Sentimental Journey

Island hopping California style took me out to Catalina Island as well as on a nostalgic sentimental journey. Sentimental also since this California trip was the beginning of the month.

The Catalina Express ferry departed from Fisherman's Village in Marina del Rey, one of my childhood haunts within biking distance from my Playa del Rey home (translated as Beach of the King). We floated out the channel as memories floated into mind.... where our afternoon Hobie sail ended with a surprise dump in the chilly waters only to get our mast stuck in the mucky bottom, views of my old neighborhood, my street up on the hill, my shortcut walk to the beach behind houses, the park lagoon where I spent summer camps making daisy chains, local "Toes" aka "10 Toes Over" Beach where I learned to surf in the days girls didn't surf, volleyball courts where I was recruited to play NCAA college ball, bike path to meander to adjacent beaches, vb courts, vb tournaments and piers, bonfires on the beach, grunion hunting.....

Catalina holds memories as well, and here I am making the adventure with the same grammar school friends whom we used to camp, volleyball and swim away summer vacation days on the island. Next years were the sailing adventures to Catalina making the channel crossing at night in the shipping lane dwarfed by the massive barges, and our boat loosing it's mooring at night to drift away as we slept on board. What a great childhood Southern California life provided. Thus, this slide show with vintage surf music apropos of the times.

It is very refreshing to see Catalina literally unspoiled, still like the days of old and quaint as can be! There remains much open land on the hillsides with houses renovated instead of spreading. Golf carts are still preferred mode of transportation, although our feet gets us where we prefer to go.

The ocean water is healthy, clear and warm with an abundance of fish and kelp. The orange Garibaldi fish are a proud display of the CA state fish.

California Escapades

Michael and Dana's wedding drew me to California for celebration of young love and reunion of my "other" family which I grew up with. The "next generation" of weddings has evolved to reception entry of bridal party with sassy dancing, hip hop groomsmen and lots of creativity. Wishing Michael and Dana growing love and happiness which they already exude.

I spent 2 1/2 weeks while in California the beginning of the month.

Celebrating niece Kara's birthday lasted all weekend, along with a visit from her sister Amie from Berkeley. Maggie, Kara's new puppy entertained us with taunts to old dog Marley and Gizmo the cat.

My sister Karen, Mom and I road tripped to Mammoth Lakes in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. I had lived a decade in the Sierras before moving to Maui, and have been away for too long. I love the beauty, tranquility, and fresh air of the mountains. This video capsules our adventure staying in the log cabin built in the '20's near the waterfall going into Twin Lakes below, across from Lake Maime, hike to view of Lake Mary, our hike around Lake George, hike to Heart Lake, Mom plopped in chair with a view guarding off mosquitoes while we hiked, old gold mining camp with mine and equipment, and Horseshoe Lake. Afternoon thunder clouds built up with loud claps of thunder and huge drops of rain.



Yes, the sound of the thunder drums still has its power. No need to wonder.

Next escapade report will be Catalina Island.

Green Sea vs. Hawksbill Turtle

Warm summer waters welcomed our Sunday swimmers for a fun, luxurious, playful swim. Fun, because our world travelers, Patti and Janet, part of the fun faction of the swim gang have returned. Luxurious, because the waters have warmed up with no need to keep moving in order to keep warm, allowing us to follow fun creatures, stop to carry on a full conversation and play in each of our water amusement features. Playful, because we now have the players, the creatures and the features for play and fun. Love Maui waters with friends!!!

This Green Sea Turtle was strutting his stuff with such a gorgeous, clean shell. Those cleaner wrasse at the cleaning stations have been so busy. And this turtle has spent much time there.

This juvenile Hawksbill Turtle is the future of the generation. He/she will propagate this endangered species. Let's hope this young, ambitious turtle finds a mate.

Maui Magic!

It has been days of dolphin extravaganzas! The dolphins are ever so playful and happy! Playing, laughing, dancing, singing and cackling with each other and me. We are playing the fun old games of leaf drop with some dolphins so proud of swimming with multiple leaves on nose, both pec fins and or tail at the same time. They love making me do silly human tricks by leading me on underwater spins, corkscrews and curls. They get such a kick out of me! I love their interactions and tricks. It is mutual love.

I am seeing more and more of dolphins playing with bubbles. When one blows a cloud of bubbles, another will come and splash through them! I observed a dolphin following a golf ball size bubble up from the depths toward the surface. He was "holding" the bubble on his nose as it rose, and then opened his mouth and gently held the bubble inside his open mouth. He then let it out and followed the bubble up to the surface. It was a display of finesse, gentleness and precise vision.

My friend Sarah is newly enjoying being playful in the ocean as her childhood swim skills return.The dolphins are teaching her to dive. She will soon be dancing with the dolphins with spins and corkscrews underwater!

One day I played with the dolphins for hours until utterly exhausted, completely famished and full pruneiness of fingers, palms and back of hands. I reluctantly left the dolphins to swim to shore, food, relaxation and a towel. I encountered two manta rays on the inside reef. Well, of course I had to give them equal time of following and observing their antics.

Blue Day

Blue waters, blue sky and blue basketball teams fill the Sunday fun.

Surrounded In Bubbles

Announcing the opening of Kapalua Spa! This is my new second massage job!

The Spa is designed as a luxury beach house; to bring the ocean in. Products are ocean based and treatments are named accordingly, decor is bubbles, beach glass, coral and shells, with the sound of water throughout. Bubbles on walls as lights, chandelier bubbles, bubbles in the carpet. This brings in to my work my joy of playing in bubbles of ocean swims. My love of bamboo forest is reflected on the light treatments over the massage tables. Lobby pool is cornered by fire pots with a waterfall which flows to pool below. Those on exercise equipment downstairs gaze through waterfall, forgetting they are sweating on a machine.

With the time consumption of a second job, at least I will be surrounded by my favorite things... bubbles, bamboo, fire and water!

Local news is getting out the word for us! Click here to view news segments.

In this news clip, Lani, my long time buddy is giving the facial. Bo, our lead therapist is giving the yummy Awa Cacoa Lomi Wrap. Try that one when you come in, it is one of our best treatments!

Hi'iwai Blessing

The Hi'iwai Blessing commences in the darkness of pre dawn, as we gather at Kapalua Bay to cleanse and clear ourselves in the womb of the ocean, then up the hill to bless our newborn baby, Kapalua Spa.

As the sky lightened, we begin with a circle on the beach to speak of those whom inspire us and why. As we enter the dark waters of the bay, we reflect and release all the stresses, impure thoughts, words and deeds of our lives, especially during the process of opening the Spa. As we submerge under the water and float in the womb, we are cleansed and cleared of these impurities, we emerge from the water toward the lightness of those whom inspire us, as we face the rising sun to start fresh and new. We chant E' Ala E' (Arise! Sun) with hand claps to cast our cares to the rising sun.

We walk in silence up the hill to the spa entrance, which is draped with a fragrant Maile leaf lei to symbolize the umbilical cord. Water and salt are united in a koa bowl, and sprinkled with Ti leaf at and on the Spa entrance and toward all four corners of the spa, as the chanting of the Kahuna echoes through the foyer. Spa Directors Crystal and Natalia cut the Maile lei of our new born baby, we all enter the new spa!

What a celebration! Representing eight weeks of dedication and hard work, and the bonding of a new 'ohana (family). Now, the Spa is open! Our baby is born!

We have worked eight long weeks on this project. Our 'ohana of massage therapist learned 13 treatments in 4 weeks, as the 'ohana of facialists did the same. Week 5 the entire staff all came together to physically move and unpack boxes, arrange furniture and equipment. Week 6 was organizing rooms, shelves and cabinets, unloading, folding, stocking, folding and arranging stacks and folding stacks and stacks of linens. Did I say folding? Week 7 we got to "play" Spa as we all practiced our expertise and we all sampled each others tricks and trades. I drank fresh vegetable juices from juice bar, rejuvenated in yoga and Somatics classes in ocean view yoga room, worked out on innovative Kenisis cable machines, received facial and gave numerous treatments to Kapalua staff who will promote our Spa.

Now, week 8, we are fine tuning each element and open the door to the public on Thursday! Yeah! I will give real treatments to real bodies and receive a real commission! Ah! My bank account is awaiting the deposit of a real paycheck! It needs to be fed!

This explains where I've been the past 8 weeks.... the hour commute each way sucks out my time and energy of blog time. Now, I will be at the spa only (!) 2 shifts a week, so into the ocean I swim and onto the blog I will report!

Sweet Morning

Nature put on an extra fabulous display this morning!

Night Blooming Cereus, as the name implies, blooms at night, the blossom is still lovely in the morning, and wilts during the day. To see the blossom in the morning is a special treat!

Nature's fireworks entertains us with the south swell crashing into black lava!



We still found a turtle on our murky swim.

It is so very very wonderful to have a morning to play on Maui!

Good By Pat

Phew! Life has been a whirlwind which picked me up and swirled me around!... for weeks! I am dizzy as it is still swirling about, but I refuse to let it take me with it anymore! A month ago, after returning from 2 weeks in Roatan.... post vacation treadmill...... multiple interviews...... got a new job...... new job training is now on fourth week, 3-4 days a week..... work old job........ both Mom, sister and her family were evacuated for 5 days because of Santa Barbara fires ..... thankfully, both their homes were spared..... Facebook captured me.......I flew to CA for childhood friends' dear Mom's funeral. Photo of Pat Fagan, beloved Mother of 6, grandmother of 12, dear friend of mine and many! She loved to be a part of the action and joined in with a great sense of humor! Miss laughing with you Pat!

"Two Weeks Ago, This Time"

Daily I am reminiscing with Mom, a meticulous travel journal keeper, "Where were we two weeks ago this time?" She then recounts from her journal entries as we recall Roatan vignettes, events, laughter, landscapes, new friends, and feelings of our special times together. This practice keeps the memories alive a bit longer and implants them a bit deeper into the vault, for future recall.

Kara was the prize photographer of the trip.... by default. My camera died on the first day, Karen's died within a couple days, and Mom has long since given up on cameras and takes only disposable camera photos. Thus, no underwater photos and no videos.

Thanks to Mom and Kara for your contributions this Roatan Adventure blog, now a historical recounting, since the events were two weeks ago. Thus, this blog will not be real time, I may enter two to three days of events in a single day, fast forwarding through our two week adventure on Roatan.

Once I got over the initial shock, disappointment, grief and anger of my camera dying, I accepted my role as participant, rather than photo journalist, a true blessing in disguise. This way I was able to enjoy each moment for the experience and not through the lens of a camera or in thoughts of composing a blog entry.

Blogging on Roatan would have been an adventure in itself. Glad I missed it. Electricity would go out every couple days, no rhyme, reason or prediction. When electricity was up, the Internet connection was sketchy at best, due to router problems. Glad I was not blogging.... there was always something, or nothing better to do than sit in front of a computer, on vacation, with special ladies to hang out with, or a hammock to hang out on.

Roatan Tienas Mi Corazon

Roatan has my heart.

Eventful Travels

Lightening flashed in the night sky, rain fell against the window as our plane sat on the tarmac of San Salvador, El Salvador. Mom was asleep in the aisle seat, I was in the middle, and Karen next to the window. As we took off, Karen and I watched as we came into multiple lightening flashes, the rain streaming off the wings, and sparks of fire (!!!) igniting the wing. Karen and I were wide eyed, looking at each other speechless, we didn't want to speak of the fire on the wing, didn't want to awaken and alarm Mom. The plane was hushed. My heart stopped as the pilot spoke, first in Spanish, I was waiting to hear the English of an emergency. The English announcement was mundane pilot talk! There was not concern about the "fire" on the wing! Karen and I watched, as we got further from the lightening storm, the fire on the wing lessened. Phew!!!

Turns out this was St. Elmo's Fire, an electrical weather phenomena. A "sparking discharge of static electricity caused by the lightening as the plane transitioned from ground to air."

Face masks were the attire of all airport employees and many passengers on our journey home from Roatan. A gate at San Salvador airport was lined with a gowned, masked, capped and gloved medical team holding test kits, awaiting an incoming flight from Mexico. Going through customs at LAX, the question of the night, over and over was "Did you arrive from Mexico?" I wonder what kind of quarantine we would have endured if we had.

We layover at LAX from midnight until 8am. We find benches to try to get some sleep. Right! Jackhammers, buzz saws and activity of airport renovation and constant announcements bombard our ears. Maxed out air conditioning chills us to the bones. We have survived travel through Central America without contracting Swine Flu, but we may catch cold sitting all night in a freezing airport of our civilized, home country. What a long night! We manage a few winks.

We had all our luggage since we had gone through customs. After sleeping on a bench, Karen got out her cosmetic bag, which ended up in her carry on, with scissors, knife, corkscrew, plus bottles of duty free rum. Karen was so busted going through LAX security. Lucky, she ran it back down to the check-in counter, with just enough time to make her Santa Barbara flight. We part our ways with more laughs of our final hurrahs together. I still have one more long flight to Maui, home sweet home!

Bitter Sweet Last Day....ROATAN

Last full day! Sad!

"Hole In The Wall" dive site is reputed one of the best dives in Roatan. My dive yesterday was preparation to get my comfort level back for today's dive to descend through a hole, come out at 100 feet, and finish the dive ascending up the wall. I didn't have my comfort level up for that intricate dive, and was told Hole In The Wall "Shallow" was a great dive, with multiple "swim throughs" with plenty of beauty.

I give a wave to anyone at my home Land's End as our dive boat zips past. I am surprised as we moor on a buoy right at my favorite backyard swim! We bid fun, beauty and safety to the first dive group descending through the hole, and we descend next. Different from my swims on this reef, now I am up close and personal to my neighborhood nautical friends. I see the young Hawksbill I have followed on other swims.

We do not have the same idea of "swim throughs". On this dive, we merely follow up and "swim through" a sandy canyon, reef walls on each side and into another sandy canyon, reef walls on each side. I have swam over these canyons numerous times. Well, I must say, diving Roatan is only a little bit more exciting than what I have been swimming in the past 2 weeks.

The afternoon with mom and Karen, we make the most of our last day with our favorite Coconut Shrimp lunch at local Half Moon Restaurant deck, get into town for some shopping and remembrances of our special time on Roatan. Mom finds a whimsical magnet gecko, Karen and I find some beautiful earrings. Our last day would not be complete without a margarita at Sundowner's palapa on the beach.

Our last supper choice is the Thai restaurant, and they have a special table for us on the dock over the water. The light attracts rays as they swim under us, and the dark horizon flashes with a distant storm. A bitter sweet send off!

Silver Backs....ROATAN

KABOOM! Shook us awake at dawn, I leap out of bed and on to lanai for front row seat of lightening show over the ocean. Off shore is a dark squall, it let's out a few more bolts of lightening with loud claps of thunder and away it rolls across the ocean and dissipates. Quick show!

Good, I don't want a storm to ruin my scuba dive adventure today. With Roatan being a world class scuba destination, I must to go down under, blow some bubbles and see what all the fuss is about. Buoys line the entire near shore reef, not to designate a no boat zone, but are moorings for dive sites. I join the dive gang at the shop, get geared up, site orientation, jump on the boat, with a quick ride to tie off to an off shore buoy. I put on my BCD with tank and roll off the side of the boat and descend to join the other "silver backs" on the bottom. I enjoy the buoyancy and weightless floatation of scuba diving and to be face to face with all my finned friends, looking into holes and under overhangs on "Planter's Punch" reef. This is the same world I have swam over as an observer, now I feel like a participant of the reef activity.

Back at Land's End, I have to catch up to Mom and Karen's relaxation mode with some hammock, pool float, book and nap time.

After a nice sunset on our lanai, we head into town for some shopping and over water, dock dining. During our stroll comes the squall with a tropical downpour as we take cover under a tree. We are wet, but on this warm, tropical night, we dry off quick. We are on Roatan, and nothing can bother us.

Junlge Book....ROATAN

After an easy Saturday day of rest, reading, bobbing in the pool and dinner at Land's End, come Sunday we are ready for some activity.

The day starts out in Roatan style, with no electricity. The heat of our stifling room awakes us as the light of the dawn appears. With our in-room coffee maker out of business, it is a long wait for that robust, dark, rich Honduras coffee we have become addicted to. When the girls arrive to work at the lounge, I pounce on them to get the gas stove fired up to brew some
Java Jose, which I take back to drooping Mamasita and Seastar Karen.

Josalina and Carla astound us again with a "typicos" breakfast of tortillas, beans, eggs, sausage and yummy salsa. Who needs electricity?

Fueled up we head out for a day of adventuring, with our bags packed for the multi activities to come.

We enter Gumbalimba Park through the fabricated cave and step into a Jurassic Park environment. Iguanas slither through the gardens, "Jesus Christ" Lizards entertain us with their walk on water skills and scurrying on hind legs in a comical way, tortoises line the banks under our swinging bridge crossing, and jungle sounds of birds and monkeys fill the air.

Beautiful red and green Amazon Parrots and Macaws were more than happy to alight on our shoulders, lured by tamers treats. The walk through the park lead us deeper into jungle where the Capuchin and Spider Monkeys were happy to see us as well, smart enough to know if they came out of the trees and onto our shoulders, treats would flow. Scooby has an 11 day old baby on her back. The baby hangs on while sleeping even when Mama-Scooby gets playful with Marcus, the two joust about, jumping tree limb to limb and teasing and screaming at each other..... baby just hangs on and continues his nap. Much too adorable! (this photo is our Mamaista with mama-Scooby with her baby on her back)

After a fill of jungle creatures, we head down to West Bay to mingle with the sea creatures. We have decided West Bay is the best snorkeling we have experienced on the island. It is an easy sandy beach access, healthy large and abundant variety of corals, and the fish are more than happy to entertain us with their beauty, abundance and variety.

The sand on the beach is so powdery white, and despite the intense heat of the day, the white sand is not hot. On any Hawaiian or California beach in this heat, the golden sand would be way too hot to saunter to the water without shoes or a sprint. Interesting that the white, powdery Caribbean sand does not hold the heat.

Sundays on Roatan are the family picnic day. It is great to observe the local families of multiple generations enjoying the beach, the water or the shade of a palm tree for a nap.

We love our mode of transportation... water taxi to putt us a 10 minute dinghy ride from West Bay to West End. We have a late lunch/early dinner at our new favorite restaurant .The rain has driven us off the deck to the inside of the restaurant where we can more enjoy the dual view of one direction of Half Moon Bay, and the other direction of West End Bay, as we are on a spit between the 2 bays.

Our evening entertainment is Mama's new found game "Mexican Dominoes". We three sure do know how to have a raucous evening!

Zippidy Doo Dah....ROATAN

....Zippidy Eh, my oh my what a wonderful day! Plenty of sunshine heading my way.....

Karen and I begin our zip line adventure on the tip top of the tallest mountain in Gumbalimba Park. What fun! With a bit of fear, adrenaline, excitement, and exhilaration we leap off each platform and zip along cables from tree top to tree top, high in the canopy of the Roatan jungle. "Zip", the sounds on the cables, "whir", the wind rushing past my helmeted head, "scream" as the trees quickly flash by and "laughter" as I safely approach the platform high in the next tree.

I am soaring higher than the birds! As I zip, I look down at a massive Turkey Vulture soaring below me. I am free as a bird!... almost... with a helmet, harness, gloves, cables, clips, guides, platforms and mattress covered tree trunks at landings.

The best adrenaline rush comes on one long and high zip line... On the platform, the guide starts behind me and holds my ankles in "wheel barrow" position, I am on my hands on the edge of the platform, and I "dive" off the platform head first. I spread my arms and fly through the jungle like Superman. I am in hysterics with laughter when I land at the next platform. Great adrenaline rush!!!

Karen's Superman comes into the platform screaming, with legitimate fear at flying through the jungle head first!

As we zip into the lower elevation of Gumbalimba Park, colorful red and green parrots are flying about, iguanas are perched in the branches, monkeys screech below, as we fly over a swinging bridge spanning a lagoon. Indiana Jones must be nearby.

Our 13th and final platform ends on the sandy beach on the shore of the blue Caribbean. We have traversed from treetop to treetop from the mountain in the blue sky to the sands of the blue Caribbean.