Maui for real

November 22:
This should have been posted two weeks ago but I forgot that I hadn't finished it. I have been so busy that I have not made blogging a priority at all.

November 4:
I've got 6 minutes to try to tell you about the most amazing place I've ever been. I went on a hike this weekend with some new acquaintences that will hopefully turn into friends by the end of this 3 month adventure. It was to a bamboo forest part way up the Hana road (but not the really popular one that everyone goes to near the 7 Sacred Pools). This one did not have a sign. It was a little hole in the bamboo at the side of the road that you could duck into.

I find bamboo forests so peaceful. They are silent and cool and shady. It feels like it must be getting dark outside, even on a sunny day. Part of the hike also involved walking across rocks and through streambeds which was tricky in it's own way.

We had to climb some small rockfaces using ropes and helping* each other get over the top.

After walking for 45/50 minutes we reached the end of the "trail". There was a little channel of water leading around a corner and even though I did not have my bathing suit on (a mistake I will not repeat again - when hiking in Maui, always wear a bathing suit under your clothes**) I jumped fully clothed into the water because I realised that this was an experience that I would regret missing if I did not.

As we rounded the corner my jaw dropped in awe. I was surrounded by 360 degrees of 50-70 foot high absolutely lush, vegetation-covered cliffs. A small waterfall was falling ahead and to the side water was dripping from an overhang in such a way as to form raindrops. I had to tread water for awhile under the overhang and get "rained" on because it was so lovely. We climbed up the rocks beside the waterfall and arrived at another pool that had horse-shoe shaped vegetation-covered cliffs and an even bigger waterfall.The beautiful paradise picture I had had in my head of what Maui should be was realised in that moment. On the way back to the lower pool we saved some time climbing down by simply jumping the twelve feet into the water.

I am in love with this place.

* Apparently I had 2 dirty handprints right on my rear end because the ropes swung out while I was trying to climb and some of the spotters were trying to keep me steady. I have no idea whose handprints they were. Seems kind of disreputable to not even know whose handprints are on one's own bottom.

** Except possibly when hiking up the volcano Haleakala. Don't know how many waterfalls and pools I will find up there. But even though I won't wear my suit, I will probably through it into my bag. Just in case.

Lava fields and ukuleles

Well, I've been busy. Awesomely busy. Cleaning a beautiful training facility, boogie boarding at the beach, and enjoying paradise busy. I've also been watering all the indoor plants. Most of us get assigned extra jobs and mine is that of the Plant Girl. It's a pretty sweet deal because I get to take all of Wednesday morning to get the watering done (and fight the mealybug fight). While doing so, I'm on my own schedule and I can visit with anyone I run into. Plus I'm in all the nicest areas of the building. When I finally replace my camera (which had a tragic and early death last week) I will show you pictures of the atriums. They are awesome and feel quite peaceful. There is a little hole in the roof so that when it rains (which isn't often actually. I didn't realise Kihei is a desert) it rains right inside the building. It's like Hogwarts' enchanted ceiling!!!! Anyway, Wednesday is our half day so it pretty much feels like an entire day off when the only work I do is hang out with plants and walk around. Pretty much great.

Two Wednesday's ago I mentioned I went on a hike in La Perouse Bay through some lava fields out to a light becon. I did have some picture taking potential and I'd like to share with you a few of my favourite shots.

This is a view of the "foothills" of Haleakala which is the volcano that caused all the lava seen here.

The lava flowed all the way into the ocean and makes for a stunning costal walk.

We heard rumors of black billygoats living in the area and were thrilled to witness the truth in that tale! I didn't get any shots of the baby goats but they were adorable. I was surprised how loud the goats were. Their noise is what originally alerted us to their presence.

Views through trees are always favourites of mine.

After we had hiked out to the becon, we stopped by Big Beach. It's a beautiful beach but with powerful waves. It was fairly calm this day...

And I saw my first mongoose in the parking lot (actually there are two hiding in the grass). I have vague memories of a book. Rikki Ticky or something like that? I believe it involves a mongoose and a cobra.

I went to Big Beach again this past Wednesday. Not so calm. In fact, the beaches just down the road were red flagged. If we'd known, I don't think we would have gone in the water. But we didn't know and we did go in the water. And I honestly think that the waves at times were 6 feet high. It's a fairly dangerous beach because the waves break right at the shore. If you get caught in the break it can be nasty. I was there with a couple of ladies and one smart one sat on the sand and refused to enter the water. The other and myself went running in and paid for it. We both have a couple new bruises, several sore spots and I pulled a muscle that I didn't even know I had. Seems to be healing quite nicely though so I might even go on a hike tomorrow through a bamboo forest (during which I am sure I will be devestated that I have not yet replaced my poor dead camera).

Anyway, that's about all I have time for right now. Except that I wanted to post this video of Manoa DNA, a father and sons singing group that played at the ukulele festival I went to a couple of weeks ago.


There is another video I've been trying to post but have had no luck. It is of a female performer called Paula Fuga and she was amazingly fantastic and if I'd had enough cash I would have totally bought her cd. But since I only had $5, I bought some apple bananas instead which I very much enjoyed for the rest of the week in my cereal. I will keep attempting to upload her video because she's not on iTunes and really was quite awesome.

I'll have to post again soon to tell you about the Xterra World Championships, the musical I went to tonight (Urinetown) and the coolest sushi restaurant ever. And I don't even like sushi. I'll also try to borrow a camera to give you a tour of Haggai.

I am working on a post that involves uploading video (and it takes FOREVER) so please check back soon! But right now, I have to go to go to a pool party and then to a Halloween party.

Two parties in one night. This is so not what I'm used to.

What is wrong with this picture?

So, it's been a week and a day and it's awesome.

I have no complaints (other than that my camera broke and until I can replace it I am missing such amazing pictures!! Sigh).

The other volunteers, though quite a bit older, are so nice. I really like every one of them. The cleaning is repetitive and sometimes works up a sweat (especially when we are cleaning the lanai on the sunny side of the building) but it's such a satisfying feeling to leave a room smelling clean and fresh and know at the end of the day that you worked hard. It is so clean here. I cannot make you understand unless you see it. Carpets in main areas get vacuumed everday at least once (3 times in the dining area). Dusting in main areas - everyday. Telphone recievers, door handles, chair armrests - disinfected everyday. Rooms get cleaned at least 2 or 3 times a week (and these people are not in their rooms much and tend to make their own beds). I have yet to run a vacuum over an area that looked dirty or that makes the noise a vacuum makes when it is sucking up a lot of dirt (I actually like that noise).

You know how at hotels it's always sketchy to sit on the top of the bed because you never know how often it's cleaned? I can tell you that here, it is cleaned often. Every blanket, pillow protector (layer UNDER pillowcase), mattress cover (UNDER bottom sheet) and quilt is cleaned after every participant or volunteer leaves. Sheets and pillowcases, at least once a week. And any clean laundry in the laundry room is covered with a sheet so that no speck of dust will even think about landing on it. Today I had to "dust" all of the light fixtures in the dining hall. Not a single one of them was dusty because it had probably been done within the past 2 days. If someone gets sick here, it is not due to poor sanitation. I think this would be the only place I have ever set foot on that would welcome a health inspector. In fact, they'd probably be like, "Health Inspector, bring it on!" Anyway, it is a very nice atmosphere to be in. And I am well on my way to learning how to perfectly make a bed (which was one of my many goals).

The other day, after our hike through the lava field out to a lighthouse (which turned out to be a light beacon), we stopped by a beautiful beach called Big Beach. Not to be confused with Little Beach. Which is a nude beach. Anyway. The whitest of sand. The kind with no rocks or twigs in it. The kind that the surf churns up because it is so light. But instead of the sand mixing with the wave and looking murky, the blue of the water and the white of the sand are two distinct colours. Amazing. Perfect temperature with just enough of a breeze to play with your hair and freshen the air.

We were making our way down the beach and a lady was walking in the opposite direction. As she approached us she earnestly asked, "What's wrong with this picture?" After a moment of us, I'm sure, shooting her puzzled looks she replied with a heartfelt, "Nothing."

Nothing.

I am here!

The first sunset

My little balcony (called a Lanai)

My view of the pool

The first hike was to this place. Trust me, no tourist would be able to get here in a rental car. We had to go through a sugar cane field. So fun.

More stories later. Gotta run or I'll miss my bus. I'm going to the 3rd annual Ukelele Festival in Kahului.

Cheers!

Travel plans

Whew, I've made so many decisions since that last post so here's a little update. I did go to the adventure race. Here are a couple of pictures of me trying out the zipline before the competitors arrived.




I have also started working at an outdoor clothing/gear store and it is so fun. Last night we had a product knowledge meeting with a particular vendor and instead of just sitting around talking about the product, we were all lent a pair of their top trail running shoes and we went for a run to test them out. Honestly, that is so cool.

And in 9 days, I leave for Maui. For 3 months. I will be volunteering at the Haggai Institute. And enjoying the weather. And running on the beach. And, hopefully, learning to surf. I am really excited to go. I will be living at the institute and cleaning to earn my keep. My goal is to be able to flip a coin on a newly-made bed by the end of my time there.

Anyway, I will keep you posted. And I will try to upload pictures once in awhile since for the first time ever, I will be travelling with my laptop. Do you still have to open them up and turn them on while going through security at the airport?

Decisions decisions

I hate making decisions.

I like doing things though.

And it really does seem that for a person to do things, they first have to make a decision. So I am trying to make one. Well, actually two. But one is really important and affects my life significantly. Right now, I'll tell you about the other.

So, I am trying to make some new friends. Not becuase I don't like the friends I currently have, but because my closest friends have all recently moved away (or already lived far away) and I find I'm left with a vacancy in my social calendar that re-runs of Three's Company, John and Kate Plus 8, and Star Trek Voyager just aren't filling. So as I said, I want to make some new ones with outdoors-y interests and active lifestyles. And I heard about this really cool adventure race in southern Saskatchewan where teams have to run, bike, swim, canoe, climb, etc. I'm not quite experienced enough to run such a thing but I figured it would be perfect to volunteer at it. I'd meet some new active people and get out of town for a weekend. But of course now that it's approaching I'm terrified that I am going somewhere knowing absolutely NO ONE else. It will either be awesome, or very lonely. Which is why I really want to go to the planning meeting tonight. The meeting could be super cool and I could sit around after and get to know all the people and find someone to car pool with and have a group of almost-friends before I even start! But I also have to be in Calgary tomorrow by 11:00 am. And it's a 6 hour drive to the city limits.

So. Do I skip the meeting and go to this adventure race next week not having met anyone but get to Calgary tonight at a reasonable hour?

Or do I get up early tomorrow (and by early I mean 4:00 am) so I can do both?

Or, do I got part way tonight (to my parents' house) and then still get up early (although only 5:30 instead of 4:00) and finish the drive?

I already decided I can't cancel Calgary so I'd previously narrowed the options down by one. And by simple procrastination I can not do any packing all day so that at 7:00 pm it only makes sense to go to the meeting since I am still in the city. Therefore, I think that I'm going to go with one of the final two options! And I would like to see my parents and borrow their cell phone for the weekend, so I think I will go part way tonight. Wow, I didn't actually expect to make my decision while typing. This has been very productive.