Friday, February 23, 2007
new photos are up
I just posted some more photos... these might be just about the last batch from the Hawaiian adventure. These ones are from the parade from Chinese New Year and a few other things including how I celebrated Valentines Day. http://www.flickr.com/photos/95933887@N00/
Monday, February 19, 2007
Electric Beach
Today Mike took me snorkelling. We went first to Hanauma Bay, but the jellyfish were out so we tried somewhere else.
On the other side of the island, on the Waianae Coast we went to a place called Electric Beach. It is a little beach just across the highway from a big electricity plant. The plant uses water to cool its system. The heated water is released into the ocean, creating warm currents. Fish and turtles and other sea life come to play in the warm water and the currents. And locals and come to snorkel and scuba dive.
I've been snorkelling once before at Hanauma Bay with my father. And that was amazing. It blew me away. And today was so much more!
There was a school of fish like the ones above, just hanging out. I somehow thought if you swam among a school of fish they would flit by you as quick as anything. But no, they hang out, just out of reach.
These images are not mine, but this is some of what I saw.
And there was more. So much more.
I saw my first, second and third sea turtle today, playing in the warm currents. I even spotted a purple octopus, hiding in a hole. Mike went and played with it for a bit, trying to get it to come out of the hole. It looked big. Maybe as much as 4 feet in diameter had it stretched out for us!
Then there was beautiful coral and sea urchins too. My favourite sea urchins were the slate pencil sea urchins in the picture. I know I have seen underwater photography on TV before, but that just doesn't do it justice. It's so amazing to have it all right there with you, in front of you, under you as you float overhead.
Then there was beautiful coral and sea urchins too. My favourite sea urchins were the slate pencil sea urchins in the picture. I know I have seen underwater photography on TV before, but that just doesn't do it justice. It's so amazing to have it all right there with you, in front of you, under you as you float overhead.
I foresee more snorkelling my near future, before I leave beautiful Hawaii.Tuesday, February 6, 2007
beginning of the end
People have started saying their goodbyes. I preached on Sunday, my last sermon here, and received 2 leis from the congregation. One was brilliant fushia orchids. The other was fragrant tuber-roses and carnations.
On Sunday night a member of the congregation took me for a picnic dinner with her family. We all piled into the car and went to Kakaako Waterfront Park. She made a lovely loaf of bread for the occasion and we ate simple food. Kakaako Park is right behind the medical school and even though I'd been by there many times before I'd never actually been there.
The park is one of those reclaimed garbage dumps. When the landfill gets full they cover it with grass and make a park. This is a nice one. Gentle rolling hills/heaps. There is a nice area to walk down at the water. No beach but a great place to watch the sunset, and fisherman and boats coming in and out of the harbour. It was quiet and still busy. I like finding those places in a city. And as we stood in the gathering dark overlooking the bright lights of Waikiki, it once again felt foreign to me.
When I first moved here I woke up for the first few months surprised I was living here. And often I would get a quick jolt of surprise hearing people on the street speaking English. It was foreign here and I guess I didn't expect to hear English. Well I haven't had that feeling for months. I guess I have gotten used to it more or less. Used to the humidity. Used to wearing sandals everyday. Used to the sunshine and the beautiful sparkling ocean. Used to the rain clouds rolling over the green mountains. Used to rainbows even. Used to the gentle, slow ways of the people here. But never the evil monster cockroaches. I will never get used to them.
It was welcome to once again feel foreign, to once again feel there is so much more to this place than I have seen and heard and experienced. And at the same time I am looking forward to whatever is coming next.
On Sunday night a member of the congregation took me for a picnic dinner with her family. We all piled into the car and went to Kakaako Waterfront Park. She made a lovely loaf of bread for the occasion and we ate simple food. Kakaako Park is right behind the medical school and even though I'd been by there many times before I'd never actually been there.
The park is one of those reclaimed garbage dumps. When the landfill gets full they cover it with grass and make a park. This is a nice one. Gentle rolling hills/heaps. There is a nice area to walk down at the water. No beach but a great place to watch the sunset, and fisherman and boats coming in and out of the harbour. It was quiet and still busy. I like finding those places in a city. And as we stood in the gathering dark overlooking the bright lights of Waikiki, it once again felt foreign to me.
When I first moved here I woke up for the first few months surprised I was living here. And often I would get a quick jolt of surprise hearing people on the street speaking English. It was foreign here and I guess I didn't expect to hear English. Well I haven't had that feeling for months. I guess I have gotten used to it more or less. Used to the humidity. Used to wearing sandals everyday. Used to the sunshine and the beautiful sparkling ocean. Used to the rain clouds rolling over the green mountains. Used to rainbows even. Used to the gentle, slow ways of the people here. But never the evil monster cockroaches. I will never get used to them.
It was welcome to once again feel foreign, to once again feel there is so much more to this place than I have seen and heard and experienced. And at the same time I am looking forward to whatever is coming next.
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