Today we are in Kauai – the
garden island. I’ve been waking up
pretty early- 5 to 6, so today I decided to get up and take pictures of the
sunrise because I kept missing the sunsets!
I just put on a basic T that I brought as an extra and for gym (which I
never did because I exercised so much on the other shore excursions.) and a
general pair of shorts. Afterwards, I
went to one of the side restaurants for breakfast. I was tired of the buffet’s claim of “crispy
bacon” not being very crisp. Crisp
bacon is SNAPABLE. If you bend it it
should snap in half, not flex. So I
ordered crisp snapable bacon, and got it.
Mmmmmmmmm.
My parents
and I went ashore to just generally walk around and shop. My mom found a chocolate pearl pendant that
was on sale almost 50% off – it matched the ring she had bought on the boat
earlier in the week. What was
interesting is they had the same ring in the shop- for twice as much. I’ll bet they had the same pendent on the
ship – for more. These were different
store chains with similar jewelry lines and they just had different sales. My mom didn’t like the rose gold setting, so
the lady pulled out a (I think) yellow gold setting. The pearl in the setting was much larger
then the pearls in the other settings.
It was just random and the sales girl was just as surprised as we were. She said they just get the pearls separate
and set whatever they are given. I
bought some sun catchers that you put in the window – except these were made of
lightweight dyed shells instead of glass – so they will not break. (Unless you step on them.) I also bought a T-shirt. Oh and of course did my pearl. We took a little walk by the beach and then
went back.
All week I
was trying to get back to the ship in time to do a hula dancing class. This time I finally made it – only to
discover that it was an ongoing class with a “graduation” at 3:00 pm the next
day! She did start from the beginning
with basic steps for new comers, but spent most of the time explaining the
“finished dances” we were going to do.
It was fun, though when I first started my hip didn’t like it and it
ached a bit.
Today was
the Luau. I missed the sunset again
because we were at a country club like place and not on the beach. It was ok.
This still isn’t what I pictured a Luau to be. I guess I picture it as somewhat of a beach
party. In fiction, when characters go
to a luau – they participate – and it becomes just like a party where you
mingle with people. Granted, here I
could have gone up on stage – they invited people up as part of a “pre-show” to
show what they learned in the Hula classes.
It was just a massive group so it wasn’t like single people or anything,
but I still felt uncomfortable doing it at the time, having only had one
class. So I looked at the booths they
had set up outside the pavilion. There
was only one booth were someone was making something. The rest were stuff like spices or
jewelry. I was disappointed, I was
hoping for handmade Hawaiian crafts.
During an early trip to Hawaii we had stopped by some booths at a
lookout point and I bought a nice made of shell cross necklace and I think
that’s where I got my malleable hat that looks like it’s made of woven straw or
other plant material (I think it says it’s paper?) it’s treated so it doesn’t fall apart. I was hoping for something like that at the
Luau. The food was served buffet style and…
weird. I mean there was macaroni salad
and chow main! I guess it was a sample
of the different foods modern Hawaiians eat.
BUT the other Luau (the one my parents originally signed up for) was
supposed to have a bunch of different dishes based on each island and served to
you. That would have been interesting –
try different foods.
This Luau I
think was known mostly for the entertainment (that and it was sponsored by the
ship) and the entertainment/show WAS
good. They told a story about some of
the first people to sale to Hawaii . The chief left his daughter behind (and also
took with him her boyfriend, to her dismay).
However, once he and his men had settled on the islands, he sent for his
daughter. It was a nice little story
and the fire dancers were amazing.
Remember earlier how I said I got the upgrade to be able to vid the
stage? Well the table we were at was on
the opposite part of the room then the table that was indicated to me on the
seating chart by the shore excursion guy.
I think he was the main manager because I saw him the next day and he
asked about it. Anyway- he tried to put
me by a main wide aisle so I could set up my camcorder and not be in anyone’s
way. Except the ACTORS used that aisle. So I couldn’t do that. One of the hosts of the Luau suggested the
table – but that would have blocked people’s view. So I ended up holding the camcorder in my
left hand during most of the show, and sneaking pictures with my fancy camera
(and adjusting it!) on the fly. I’ve
only been able to look at a few pictures.
One I really like – I managed to capture one of the dancers as he is
about to do a fire-eating bit and you can see the flame in his mouth!
On a side
note, prior to the Luau getting started, I spotted a little grey kitty. This cat was totally ignoring EVERYTHING
around him (her?). He first washed
himself, then settled down to watch something in a tree. A train came in (they had a train tour of
something for extra – we didn’t go on it.)
and he didn’t so much as flinch.
So I thought I’d see if I could pet him. I could- and he was the most unresponsive
cat I’ve ever seen. Just let me pet him
without any reaction – AT ALL.
(laughs). No hissing and no
purring, no turning his head – nothing.
But still I got my kitty fix. :)
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