Unfortunately the Stargazing was canceled due to bad weather on Mauna Kea. During the rest of our stay the top of the mountain was covered in clouds.
We did other nice things though, like flying with a helicopter over flowing lava and playing in fiery waves.
We also hiked half way down a very steep road into Waipi'o Valley when it started raining out of buckets and we had to turn around. Luckily we did not go all the way down since the walk up was astonishingly hard.
The lava was so exciting - imagine - you're seeing parts of the earth being created. And you see it red and flaming and while it's still moving. Where is it all coming from? How much more is there?? You want to be close but then you don't...
Also the helicopter flew with us over valleys that one can only get to via a 4-day hike. Sooo steep. And sooo breathtaking.
We also visited City Of Refuge which has a lot of green sea turtles and black crabs living there.
On Saturday we went surfing on our own for the first time and ended up paddling until exhaustion. The waves were quite hard to catch but we did quite well for being beginners. And all of a sudden a head pokes out of the water about 2 meters away from me and then swims away again - a sea turtle. They are so agile in the water...
Pics to come.
On Sunday we flew to the Big Island quite early in the day so we had a lot of time to explore the huge resort we're staying in. It's as big as a village and nicely made, they even have little boats and trains going from one end to the other. There are even dolphins here but I am not such a big fan of these animals in pools that are a little small for them.
Anyhow - the Big Island is wonderful. A lot more wild than what I saw of West Maui. Yesterday we drove up to the mountains to a ranch and explored the beautiful countryside on the back of a horse. We then had lunch in a cute little town called Hawi - best sushi in a long time, amazing special rolls.
After that we decided to visit an ancient Hawaiian temple near the northernmost tip of the island. It was a long hike through hot and sticky air. When we arrived finally it was very spooky. No one was there and the temple felt weird with its big walls. Many hundred years ago lots of Hawaiian people were sacrificed here. Not sure if that's why he place feels so weird.
Today we're going on top of a 4000er mountain to look at the sunset and the stars from an observatory.
Spending Thanksgiving in the warmth and sunshine is a lot nicer than in cold weather I presume. This was my first Thanksgiving ever and I think we got the classics covered.
In the morning we decided to go surfing once more and it went surprisingly well even though the boards were shorter and we were not sure we would ever catch a wave. Brian and Janet kept giving us tipps though so we ended up surfing a lot more waves than I ever thought I could do on my second day. We had to finish at lunchtime though since the board rental place closed down.
By that time the mosquito bites I got in the rain forest had become egg-sized (hen's eggs) and were hurting so we needed to get a remedy. Good job Brian is an immunologist and could help me understand that this was an allergic reaction and nothing more severe so we ended up getting some anti-histamines to spray on. The red and hot swellings went down shortly after. This was my first allergic reaction ever. Weird.
At night time we cooked a huge turkey that we got on a special for USD 3.00, mashed potatoes with garlic, stuffing, salad and pumpkin pie. We filled our tummies on our porch, waves blasting down below.
Today we did something I never believed I would do. I kinda knew what we had booked but did not imagine it to be so extreme. Janet had booked this trip and we all came along. When we had to sign a paper ahead of time that ensured we would not sue them when we get injured or killed, I got a little more scared.
Or trip began quite early, we left at 8 am to meet with the instructors at 9 am. The weather conditions were quite tough at both canyons we could have gone to but it turned out we would go to East Maui on this trip:
http://www.hikemaui.com/template/tours/10_canyoneering/introduction.html
It was the most crazy and amazing experience I have ever done and I did not think I could do this. Not physically but mentally. The canyons we went down were between 10 and 13 meters high. It does not sound so much but when you're at the the top, only a rope holding you and you have to start stepping down, it is high enough, believe me.
The instructors were very experienced and all the equipment was new so it was easy to just follow their instructions and not get too worried.
After repelling down the last waterfall, back into the natural pool, we were all wet again which made it easier with the rain starting to pour down like crazy. There we were, tired, hungry, done with the waterfalls but having to climb back up through the rain forest in pouring rain with our heavy backpacks on.
When we got back to the van and could change into dry clothes it was the best feeling in a long time. Having accomplished something crazy like this and getting a juicy turkey sandwich after a whole day without food just brought me some kind of inner peace.
We were 6 people and 3 instructors and at the end we were all equally proud. I still am. And will most likely repel again.
Yesterday we went up the west of the island over the north tip ad stopped at places of interest. The first one was Dragon's teeth - a spiky lava formation by the cliffs. The waves there were so angry ad so strong, it was hardly believable. Beautiful scenery and views of the cliffs along the beaches.
After that we proceeded to a spot where there is a Blowhole on the cliff. The waves have washed under the cliff and the waves shoot around 15-20 meters high in the air. We were all wearing bathing suits so we could stand under it to get showered.
Being completely soaked and tired from the hiking, we needed some food (unfortunately we did not think of the easiest thing: packing sandwiches) and drove to the closest village. That was only to be reached by driving steep single-tracked roads up and down the mountains. But after we got there, all was good. We found Lorraine who had banana bread (lecker!) and coconut candy (toasted with caramel...mmmmh). We ended up sitting with her and exchanging recipes for a long time. It was very peaceful down there in her village and we hardly wanted to go back. But eventually we had to.
On the way back home we stopped for another hike high above the sea and enjoyed some marvelous views.
Back at the condo I showered and fell asleep (it was 6:30). All the hiking was quite tiring but very rewarding.
Ha! Finally. We arrived on Maui/Hawaii on Sunday November 18 and on Monday morning Adrian and I had our first surf lesson. It was a really unusual feeling to stand on some waves but I enjoyed the feeling. We are going again!!!
After all the long waiting for my visa and the move date, I have finally arrived in my 'new home'.
San Francisco is greeting me with warm weather and sunny skies.
I am glad to be back and staying this time.
Next steps: getting a social security number and a bank account. Sounds like fun, huh?
Oh my goodness!
I had been warned: That fan blowing when you get off the plane is not actually a fan, it's the local breeze.
Thankfully the temperatures had cooled down for my 8:30 pm arrival - to 39°C.
I can't remember ever feeling such dry heat. A few minutes ago I went outside to sit by the pool for a couple minutes and just found it so weird, the feeling on my legs as if someone was blowing a hairdryer on them.
Again, it's the local breeze.
My clothes and armpits are dry though, hard to sweat when you get baked.
I do love the heat though and find it pretty amazing how within a few hundred kilometers the temperatures can change so drastically.
Tomorrow morning I will try the pool.
Adrian and I drove south yesterday.
First stop was Santa Cruz where we had lunch and bummeled around a bit.
On our way back we stopped on a beach where it was ever so beautiful.
Tried to dip our toes into the sea but it felt like ice water.
Brrrrrrrrr.
Flying from Frankfurt Hahn to London Stansted is no fun.
Hahn is as much Frankfurt as Stansted is London. Both are about one hour out of the city. But that would not be the worst if everything was organised well.
Not getting a seat assigned means a load of wild unexperienced tourists trying to get on to the plane at the same time but just let them get on first, everyone gets a seat anyway.
Traveling from and to London from Stansted with a bus company called Terravision is pure horror though. You never know which coach you will get on as the lines are awfully long and all over the place. You don't even know if you're in the right queue until you get to the front of it.
The worst part of my travel though was missing my plane because of that bus company and their weak organisation. Buses from Victoria train station were either overbooked or did not turn up. So even though I was there early enough and build in a safety cushion, there was no way I could have made it to my plane.
Ryanair recommends Terravision. I don't know why. And now I have to try and get my money back from their headquarters in Rome, Italy.
