Indian feast

Last night, kel cooked a delicious Indian feast!


My favorite was the coconut chutney she made... and she said she had to "wing it"... It was sooo delicious...

Indian food is probably my favorite food on the planet... I don't share my Chicken Tikka Masala well... at all... I LOVE all kinds of Indian food... yum! (now I'm hungry again).

We wore our saris kel brought back...


The sari (or saree ... i'm not sure how to spell it) is 6 meters of fabric! Which is 19.5 ft of fabric!!! that is a lot of fabric! Under the Sari, you wear a long skirt and a belly shirt... and then you take all 6 meters of fabric and start wrapping... and then folding and tucking and wrapping and folding and tucking again... Indian women do this with no problem... even using one hand for the folds...



kelly learned how in India, but then needed a refresher course, and B's friend's mother is Indian, and showed Kel again...

The saris kel brought back are beautiful... I wish I could wear a sari and bindi everyday! I told kel that some one should invent a sari that's already got all of the folds that you could slip on...

At the end of the night, I tried to fold it to hang it... and I got my dad to help me.. and it took us two tries to fold it!

Kelly did henna....


and then we ate and they narrated their pictures from the trip....

Kelly and Matt were in Mumbai, but left before the attacks... and stayed in a different part of India until the attacks stopped and things were more under control, before going back to Mumbai and then flying back to the states... that was a scary time..

We had a great night last night... I drank wine... and didn't even have a panic attack... so hopefully I'm done with those!

I'm not sure if we're leaving for the lakehouse today or tomorrow... we'll spend NYE there, together...

more holidaze...

Doggie Christmas! Jake (top) and Dylan (bottom) loved their Christmas presents... Jake's didn't last very long... Dylan fell asleep under the table guarding his!


So we've all been together since the 23rd... When I flew in from Hawaii... and Kel flew in from Maine... talk about the opposite sides of the US... probably as opposite as you can get...

We all went to Christmas Eve service together, and sang hymns at church.... J and Dad were having a sing-off on one side of the pew.... and on the other side, Grandma was unintentionally cracking Kel and me up.... it was classic and awesome...

I got home and wrapped gifts... our dad is the gift wrapping master! I mean, he has it down to a science... probably because he's an engineer.... My gifts look more like I wrapped them wearing a blindfold... but they're meant to be opened anyways...

We open gifts on Christmas morning:


My gifts were all from my trip to Kauai: I gave Dad and J each Hawaiian shirts, and gave mom, kel, and B pearls. I gave Grandma a Hot Men of Hawaii 2009 Calendar.... She ooh-ed and aw-ed looking through each month... She liked February's "Carlos" the best.... When mom suggested she re-gift the calendar, she replied, "Just because you're on a diet, doesn't mean you can't look!"

She cracks us up... The Hot Men of Hawaii calendar, was actually to replace her 2008 "hot firemen" calendar that's in her kitchen now.

Kelly brought back gifts from her trip to India: J and Dad got the white outfits the men wear (I don't know what they're called), and Saris for me and B.

Me in all of my X-mas Bling:


It's been great being all together... I've had two weird nights though.... last night, and Christmas night, I woke up in the middle of the night with panic attacks... I don't know why either...

The first time it happened, I thought it may have been bad dreams... Poor kel was sharing the upstairs bed with me, and she said I was kicking her in my sleep, before I woke up. Last night, she was sleeping downstairs... but I was awake for 3 hours with a panic attack.... I knew what it was... so I was able to calm myself, but my pulse was thumping hard in everyplace that you can usually feel a pulse: fingers, wrists, neck, chest, stomach, even my legs and feet.

I don't know what it is... maybe it's dietary... I have been eating non-stop... I've decided to try to watch what I'm eating and not drink alcohol for a few days...

I missed church with the family today... J and his friend performed "Little Drummer Boy" David Bowie and Bing Crosby style... (I have to admit until just now, I thought it was "ben" not "bing"... oops):


Tonight, kel is cooking Indian and people are coming over, we are going to wear our Saris and she and Matt are going to show us pics from their trip....

Holidaze

It's been a wonderful christmas back in TX with my fam!

We're all together.... and that's really nice!

i've been busy, and still recovering from traveling.... it seems like I usually need a day or two of rest to recover... maybe it's 'cause I'm getting older?

anyhoo....

I'll write more later....

love and aloha

Part 2: Monday

Monday, we woke up really early and drove to go on our helicopter tour.



The tour company we went with is called Inter Island (that's also the link to their site).... the locals said they are the best. They take you inside the crater and into the jungle and land near a waterfall for lunch... The tour is from 9:30 to noon... it's expensive, but %100 worth it!

I have been a lot of places, and done a lot of things... but this helicopter tour of Kauai was probably the most amazing experience I've ever had. I was completely speechless.... I still kind of am....

Have you ever had a flying dream? I do... and have.... the whole ride gave me deja vu....

We started out flying over the sugar cane fields... and then up toward the canyon.... all of a sudden we were in the canyon... It's so massive and so incredibly beautiful... the whole time, i sat there with my jaw in my lap, in awe of how absolutely incredible Kauai is... and everything is....


here are some of our pictures from the helicopter... (since I have no words... I'll just post some pics)







there are no doors on the helicopter.... and I was sitting on the far right... so my right side was so cold!

There was a couple from Minnesota who were with us... The helicopter only seats 5. I asked the Captain what his name was, he replied, "CAPT.!" ....okay... he was a trip. He kept telling us about the "dope-growing hippies" and how he busts them.... or flies really low over the "dope fields" to freak them out.... and that's why the helicopter has a shark face painted on it....


Was that true? I don't know... He was funny, or at least I thought he was trying to be funny... but now, I'm not sure...

He also told us about movies that were filmed on the Island... like the movie Tropic Thunder (with Ben Stiller and Robert Downey Jr...)... When we landed in the jungle and followed him to the waterfall, I felt like I was in that movie... pretty funny.

The waterfall was so beautiful, that it seemed fake... like a movie set... We brought our swimsuits so we could swim, but the thought of getting back in the helicopter, wet and cold didn't sound fun.... so we just sat there and took it all in...



Capt. told us more stories of people skinny dipping and honeymooning couples doing more than that, in the waterfall... and how he would just go back and wait for them by the helicopter...

He took us around the whole island, into craters and by waterfalls... like the one used in Jurassic Park...

I can't even put into words how beautiful it was.... Kauai may be the most beautiful place on earth... and to see it flying around in a helicopter.... wow. that's all I can say is wow....







It makes me want to learn how to fly a helicopter... and become a pilot. There is so much freedom in a helicopter.... you can fly low, or high, take sharp turns, change direction in a second and land on a spot.... just like when I fly in my dreams.

I wasn't scared until we took off.. and I got a little scared, but then I wasn't scared as much as I was speechless and in awe... it seemed so surreal...


After our helicopter tour, we went to Glass Beach... There used to be a dump there, so the sand is really old pieces of glass that has been tumbled... I collected a bottle of the glass "sand" to bring back (maybe art project???)...

And bek found her rainbow!


That night we went to the airport... and flew out of Lihu'e at 9:45pm...

What an amazing trip! i had an incredible experience.... beaches, mountains... roosters EVERYWHERE (that cockadoodledoo at all of the wrong times), the helicopter ride, the canyon, camping, meeting new people, kayaking, hiking... WOW! Bek was a fantastic travel buddy! thank you thank you thank you for inviting me on this trip.... It was an experience that I'll never forget!

Here are some random images from our trip that I thought I'd include:

um... i felt like a whale when I ate... watch for me!


"Why did the chicken cross the road?"


Strange and scary combo....and there were more than one of this restaurant... so it's a chain! I have to say, we never tried it:







The time is always: NOW!

Part 1: Sunday

On Sunday, Bekki and I left Anahole and did some last minute gift shopping in Kapa'a (where The Olympic Cafe is)....

and drove to meet Jakki and crew at the cabins that were rented up in Keoke'e State Park, for the winter solstice.

The drive up into the Waimea Canyon is beautiful... the first turn is by the beach, and then the rest of the drive is straight UP and very windy, with twists and turns and back-and-forth..... like driving in the mountains in North Carolina... The further up we got, the chillier it was... and the less it seemed like Hawaii... It is the most beautiful drive...


When we got to the cabin, Bek was so hungry, I thought she might take out one of the roosters (with the car) and eat it, right there!


We finally made it to the cabin, and Jakki, Nancy, Adam and David were playing dominos... So we played a game with them... Jakki and Nancy had decorated the cabin, with Christmas lights and brought so much stuff up there to make it home-y...


After our game, we all piled in the car to drive up to see the sunset....





It was AMAZING... you could see the mountains, the canyon and the ocean.


At that point it got dark, and started to get a LOT colder.... Jakki laughed when we first arrived in Hawaii and I was carrying my winter coat.... but, to my surprise, I used it! It was really cold.

Bekki took a nap while the rest of us went to check out a party at another cabin, where friends of theirs were.... Everyone was really nice, and there were a lot of artists there.... it was fun to talk to everyone, and see where they were from, and what brought them to Kauai...

There was a couple there who grew their own lilekoi (passion fruit) and had different types with them... Nancy and I tried three different kinds... one was normal... one was "limey" (like normal, but squeezed with lime) and the other, they called "sherbert" i thought was "coconutty".... then Nancy sang, "you put the lime in the coconut...." The lillekoi was delicious... but when you scooped it with a spoon....and if your didn't know what it was ... well, it looks like .... fish eggs or eyeballs... but it's delicious.

Then we went back to the cabin, to get Bek up and sing her happy birthday and have "dora the explorer" birthday cake.

We also tried to get the fire going for forever... but all of the wood was wet... so it took a long time...


I had a hard time believing I was still in Kauai... The stars were so amazing and beautiful... I don't think I've ever seen stars like that... Nancy and I saw the most amazing shooting star!

the last two days...

the last two days here in Kauai have been incredible....

so amazing.... I can't wait to write about it and share pics and stories with everyone... right now, we're packing up.... quick fast and in a hurry.... to get to the airport to return the rental car... and then we fly out tonight.. so I'll have to write it later....

"Whale Tale"

I have some of our pictures from our "Whale Tale" adventures yesterday.... it look a while to get all of the dried sea salt off of my skin... and as for the boat ride tour... all I can say is: Mahalo Bomine!


Originally, we were supposed to go to up to the Waimea Canyon in KokeeKokee today and stay until Monday... but we leave Monday night, and we've felt like we've been on-the-go with no downtime, since we've been here... we haven't been able to do all of the dorky touristy stuff that we were jonesing for. So, we decided to delay meeting Jakki and her friends up there until tomorrow... There is a cabin they've rented for the winter solstice.... but it's cold there... (well, normal-fluctuating-Dallas-temperature "cold")...

Today, we planned to try and sneak into the Mariott hotel pool and beach... but we never made it that far...

We started out at Small Town Coffee, for breakfast and a much needed caffeine jolt... then, the tattoo pang hit Bek... so we went by Little Tsunami Tattoo... there is a tattoo artist there, Acacia (who could be Maggie Gyllenhaal's twin), who was VERY highly recommended... so we went by there to see if there was anyway Bek could get in to see her.

She was booked... and had been (yes, she's THAT good).... so, we went and got very touristy drinks... I had a fresh cracked coconut with a straw and a little umbrella in it,

and then we walked up and down a beach on the west side... I picked up some interesting coral that had been washed on shore... that was before we drove to another tattoo place, but got a really bad/creepy vibe... So, after much pleading with Tsunami Tattoo, Bek got an appointment with Acacia...

We went to a couple of places to shop for Christmas presents... and trinkets... and *gasp* postcards! I have been sending postcards from here like crazy... of course, I doubt anyone will get them until after I get back, but I hope it's still: "the thought that counts"... right!?!

We went to go eat at Shaka Tacos... OMG! sooooo delicious! (seriously.... I will crave them for the rest of my life)... and then went to the tattoo place..

What I loved about the tattoo place, was it was so homey... there are nice couches and a found object/collage artist who is showing in the store..... and the library of books on the bookshelf were so... "me"; Books about symbolism and mythology, birds, religions, iconography... and art.

Bek had been so inspired by our whale watching trip that she wanted to get a tail of a humpback whale on the back of her neck, with seven sunbeams...

Whales are hard to photograph with a crappy disposable waterproof camera... but if you look at this pic... you can kinda see one... the dark thing sticking out of the water...


I have to admit, I was actually considering one too... not the same tattoo, but a different one. And, I will say: if I ever get a tattoo, I'd want it done by Acacia... A lot of tattoo artists are so typical: stylized and masculine.. and their portfolios are full of scary skulls with eyeballs hanging out... and other disturbing images... the kind of images that are easily found on most any tattoo shop's wall of "fame" ... But this tattoo artist has a different style... it's feminine, but not girly. Her lines are precise and her use of color is more art than "tattoo art." Her style is very.. well... (for lack of a better term) organic...



She drew out Beks tattoo in no time. And it was exactly what she had pictured in her head... but better! ... the tattoo (i could tell) HURT... ouch! But it looks great, and she's excited about it... and it's something unique and artistic...


maybe one day, i'll get one... when I'm 60 (I know... I just added another decade)....

Tomorrow we drive up to Kokee... and then Monday we have a helicopter tour of Kauai... and then we leave late Monday night...

i wont be able to blog tomorrow night... but I will on monday.. promise.

NO BANANAS!

We saw WHALES!

yes it's true... (but no pics because, we were told not to bring cameras because they would get wet.)

About 9 or 10 years ago, my aunt and I went on a trip to northern California together.... at one point, we hiked out to the beach, hoping to see whales... and we saw one...

or at least we thought we did... we took an entire "Fun Saver" worth of pics, of what we thought was a whale.... then we realized, it was a rock. oops.

But today, we went on our whaling adventure...

Last week, when Bek was reserving our trip, the tour people told her, "we provide the drinks and the poo poos."

"poo poo???"

turns out, "poo poo" in Hawaiian means "snack"...

but we haven't stopped laughing about it since...

Before we left Dallas, Bek's mom gave us snacks she made to bring Jakki... not realizing that the long plane ride would not provide food, or snacks... and only would take cash (of which we had none.... - - DAMN YOU UNITED!!!), we were starving... and when we got off the plane, we both felt horrible about eating all of her sister's poo poos.... :(

So, we drove to the tour this morning... on empty stomachs (because we knew they provided the poo poos) and boarded our boat... The waves were SOOOO big.... I HEART Bomine... without it, I think we'd both have been completely sick.... It was ridiculously rough out there...

The last of the seven "rules" on the rule board was "NO BANANAS"... It's a sailing superstition... or a Hawaiian one ... or both... I'm not sure... but I thought it was funny.

there was no snorkeling... because of all the rain Kauai has gotten over the last month, the rivers drain out into the ocean, and make it really murky... and the rivers also washing out lots of snacks ( or poo poos) for "the big eaters" .... they wouldn't actually say what the "eaters" were... but finally said: "you know, the star of 'Jaws'" ....

SHARKS?!? and REALLY big sharks?! no thanks... we'll stay on the boat...

but we did see the beautiful Kauai coastline... it's were a lot of movies have been filmed: like , Jurassic Park, King Kong... an Indiana Jones movie, and a bunch more that i can't remember...

Then we saw WHALES! humpback whales.. first their blow spouts... then a big ol' whale tail... then lots of whales breaching.... Like the Pacific Life commercial was happening... except for in front of us! ...

the boat was SOOOOO rocky... everyone on the boat got soaking wet at one point or another... we were no exception!

We got back, showered... rested for 30 mins and went up to Olympic Cafe.... yum....

so much for the "Hawaii Diet" ... ha! that was last week's joke, but I thought I'd use it again...

Muddy trip.

I'm exhausted.

We just got back from kayaking up the Wailua River and hiking to Secret Falls and back.... We couldn't bring our cameras, because it's so wet and muddy... with Jakki as our guide, we kayaked about 2 1/2 miles up the river... and then we hiked for several miles from there to the waterfall...

It was EXTREMELY wet and muddy.... since it's rained so much in the last month... it rained on us little bit during our adventure... but not bad.... but the trail was SO muddy and SO slippery.... I ended up taking off my shoes and walking the majority of it barefoot.... I slipped and fell twice and was COVERED in mud....

I think Bek and I both fell... It was a really beautiful waterfall.... and there was way too much water coming down for us to swim around it.... it was raging.... but we made it.... and turned around and hiked and then kayaked back.... It was a fun trip.... definitely an adventure.... a very muddy and tiring adventure.... but i like getting dirty.... it makes it more fun!


We are getting up early tomorrow to go whale watching.... I'm really looking forward to getting some sleep.... i wish I had pics from today.... but with all of the water and mud, I'm glad no cameras were ruined!

OOTTAT oh no!

("OOTTAT" is because of what it looks like from inside a tattoo place... see pic below)



I was so tired this morning... I decided to sleep in, rather than hike.

It's been raining here... a lot. But it's still so beautiful. Everything is so green and the mountains, cliffs and beaches are amazing...

Bekki's sister's restaurant is called Olympic Cafe. This morning, after they went on the hike (which was very wet and muddy, and early), they brought me back breakfast. The syrup for the pancakes was coconut syrup.... OMG! SO good! I ate a HUGE pancake, just because of the syrup! So much for my "Hawaii Dieting".... After that, high on carbs... I did a face-plant on the bed and snoozed a bit longer....


We woke up later and drove our convertible, white (very touristy) rented car, to the north shore of the island, to Hanalei. There is a great little shopping center there, and an incredible beach.

Bekki has wanted to get a tattoo here... I have to admit: I've been thinking about getting a tattoo... for a long time. But, I've never gone through with it. A few years ago, I decided that I'd get a tattoo on my 40th birthday... but then, I freaked out, and thought that was TOO soon... and then decided I'd get a tattoo on my 50th birthday.



But then, 6 months ago, I changed my mind.... I wanted one sooner. I thought about it... and decided I wanted to get, "This Too Shall Pass" but in Hebrew.... but then I googled it online, and found a forum where someone had written "if you like it so much, why would you get it in another language, why not English?"

Good point.

So I thought about getting it in English, so I drew it out.... except for I wrote "this to shall pass".... i was horrified when I realized my grammatical error... and decided it was a sign that I shouldn't get it at all! But then... well.... that thought passed....

on the drive to Maine, I told kel, and she wanted me to go to a tattoo shop in Asheville.... The thought of actually getting one made me nauseous... and the name of the place, "Forever Tattoo," also didn't seem to fit in with my concept for the tattoo... So, I was SOOOO relieved when we got there and it was closed...

Well, nether Bekki or I got a tattoo today.... I think I'll wait until the thought of getting one doesn't make me nauseated...


After we toured the shopping center... we walked on the beach.... it is so gorgeous here... it truly is... sometimes I have to remind myself: Can I even believe I'm in Kauai?!

Jakki is so great! In the room we're staying in, there is a Christmas Palm Tree with lights and everything... there were a bunch of wrapped presents under the tree.... she got them for Bekki and me... fun Hawaii stuff.... I'd really like to get/do something nice for her for being such a wonderful host!