“Traveling is a brutality. It forces you to trust strangers and to lose sight of all that familiar comfort of home and friends. You are constantly off balance. Nothing is yours except the essential things – air, sleep, dreams, the sea, the sky – all things tending towards the eternal or what we imagine of it.” – Cesare Paverse
I can always tell when I've been in one place for too long because I start to ache for something new. It's not just the change of scenery, and it's certainly not because I am board with my surroundings or the people I have come to know. Sometimes all it takes to get my blood flowing is a day in the mountains, or a trip to the city to watch a music group perform. Other times it takes a little more. It takes stepping completely out of my comfort zone into a place where there are no familiar faces and I don't have a clue how things are going to turn out. That is what truly excites me. I love having to figure things out for myself. I love making mistakes. I love watching things fall into place for better or worse. But most of all, I love meeting those people along the way who always seem to be there to help a wandering soul on their journey.
These are some of the people I met my first couple weeks in Kauai who did just that--
In order of appearance...
Ron- The 65 year old car rental man who drove me all over town trying to find me the best deal on a room after I found out the hostel was booked. And then got me the local discount because he knows everyone and has unbelievable connections.
Bob and Tanya-The couple from Oregon I met on the plane and just so happened to be staying at the same hotel as me. They invited me for a steak dinner my first night on their patio overlooking the ocean while we chatted about everything from beads to religion. Before they left to go back home, they gave me all their "leftovers" including a fridge full of food, a tarp, a handmade anklet of pearls and opals, and a beautiful Mexican style beach blanket.
Milan-The Slovakian man who treated me like family from the minute I met him. He rents apartments but didn't have any available and since he couldn't bear seeing me pay for a room until one came available, he set me up to stay with his best friend.
Rado- The best friend who also happens to be Slovakian but speaks very little English. He put me up on his couch for a week in exchange for "English lessons" which consisted of me chatting with him while he fed me delicious food that he cooked when I got home from work, and trying desperately to understand each other with the help of lots of hand gestures and the occasional google translator.
Ida-The beautiful Slovakian woman whose four year old daughter called me "aunty" right off the bat and made me push her around on her tricycle. Ida fed me a delicious homemade soup minutes after we were introduced.
Michael- The homeless man who just got out of prison and has been sleeping on the beach while he tries to get back on his feet. He insisted on grilling us some Nathan's dogs with chili, gave me a precious glass whale he found in a dumpster that he had been saving for "just the right person" and a sweater with an ice cream cone on it--that I love. He had nothing, but was willing to give everything. He and Max share a similar smile :)
I can always tell when I've been in one place for too long because I start to ache for something new. It's not just the change of scenery, and it's certainly not because I am board with my surroundings or the people I have come to know. Sometimes all it takes to get my blood flowing is a day in the mountains, or a trip to the city to watch a music group perform. Other times it takes a little more. It takes stepping completely out of my comfort zone into a place where there are no familiar faces and I don't have a clue how things are going to turn out. That is what truly excites me. I love having to figure things out for myself. I love making mistakes. I love watching things fall into place for better or worse. But most of all, I love meeting those people along the way who always seem to be there to help a wandering soul on their journey.
These are some of the people I met my first couple weeks in Kauai who did just that--
In order of appearance...
Ron- The 65 year old car rental man who drove me all over town trying to find me the best deal on a room after I found out the hostel was booked. And then got me the local discount because he knows everyone and has unbelievable connections.
Bob and Tanya-The couple from Oregon I met on the plane and just so happened to be staying at the same hotel as me. They invited me for a steak dinner my first night on their patio overlooking the ocean while we chatted about everything from beads to religion. Before they left to go back home, they gave me all their "leftovers" including a fridge full of food, a tarp, a handmade anklet of pearls and opals, and a beautiful Mexican style beach blanket.
Milan-The Slovakian man who treated me like family from the minute I met him. He rents apartments but didn't have any available and since he couldn't bear seeing me pay for a room until one came available, he set me up to stay with his best friend.
Rado- The best friend who also happens to be Slovakian but speaks very little English. He put me up on his couch for a week in exchange for "English lessons" which consisted of me chatting with him while he fed me delicious food that he cooked when I got home from work, and trying desperately to understand each other with the help of lots of hand gestures and the occasional google translator.
Ida-The beautiful Slovakian woman whose four year old daughter called me "aunty" right off the bat and made me push her around on her tricycle. Ida fed me a delicious homemade soup minutes after we were introduced.
Michael- The homeless man who just got out of prison and has been sleeping on the beach while he tries to get back on his feet. He insisted on grilling us some Nathan's dogs with chili, gave me a precious glass whale he found in a dumpster that he had been saving for "just the right person" and a sweater with an ice cream cone on it--that I love. He had nothing, but was willing to give everything. He and Max share a similar smile :)
These are just a few of the angels I have come in contact with during my Hawaiian adventure. Max is here with me now, visiting for a couple weeks, but it's people like these that make me believe I will be just fine when he leaves (though I will miss him, of course!).
So. My opinion of Hawaii after being here for 2 weeks: I love the people, I love the views, I love the sun, I love the rain, I love the sunsets, I love my job, I love the food, I love everything! Everything that is except cockroaches. Those may take some getting used to...
So. My opinion of Hawaii after being here for 2 weeks: I love the people, I love the views, I love the sun, I love the rain, I love the sunsets, I love my job, I love the food, I love everything! Everything that is except cockroaches. Those may take some getting used to...
Here are several pictures from my first couple weeks on Kauai. I'd love to write about all the adventures, but have neither the time, nor the energy. So, here ya go. It will at least give you a taste for what you are missing if you decide not to come visit me!
