Borning Song

"I don't belong here".  my homecoming Facebook post. ( 22 responses)
Seriously. the Northwest doesn't suit me at all in Winter.
I was born to sit outside at sunrise, swathed in Oxygen and sing praises to God for this majestic creation.
I was born to eat fruit and fish and swim.
I was born to wander barefoot and scantily clad in the sunshine.
I was born to be amazed by fauna, flora and birdsong.
That's enough of a rant. . . .Namaste

Last slice of ParAdise

Breakfast at the Olympic Cafe is a tex mex wrap. These are huge! And so I save half for the flight tomorrow:)julia Rowland is here in Kapaa and i text here our location, hoping to connect, she's not feeling too well.
Searching my mind, the only thing left to purchase is a parejo:)


We buzz down to Aliomanu Bay for a visit and a beer then to the Kilauea Lighthouse for a windy watch.
We are home for the day, packing and blogging. Dan prints our boarding passes and a polenta recipe for Mary
And Earle MacDonald next door.
We stay for pupus and a drink.

Home again, we head to the bluff for a final sunset: such majesty in whales and sunsets!
We have reservations for dinner again at Bar Acuda. Sangria is the chosen beverage then the arugula salad with pear, gorgonzola and candied walnuts. The risotto fritters with a honey truffle, lime sauce, the bacalao cod with potato and cream and more: the mahi mahi in a red pepper coulis with mac nut pesto. Totally Divine is was!
Home to bed and a bit restless sleep, but its okay there is only joy.
When asked, my reply will be," Perfect. Our vacation was Perfect!"

Lihue Lutheran's Love Boat

We are to meet at kukuiula small boat harbor by 3:45. After ropes yoga we have time to drive South, visit our turtles and still be on time. En route we are inconvenienced by an accident involving a police car, and by the number of police cars speeding to the scene are concerned that the officer was fatally injured.

First Sioux takes a group photo and we are underway. Safety spiel second and then Dan and I bale up onto the bow. Just under the mast to the starboard side. I wrap my legs around him as if on a horse and the Captain Andy's boat whips into the wide open seas! Sneaky tikis are an option but I've never been good with distilled spirits. I choose red wine so I don't get chilled. I clutch Dan's hips with my legs and feel as if I am riding bareback; arms flail, spine undulates as I root into my haunches:) we are so near to gigantic majestic whales. They seem to be all about us. The captain says it's a female with many admiring males showing off by breeching, pec slaps and tail flaps.
It's quite magical as the sun sets and we all settle to watch the final moments of sunlight above the horizon. We are assured of a green flash because there are no clouds in the sky:)
Just as the sun is setting a whale, 100 yards off the bow breeches against the golden orb of sun!
And it's time to return to port. However we are just behind the captain and we here shrill warning bleeps from the dashboard. The captain has someone drop into the engine room below. He reports that the engine is shorting out and some wires appear to be burnt. I radio my Facebook friends 'mayday' . . . .
But after thirty minutes or so the engine cools and we get into the harbor on one engine. Don't think we weren't praying!
We drive to dukes, use the valet parking and text Mike. "Where are you?"
They arrived at 1 and are picking up Ellen at 7:00 so they though tired are waiting for us upstairs. Everyone has ordered monchong and I choose the Mac but Brie crepes. And a glass of Angelina Pinot Noir. It's a nice evening and we kiss good bye. The kiss I gave Mike was bordering on incestuous. My mouth was open and I got him right on the lips. Should I apologize for my lack of sight or let it go? Ha;)

Our drive home went quickly and I texted a sweet thank you as he picked up our tab. I just marvel at them with wondrous awe!And I didn't mean to give him a big open mouthed kiss on the lips, I was either going to talk or laugh and there he was! I must forget this and not bring it up again. (I did confess to Dan.)
Mahalo for a big day of blessing;)

Yoga Ropes

Dan agrees, I need to try yoga Ropes class, Tara is teaching 12-1 so it will work perfectly with our trip South. I trust her and there is an element involved in hanging upside down from a eye bolt! She calls it a : Ishvara Pranidhana, surrendering to God. Maybe for a Christian who has turned their life over to God, it's the practice of fearlessness and letting go, letting God.
At any rate I never let the idea of being fearful enter into my practice. I simply took the poses as far as my physical body could go and enjoyed the freedom of inversion and free fall.
We began with forward folds, cat and cow, downward facing dog, standing splits, crescent moon and moved into back ending. Ardha chandrasana was very fun!
Then we sat on our mats to close and Tara said the practice was actually a niyama. And she ended with
" loksha samista sukino bhavantu "
May you have balance may you have freedom may you be at peace namast

Tara Yoga and Tahiti Nui

Today's sunrise . . .We whiled away the morning watching whales. Such leisure:)
Dan took we to yoga at 10. . .and I arrived a little late. Bhavani was sitting near the near, she recognized me and I, her. She looked like a wisp of air right off the Himalayan Mountains, sturdy and ethereal. a curious vision to my senses!
Tara was in full command and I found a nook by the back screened door. She is both commanding and kind, and very interactive with the students. Class was hard and she promised it would get more challenging. In Ustrasana she asked to to extend my right arm and , "push, push! PUSH!" into hers." harder, like you mean it!" As I did I trembled. but my left side began to understand, it had collapsed, in applying an opposite force it began to come to life in this ardha ustrasana. . .and so it went. She sang to us in Savasana, in her melodic echoey haunting way. I love seeing her. Tomorrow she is offering a one hour class on the wall ropes, and I will be there. With such restricted vision, being upside down will all sorts of 'scary fun'.

Dan and I drove home to change and then off to the Tavern at the Golf Course. What a good meal, to think we almost didn't go. Dan had the meatloaf sandwich and I chose the ceasar on grilled flat bread with white anchovies. Delicious!

Then home for another costume change and a new beach. Ke'e was full, so we settled upon Haena around the corner. The surf was raging and the clouds hung low. It was plenty warm though. I am reading Ann of Green Gables and Dan kept an eye on the ocean and an eye on the couples in the cabanas behind me.

We are planning a big night at Tahiti Hui's Our kayak pal is singing there tonight so we go. He is quite a performer. . .and his yodeling, well, OMG! What a sweet man. We shared a slice of cheese pizza. The place was loud and not a place where you would want to eat and sweat and feel squished while dining on a $28.00 entree.

We leave, after Keola performs, thinking we can stop by the Gourmet for some deep fried artichokes. It was too crowded. Dan says a lady went slack jawed upon seeing my new dress though. . .it is snug but not revealing. Sorry to have missed this response.
We are looking forward to splitting the ahi burger at the St. Regis one more time. The children in the lounge are out of control which puts our evening on tilt. We do enjoy the pianist and jazz vocals. The burger is quite rare and we eat it without a fuss. Dan needs more food and it seems his blood sugar levels are low.
Calling it a glorious night we head home in a little shower. Watch a bit of the food channel and go to bed at 11. Mahalo

Mai'le Yoga and Hundai

Everyday a sunrise and a smoothie. . . .
Today Dan is returning our 'rent a wreck' to the Lihue Alamo people. The airbag hasn't worked and not the brake light warning on the dashboard is also alerting us to some new danger. Dan will make the trip while I am taking my fourth yoga class at Yoga Hanalei.
He drops me off and promises to return in a few hours. My teacher today is Mai'le a young Hawaiian lady brimming with love and humour. I Love her at once. Hatha Flow One is packed to the gills, or plantation shutters as it were. I explain my vision loss and we are off! We sit in Virasana, one foot folded into the arch of the other and we begin a kirtan of sorts, repeating her sanskrit-hawaiian prayer that talk of enough rain to nourish the land but not too much so the bridge doesn't close. Also about we paid her to teach us because she will take us deeper than we can take ourselves, so please don't resent me. . . It is probably a teacher student true chant with a twist.

Sanskrit:
oṃ saha nāvavatu
saha nau bhunaktu
saha vīryaṃ karavāvahai
tejasvi nāvadhī tamastu mā vidviṣāvahai
oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ
English:
May we be protected together.
May we be nourished together.
May we create strength among one another.
May our study be filled with light.
May we not oppose each other.
Om peace, peace, peace
It was a tremendous class! I'll be back tomorrow.
I leave class quite wrung out and loose, Dan hasn't called, so I leave a message for him. I am thinking I need a little something from the shop below. In no time I am trying on a cute snug dress in taupe and black with wave action and a small hole, It will cost $22.00 'as is'. I recite the poem by Leonard Cohen and hand her my credit card.
"Ring the bells that still can ring
forget your perfect offering
There's a (hole) in everything
That is where the light comes in. . " paraphrased slightly
Then I sit on a picnic bench in the sun and take inventory. Thirst comes to mind so I head to the Gourmet for a Hala beer and some iced water. I'll wait for Dan and then we'll have lunch.
I am sitting at the bar, yoga mat and beer, dress clutched to my heart when he arrives.
After a good light lunch we head to the beach, Anini it is. I finish my book and take a leisurely stroll while Dan snoozes. ( when the family with the kids and football arrive en masse, we change our location slightly towards the point. On the way home we investigate Kahiliwai and it's missing bridge. A new roadside market sells us starfruit, oranges and bananas, enough to carry us through the end of our vacation in smoothies.
We watch a grey sunset, and catch up on a little news. We have rented, Ides of March to watch after out potluck dinner. The end is in our sights and we are slowly finishing off our food. Tonight Dan grills steak and asparagus, we share a slice of pizza from ast night and I feast on the remaining shrimp.
A late dinner and movie, make for a hasty bedtime retreat. Tired tonight, after the rowing and yoga of the last two days.

Sweet Dreams

St. Valentines Day

Happy St. Valentine's Day! Dawn arrives with  a blush and a winged presence. A sweet omen that today will be very special!
After a breakfast of fish tacos and scrambled eggs we pack it up; Dan is taking me kayaking. We head to the Hanalei River and are greeted by the nephew who yodels and plays in The Descendents. He said, " well if you saw the movie, why haven't you asked me for my autograph?" We load into the river and float and paddle in the morning sun, side by side, until our arms have had enough. Lunch is at the Gourmet where Dan enjoys his Reuben and I choose the Hanalei Waldorf. We drive West past the farmer's market because we don't need anything.

 Our destination beach is Kepuhi. It's quiet and Dan claims it is his favorite beach day yet! He flew down the beach directly into the surf and bobs, tumbling about in the generous surf. I am a land lubber to be sure and settle on my towel to enjoy Treasure Island once again. When I stop to pee, I find this bit of coral and a shell and for the second time today find Blessing.

We spend a long afternoon thus.
At five we head home and wash up anticipating dinner at Bar Acuda.

We exchange Valentine's and gifts we have found on the island. Mine is a plumeria barette and his a Carolan print of two koi. I am wearing my short snug kaliedescope dress and Dan looks so sharp in his ivory silk shirt and linen shorts. He is very tan!
Tapas:
ahi carpaccio
marcona almonds
garlic buttered grilled shrimp
ceasar salad with fresh shaved parmesan
pizza with oyster mushrooms, carmelized onion and fresh ricotta
the charcuterie plate
spicy mexican chocolate ice cream with caramel sauce and an expresso
We couldn't finish it all, so we'll have another sample in the morning. . .
Mahalo sweet Kauai for all your gifts.