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.

See our itinerary below!…One 67 day gap yet to fill…A trip to a local health food store in Kilauea…

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Actually, this is the only health food store within a half-hour drive, Healthy Hut. The inventory is ripe with fresh locally grown organic produce, grass-fed meats, free-range chickens and eggs, and food and health supplies one would find in a much larger location in a big city. Pricey? Yep!

Good morning, World! It’s Monday! It looks like it will be a sunny day and we’re feeling good!  Today, we’re sharing photos of our recent trip to Healthy Hut, a great little health food store in Kilauea, a 10-minute drive from our home in Princeville.

After a lazy Easter, both of us a little under the weather, Tom with an achy shoulder (better today) and me, tired from a poor night’s sleep, today is a new day and we’re rearing to go, feeling great once again. 

Red ginger plants in front of Healthy Hut.

Some of our readers, new to our site haven’t seen our upcoming itinerary, meaning the bookings we have made well into the future. The end of this list isn’t the end of our travels by any means.

It simply means that it’s as far out as we’re booked into the future. Within the next year, we’ll begin booking beyond the last booking well into the following year and so on. It’s an ongoing process, adding new bookings as time marches on.

As much as we love Kauai, we’re almost at the three-month point and through the natural pace and progression we’ve established of three months max in each location, we’re beginning to look forward to our next adventure, the South Pacific. 

Seeing pumpkins and squash reminds us of crisp cool fall in Minnesota as I stood admiring this at a comfortable 82 degrees.

This morning, as we made the bed, I asked Tom, “Are you feeling ready to move on?” It’s the first time I’ve asked him this question.

He looked up at me and smiled that wide toothy grin, “Yes, I am. Three months is really the magic number.”

We’ve been in the Hawaiian Islands since September 29, 2014 (by cruise ship) for a total of 190 days. We have 47 more days until we depart Kauai to head to Honolulu/Waikiki, Oahu for an overnight stay when the next day, May 24th, we’ll board Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas to head to Australia.

This is not to say we haven’t had a fabulous time in the islands or in Kauai where we’ve made many friends and had many memorable experiences. It’s just the length of time we’ve been in Hawaii that is beginning to feel like it would feel if we stayed put on one location, something neither of us cares to do at this point in our lives.

I was surprised to find many of the products I needed to make my recently posted recipe for Low Carb High Fat Protein Bars, my new favorite recipe.  Click this link if you missed the recipe.

We’ve tried to avoid counting days to the next adventure but after this extended period it reminds me of the last few times we counted the days; when we left Minnesota 2 1/2 years ago, dreading the part about saying goodbye, and, when a year ago, we felt cooped up in Marrakech for the two and a half month stay.

We’ll sadly say goodbye to the many wonderful people we’ve met on this island who may, one never knows, visit us along the way. After all, our readers Staci and her husband Glenn, whom we’ve come to know and adore by chatting online, will be on a cruise at the same time as us one year from now. How fun will that be? As we always say, “You never know who’s paths may cross in the future.”

The shelves were packed with beauty products, snacks, and treats, none of which we purchase.

The upcoming “booked” itinerary below begins on May 24th on the upcoming cruise to Sydney. As evident in this itinerary, we have a gap from 6/26/2016 to 9/1/2016, precipitated by our two separate stays in Bali at 59 days each. 

Oh, here we go, contradicting ourselves further down the page, staying a total of almost four months in one location, separated by two months due to visa constraints. We only chose to stay in Bali twice because the property is exquisite, as you’ll see as the time nears…an extraordinary paradise we couldn’t resist.

So, here it is folks, the itinerary:
                                                                          # Days

 Cruise Honolulu to Sydney 18
 Australia Rental  89
 Fiji Rental  89
 Fiji Rental #2  29
 Sydney Hotel  1
 Cruise Sydney to Auckland   14
 New Zealand Farm  83
 Sydney Hotel  1
 Cruise Sydney to Perth  16
 Bali House  59
 Gap : 6/26/2016 to 9/1/2016  67
 Bali House  59
 Cruise Singapore to Sydney  14
 GAP 11/14/2016 to 3/1/2017  107
 Cruise Sydney to Sydney  12
Total number of days booked (so far) 658

Adding our remaining 48 days in the Hawaiian Islands and we’re basically booked for the next 706 days except for the 67-day gap as shown above that we’ll soon fill as we contemplate our options.

Ah, life is good. No complaining here. Surely, we’ll enjoy the next weeks in Kauai with each other and our new friends, meeting more along the way while continuing to cherish the beauty of nature surrounding us at every turn.

In our remaining time in Kauai, we’ll continue to take new photos to keep our readers engaged. Plus, we’ll have a few surprise outings we’ll be excited to share very soon.

We’d use their organic hair and body products but the prices are very high in a little shop such as this. Costco in Lihue has some lower-priced similar products, although their selection is limited.

Of course, we can’t wait to get to the Outback to check out the wildlife and we hear that kangaroos will become regular visitors to our new home in Trinity Beach, Australia beginning on June 11th. Gee, that’s only two months from now. 

We hope those of you who celebrated Easter and Passover had wonderful experiences with your families and friends. Happy day!

                                              Photo from one year ago today, April 6, 2014:

It was a year ago in Marrakech that we posted this photo of a horse’s injuries. It was heartbreaking to see. For details from that date, please click here.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Not an Easter lily, but an orchid will do.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pets deserve acknowledgment on special days.

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

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

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

A Koala bird trots along the grass.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We were fascinated by the deep green color.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I think this kind of adaptation is fascinating!”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We thought it would be gone in seconds.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It rapidly progressed leaving unique scenes in their place.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Almost gone, still exquisite…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Overcast days at the beach still present a pleasant experience.

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

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

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

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

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

There’s always a chicken on the beach.

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

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

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

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

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

Let’s take each point, one by one:

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

Zooming in on a tiny bud.


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

These pods are less than one inch long.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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