Another day here in Hawaii

I saw a frigate bird today. They sometimes fly for eight years without landing. I saw a group of juvenile Albatross. They were strutting around on this hillside looking for a mate. I was told by this lovely man that when they are little and they emerge from that same hillside and they launch themselves off that cliff, their first flight will be for three years. I also learned that you can only distinguish a female from a male albatross by plucking one of the feathers and doing a DNA test.
I don't have a photo of an albatross because they were strutting at the end of a pair of binoculars.
But you all know what they look like....

the lighthouse. home of the frigate bird and the albatross.

the early morning sky..

After my time at the nature reserve I went down to the beach and swam around. I didn't bother with my newly acquired snorkel and mask. I just used my regular swimming goggles and held my breath.
I met a very large sea turtle. he let me swim with him as he raided the sea floor and popped his head up to the surface a couple of times a few inches from my face.




Here in Kauai there are different groups of people. There are time share owners who don't know if they are in Hawaii or Florida. I swear I met a couple who were dressed in matching lime green trousers and they thought they were on Maui.
There are a lot of young couples who are pregnant with their first child and they are having a holiday before the sleepless nights they have been told to expect. There are a number of honeymooners. You can tell by the new clothes, the semi-permanent make-up ( like eyelashes and unusual nail varnish colours) and the whacking great rings that are sported on their left hands. Lots of fiddling of the hands as the wearers, particularly the men, getting used to the new feeling.



I met a lovely couple, Denise and Greg,who had a dog a lot like my own ( the famous Fanny for anyone who doesn't know me well). In their late fifties from Maryland and decided to up-sticks and live the island life. They sold a house and bought a house and work remotely starting work at east coast time and then come down to Annini Beach with their huge dog and swim. Not for ever, but for now.
 I always think of what my mother used to say, not necessarily to me but to the larger life she hoped I would lead.
" People make the mistake of thinking that the big decisions they make are written in stone. But they are not. They are written in sand."
I don't think she is right, I know she is.


Those Albatross take off and fly without friends or family for three years and then they end up back on the same cliff dancing around looking for the one mate who they will stick with for life. Those Albatross. Such a romantic group.

The fancy people's view.

I walked down this evening to the beach and then slipped through the fence into the fancy hotel next door , where I rode the lift from the beach to the ninth floor. I stood and watched the sunset with a host of people in casual holiday attire. I did bring money to buy myself a fancy hotel drink, but no one asked me so I just leaned against the railing as first time pregnant ladies sipped virgin tropical cocktails and first time wedded couples took photos of each other. It wasn't a very spectacular sunset. so I slipped away and slid through the fence before anyone checked my credentials.

At my location, the Hanalei Bay Resort / or time-share haven, the musician in the ukulele bar was singing " Puff the magic Dragon." He was. Honestly. But I didn't sing along. I don't know the words.