Today was the 2nd day in Kauai
and effectively the last day of the cruise as tomorrow morning we leave the
ship. Yesterday before the Luau I
signed up for a snorkeling excursion. I
figured that going with a guide may be better.
My dad also wanted to go so I set up 2 of them on my room. (My parents told me they will pay for all the
excursions – except I insisted on paying for the luau upgrade – and we are
responsible for everything else we buy on the ship.) Anyway – I wasn’t sure I got the excursion
because the stupid desk was closed in the middle of the day! It was open in the morning but I wasn’t ready
in the morning because my dad wanted me to wait to see if my brother and SIL
wanted to go --- they didn’t. So I got
to the desk at about 12 or 1 and it was closed --- until 6! But we’d be at the Luau then and not back in
time. So the front desk people had me
fill out a registration card which was then put into the shore excursion
box. I didn’t know that there was room
and I got in until after the Luau.
But I did
get the tickets so off we went. The
first stop was the country club we were at last night for the Luau. Only this time they were picking someone up. It was funny as the driver/guide talked
about the place and mentioned that they had Luau’s there. At which point I mentioned we were just there
last night! There was also a white cat
watching us from a wood pile and the driver mentioned the feral colony
nearby. At which point I mentioned the
grey cat – he was surprised.
Then we
stopped to pick up equipment. They gave
us wetsuits - we were to use them instead of life vests as they were supposed
to be buoyant. When it came down to it…
though I think it helped, I wasn’t completely comfortable in one. After that we went to the snorkeling
location. The current was strong so I
didn’t feel comfortable going on my own.
I ended up hanging on to the surfboard (one of two provided with a guide
for each one) or the rope attached to
the surfboard, the entire time. My
camera immediately said it was out of power – but it kept taking pictures. When I restarted it – it said 3 out of 4 bars
for the battery – but went to no battery right when I put it back into the
water. So I assumed it was just a glitch
and kept taking pictures. Unfortunately
I must have done something wrong putting my mask on as it kept filling with
water. Finally I got the guide to
adjust it and I was able to do well after that. The pros:
I felt more secure, the coral was way more healthy with lots of extra
things living on it; I saw more
fish. The cons: It was harder to take pictures – in fact I
looked at some of my pictures and videos since then, a lot of the pictures are
blurred, and the videos are jerky. This
was because either the guide was paddling us out somewhere – or we were being
carried by the current. There was no
real still area (like when I was in the Caribbean ) to just sit still and watch. Overall I had fun.
At 1:00 I
took my second hula class. The only
reason why was because I was thinking of doing the “graduation” and I wanted a
refresher. We pretty much just practiced
the two dances we were going to do at 3:00.
I relaxed between times and then changed into a flowery shirt. I didn’t really have a dress or good pants
but hey I wanted to have some flowers.
I also wore a couple of the leis I had received earlier in the
week. The white crochet one from the
church and the big nut one from the Luau.
I sat up front in the lounge area (the lounge was called the Marti Gras)
and next to an older lady. She watched
my video camera for me. Before the show
started we were chit chatting a bit – and the subject got to aging in general
and I mentioned I was 40 – and got the customary surprise because I don’t look
40. So she then told me it was MY turn
to guess her age! Now she looked really
old to me, and I didn’t want to offend her.
I was like “maybe I shouldn’t”
and she laughed. I wanted to say
80 something, but was afraid she was one of those people that were in her 60s
and looked older. So I guessed in her
70s. Turns out she was in her early
90s! (I can’t recall if she said 91, 92,
or 93. I told her truthfully that she
didn’t look that old and the most I would have guessed was mid 80s.
So I set it up and taped the
show previous to the “graduation” to try to get an idea of where I’d be on the
stage. At the end of the show, our hula
instructor (who had also performed in the show) talked about the classes and
announced/called us to the stage with a traditional chant. I tried to get in the 2nd row but
ended up in the third. You can still see
me relatively well in the video I made…….
As well as the video the cruise ship made. They cycled that video into the channel 27
programming later so my parents got to see me.
(My dad called my room to tell me I was on TV LOL)
After the
performance we all got to go up to a microphone to tell everyone who we were
and where we were from. Then we got in
line to get our certificates. I also paused
to have my picture taken with the hula instructors. It was taking forever to get to the head of
the line and I was worried about my video camera – and my kindle that I had
left on the chair. The area was
clearing out and I felt uncomfortable leaving them. When I went back to get them however, I
discovered the lady and her friend had stayed and were watching my stuff. I thanked them of course and the lady asked
me – “did you say you were from Colorado ” I was like: “Yes, Westminster
Colorado .” Well she said she was from Colorado too! Longmont . I was shocked. I hadn’t yet met anyone from Colorado on the cruise, though one of our guides earlier
in the week had lived in Colorado
for a time. So I asked her name and she
said Helen! My mom’s name is Helene! (pronounced
the same.) That was so funny.
Afterward I
went and grabbed my pearls to get them set.
I had several white/cream ones and picked two that were the closest to
make into stud earrings. Another I had
set in a sterling silver geco pendent – it looks like he’s running away with
the pearl in his mouth! It’s so
cute. The last thing I did was
something my mother suggested, I had the black and silver pearls set in the
same setting. Unfortunately the only
setting they had for two pearls was a white gold with a diamond pendant (well
they had a ring too but that was way expencive)
that was about 100 more then I wanted to spend. I went ahead anyway.
Then we cruised
along the shoreline of Kauai . I forgot the name of the coast – it’s
supposed to be scenic… and it was, but someone told me you could see waterfalls
and I never did. :( . I was outside on one of the decks for one
side, then they turned the boat around and I watched the other way on my
balcony. I tried to tape it to put in
as a soothing scene video – but my neighbors were really noisy and so I’m not
sure how much I got with just the ocean.
I of course took lots of pictures.
Lastly I
finally got the sunset from the boat. I
ended up standing there on the deck in the wind with a vid camera in one hand
and my DSLR in the other. I stood there
so long though I ended up with a back ache that bothered me into the next
day.
Now for a
side bar. Earlier in the week I
mentioned a guy in a Santa hat being brought up on stage for the variety
show. Well – it turns out he was my next
door neighbor. And he must be a professional
Santa – because after dinner that evening my mom and I went to pick up a few
photos and they had a bunch of photos out on the desk of him and his wife that
they were getting ready for him. And he
was dressed to the 9ns as Santa on vacation!
And his wife was perfect as Mrs. Claus.
They looked so cute together.
Most of the pictures I saw were posed by a spiral staircase that is in
the middle of the ship. Apparently they
dressed up for their embarkation picture as well! The photo lady told me the dancers (they had
hula dancers both male and female pose with everyone as they got on the boat)
were beside themselves and everyone was whispering “that’s Santa”. One of the girls told me she went right up
to him and gave him her list. LOL. She enacted what she said and was so funny
but I don’t think I can accurately reproduce it. Apparently at some point he also showed up
in the pool dressed up and gave out candy canes. I’ll bet he has a great time doing
this. Then, going back to my room I saw
him talking with someone else. I waited
until he was done and then told him I just saw his pictures and thought they
were great!. After that I went back to
my room and packed – boo. Even with my
mom’s help I was up until 12:30
(eek.)
And on to the next day.
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