Good morning from Kaua'i !
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Hawaii seems to be quite the vacation spot for Aussies. I have met so many in the short time I've been here and needless to say, I've been picking their brains. To say they are helpful and friendly is an understatement, they are fantastic and I've so enjoyed their friendship. I met a couple from Sydney in Waikiki, their daughter is getting married on the beach. We talked so much about things to do and see in the Sydney area and they gave me their phone numbers with a promise from me to "ring us up" upon my arrival in Sydney. Very cool.
The cruise is also full of Aussies, I've been spending time with folks from Adelaide, Melbourne and Caines. I've gained so much great information about getting around, good places to stay, places to stay away from and great things to do plus some phone numbers to call when I get to their cities. People are so awesome!
For my friends in law enforcement, if you've never heard of an organization called the International Police Association, look it up and join it!! It is worldwide and it's all cops. I reached out to the chapter in Auckland, letting them know about my arrival and asking for any guidance, advice and help they could give me and their response has been wonderful. Members are picking me up at the airport and I'm staying a few nights in the Auckland area with two of them. One has connections to a B&B down island and has arranged for me to stay there a couple of nights. Such a great feeling to have someone helping me upon arrival, people of my own profession that I know I can trust. Just wonderful. I will be reaching out to chapters in each area I travel to meet and get to know LEOs from all around the world. So excited!
I know my trip is very young but everything so far has been fantastic. I'm learning I planned some things well and there are a few things I didn't plan well so making adjustments as needed. In the end, everything is falling in place and running smoothly. So far, so good! Hope everything is good in your little worlds!
The cruise is also full of Aussies, I've been spending time with folks from Adelaide, Melbourne and Caines. I've gained so much great information about getting around, good places to stay, places to stay away from and great things to do plus some phone numbers to call when I get to their cities. People are so awesome!
For my friends in law enforcement, if you've never heard of an organization called the International Police Association, look it up and join it!! It is worldwide and it's all cops. I reached out to the chapter in Auckland, letting them know about my arrival and asking for any guidance, advice and help they could give me and their response has been wonderful. Members are picking me up at the airport and I'm staying a few nights in the Auckland area with two of them. One has connections to a B&B down island and has arranged for me to stay there a couple of nights. Such a great feeling to have someone helping me upon arrival, people of my own profession that I know I can trust. Just wonderful. I will be reaching out to chapters in each area I travel to meet and get to know LEOs from all around the world. So excited!
I know my trip is very young but everything so far has been fantastic. I'm learning I planned some things well and there are a few things I didn't plan well so making adjustments as needed. In the end, everything is falling in place and running smoothly. So far, so good! Hope everything is good in your little worlds!
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Beautiful Maui! Friends recommended that I take The Road to Hana so I did. The ride started off slow with time to absorb the flora and surrounding beauty. I've included a few pictures of some of it. Pictures do not do it justice but I tried. The scenery here is breath-taking!
Then, The Road to Hana changed. It is death defying and I'm not sure I will do it again! I was seated behind the driver and at times, the road was only about 6" wider than the vehicle we were in. I looked out my window to the shear drop into the ocean; no guard rails, no cement barrier, about 3" stood between me and the drop into the water, which was at least 200' below me. All I could think about was the car tumbling down the cliff into the ocean. On the other side of the vehicle was the mountain, a straight up
cliff. I'd seen pictures of roads like this but had never experienced it. We were able to make several stops and get out of the Death Vehicle and walk down to the water. The walks were precarious over jagged volcanic rock but well worth the view if you were successful in navigating the path. Again, took pictures but they don't do justice. After covering over 600 hairpin turns and cliff hangers, we stopped at the Maui Winery for a well deserved glass of wine. Returned to the ship a little weaker in the knees but with a head full of beautiful images. Between the rugged Pacific coast line and the unusual native beautiful flowers, Maui is clearly the prettiest of the islands so far.
Then, The Road to Hana changed. It is death defying and I'm not sure I will do it again! I was seated behind the driver and at times, the road was only about 6" wider than the vehicle we were in. I looked out my window to the shear drop into the ocean; no guard rails, no cement barrier, about 3" stood between me and the drop into the water, which was at least 200' below me. All I could think about was the car tumbling down the cliff into the ocean. On the other side of the vehicle was the mountain, a straight up
cliff. I'd seen pictures of roads like this but had never experienced it. We were able to make several stops and get out of the Death Vehicle and walk down to the water. The walks were precarious over jagged volcanic rock but well worth the view if you were successful in navigating the path. Again, took pictures but they don't do justice. After covering over 600 hairpin turns and cliff hangers, we stopped at the Maui Winery for a well deserved glass of wine. Returned to the ship a little weaker in the knees but with a head full of beautiful images. Between the rugged Pacific coast line and the unusual native beautiful flowers, Maui is clearly the prettiest of the islands so far. |
| Bamboo Tree |
Monday, February 2, 2015
Now that I've had time to relax and reflect while cruising between these beautiful and fascinating Hawaiian Islands, I wanted to share a few thoughts about how all this started.
I've always had a bit of wanderlust in me, being the child of a career Army soldier that was sent all over the world. It was a way of life until he retired in 1969. Life moved on, I plunged into a career, fell in love, married and had two boys. My boys are the love of my life and I am very blessed they are a part of my life. They are now grown and healthy, productive members of our society, all I ever wanted them to be. I'm very proud of who they have grown into; morally strong, caring, compassionate men. We are not only parent and child but friends as well. What more could you ask for?
My career and marriage came to an end around the same time. I've always wanted to travel, explore and visit and hubby was not the explorer at all. So, among other things, the divide got wider and we no longer had much in common. We've turned out to be much better friends than we were roommates and all is good. As my retirement approached, I began to think more and more about all the places I wanted to go and see. I went places for a week or two and returned home. My house was littered with picture books and my study had piles of pictures torn out of magazines and printed off the internet of all the fascinating places that captured my attention. My son gave me a huge wall map, 4' x 6' that I hung in my study and I would refer to it every time I read a story about a place I'd never been. I retired and took a few "part-time" jobs that filled my days and always gave me purpose, challenges and rewards but I kept looking at the picture books.
In the Summer of 2014, a very dear friend passed away unexpectedly. He and I were the same age, had gone to high school together and retired about the same time. His death kicked me in the stomach. He was 61 years old, recently retired and suddenly, on a Sunday evening, he sits down and never gets up again. My father died at age 63, also of a heart attack. This same summer, another friend passed away sitting at his computer. The wheels started REALLY turning at this point. I wanted no regrets. I was strong, healthy and determined to see the world before I couldn't, before an illness or injury would prevent me from seeing and doing all the things I was dreaming about. My friends never had the opportunity. This hair brained idea was born: What if I put everything in storage, rented my house (to free up the money I spend on mortgage and utilities) and took off on one way tickets around the world? It's got to be way cheaper that way and I could get it all out of my system at one time. I could make it work! I am now on a mission!
I resigned from my part-time job that I loved with a passion, huge step #1. It was a very emotional event, to walk away from something I love so much and the people that meant so much to me. Many tears were shed over that decision.
I advertised my house for rent and it rented right away, huge step #2. I've never handed my home over to anyone unknown to me........ever. It was one of the scariest things I've ever done. I started packing up my house for storage, took car load after car load of stuff to Good Will and donated all my professional, career suits and dress clothing to a charitable organization that helps battered and abused women re-enter the work force. I threw away so much. I kept thinking, "where in the hell did all this crap come from?" For the first and only time in my life, I woke up in the middle of the night and had a full blown panic attack over what I was doing and if it was all going to work. It took me 3 hours to calm down, doing yoga chants and meditation hums (Ommm). I truly feared I would be found several days later deceased in my bed from a heart attack. That thought just added more fuel to the panic attack!
I left my dog with my ex-husband, huge event #3. Cried and cried. She is my side kick, my Road Trip buddy, my friend, my "OMG I'm so happy you're home" roommate. She is a rescue dog my son found at the shelter 2 1/2 years ago, thrown away by someone and brought to my house where there she stayed. Timing was awful, I'd just started my part-time job but she quickly nestled her way into my heart and home and became a part of me. And now I had to leave her with someone else. I had no qualms about my ex, he'd kept her before for me and she loved him and he loved her. I was the one crying. I knew she would be loved and cuddled but it wouldn't be by me. I knew it was temporary and I would get her back but I miss her more than anything.
So, house packed and in storage. Keys turned over to a family that will (hopefully) take care of my home. Bella now living with Ron and loving life at the beach and I'm homeless and living out of a suitcase. I kept asking myself: What in the hell have you just done? My stomach was in knots, churning. I was in a perpetual state of feeling like I wanted to throw up. I couldn't eat and actually lost some weight those last couple of weeks. My brains were scrambled from getting my affairs in order to leave with my son to manage and plan my trip, all the flights, rooms and arrangements for where I would be staying during my travels. I couldn't carry on a conversation or make an intelligent decision without it consuming way more time than it needed. As my departure date neared, I was stressed, distressed, nervous, excited, light headed, a complete mess! I hoped that as I stepped onto the first plane to Los Angeles, every thing would fall into place and I would begin to enjoy the fruits of my labors of the past few months. And, it did. It's going to be a remarkable journey, a life changing event, something that I will always be glad I did, even though it turned my life upside down. All good!
I've always had a bit of wanderlust in me, being the child of a career Army soldier that was sent all over the world. It was a way of life until he retired in 1969. Life moved on, I plunged into a career, fell in love, married and had two boys. My boys are the love of my life and I am very blessed they are a part of my life. They are now grown and healthy, productive members of our society, all I ever wanted them to be. I'm very proud of who they have grown into; morally strong, caring, compassionate men. We are not only parent and child but friends as well. What more could you ask for?
My career and marriage came to an end around the same time. I've always wanted to travel, explore and visit and hubby was not the explorer at all. So, among other things, the divide got wider and we no longer had much in common. We've turned out to be much better friends than we were roommates and all is good. As my retirement approached, I began to think more and more about all the places I wanted to go and see. I went places for a week or two and returned home. My house was littered with picture books and my study had piles of pictures torn out of magazines and printed off the internet of all the fascinating places that captured my attention. My son gave me a huge wall map, 4' x 6' that I hung in my study and I would refer to it every time I read a story about a place I'd never been. I retired and took a few "part-time" jobs that filled my days and always gave me purpose, challenges and rewards but I kept looking at the picture books.
In the Summer of 2014, a very dear friend passed away unexpectedly. He and I were the same age, had gone to high school together and retired about the same time. His death kicked me in the stomach. He was 61 years old, recently retired and suddenly, on a Sunday evening, he sits down and never gets up again. My father died at age 63, also of a heart attack. This same summer, another friend passed away sitting at his computer. The wheels started REALLY turning at this point. I wanted no regrets. I was strong, healthy and determined to see the world before I couldn't, before an illness or injury would prevent me from seeing and doing all the things I was dreaming about. My friends never had the opportunity. This hair brained idea was born: What if I put everything in storage, rented my house (to free up the money I spend on mortgage and utilities) and took off on one way tickets around the world? It's got to be way cheaper that way and I could get it all out of my system at one time. I could make it work! I am now on a mission!
I resigned from my part-time job that I loved with a passion, huge step #1. It was a very emotional event, to walk away from something I love so much and the people that meant so much to me. Many tears were shed over that decision.
I advertised my house for rent and it rented right away, huge step #2. I've never handed my home over to anyone unknown to me........ever. It was one of the scariest things I've ever done. I started packing up my house for storage, took car load after car load of stuff to Good Will and donated all my professional, career suits and dress clothing to a charitable organization that helps battered and abused women re-enter the work force. I threw away so much. I kept thinking, "where in the hell did all this crap come from?" For the first and only time in my life, I woke up in the middle of the night and had a full blown panic attack over what I was doing and if it was all going to work. It took me 3 hours to calm down, doing yoga chants and meditation hums (Ommm). I truly feared I would be found several days later deceased in my bed from a heart attack. That thought just added more fuel to the panic attack!
I left my dog with my ex-husband, huge event #3. Cried and cried. She is my side kick, my Road Trip buddy, my friend, my "OMG I'm so happy you're home" roommate. She is a rescue dog my son found at the shelter 2 1/2 years ago, thrown away by someone and brought to my house where there she stayed. Timing was awful, I'd just started my part-time job but she quickly nestled her way into my heart and home and became a part of me. And now I had to leave her with someone else. I had no qualms about my ex, he'd kept her before for me and she loved him and he loved her. I was the one crying. I knew she would be loved and cuddled but it wouldn't be by me. I knew it was temporary and I would get her back but I miss her more than anything.
So, house packed and in storage. Keys turned over to a family that will (hopefully) take care of my home. Bella now living with Ron and loving life at the beach and I'm homeless and living out of a suitcase. I kept asking myself: What in the hell have you just done? My stomach was in knots, churning. I was in a perpetual state of feeling like I wanted to throw up. I couldn't eat and actually lost some weight those last couple of weeks. My brains were scrambled from getting my affairs in order to leave with my son to manage and plan my trip, all the flights, rooms and arrangements for where I would be staying during my travels. I couldn't carry on a conversation or make an intelligent decision without it consuming way more time than it needed. As my departure date neared, I was stressed, distressed, nervous, excited, light headed, a complete mess! I hoped that as I stepped onto the first plane to Los Angeles, every thing would fall into place and I would begin to enjoy the fruits of my labors of the past few months. And, it did. It's going to be a remarkable journey, a life changing event, something that I will always be glad I did, even though it turned my life upside down. All good!
Good morning from Kahului, Maui .
My cabin neighbors, Mark and Jen, are rocking us with Jimmy Buffet and
Bob Marley as we've been watching whales jumping through the waters off
our balconies! It's going to be a fabulous day today and yes, Marty Ledher Jackson, Pedro is with me.
Spent the day on the water with the Pacific Whale Foundation. Pedro
and I learned so much about whales and the efforts to bring their
numbers up after facing almost extinction. Fascinating day of learning
and whale watching!!
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