items we aren’t able to identify, many of which weren’t mentioned on the tour and others I may have missed as my eyes wandered about.  

Some of the trees and plants had signs such as this. However, I found myself fascinated with the hundreds of flowering plants tucked away in plants and trees that had no apparent name available.

In a way, I felt comparable to a kid in a candy store with a pocket full of money. Who cares what the candy is called? It’s the luscious visual, the divine smells that send us reeling!

Oh, would that a simple coleus present such a stunning expression.

Happy Saturday, everyone! Last night we had a fabulous evening out with Alice and Travis and tonight, we’ll visit the home of Cathi and Rick for dinner. Life is good!

                                               Photo from one year ago today, April 11, 2014:

A village in the Atlas Mountains. We ended up cutting our three-day trip short the reasons which are explained in this post. Please click here for details.

Part 1, A tour into a garden of paradise…Princeville Botanical Gardens…

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The road on the way to the Princeville Botanical Gardens is in itself a breathtaking experience.

Finally, the skies cleared and it was time to tour the Princeville Botanical Gardens on a gorgeous sunny day. I couldn’t have been more excited to be able to attend after postponing Tuesday’s planned tour due to rain.

Upon entering the waiting area for the tour, I was impressed by the quality of the merchandise offered for sale.

Wearing my BugsAway clothing imbedded with insect repellent I was definitely overdressed in the warm weather in a long sleeve shirt, long pants, a hat, and carrying the requisite EpiPen in the event of a bee sting. I was ready to go with the camera draped over my shoulder, my pockets filled with extra camera batteries and a water bottle in my waistband, leaving me with no bag to carry and my hands-free for taking photos. 

Much to my surprise, this was an excellent location for purchasing locally made tee shirts and merchandise to bring home, all of which were reasonably priced.

Tom had decided to stay behind to complete some final work with our Nevada accountant for the upcoming tax day (on April 15th in the US), so for the first time that I can recall, I was off on a tour on my own. At 1:30 pm, he dropped me off at the entrance to the gardens where the shop and check-in area were located to prepare for the 2:00 pm three-hour tour.  

I had no idea that orchids grow on trees as shown in the first tree discussed along the tour. See this link on how to grow orchids on trees, if one is living in an orchid growing climate.

With a plan for Tom to return around 4:45 pm to pick me up, I waved goodbye, giggling over the ridiculousness of us rarely being apart these past 30 months as we’ve traveled the world. I felt confident and at ease being on my own on the tour but, I knew I’d miss his eagle eye for photo ops.

Everywhere we walked, the scenery was breathtaking. Unlike many botanical gardens, the owners chose to leave some areas open with expansive green lawns, adding to its beauty.

Harold, our kindly, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic host acquainted me and the other seven guests as to general information about the exquisite gardens and by 1:50 the tour was on its way with all registered guests in attendance with our tour guide Mary Lou.

Lucy’s vegetable and herb garden was protected by a fence to keep the pigs and chickens out.

On previous tours there have been as many as 20 guests, but, with the recent pouring rain and slippery conditions as of yesterday, this small group was ideal for my soon to be obsessive photo-taking and diligent observations on the tour. Reservations for the tour are available online at this link.

There were numerous Papaya Trees on the property. Mary Lou presented a container filled with luscious sections of the tender papaya flesh for the group to taste. 

Here’s a quote from Princeville Botanical Gardens well-done website, which I couldn’t have described better:

“Princeville Botanical Gardens began as a personal hobby of Bill and Lucinda Robertson in 2001, only to expand in scope and surpass all expectations when they moved to Kauai full time in 2004.

Hidden away in the jungle valleys of Princeville on Kauai’s North Shore, dramatic topography, natural landscaping, and tender cultivation have culminated into a sacred garden paradise.

Previously cattle land, centuries of introduced plants had strangled out the native flora throughout the Anini Stream valley. After fighting back the jungle, the Robertsons continue to protect the land from constantly encroaching invasive species. Supplementing the tired soil with organic fertilizers and homemade compost, organic and sustainable practices are a priority in the gardens. With the help of passionate gardeners, enthusiastic friends and neighbors, and painstaking physical labor, the land has slowly been transformed.”

The views continue in each of the seven areas of the gardens.

Rather than retell the information about the development and growth of the Princeville Botanical Gardens as so well described on their website, I prefer to share my experience from the perspective of an enthusiastic tourist over the next few days.

The terraced areas of the gardens required a massive number of boulders to be brought in by semi-trucks, which occurred over a period of years to complete the terracing. The Princeville Botanical Gardens although appearing to be complete, based on the tour, is a work in progress requiring tremendous care and future development which Bill and Lucy continue with a passion.

For those, such as me, who happen to find tremendous joy in perusing unique and often astounding vegetation I was in awe over that which Bill and Lucy have so exquisitely incorporated into their gardens. This intimate and informative tour exceeded all of my expectations. 

This red fruit caught my eye although I was unsure as to its identity.

Not only was the sequence of the tour presented in an ideal flow as the grounds continually changed and progressed, but each area also became more exciting than the next. There was never once during the three-hour tour of the seven unique gardens that my attention or interest waned for even a moment.

Although Hawaii may not be the perfect climate for cactus to proliferate, many varieties of cactus seem to thrive as this has that I spotted on the tour.

I should mention that although the tour is generally easy to navigate, it wouldn’t work for those with wheelchairs, walkers, or who had difficultly walking or managing steep terrain. 

The Miracle Tree possessing leaves that have multiple medicinal and health-improving benefits.

Although a few spots we maneuvered were fairly steep and a few others required careful stepping on uneven stones and steps, it was considerably less of a trek than many other venues in Kauai. This tour wouldn’t be suitable for strollers or young children.

Poinsettias are an emotion-provoking flower reminiscent of Christmas’s past for those who observe.

As we wandered through the seven areas, there were only a few occasions where mosquitoes were biting (Mary Lou had repellent to share) and only a short distance where bees were prevalent. 

Kava plant, a known mood-altering plant used by enthusiasts all over the world for its sedative and anesthetic properties.

I had previously sprayed my ankles and arms but was otherwise protected by my long sleeves and pants.  I wasn’t bitten once. I wore comfortable walking shoes but noticed several others wearing flip flops, a common occurrence we’ve observed on many tours in the islands. We’re always surprised by the lack of surefootedness in such flimsy footwear. 

Baobab tree.  We’d seen many of these in Kenya.

When one of the other guests mentioned they were heading to Queen’s Bath in a few days, I suggested they wear sport or walking shoes with some traction as opposed to flip flops. Safety should always be the first consideration when touring any of the often steep and uneven terrains in Kauai.

Many trees and plants produce beautiful flowers such as this Justicia Aube.

Mary Lou’s warm and friendly demeanor made the tour feel as if it was being presented by a passionate and enthusiastic friend proudly sharing the stories and history of the growth and development of the gardens I couldn’t have felt more at ease. She had a magical way of knowing exactly when to continue on, allowing me and the others to take our photos and gawk at the wonder before our eyes.

These Angel Trumpets are known to be hallucinogenic and abused by some who partake in its effects. We’d seen these flowers in Madeira, Portugal, and had no idea as to their drug-like properties.

Bear with me today and over the next few days as I share many photos some of which I may not be able to identify. Having seen hundreds if not thousands of various plants, flowers, and trees growing in the gardens, it was impossible to recall the names and details of each one. Early on in the tour, Mary Lou explained she wouldn’t have time in the three-hour tour to describe each and every botanical.

Lipstick bamboo.  Look at these colors!

If any of our readers are curious as to more details of a specific plant please contact me and I’ll contact Harold for a further description and update the post accordingly.  

Shrimp plant also known as Yellow Candles.

Tomorrow, we’ll be back with more photos, the chocolate tasting event including chocolate made by Lucy utilizing the cacao beans grown on the property, the walk across the footbridge over the river, and the progression of the tour as it continued through the enjoyable three hour period.

Happy a fabulous weekend! We have social activities planned for both tonight and tomorrow night, details of which we’ll share once we complete the Princeville Botanical Gardens series.

                                              Photo from one year ago today, April 10, 2014:

It was a year ago today, that we began and long and arduous drive through the Atlas Mountains in Morocco. This scene is of a soccer team playing in the desert as we made our way up the mountains, at points as much as 14,000 feet above sea level. For more details, please click here.

Telling a simple story…Finding joy in the simple things in life…Birdie…

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This adorable pair of Northern Cardinals visits us several times each day. He’s sharing the nuts with her that we leave on the railing. How sweet is this!

Our lives aren’t always about the vast experiences we’ve somehow managed to include in our travels. It’s not always about exciting adventures, risky situations, or new and unusual challenges.

Taking photos of lions in the wild only 10 feet from our vehicle, snakes on the veranda, giraffes in our yard, the pirate-infested waters of the Gulf of Aden near Oman, or a scary trek down to Queen’s Bath all play a role in defining only a part of our years-long “journey to everywhere.”

As we reflect on past experiences we often find ourselves giggling or even becoming misty-eyed over the small things that have crossed our paths during these past almost 30 months.

Our multiple times daily visitors, a Northern Cardinal and his mate. He’s the one that makes so much noise attempting to gain our attention. At times, he calls for her to come to share in the treats.

Today, we share a tiny ongoing experience here in Kauai that makes us laugh every single day, an experience we’ll look back upon in years to come as a treasured experience, a simple experience, that warms our hearts.

It’s about a bird. Actually, it’s about four birds, two pairs, male and female, that we’ve come to know. Actually, they’ve come to know us following us as we open the blinds for the day, looking in the windows to see what we’re doing and if we’re moving about. 

If we sleep in and don’t open the blinds until 7:30 or as early as 6:30 am, within minutes this male Northern Cardinal is there chirping at us with such vigor that we can’t help but laugh.  He’s asking for nuts. He’s learned, as have the pair of Red-Crested Cardinals, male and female, who follow suit in their persistence in the fact that we have nuts.

She’s quite adorable even with her dirty face from eating walnuts.

Oh, our nuts aren’t those boring grocery store bought bird seed. They consist of hand-chopped organic unsalted walnuts. Nothing but the best for these four birds that visit us several times each day.

With little originality, we call him “Birdie.” Then again, with even less originality, we call all of them “Birdie.” The magic of this is that when I call out to the trees beyond our lanai in my usual goofy high pitched talk-to-animals-voice, “Birdies,” they come. Oh, not all four of them at once. The two breeds don’t get along.

The same breed pairs get along quite well, often sharing with one another as shown in today’s main photo. It’s not often all four of them visit at once instead one or two of each breed stop by at a time, more often the males.

This is the male Red Crested Cardinal (previously posted photo) that I taught to feed from my hand. It took a while for him to feel safe enough to step onto my hand. I’d love to be able to share a photo of him standing on my hand but Tom’s photo-taking skills make it difficult for him to capture the moment.  (Sorry, Honey).

The best part of all is the male Northern Cardinal, “Birdie” who’s our first visitor in the morning and the last visitor before the sun finally sets. I’ve tried to make a video of his persistent chirping at us. It’s not easy to capture through the glass or the screen. He stops when I open the door.  I’ll continue to try. 

He’s determined to gain our attention by singing the likes of which neither of us has ever heard. As we approach the window, he gets louder, making certain we don’t miss his requests for those tiny bits of nuts.

The two breeds don’t get along so well.

Northern Cardinals are known to be shy seldom getting close to people. I can’t get him to eat from my hand. One of the Red-Crested Cardinals, the larger male, will eat from my hand each time I offer. The other three are more tentative.

He’s so cute. And, he sings like nobody knows!

Ms. Northern Cardinal often joins him. At times, when he’s here alone, we detect a specific call to her that there’s food. Moments later, she alights on the lanai railing to join the party.

The Red-Crested Cardinals, although, less persistent sing quite the tune attempting to gain our attention. The males wait patiently when we open the door. The females may fly to a nearby tree to wait until we leave the lanai after placing the nuts on the lanai railing.

The big challenge is keeping the pigeons away. They scare off the Cardinals by pecking at them to leave. Tom’s become masterful at making a sound that sends them on their way. Oddly, when he makes that sound, the Cardinals stay on the lanai knowing Tom’s noises aren’t directed at them. 

Mr. & Ms. Birdie.  Excuse the blur. It’s challenging to get a photo with both of them through the glass.  He’ll stay on the railing if I open the door but she flies off. 

In a funny way, we’ve come to think they know that we’re sending the pigeons away specifically for them to enjoy our offerings to avoid the pigeons taking over. As we’ve observed these four birds and a few others on occasion, we come to realize that birds are a lot smarter than we may ever have suspected.

Bird lovers and owners of household pet birds have no doubt as to the intellect of birds and how they may be taught to respond to our often persistent desire to somehow communicate with them. 

Birdie, contemplating his day.

In essence, we find ourselves cherishing the opportunity to observe and occasionally communicate with nature, whether it’s a Northern Cardinal, a zebra, a warthog, or an albatross. 

It’s all a part of this glorious life we’ve all been given that provides us with the opportunity to treasure other forms of life that surround us, everywhere we go, in one way or another. For this, dear readers, we are grateful and we are in awe.

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

This display of shoes bespeaks the colorful flair of displays in the souks of Marrakech, Morocco. One year ago on this date, we prepared for a road trip. For details, please click here.

Planning on a tour today…Raining in buckets at the moment and the sun’s shining…What about Versailles?

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This is our favorite chick, now named “Joy” who usually sits facing the wall.  She was practicing clacking when we stopped by last week, although we were at least 15 feet from her. On this particular day, she wasn’t facing the wall, as she often does, as did her parents. Yesterday, she was gone from the nest and we were worried about contacting Cathy for an update.

When we lived in South Africa having the time of our lives, albeit, with bugs, snakes, and more, our dear friend Okee Dokee told us of an Afrikaans expression commonly used when it rains when the sun is shining, a so called “sun shower.”

Could this chick be any cuter?

Although we’ve been able to memorize various words and even sentences in other languages, for some odd reason, I can’t seem to recall that expression. It makes us laugh when it slips my mind time and again and, it really makes Okee Dokee laugh when I email her and ask for it one more time. When the three of us were together continually laughed, often to the point of tears, over the silliest things.

Here’s a video we made of a chick swallowing the food his parent had fed him, regurgitated from a recent trip out to sea, often not returning for days at which point the chicks are very hungry.
 I’d saved that expression on my computer last December but, it died and the expression died along with it. So, this morning I wrote to Okee Dokee, for the zillionth time, asking for it one more time. Ah, here it is:  “Jakkals trou met wolf se vrou,” meaning “the fox marries the wolf’s wife” or in other words, it’s raining and the sun is shining.Thanks, Okee Dokee. We love you!


It’s hard to believe that these fluffy balls will eventually grow into the beautiful pristine white and grey feathers of the adults.

Anyway, we’re scheduled for a five star rated tour today at 1:30, hoping to take many photos to share for days to come. With the rain pelting as we’ve never seen in Kauai, we may have to reschedule for Thursday, our next option for this tour.

Neither of us minds getting wet. After all, we stood outside at Versailles in France (link to our Versailles post, Part 1) last summer in the pouring rain for 90 minutes, with no umbrella, getting soaked to the gills, with nary a peep of complaint from either of us. It’s the camera and equipment we want to protect.

A Brown Gecko is hanging out in this plant with sharp thorns, a safe hiding spot for sure.

We’ll wait and see how it goes. As I sit here writing now, we have three hours until we have to walk out the door. In Kauai, the weather can change on a dime. In a few hours, the sky could become totally clear without a cloud in sight.

Yesterday afternoon, we stopped by the neighborhood to see the albatross chicks and parents to find that things have begun to change. Chicks and parents have begun to move about. It appeared that the parents whose eggs never hatched were long gone. 

There are many beautiful plants and shrubs growing in the neighborhood where the albatross nest. The homes are exquisite and meticulously maintained.

Many of our chick photos have been of one in particular who’s parents always sat on the nest facing the wall of a house with their back to us. 

When the chick was born in early February, soon growing too large to sit under the parent, it too, began facing the wall. How sweet that the chick followed the pattern of the parents. Each time we’ve stopped by, at least twice per week, the chick was facing the wall, growing fatter each day.

Chickens and roosters wander about the neighborhood, cohabitating well with the Laysan Albatross.

Yesterday, we were shocked to find that chick was gone. We looked everywhere and couldn’t find it. “Oh no,” we thought, “Did something happen to it?”

Immediately upon returning home, we wrote to Cathy, docent, and caregiver to the Laysan Albatross in the neighborhood, making notes on their health, activity, growth, and well being on two-hour walks, twice a day.  We thought if anyone knew what had happened to the chick, it would be Cathy.

This peculiar tree is growing in the neighborhood of the albatross.

This morning when I turned on my laptop, I spotted a message from her that warmed our hearts. We both sighed in relief reading her message.

Here’s what Cathy wrote in her words about the missing chick and more:

“After spending most of his days at or next to his nest, he is suddenly moving around.  He is often around the corner now.  This afternoon he was back near his nest, trying out his wings.  I was wondering when he would leave the security of his nest.  You probably noticed that the one at the house catty-corner has moved closer to the street.  I have a big orange traffic cone that I often have to put in front of chicks when they venture too close to the street, and the Princeville Patrol officers carry cones in their car for the same reason.  The main street worries me a bit because the trucks working at the house at the end sometimes drive too fast.  The chicks do get to a point where they venture out into the street and sometimes have to be coaxed back to safety. This is officially known as “hazing” an albatross when you walk slowly towards them so they walk away from you and from a dangerous situation.  

By the way, when you see adults with a chick at this time of year, you can’t assume it’s the parents.  The chick you are talking about had several visitors one-day last week.  Mom just happened to arrive then, and she snapped at all of them until they left!

Cathy
P.S.We don’t know the sexes of the chicks, but the owners of the house where the chick you asked about lives have named him/her Joy.”
I wrote back to Cathy thanking her for putting our minds at ease. Although we’ve never been closer than 15 feet from the albatross, in a funny way, we’ve become attached to them. We’ll be long gone when the parents finally leave the chick who’ll eventually fledge out to sea to begin his/her own life. 
The chicks began preening themselves at an early age.
Most likely, this event occurs in a matter of minutes and the likelihood of ever seeing the chicks fledge would require an around the clock vigil, not at all practical. 
Please bear with us on our frequent mention of the albatross. Living so close to the albatross families has been comparable for us, to when we were living in Marloth Park, a game reserve with wildlife at our doorstep for a full three months. Yes, I know, I became particularly attached to the warthogs and warthog babies and, I realize, I must have bored our readers to no end with my frequent mention and photos.
Here’s another vocal chick.  Now that they are less fearful, they’ve begun practicing typical adult behavior in preparation for days to come.
Here again, you are stuck with my passion for the wildlife of any kind and honestly, Tom doesn’t fall far behind.  Yesterday, his brow was frowned, as he drove around and around the neighborhood looking for the chick. This morning, he smiled from ear to ear as I read Cathy’s message aloud.
As the chicks have grown they appear to be spending more time alert and awake perusing their surroundings.  of course, now as Cathy stated, they’ve begun to wander away from the nest, occasionally being “hazed” by humans to stay away from the road and oncoming traffic.
We continually confirm in our hearts and minds that our love of nature is the basis of our travels which includes wildlife, vegetation, and scenery. As for old buildings and places like Versailles, they must hold some interest for us or we wouldn’t have stood in the rain last August, soaked through and through, touring the beautiful gardens. Then again, it was a garden. We love those. 
More to come.
                                                 Photo from one year ago today, April 7, 2014:
In our post one year ago, we discussed the difference between safety measures in other countries as opposed to those in the US, Europe, and other countries. For details from that post, please click here.