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Back from Maui, and I must say, it was the easiest stint of traveling I've ever done. I've noticed that when I travel with only one of my parents (really doesn't matter which one), things just go much more smoothly than when I travel with both.
Anyway, it was a wonderful trip, and I only had room to bring back a few things, so I apoligize to everyone who won't be getting a souvenir or a postcard, etc. I love you all, but the airlines don't seem to appreciate you much because they would only let me take one bag.
Interesting coincedence: Amy and I took the same flight over. We were separated by about 20 rows, but it was still pretty freaky/nifty to run into her at the airport and then discover we'd both be on the same plane.
So, highlights of the trip:
1) Driving the road to Hana and SURVIVING, baby! Whoo! (I have the t-shirt to prove it, too.)
This was the number one reason I wanted to go to Maui in the first place. I'd read about the Hana Road in one of my favorite book series (Christy Miller), and ever since then, I've wanted to go. Though the government finally paved the darn thing, Hana Highway is still a pretty treacherous drive with very little payoff for the journey. 52 miles, 617 curves (which is just a nice way of saying stomach-lurching hairpin turns), and 56 one-lane bridges. The drive itself is the experience, not whatever might be found at the end of it.
Some things we saw along the road included a bonafide hippie colony (and not the glossed-over, neon tie-dyed hippies you see on TV - these people were truly walking the walk), Charles Lindberg's grave (nearly impossible to find, but after passing the entrance four times and then hunting around for half an hour, we persevered), and some of the most spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean in the world.
And we only almost died once.
Okay, twice.
But it sure was fun, boy howdy!
2) Helicopter ride over Molokai.
We were originally supposed to take this ride up to the Haleakala volcano, but the weather crapped out on us, so we flew out over another island instead. As it turned out, though, the rain was an asset, because way more waterfalls than usual were gushing out of the cliff-faces as we flew by. The absolute BEST (or worst, depending on your views of such things) moment of this flight, however, was when the pilot started looking for goats, found one, and then started to chase it with the chopper, hee hee!
...Ahem.
3) Ice cream.
What can I say? Hot day, humid air, ocean lapping against the sand... it's just NATURAL to want ice cream. We did that a lot. :-D
4) Cute Guy at the record store.
I don't know his name, and I don't especially care, considering I'll never see him again. All I know is, while Dad was ogling the signed gold albums and guitars, I was enjoying my own view. ;-) So... pretty...
5) Finding the spot where I'll eventually release my dad's ashes.
A little morbid, I know. But it was a truly scenic spot, right by Lindberg's gravesite on the Hana Road. Driving that again will bring back so many good memories, and that's what I'll want when I'm saying goodbye to him for the last time.
6) 'Ulalena
This was a Cirque de Soleil-ish artistic retelling of Hawaiian history, from the creation myth to the introduction of the West. SO BLOODY COOL. The percussionists were the best part. All of the music was live, and we were seated right up next to the main group of musicians. They really got into it, and it was cool to watch. Plus, the Cirque-esque bits were incredibly cool. The whole show was fantastic.
7) Being able to pronounce all the Hawaiian words while Dad settled for, "When we get back to Lahyena... Lahayna... Lahannah... When we get back to the hotel, will you remind me..."
I love the Hawaiian language, truly. It is musical and elegantly simple (only 12 letters in the Hawaiian alphabet). In fact, I'd have to say that if any existing language could be cited as the primary influence for Ecorian/Atakan, it would be Hawaiian.
A phrase I particularly like: Ola i ke ahe lau makani. (There is life in a gentle breath of wind)
~~~~
I'm actually still on Hawaiian time, so I'm only just now getting tired.
It's just after midnight on Maui, and the town of Lahaina has finally gone to sleep.
And so must I.
Anyway, it was a wonderful trip, and I only had room to bring back a few things, so I apoligize to everyone who won't be getting a souvenir or a postcard, etc. I love you all, but the airlines don't seem to appreciate you much because they would only let me take one bag.
Interesting coincedence: Amy and I took the same flight over. We were separated by about 20 rows, but it was still pretty freaky/nifty to run into her at the airport and then discover we'd both be on the same plane.
So, highlights of the trip:
1) Driving the road to Hana and SURVIVING, baby! Whoo! (I have the t-shirt to prove it, too.)
This was the number one reason I wanted to go to Maui in the first place. I'd read about the Hana Road in one of my favorite book series (Christy Miller), and ever since then, I've wanted to go. Though the government finally paved the darn thing, Hana Highway is still a pretty treacherous drive with very little payoff for the journey. 52 miles, 617 curves (which is just a nice way of saying stomach-lurching hairpin turns), and 56 one-lane bridges. The drive itself is the experience, not whatever might be found at the end of it.
Some things we saw along the road included a bonafide hippie colony (and not the glossed-over, neon tie-dyed hippies you see on TV - these people were truly walking the walk), Charles Lindberg's grave (nearly impossible to find, but after passing the entrance four times and then hunting around for half an hour, we persevered), and some of the most spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean in the world.
And we only almost died once.
Okay, twice.
But it sure was fun, boy howdy!
2) Helicopter ride over Molokai.
We were originally supposed to take this ride up to the Haleakala volcano, but the weather crapped out on us, so we flew out over another island instead. As it turned out, though, the rain was an asset, because way more waterfalls than usual were gushing out of the cliff-faces as we flew by. The absolute BEST (or worst, depending on your views of such things) moment of this flight, however, was when the pilot started looking for goats, found one, and then started to chase it with the chopper, hee hee!
...Ahem.
3) Ice cream.
What can I say? Hot day, humid air, ocean lapping against the sand... it's just NATURAL to want ice cream. We did that a lot. :-D
4) Cute Guy at the record store.
I don't know his name, and I don't especially care, considering I'll never see him again. All I know is, while Dad was ogling the signed gold albums and guitars, I was enjoying my own view. ;-) So... pretty...
5) Finding the spot where I'll eventually release my dad's ashes.
A little morbid, I know. But it was a truly scenic spot, right by Lindberg's gravesite on the Hana Road. Driving that again will bring back so many good memories, and that's what I'll want when I'm saying goodbye to him for the last time.
6) 'Ulalena
This was a Cirque de Soleil-ish artistic retelling of Hawaiian history, from the creation myth to the introduction of the West. SO BLOODY COOL. The percussionists were the best part. All of the music was live, and we were seated right up next to the main group of musicians. They really got into it, and it was cool to watch. Plus, the Cirque-esque bits were incredibly cool. The whole show was fantastic.
7) Being able to pronounce all the Hawaiian words while Dad settled for, "When we get back to Lahyena... Lahayna... Lahannah... When we get back to the hotel, will you remind me..."
I love the Hawaiian language, truly. It is musical and elegantly simple (only 12 letters in the Hawaiian alphabet). In fact, I'd have to say that if any existing language could be cited as the primary influence for Ecorian/Atakan, it would be Hawaiian.
A phrase I particularly like: Ola i ke ahe lau makani. (There is life in a gentle breath of wind)
~~~~
I'm actually still on Hawaiian time, so I'm only just now getting tired.
It's just after midnight on Maui, and the town of Lahaina has finally gone to sleep.
And so must I.
