Rocky Mountain High Sept 2015

Amazing, all six of us were able coordinate a trip together at the same time (granted 2 of us were really doing workcations not vacations). We were invited to Paula's husband's baby sister's 2nd spectacular home located ontop of a hill in the Cotopaxi CO postal area. All the views from her massive windows belonged on a postcard. I actually felt guilty taking photos with my phone because it never did them justice.

 We landed in Colorado Springs at night so it was a little tricky following the GPS lady's directions in our humongous expedition rental car. Maria did a great job driving and navigating all the tricky turns and curves. Only problem we had was in Canon CO - I am guessing that place has a doppelgänger in Waldo FL.

It was a very laid back weekend with expectations of sleeping late and wine-ing into the night. Mimi and I had a problem with the sleeping in part because the morning sunrises beckoned us to try and capture the colors and scenes. 

We walked the roads, avoided the snakes, and enjoyed the cool dry (thin) air. We spent one day in the small and closest town of Westcliff doing the touristy things of shopping, sightseeing and eating.

 On the way we saw people pulled off on the side of the road using the cell phones (coverage was very iffy). The town had free wifi everywhere because it was too expensive to get to all the homes. Even though it was about a 30 minute winding, partially dirt road drive, we were surprised that during our absence the UPS man had come and gone and dropped off a couple of packages that Maria had ordered the previous morning. Amazon Prime rules....especially in the boonies. 

Rest of the Summer '15

Cynthia and I crammed in a few short trips in-between working at the busy Jekyll Island Convention Center. We did a Savannah trolley tour, a Jekyll walking/driving tour, and Cumberland Island boating/walking tour. The day in Savannah was a rainy one so we didn't get to stroll around the squares but of course managed a trip to River Street Sweets.

Cumberland was hot but well worth the sweat. We were able to beat the crowds by going on the first day of school.
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Summer at the Court

Lots of comings and goings. After 5 years here in the states studying and working, Penny Peng - one of my students from my ZUFE, Hangzhou teaching days, left the states after being offered a terrific job working for Duke University in Kunshan China.

 It was sad to see her go, but I am sure it will give me another reason to visit China again. Interesting side fact - China tourists visas are now good for 10 years, multiple entries. 

Next visitors, just in time for St Simon Neptune Park's 4th of July, were Zac's half-brother, Christian and his girlfriend. Beach, Southern Soul, and fireworks.

 Just as I was starting to miss Penny's Chinese cooking, Cynthia Huang arrived for a months visit. I also met Cynthia in Hangzhou. She was a fellow English teacher and became a great friend and China traveling buddy. So now I am back to eating yummy homemade Chinese dishes!

Since this is Cynthia's first visit in the continental US, we are doing a lot of the area's touristy things . Last week we did Disney's Magic Kingdom. 

This week we are staying local. Yesterday, we did the lighthouse and its 129 steps, today we walked the big bridge and drove around historical Brunswick. 

While driving through the historical district we stumbled on to the Yellow Deli and Bakery on Egmont St. They had delicious sandwiches and breads. I will definitely be returning. 

Embarrassing Side Note: This summer I have been fighting a German Roach invasion. They are so hard to get rid of.  I have been using Younce Terminix and an environmentally friendly roach spray. They are greatly reduced in number BUT unfortunately the tiny monsters found a place to hide that I couldn't spray - my computer! I woke up yesterday to a dead computer. One of their soldiers gave up its life to fry my computer. Thankfully it is still under AppleCare protection, but it was so embarrassing to explain to the tech guys what they were going to find (and did find) when they opened it up. Forget the nice 'green' bug spray - I am going for the skull and crossbones version. 

Hawaii Departure

Our fight didn't leave till 11 am so we left our "B" early and decided to see if we could find the black sand beach in Hilo. We followed the Japanese Tour Buses and found them with no problem. Strange looking down and seeing black and green.  The contrast of the lush green follage and the dark wet lava is very striking.

side note : Zac - I found a beach that had a huge horseshoe pit section - didn't have waves though.

Delta flight from Honolulu to Atlanta was 7 hr and 50 minutes.  They offered us drinks twice and NO MEALS - unless you wanted to buy one of their sandwiches. The standard peanut, cookie or pretzel snacks were offered once - I was so hungry I asked for 2.  I know they are cutting expenses but when they have you hostage for 8 hours it is polite to feed you at least once.
All planes were on time as well as my angel 'Gail' who picked me up.  Home again, Home again, jiggity jig.

Big Island Volcano Day - Day 6

Woke up in the middle of the night with the crud, I was definitely running a fever so I got very little sleep. On any normal Marigold Ct. day I would have stayed in bed, but there was no way I was going to miss seeing an active volcano!  The only thing we cancelled from our todo list was a 2 hour / 4 mile hike. What a shame....... So I got out my emergency stash of travel drugs and took my first dose of a 2 yr expired z-pak. I am not sure that is the right drug for my crud but I figure if it killed some bad bugs - my immune system would be able to tackle the other ones. Logical, right?
Cynthia had breakfast at one of the local stands where she ate her rice/egg bowl and I drank a little orange juice.
It was just a short drive to the Volcano NPS, where, to save 5 bucks, I purchased my THIRD senior citizen card. It's a great deal, just remember to carry your card with you. We put our day in the hands of one of the most helpful NPS guides. He told us exactly what to do and where to do it but with no attitude. We followed most of his suggestions and had a wonderful day.

The weather was beautiful, sunny and cool. The actual volcano looked a little like I felt - weak and pitiful. No fire and brimstone but lots of steam.  Maybe it needed a little blue pill to get things going good.

Which is another point.... The volcano's god is female in gender - it just doesn't fit. It should be a male god. Think about it - eruptions - spewing forth lava - ?

We started our 20 mile drive down the Chain of Craters Rd with our first stop being the recommended Lava tube. Really interesting smooth walled cave.

There were so many types of lava flows that covered everything. Interesting shapes and sizes. It was a shock to see that plants actually grew out of it.

At the bottom of the drive was the Arch made out of volcanic lava flow.

We finished up about 2:30 and at lunch at the Lava Rock Cafe. I ate a little soup and it liked me! Nap time.

We did not follow the NPS guide's directions on waiting till 11 pm to see the volcano at night - we went early with all the crowds.

Couldn't get into any restaurant except the Thai restaurant - ate my first almost full meal of chicken noodle soup 

Big Island - Day 5

Rental cars - we got a black Ford Fiesta at Oahu which I actually liked except for the lousy turning radius. At the big Island we got a black Chevy Camero with an even worse turning radius plus entering it forced you to bend like a pretzel. (Why haven't I taken more yoga classes). Getting out - you sort of had to roll onto the ground. The doors were so heavy that when the wind was blowing it could take out a pedestrian or put a huge dent in a neighboring car. Old people shouldn't drive "hot cars" 

Ate at a local outside establishment ( most of the places were outside) food was good. Cynthia had Mahi Mahi and shrimp. 

Walked around Hilo- sort of like a really small budget beach town - did the obligatory shopping. Bought some very sweet lycées. (May have been a mistake...) Very rustic - you definitely won't find any Chanel, Prada or Versace stores here. No big hotels were present in this area. We saw the large and very long wall in the harbor that the town had built to help minimize a possible tsunami. It was high tide so we weren't able to see the infamous black sand beaches. 

Drove to nearby Rainbow Falls but didn't get to see the rainbow because it was drizzling - Then pouring. Luckily we still had our 3 dollar plastic ponchos. Found some free wild mangos on the ground which we ate. May have been a mistake....

After reinforcement at Cosmic Cones drive in, we started the 45 min drive up to the volcano. We were staying in Volcano Village ( not sure I would want to live in a spot known for active volcanos). We stayed in a place called My Island Inn, which used to be a B & B but it was just a "B" now. Definitely a no frills - no TV, no AC, no shampoo, no made beds everyday, and warnings posted about taking short showers or risk running out of hot water.  But the place DID provide a lots of umbrellas, walking sticks, a beautiful 4 acre lush rainforest garden with paths, a big bottle of water, and this great little info book that told FAQs, maps, local restaurants with their menus, and directions to every attraction. Eating in the little village was a challenge. Everything seemed to close early or be way above our budget. Of  course the only thing open on the Sunday evening was the local Mimi mart. We had lycées, beef jerky and soda for dinner. May have been a mistake.....

Hawaii - Day 4

We drove downtown to experience one of the crepes that Cynthia had been bragging about. It was good but the best part was that we found a reasonably priced parking area. Parking was the biggest pain in Honolulu. The university had some 2$ per 30 minutes parking rate - except for the weekend then you paid 6 dollars till 12 am - you could buy another ticket for the next day at 6 am. and yes I actually got up at 5:30 AM to walk over to the parking lot to buy Saturday's ticket. Rest of the time I parked about a mile off campus and we walked. Also forgot about Cynthia's tendency to UNDERestimate the walking distance. There were a couple of times that I was plum warn out at the end of the day.

After our crepe we walked to the Aloha Tower located at the port then a bus to the mall for some lunch and retail therapy. On our last bus stop for the day there was a homeless women yelling at the walls. I doubt anyone could help her because she smelled so bad you couldn't get near her. There seems to be a lot of homeless people in Hawaii. Not sure if it is because everything is so expensive or if the weather makes surviving easier. Tents were under road bridges and along the port roads.

Back on campus we explored the different gardens on campus. There was a Japanese garden, a Korean building and a Thailand temple. Every once in while I think I am back in China and not the US with so many Asians living here.  But it definitely makes getting good Chinese food easier. 

In the garden we were bitten by the tiniest Mosquitos I have ever not seen. During my stay, I kept seeing what I thought were big rats scurry by - turns out they are mongoose (mongeese?)  They still look creepy. 

Hawaii - Day 3

It was our Lucky Day!

Pearl Harbor"s Arizona memorial had been closed for more than a week due to a boat/dock accident. We were lucky in that it opened back up today. Then we were extra lucky to get a pair of 9:15 am tickets that had been returned so we didn't have to wait till 11 am to take our Arizona Memorial tour. Of course it was very moving but we were surprised that after 70+ years the oil slick was still present..  We learned that if they choose, the remaining Arizona survivors (8) will be allowed to be interned (their cremated remains) with their shipmates when they pass. 

Drove into town and ate at a Hunan Restaurant. We ordered 4 dishes which was too many - way too much food !

Walked to the Iolani Palace but the palace tour was so expensive  we just looked at the photos of the palace rooms in the books on sale at the ticket office.

Walked across the street for a selfie in front of "The Great Uniter of the Hawaiian Islands" King Kamehameha. (As seen on Hawaii 5-0)

Cynthia did a post office trip - she took so long I thought she was back in China using their incredibly slow and complicated post. 

Back to the university for a quiet evening.

Hawaii - Day 2

Bus day! The stress of driving for more than 4 hours with an unfamiliar car, (took us 15 minutes with the operators guide to turn off the back wipers) in an unfamiliar place, with all the roads names being unpronounceable and starting with a K, made me go on strike and demand a "Take a Bus day". Hawaii's bus system is pretty good but as with all bus systems you end up waiting and walking a lot.

Our first stop of the day was the 12th floor of the neighboring dorm so we could see the view of the valley and Diamond Head.

We then bused to an area close to Diamond Head beach and trekked the rest of the way to watch the surfers, surf and view. Clear blue green water with many areas where the boogie boarders and surfers were catching 3-5 ft sets.

 We had a long wait for the next bus that took us close to our next stop of Wuhan Chinese style restaurant where it took my taste buds back about 4 years. Yum! At the Mei Mei Cafe we had cold noodles with beef,  braised pork, and fried dumplings.

Another Bus to Waikiki beach. First stop was the Apple store so Cynthia could see all the different types of the iWatch. After the tattooed sales person explained prices and the differences to Cynthia, she was "Shanghaied" by other Chinese shoppers to become their on the spot translator. Harley-Davidson store was our next shopping stop. After our shopping we definitely needed some rest and refreshment so we walked to the nearby Royal Hawaiian Hotel, the second oldest hotel on the island. Their Mai Tai Bar provided us with a nice view and really strong 14 dollar drinks.

Bus back to campus, after a short rest Cynthia talked me into walking to Bubbies, a ice cream parlor with Mochi, which is an ice cream wrapped with sticky rice. Different really good. Only drawback was the ridiculously long line and the really long walk to get there. 

Hawaii - day 1

I am staying in one of the University of Hawaii's converted 'no frills' dorm rooms. The rate is fantastic when compared to real tourist hotels but the location and parking are drawbacks. I have to park my little rental about a mile off campus which adds some extra steps for my tired sightseeing feet,

I woke up this morning with a twitchy eye - it might be because I played too many Cookie Jam games on the plane or the 6 hr time difference. But the mattress is good so hopefully the twitch will go away.

Since I have never been fortunate enough to previously visit the "islands". I am making Cynthia do most of the touristy things. Today we went to Leonards Bakery, Dole Plantation, Giovanni's Shrimp Scamp Food Truck, and the Polyonesiam Cultural Center (with buffet). Am I sightseeing or eating my way thru Hawaii?

The "donuts" are very eggy and warm with flavored sugar on the outside.

Everything pineapple..... Ice cream was the best!

Look at the huge chunks off roasted garlic! 

Not sure how it could be called a "Truck" it didn't looked like it had been moved in months.

Delta Upgrade

I got upgraded for the Seattle-Honolulu leg of my trip. A Pleasant Rarity! But it wasn't the bed/private apartment that they show on TV. It consisted of some of the following: A much nicer smelling bathroom probably because only 24 people could use it verses 100's. A larger, chushy-er chair already embellished with those elusive pillows and blankets, as well as a small bottle of water. Another freebie was the delta headphones - but my old ears still couldn't clearly hear the movie with all the normal plane noise.  I really do need to buy some noise canceling ones! The frequently offered variety of drinks ( even Mai Tia's ! ) were served from hand hald trays and not elbow bumping, isle blocking carts. The silver wear was REAL and we even got a KNIFE (a pre-schooler safety type). I can't comment on the quality of the food since they had run out of "first class menu" by the time they had gotten back to me, but the sandwich was good and it included a gelato AND a cookie for dessert. A cloth placemat as well as a cloth napkin added to the "classyness" of the dining. I still wish I could try one of those bed/apartment seats before I stop my long haul adventuring, but I so appreciate the travel gods that pulled my Delta sky miles number for this nice upgrade. Thank you, Thank you! 

Side note - I wish I had taken a photo of the salt and pepper dispenser - so cute.... No paper packets for us! 

Besides doing all the trip planning for us - Cynthia actually welcomed me with a lei upon arrival. 

The Court

When you buy a house, you aught to be able to review some sort of rating on the type of neighbors that come with the biggest purchase in your life. Even though the mortgage is still larger that what we paid for my tiny cottage on our dirt road in 1984, I will always believe that I got THE best deal. "The Court"  goes way beyond the " can I borrow sugar or an egg " category. We have yearly " EVENTS"  - predictable ones like the Christmas Eve party at Jay's, Christmas Dinner crammed in my house, August BD parties, and other holiday events. But, the unusual events are the ones that put this neighborhood's rating at the top of the "great neighbors" chart. Besides "Hot Dog Night" with its accompanying required HDN Anthem, we have an annual "WestMarigold Dog Show" that is very loosely modeled after the infamous Westminster Dog Show. This is our fourth year - it gets funnier every year. Beside a lot of laughter, we even raised 1100 dollars for a local animal shelter. If you are lucky enough to live in a similar caring and engaging neighborhood, make sure you appreciate it. It feels very rare in these fast paced times.