HOLY SHIT! it's the grand canyon

Alright it really isn't the style or size of the grand canyon, but Waimea Canyon along with Kokee lookout and some other scenic point were absolutely breathtaking....

u drive up this unassuming valley and stumble upon massive formations or valleys rivers and streams, breathtaking views as you can get out of your car and stroll down a path or two and poof a more majestic vantage point or wow this angle is interesting kinda things along the way...

Finally reaching the Kalalau Lookout at a stunning 4000 ft elevation....from there you see the view from the Napali coast- this jagged green fuzzy finger like jutting cliffs into the ocean....like OMG is that King Kong hanging out over there?

Unfortunately for me the view was partially obscured by an eerie layer of VOG FOG or MIST ala Stephen King, it only added to the picture.... but looking at professional pics of the area one could easily imagine just chilling up here for a while to look on..

not me....i was on a tight schedule and it was gonna rain and it was actually pretty cold up here...this is the one area on Hawaii or actually one of a few that it will reach below freezing temps..

enjoy pics....

handicapped people accessing the lookout were pretty tough to deal with....

this group of three spanish chicks were stalking my shit.

Roosters like elevation apparently

lots of bikers made the journey....tons of harleys at the summit

some of the side trails could easily become treacherous and because of the flash flood warnings I wisely chose not to go....

(later on I would find out that many a people each year go on these trails trying to get that better look or a nice view of a hidden waterfall only to be swallowed up by the canyon....supposedly there are beautiful trails that seemingly end and people keep going and using trees for leverage as the grade is steep and the angles are tough until basically they surmise an angle becomes too steep or a tree that grows out of the side of a cliff camouflages the true nature of the footing and people just walk out off the side of the mountains and cliffs....yeah Dave for not dying)


When I parked I didn't want to wait in traffic so I parked on the side of the road and bottomed out very very very boisterously, resulting in more than a few "look at that asshole" gazes

More on Kauai

Kilauae Point National Wildlife Refuge

Impressive point, except a bunch of weird people were around asking me to take their pictures and saying very strange dumb ignorant things the entire time...Like they totally were unimpressed by the beauty and were talking shit about it...maybe they were joking I can only hope but they were these odd older men who were humping around (literall?) in a convertable with high socks and short shorts and just gave me the heebie jeebies.

So this Lighthouse hangs on a cliff with all sorts of special habitats for rare birds all around...some of the postcards and pics of this area are absoulutely amazing- looks like it is scotland or Ireland in terms of how green it is....

Also see a pic of my beach blanket with the Red Sox champions shirt Thanks MA! for the shirt.

KAUAI Two

Alright first off, I enjoyed my first day on Kauaii immensenly traveling in my nice champagne colored chrysler 300M which i felt was some sort of futuristic flying car, but that was just my fantasies...

rented a gay-ass blue fairy funny looking generic leave it to beaver bike...and loved every minute of the bike ride, especially the fact that the handle bars moved and almost made me crash and that the bike was taller than me and that every time I stopped it was a harrowing adventure and pensive danger as I wondered if i would loose my testicles to the bar in between my legs.....

in case your wondering they are still there.....but they did get injured.

ran into extremely nice people on this island...my first impressions were strange because like 90 percent of the people were Haole, I was told it is not that much...but it was different than Oahu, I felt myself saying like where are the Hawaiians?

Lots of differing opinions and some strange tension when I asked people. Kauai has some interesting people and a very many are very crunchy earthy and borderline extremists according to some....but then again a few whack jobs can wreck it for you.

The big story on the island is that the giant super ferry that travels to and from Oahu has been disallowed to come and land on Kauai...some want to protect the enviroment, some want to protect there business, some they don't want crime from Oahu spreading to Kauai because kauai is a place of relative safety but many people actually on the island see it as an advantage to business and inter-island commerce..

So after breaking my balls on the bike and talking with the only two Hawaiians I ran into on Kapaa...I went onward....I went to ANINI beach, this small stretch on the north shore....supremely just chilled along a secluded beach and relaxed as massive waves pummelled me as I urinating in the beautiful ocean...LOL

Stopped had a few beers which turned into too many, hung out with a few people I ran into had some swordfish fish and chips and made it to the northern most point until you have to turn around....pretty cool day...and like I said I decided to not take the course and instead enjoy...

So I also went to this place called Kilauea Point....OMG beautiful PICS later...of a lighthouse the lighthouse of the Pacific Fleet.

my room key had a TIKI god attached to it so I was afraid to use it...


Aoli Pecula

or something like that means No worries or No problem

KAUAI

SO A BRIEF INTERLUDE... from the questions

ON April 9 through the 13th I traveled to the island of Kauai about 25 minutes West of Oahu...a quick plane ride and I was there smelling warm refreshing air of the Garden Island, so named because of the lush green scenery.

I was impressed, although it was tough being alone and in a place that for all practical purposes shut down after dark.

My plan was simple, attend a course on Myofascial Release for Physical therapy...

I managed to get a really good deal on a two bedroom cottage with full kitchen and living room....I was with many many friends though....the bugs were in a good force, but they don't bother me too much....even though I checked under the bed thoroughly before I rested LOL.

So I settled in with the operator of Koloa Landing cottages who directed me to the essential sights and told me I had lots to see and wouldn't have much time to do it because of the class....

First things First, I flew up the North Shore of this island...pretty cool, scenic with perhaps more beautiful beaches than Oahu and more of them. I raced up slowly if that makes any sense? I stopped in a place called Kapaa pronounced KAH PAH AH, had some really cool veggie food, it was a place that focused on LIVE food, ya know that weird diet that believes only foods that haven't been cooked over 106degrees or something like that....pretty good interesting how they turned some weird flax seeds and spelt into a hearty tasty wholesome cracker with all these cool toppings....including macadamia ricotta cheese, which is only made from Mac nuts....quite good.

So I continued on my journey up the coast all the way to the Napali Cliffs near Hanalei and Wainiha Bay, cool I reached the end by about sunset and started back...

I will fill in the next posts with some from that first day....

suffice it to say, there was so much to see that I decided I'll take the course at a later date and transfer the money to a course next year. and instead use the time to explore....

great few days with loads of amazing stuff in the next posts...

COUNT DOWN

So what you are not getting to read is a fairly long disertation of all of the emotions and feelings that have seemed to overwhelm me this past week....

I'll save written passage for myself to come back to and spare everyone

I panicked acted impulsively and adjusted my return flight and paid some cash aka plastic to move my flight from May 13th into Newark NJ to May 2 into Newark NJ..


Made a call to the boss and told her the news....she understood.

Two days later, I'm meditating or stretching or something and a tiny spark forms...

later that day I review goals and ideas and impressions on the last 4 months, a comparison of the reasons why I was coming to Hawaii in the first place and how things actually turned out....

Called my old job.....

Set up for a return....

BANG SNAP SHITAKE mushrooms....I was hit by an overwhelming idea that i was passing up a good opportunity as I have settle into the outpatient orthopedic clinic and realize that I trully enjoy getting up in the morning to go to work.....kind of a first in a while for me....sorry Haven.

well it felt like an epiphany, by my epiphany's come fast and furious sometimes so I have to be weary of certain impulses, yet at the same time be keenly aware of the underworkings of the motivation and machinery that lies in my subconcsious guiding me forward into this life....

So which is it......Get home quick fast in a hurry, or do I make a play to stay that is the question......?

Next day my boss closes the door in the office and says "i know you say it isn't about the money, but sometimes it seems like it is about the money based on some of your comments" I laugh and tell her I know I know I know, I tell her as ambiguously as I can- that it is and it isn't about money, I tell her flat I would have to make this such and such amount, she backs off, I can't do that, but think it over this weekend, let me know what would work and what kinda package would do it for u....

It's very funny, when decisions face u like this it suddenly is hard to bring that giant list the giganto breakdown of the pros and cons...because they all seem to have pro's and con's of their own....

It's hard right now at this very moment to see what is most important....

Family, a healthy lifestyle for mind and body....seem to be at the top....money is what hops around to the front and that back and forth.....Artistic and creative outlets.....enhancing my skill set as a therapist and ensuring that I can retain at least some of my knowledge....chill and have fun....

the natural beauty the surrounding the variety of things to do on this island are awesome amazing and all too easy and accessible...

u certainly pay for it....

ideally, i want to be bi coastal and spend at least 4 months home per year and the rest out here...that would be the coolest; actually the warmest, because I'm done with the cold if i can help it....that I have made my stand on.


real difficult flying on a scooter, paying zip for insurance zip for car payment (at least for the scooter, i still pay for a car at home) paying 12 bucks a week in gas, parking is never a problem, people are by in large nicer and cooler than first realized, it's between 70-84 each day, surrounded by water and mountains, night life, culture of all kinds from around the pacific, working in a relaxed clinic on th 8th floor in a building downtown, crystal blue water, high rise skyline, and mountains from Left to Right outside my window, I'm attached to a ridiculous out door mall that is literally a 4 minute walk to- I treat younger and healthier and funner and more alive patients who invite me to functions and such and of course make uncomfortable advances on me...(JK) I'm alone for some of the day, I can adjust my schedule....

but it's not home.
it's not home...yet...I guess?


Signed



CONFUSED, HAPPY

Alive and Wells

Hey, I just watched the Red Sox play at 7am this morning.....

the NCAA basketball was on crack early too, kinda like it instead of revolving the whole day around sports it's over and done with...I am free.

Jacoby Ellsbury is still my love child.

Alright, here is updates...

Sorry for the minimal posting, just working quite a bit and trying to explore and enjoy...have met a bunch of really cool people and the patients have begun to embrace me and all is pretty well.


I have really found many of the hole in the wall places and unique local fare and am better for it.

Lets see....

Ended up at two of the more strange bars here, one a military bar on a base that involved check ins and security clearance....kinda fun except we ended up trying to create a young korean alcoholic out of one of the groups roomates, this young innocent korean girl who was a good sport about everything...

She could only drink a buttery nipple or something like that, super girly bailey's and butter cream shots.....so after loads of martinis and switching to beer it was let's do butter cream shots of cafe du lece.....it was a rough morning with all the mixing of alcohol. the night ended with the Young Korean plastered, having a great time and wearing NVG, night vision goggles, one of the perks with partying with military cats.

Saw some craziness on the dancefloor, large Hawaiian women grinding with skinny military...it was a sight to see, it was a sight that created sore eyes and backs as I gazed in amazement at the tenacity of such bumping and grinding...it was very funny with the disapropriate portions of humans coming in close contact...one enormous and one like a wiffle ball bat.....something had to give....

and it was the bat....on the floor he went....the woman followed.....the dancing continued on the floor though.... :) ah night vision goggles....people cleared space on the dancefloor and the "couple" were helped off the floor, the girl slightly embarreassed but with that "I got my man-kinda look"

So much of the people know I'm going home soon, looking at either May 1st or possibly until my original flight of May 13th.

Patient's sad....trying to convince me to stay, trying to tell me I haven't given it enough chance, haven't really settled in, have come so far so fast compared to most people who try to move here, say that I'm like the coolest person they have ever met, or something along those lines..... :)

I tell them, Well I really hadn't planned on staying, trying to come mainly to escape the brutal climate of the north...but the place has grown on me, the job is excellent considered some of the bullshit I deal with and the decreased pay and the cancellations and the long hours for only 2 patients....I tell them, Staying long term was an option and it could happen, but not now, I wasn't ready, I missed home, I missed a fatter pay check, I wanted comfort familiar surroundings, I wanted family and friends..and that the truth was I wanted to come home after 2 weeks....

But I feel great about the adventure and that I pretty much dominated it....

Will still be going to two more islands, Next week I will be attending a course on Kauai...a MFR, myofascial release course, which will help hone some of my manual skills which are improving since rediscovering my outpatient knack.

So I will be there from WED through Sunday in a place called Poipu...on the southwest corner of the island...I will fly, it's like a 30 minute flight.

Roomates are sad, that I"m going, friends are asking why, but why are you leaving? Co-workers understand but say that it sucks that I'm going, so judging by the reactions seems to me that I made an impression.

Yeah for me...

So I've made good connections and have pretty much left it that I would love to be able to be Bi coastal, and spend 4-6 months of the year here...They all laugh and say isn't that what everyone would want....I tell them I probably could, If I worked it right....but there are obstacles to everything....the Contract Physical therapy company way is the way to go about it....they will stipend and all that good stuff so it would be a better pay rate than you could normally get.

In the meantime, I will enjoy my days here about a month more and wait with anticipation to return home as we shall all drink coblets of our favorite beverages and tell tall tales of our separate adventures and learn of the winter of malcontent that was 2008 in the Northeast...


made a homemade Vietnamese soup....added that to the cooking repetoire.

been really enjoying the warm weather and sun, and the nice sunsets.

People watching is still phenomenal at the Ala Moana Shopping Center

cheers