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Beautiful flowers brighten our day from Kauai, Hawaii, five years ago…Building a comfortable routine…

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The birth of an Alpaca “cria” while we had a fantastic opportunity to oversee the births while the farm owners were away. Please click here for the story with many photos, including the main image, one of our favorites.
Note: To all of our readers visiting our site via a smartphone, please click the “View web version” tab under the word “Home” at the bottom of the page to access the web version enabling you to access all of our archives on the right side of the page. We’ll be updating our site in a few months, making these extra steps unnecessary. Thank you.

Please click here for those who may have missed the post with SW News Media’s article on our story.

As we look back at posts from five years ago, our current source of photos since we, like you, are stuck indoors, we can’t help but smile over the beautiful experiences we’ve had in our travels over the past 7½ years.

It’s those very photos that we’re enjoying now, while in lockdown, more than ever before. They are a reminder of not only what we’ve cherished in the past but what we can anticipate for the future with enthusiasm and hope.

 I squealed when I spotted this gorgeous Rhododendron at the Princeville Botanical Gardens from this post five years ago. 

Thanks to our readers and Facebook friends for the many loving and encouraging messages we received yesterday on Easter and each day. Many have continued to suggest solutions to our situation, but we are pretty fine, both physically and emotionally.

With the number of cases rapidly rising in India, at 9240 cases with 331 deaths, we anticipate we could be here a long time. Even if the airport reopens, with more points here, we may be forced into quarantine anywhere we’ll go in the future unless we wait it out long enough.
In a shady area, we encountered these tiny mushrooms growing on the rocks.

No one knows for sure what the future holds and if we’ll be able to continue traveling for some time to come. Our hope and plan will continue to focus on leaving India at some point soon, whether it be in a month or four months. 

In the interim, we have no option but to patiently wait it out while doing everything we can to stay engaged, educated, and informed about what transpires throughout the world, not only inside our tiny world.

With many bees in this area, I chose not to move the green leaves for a better view of this exquisite bloom, a soccer ball’s size. All of us on tour was in awe of this exquisite flower.

One thing we know for sure, our lives and yours, will never be the same as it was before the virus hit. Not a single country has avoided the virus entirely, although a few have had under 10 cases. But, at this point, their peak may be on the horizon. Only time will tell.

For us, staying busy while cooped up in a hotel room has been vital to maintaining a good state of mind and good health. We don’t overeat. We don’t drink alcohol (only because it’s not available!). We keep moving. We watch funny YouTube videos, including our own.
Jackfruit is known for its health benefits.  See this link for nutritional details. This photo was posted at this link on April 13, 2015.

We’ve developed a routine we find comforting. When we may become hungry in the afternoon, we drink the instant coffee in the room, no more than two cups each (mine is decaf), as somewhat of a ritual. 

We go to breakfast each day whenever we feel like it, sometimes as early as 8:00 am and others as late as 10:00 am. Each evening at 7:00 pm sharp, we head to the dining room for dinner. We’re often the only guests since most eat lunch and don’t have dinner until as late as 10:00 pm.

The Noni Fruit, known as one of the world’s most nutrient-rich fruits.  See here for details.

But, one of the most fun and enjoyable times of the day is after dinner when we get comfy on the bed with six fluffy pillows, and we set up my laptop on a tray to stream two episodes of our favorite shows. 

Usually, the two shows end by 10:15 pm, after which we play with our phones and then drift off to sleep. Most days, my Fitbit displays that I’ve slept seven to eight hours, which is better sleep than I’ve had in years, if ever. Tom sleeps less than I do, but on occasion will nap for 20 minutes during the day.
An Anthurium, gone wild.

This type of routine has brought us a sense of comfort and security as day after day, we awaken and repeat it. As of tomorrow, we’ll have been in this hotel room for three weeks. It feels like more. 

We’ll get through it. We’ll all get through it if we stay safe… If we social distance… If we avoid going out… If we wash our hands… If we wear face masks… If we take care of ourselves and our loved ones… If… If… If…

Photo from one year ago today, April 13, 2019:

Four baby warthogs were taking a rest together. For more photos, please click here.

We lost a friend…Richard in Kauai…Little did we know…

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Richard joined us for dinner on St. Patrick’s Day at a local restaurant.

Our hearts are heavy today. We lost a friend. Our dear friend Richard Turner, who stuck-like-glue from the moment we met him on January 24, 2015, the day we joined the Makai Country Club only days after our arrival in Princeville, Kauai, Hawaii. (Please click here for the link to the day we met Richard).

Little did we know…that meeting this special man would turn our four-month stay in Kauai into a whirlwind of an enriching and highly enjoyable social life with friendships we made for life including with him and his dear wife Elaine.

Little did we know…the friendship with Richard would be so short when yesterday, 13 months later, he passed away in his sleep, never to awaken to see the face of beloved wife Elaine and treasured cat, Daisy Mae. 

Elaine and Richard joined us for lunch at the local Westin Hotel where we languished in their company engaged in delightful conversation, as always.

He leaves in his wake a plethora of those who loved him;  family, friends and neighbors, and a world of clients with whom he diligently worked for decades as an attorney in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, all who admired his generosity of spirit and time as breathtaking in today’s hurried world. 

About eight years ago, he, Elaine, and Daisy Mae moved to Kauai to the home they’d owned for years and planned for eventual retirement. Overlooking the ocean, Richard was proud of his lovely home and shared its many treasures with us only days after we met. (Please click here for Part 1 of the tour of Elaine and Richard’s lovely home and here for Part 2 when he introduced us to the nesting Laysan Albatross in his neighborhood).

Little did we know…that meeting Richard would provide us with the pleasure we experienced from the many people we met at an endless array of parties and social events that we’d be gifted with the joy of regularly visiting the albatross and their eventual chicks, another of our favorite memories of Kauai.

Richard had finished off his garage to hold his magistrate’s desk he’d shipped from Missouri to Kauai. He was excited to share this favorite possession from his life as an attorney in Missouri.

Yesterday, I wrote the following in a Facebook comment with a photo we’d taken shortly after meeting Richard when he invited us to his home to meet Elaine: “We spent many hours together with Richard and his wife Elaine. He will be dearly missed by many who had the privilege of knowing this kind and caring ambassador of friendship and love.”

That was Richard, an ambassador of friendship and love. He had a magical way of bringing people together with a sense of pride in doing so as a parent who’d step back to watch the progression of friendships among the people he loved the most.

After we left Kauai on May 23, 2015, four months later, our hearts filled with appreciation for his love and friendship. He called us, “blue eyes and the Irishman” an endearing term that addressed every encounter and every precious email after we left. We often referred to him as “Ricky” and he never flinched. 

Tom and Richard had an instant bond, one he’ll always treasure.  They equally loved sharing their corny “guy” jokes and stories.

We never lost touch with Richard in this past year for more than a few days at a time, as he continually teased us to give up our world travels and move to Kauai to live in his neighborhood.

Little did we know…that had we ever decided to give up our continuing life of travel which began 40 months ago to live in Kauai, we’d have done so more to be close to him, Elaine, and the many people he introduced us to, than any other reason in the world.

However short our friendship, he’ll remain in our hearts forever. Rest in peace, dear friend. Little did we know…you’d leave us all so soon…

Photo from one year ago today, March 1, 2015:

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 seen in Kauai although not native to the Hawaiian Islands. Click here for more photos of Kauai.

Photos keep comin’ and comin’ of these past weeks…Beautiful beaches…

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Many of these photos were taken at varying times of day with varying cloud cover.

When my sister Julie visited us for eight days my goal had been to take her to see some of our favorite spots on the island many of which are within an hour’s drive of Princeville.

This couple strolled along the beach.

We’d discussed heading south to Lihue and then Poipu Beach. After Tom and I had visited the southern and western coast over my birthday spending a night at the Kauai Sheraton at Poipu Beach we’d been somewhat disappointed when dense clouds impeded viewing Waimea Canyon, a common occurrence.

The combination of lush greenery, water, and sand create a pleasant scene.

I wasn’t as excited to show her the southern part of the island when it was equally cloudy during most of her eight-day visit. After all, this is the rainy season in Kauai. Luckily, Julie wasn’t at all disappointed with the weather when the sun only managed to peek out on occasion. 

Often beaches are lines with trees proving shade for those beachgoers needing protection from the sun.

She agreed the day trip to the southern coast could better be accomplished the next time she visits Kauai and, after this exceptional visit, she’s certain she’ll return in the future, most likely without us. We still have a lot of world to see and returning to Kauai, as much as we love it, is not a part of our upcoming itinerary.

The “wet” tunnel at Tunnels Beach is not open for swimming.

Thus, by staying within an hour’s drive from our home, we visited many of the sights Tom and I had already explored. However, a repeat visit didn’t prevent either of us from taking many photos often on overcast days, often in the exact locations, I’d previously seen.

I had no concern about being bored seeing these same beaches, same overlooks, and the same scenery. As I’d mentioned in a previous post, when you love someone, nothing is more exciting than sharing a favorite scene or location. 

Kealia Beach in Kapaa. 

As a matter of fact, there this one spot as we approach Princeville on the Kuhio highway where there is the most beautiful forest of trees we’d ever seen. Sadly, there weren’t any available spots to stop to take a photo. The photo is either taken through the windshield or not at all.  Each time we’ve driven through this area, our mouths are agape in awe over the stunning views. The trees remind Tom and me of the flat-topped acacia trees in the Masai Mara where we were on safari almost 18 months ago.

A small area of the expansive Anina Beach which is our favorite.

I contemplated whether or not to post the photos of these same locations I again visited with Julie. However, with her skills as a TV producer and her keen eye, she presented a new perspective in her observations of the scenery, which I easily incorporated into my new photos. 

A view of Hanalei Bay from our area in Princeville.

Over the next several days we’ll be presenting the photos, although Tom and I will continue to visit new locations, photos from which we’ll soon be sharing. Today is the exact date that in two months (of the four months we’re spending in Kauai) that we’ll depart the Hawaiian Islands to head to Australia by cruise.

Kealia Beach as seen from the Kauai Path in Kapaa.

Plus, it was one year ago today that we began to post the “one year ago photo” at the end of each post to aid our new readers in “catching up.”

The beach in downtown Kapaa.

And yet, there hasn’t been a single day when I’ve struggled with what to post the next days, what photos to share, what stories to tell. The island of Kauai is a never-ending photographer’s paradise, even for a novice like me.

Swimmers are the Hanalei Beach on a cloudy day.

With an exciting tour scheduled today which was rained out last Friday, which we’ll share this week, we find ourselves excited for that which is yet to come on this glorious island.

Although most beaches in Kauai are sandy a few have areas are rocky.

Last night, we had another fabulous evening with new friends Brenda and Pat at yet another repeated experience, dinner at Bouchon in Hanalei Beach which proved to be another equally great dining experience for both food and service. We love consistency and we’d loved having the opportunity to share it with our new friends who’d yet to try the restaurant.

Have a tremendous Tuesday!

                                             Photo from one year ago today, March 24, 2014:

We chose not to ride in one of these horse-driven buggies.  It saddened us to see the horses working in the extreme heat and some suffering from injuries.  As a result, we walked everywhere we wanted to go, such as to the pharmacy, the ATM, and restaurants in the Medina. Madam Zahra purchased food and prepared all of our meals leaving us little need to grocery shop other than for nuts for snacking. Once every few weeks, we hired a taxi to take us to the closest grocery store at a cost of approximately $15 round trip. We weren’t interested in the pricey nuts in the carts in the Medina after seeing them sitting out all day in the heat of the sun, surrounded by flies.  Those from the grocery store were reasonably priced and fresh. For details, please click here.

What’s Kuhio Road all about?…Touring the island continue to please our visitor…

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Apparently, a visitor was killed on this beach at the end of Anina Beach, a desirable beach only 15 minutes from Princeville. This was sad to see.

Kauai doesn’t have many highways and certainly nothing that remotely appears to be a freeway. Once we exit the planned community of Princeville, we have the option of heading to the right on Kuhio Highway, which continues past Hanalei until the road ends at Ke’e Beach on the Napali Coast where we spotted the Hawaiian monk sea

Tom and I had seen this “wet cave” as we neared the end of the road in the Napali Coast. Swimmers aren’t allowed to enter this cave.

Or, if we turn to the left at Kuhio Highway, we can continue on to Lihue where the airport is located and then on to one of a few highways that continue through Poipu at the southern tip on the map, ultimately heading to the west where again, the road ends.

Of course, there are many side roads entering residential areas, farms, ranches with much of the island consisting of undeveloped areas, including beaches, mountains, valleys, and hills.

The rip currents in many of the beaches are dangerous resulting in the death of a tourist almost every day, based on news reports.

If one were to drive from the top north, west of Princeville to the far southwest, it may take less than three hours providing road construction and traffic is at a minimum. That’s how small this island really is. 

The huge waves also pose a risk for swimmers who may not be familiar with navigating the currents. Even experienced swimmers and surfers fall prey to these risks.

Reality dictates that driving through many of the small towns along the way results in numerous delays, especially in the resort towns. Let’s face it, with the gorgeous beaches on this island, most towns along the coast are in fact resort towns.

It was overcast and cloudy when Julie and I visited this beach.

In yesterday’s post, we described mine and Julie’s visit to the town of Kapaa as shown on the map on the east coast near the center. It took 30 minutes to get to Kapaa. Had we driven further south for another 15 minutes, we have made it to Lihue.

There are hundreds of varieties of trees on the island.

After Tom and I traveled almost the full perimeter of the island on February 19th, we both agree that we’ve especially enjoyed the north and east coasts of the island, as opposed to the south beyond Poipu. 

The cliffs at Tunnels Beach on the way to the Napali Coast.

Although the southern area of the island has numerous attractions suitable for adventure-minded visitors and those seeking beautiful scenery, there’s hardly a spot on the island that isn’t scenic. Even on the interior of the island, exquisite scenery is available at every turn.

We stopped at a local Farmer’s Market on the way to Kapaa a few days ago. We purchased a root of turmeric, a huge bunch of Swiss chard, two huge bunches of green beans, and an enormous avocado, all organic and non-GMO.

By the time we depart Kauai in a little over two months, without a doubt, we feel we’ll have seen most of which is suitable for our type of exploration, excluding what remains of the exceedingly rough terrain desired by adept and experienced hikers, which doesn’t include us.

We always try to buy from local farmers as much as possible.  A few days ago we went to the local Princeville gas station where on the inside they sell grass-fed beef at excellent prices from the Princeville Ranch. On Friday, we’re touring the ranch with the owner, hoping the share photos and the story of farming grass-fed beef in  Kauai.

We’ve definitely experienced some rough terrain but, with our desire to avoid injuries, we’ve kept those types of treks to a minimum. With nightly reports on the news, almost every night we hear of tourists succumbing to serious injury or death on many of the dangerous trails being swept away into the ocean at various points of interest, such as at the Queen’s Bath which we recently visited.

As for Julie and me, we continue to scour the north and east side of the island easily keeping us busy each day.  She loves the beaches and has also taken off a few times on her own to explore and lounge on a beach to relax and read a book while I’ve stayed behind take care of household tasks, grocery shop, prepare meals, workout and work on photos and the next day’s post. 

Many popular beaches are in a covered area, providing some protection for the swimmers.

Today, we’re off to Kilauea to finally visit the lighthouse. On several occasions Tom and I have stopped by, yet to actually take the tour when the lines were too long. Julie and I are determined to wait it out until we get in. Hopefully, we’ll return tomorrow with photos from the actual tour.

Tonight, we’re dinner guests of our new friends Bev and Sam whose property we toured on “movie night” a few weeks ago, posting many photos of their amazing property a day later. They’ve since invited the three of us for an evening at their home. We’re looking forward to a wonderful evening!

Have a fulfilling “hump day.”

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

The tourists usually arrive on Thursdays and Fridays to spend the weekend shopping in the souks and dining in the Big Square (the Medina). For details from that date, please click here.

A visit to Kukuiolono Park…Another historical spot in Kauai…Sightseeing continues…

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Stumbling on this site along the highway, we stopped to check out this historic location, Kukuiolono Park.
A quote from the Kukuiolono Park website:
“In the town of Kalaheo, just off the beaten path lies a hidden gem, Kukuiolono Park and Golf Course. The park was once the site of an ancient Hawaiian Heiau and more recently the estate of the late Walter McBryde, who was the owner of the McBryde Sugar Plantation and donated the 180 acre parcel to the state as his gift to the people of Kauai.
The park offers extensive walking paths and gardens with breathtaking mountain and ocean views. The challenging 9-hole golf course is popular with the locals for its beauty and the most inexpensive greens fees on the island.
The newly renovated Japanese garden is a great place for a stroll down a quaint path and over a footbridge where visitors can see fountains, statues, bonsai trees and other plantings. The garden path leads up to a unique and extensive collection of Hawaiian lava rock artifacts and a newly-built meditation pavilion.”
Tom, history lover that he is, often reads every last line on such sign while I peruse the area for photo ops.

Obviously, sightseeing every day is impractical. For several reasons, we’ve had more interest in visiting various sites here in Kauai than we’ve had on the other islands.

The chickens flocked to us the moment we parked the car.

Ending a cruise in Honolulu on October 5th, we were coming off several busy months needing a break; two cruises, a month spent in Paris and London, three days in Boston, six days in Vancouver, dealing with two broken laptops and preparing for the arrival of family to the Big Island. 

As soon as we exited the car, this determined rooster indicated he was anxious to find out if we had any food. We did not. However, his familiarity with humans visiting the park made him unconcerned as I approached for the photos shown below.

On top of it all, we were worrying about the lava flow reaching the two houses we’d rented in Pahoa, feverishly checking online for other options. By the time we arrived in Maui on October 16th after spending 11 days in Oahu in a condo we found uncomfortable, we needed another break.

We’d never been close enough to a rooster, to notice his sharp spurs.

Arriving in Maui we immediately prepared for predicted Hurricane Ana shopping for the possibility of being without power or water for days to come. Once that risk subsided we hardly felt like driving around sightseeing.  We ending up spending lots of lazy days at home in the lovely condo overlooking the sea. It was easier to do nothing than plan trips.

Upon closer inspection, we saw how dangerous this spurs could be. Undoubtedly, roosters know how and when to use these. We kept our distance although he was a friendly fellow.

By the magic of life on the Hawaiian Islands we were able to take photos to share and we never missed a single day of posting in the six weeks in Maui. We did venture out on a handful of occasions to check out local attractions but, had little interest in long drives in the car.

There were a few flowers blooming in Kukuiolono Park.

Now, here we are, after over four months in the islands and we’ve got the bug to check out everything we can find on this exquisite island. At this point, we’ve accomplished traveling the entire perimeter of the island of Kauai as far as the paved roads allow.

The park had several trails leading to the rock displays.

From here? There’s plenty more. We feel excited to investigate the nuances only particular to Kauai along with many other sites we’ve yet to explore. With only three months remaining, we have time for planned and unplanned social activities and taking our time to see what magic lies beyond that which we’ve seen thus far.

Each of the historical displays had signage to explain its significance in Hawaiian history.

As a bonus to us, we’ll continue to observe and photograph the growing albatross chicks. We’ll be long gone by the time they’ve fledged the nest to take off on their own, when the last time their parents headed out to sea, never to return, as each chick impatiently awaited their next meal. 

Zoom in to read the sign. This basin was used by fishermen to keep their catch fresh overnight.

When the days pass as the chick waits in the nest and the parents don’t return, the chicks eventually realize that their time has come. They are on their own. And sometime in July or even August, the day will come when they too, head to sea to begin their lives. 

Offerings were left by the fisherman for the Divine One.

Lessons can be taken from wildlife who have the sense to know that at some point we must let the offspring go to build their own lives. Its never easy to do. 

Tree molds were formed over 2 million years ago when lava poured into the trees.

We humans may come to realize that giving them the opportunity to go off on their own only makes them stronger and more confident in the perpetuation of the species whether human or animal, ultimately to achieve fulfillment in their own lives.

A salt pan was used to gather salt from the sea, to be dried for everyday use.

Wildlife teaches us many lessons. As Tom and I have spent considerable time in our travels observing the life cycles of animals, we’ve seen how resourceful and determined they become to provide for their own when needed and to let go when the time is right. It’s the wonder of life.

We were intrigued by the oblong shape of this palm tree trunk at Kukuiolono Park.

And the wonder of our lives continues, whether sightseeing or relishing in lazy days at home, whether writing to our readers, our family or friends or, whether blissfully engaged in mindless activities. All of it matters. 

Another fish storage basin made of rock.

Every single day that we’re given life matters. Its how we spend it that shapes who we are, who we want to be and the legacy that eventually we’ll leave behind.

Having seen everything we wanted to see, once again, we were back on the road to what proved to be some of the most exciting finds of the day. Check back tomorrow.

                                           Photo from one year ago today, February 23, 2014:

As we busily prepared for our upcoming goodbye dinner party we were hosting, the visitors came to call as always. We seldom missed an opportunity to say hello, offer a few pellets, and take a photo.  For details on this date, one year ago, please click here.