laura bachynski

0 Stephan’s House

January 21, 2020
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

The road to Stephan’s

Just beyond the white fence

View from the screened in porch

Daisy and Lilly

Stephan and Terry

Us at Pueo’s

AFTER A RELAXING MORNING WORKING OUT ( HE IN THE GYM, SHE IN THE POOL) WE HAD A FEW NIBBLIES IN OUR APARTMENT ( CHEESE STICKS, NUTS, GRAPES) AND THEN GOT READY TO HEAD OUT ON ANOTHER ROAD TRIP.

TERRY IS ON 6 BOARDS . ( THIS IS HIS VIEW OF ‘RETIREMENT’ HA HA) . HE MET STEPHAN ON HIS ‘YOUNG LIFE ‘ BOARD AND STEPHAN SPENDS A GOOD AMOUNT OF HIS YEAR LIVING IN HAWAII NOW.

WHEN HE FOUND OUT WE WERE GOING ON VACATION ON THE BIG ISLAND HE INVITED US TO COME OUT AND VISIT HIS HOME ON THE NORTH END OF THE ISLAND.

IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY FOR A DRIVE OUT AND WE FOUND THE HOME HE SHARES WITH HIS WIFE , LAURIE , WITHOUT DIFFICULTY.

WHAT WE DIDN’T EXPECT IS THAT STEPHAN HAS CREATED A LITTLE ‘VILLAGE’ BEHIND HIS WHITE PICKET FENCE. AS YOU PROBABLY ARE AWARE THE MAJORITY OF THE LAND IS MADE UP OF LAVA ROCK SO THAT ANYTIME ONE WANTS TO BUILD UPON IT YOU MUST HAVE THE EQUIVALENT OF A JACK HAMMER TO GET THROUGH IT ENOUGH TO BUILD YOUR FOUNDATION. STEPHAN SHOWED US HIS MAIN HOME, A HOME FOR EACH OF HIS GROWN DAUGHTERS, AND A HOME FOR HIS GROUNDSKEEPER TOO!

HE BUILT THESE PLACES ( MOSTLY) BY HIMSELF , LANDSCAPED , AND DESIGNED IT ALL. HE CONTINUES TO CREATE BEAUTIFUL , FUNCTIONAL SPACES ( HE IS ALMOST COMPLETELY HARNESSING SOLAR ENERGY ) AND HE HAS AN ABOVE GROUND POOL AND DECK TOO. IT WAS SO MUCH FUN TO HAVE A TOUR OF HIS WONDERFUL HOME.

THEY ALSO HAVE PURCHASED LAND AROUND THEIR PROPERTY AND SOMEDAY HOPE TO BUILD HIGH ON A HILL ABOVE THE EXISTING PROPERTY. THE PHOTO ABOVE OF TERRY AND STEPHAN IS ON THAT HILL AND FROM THERE ONE CAN SEE THE MOUNTAINS, OCEAN VIEW, AND EVEN MAUI !

WE ENJOYED SOME GOOD COFFEE ( THEY GROW COFFEE PLANTS AND HAVE SEVERAL FRUIT TREES TOO INCLUDING BANANAS !) AND BETTER CONVERSATION.

LOVED OUR DINNER TONIGHT AT PUEO’S RESTAURANT TOO.

0 Sunset Picnic

January 20, 2020
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

Mass at St. Michael The Archangel

Mi’s for Dinner

Terry after Golf

Cool trees at golf course

Beach entrance

Beautiful beach

Our choice for a picnic dinner location

Trees at sunset

K of C and Terry

Playing our game in the dusk

Laura at sunset

Last of the light

AS WE HEAD INTO OUR LAST WEEK HERE IN KONA , HAWAI’I WE ARE VERY AWARE OF OUR COLD WEATHER BACK HOME IN CANADA. ST. JOHN’S ,NEWFOUNDLAND ,FOR EXAMPLE, HAS BEEN DECLARED UNDER A ‘STATE OF EMERGENCY’ SITUATION AND EVEN OUR CHILDREN IN VANCOUVER HAD SO MUCH SNOW THIS WEEK IN A CITY THAT ALMOST NEVER EXPERIENCES THAT. WE FEEL SO BLESSED TO BE HERE .

YESTERDAY, AFTER ANOTHER WONDERFUL MASS AT OUR LOCAL CHURCH, ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL , WE HAD A DELICIOUS ITALIAN DINNER WHILE SITTING AT AN OUTDOOR TABLE FOR TWO ON A BALCONY OVERLOOKING THE ROARING WAVES OF THE OCEAN. HEAVEN.

TODAY, TERRY ENJOYED HIS 3RD GOLF GAME OF THE VACATION . PERFECT WEATHER FOR IT AND THIS TIME I DROVE HIM SO I COULD HAVE THE CAR FOR THE DAY. WHILE TERRY ENJOYED THE KONA GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB DAY I HAD FUN TRYING TO FIND A NEW BATHING SUIT ( AND TERRY WAS HAPPY I DIDN’T PUT HIM THROUGH THAT EXPERIENCE..HA HA) . AT HOME I TAKE AQUAFIT 3 DAYS A WEEK AND I GO THROUGH THE SUITS PRETTY REGULARLY AS THE CHLORINE DOES A NUMBER ON THEM. I FINALLY FOUND A CUTE, INEXPENSIVE BATHING SUIT AT THE LOCAL TARGET STORE AND AS I WAS HEADING BACK TO THE HOTEL I MADE A WRONG TURN AND ENDED UP AT THIS BEAUTIFUL BEACH.

WE DECIDED THAT TONIGHT WOULD BE THE NIGHT THAT WE WOULD PLAN A SUNSET PICNIC AND THIS LOOKED LIKE THE PERFECT LOCATION AS IT WAS ALSO INCREDIBLY CLOSE TO OUR HOTEL. AFTER TERRY GOT CLEANED UP AFTER GOLF WE DROVE OUT, GRABBED SOME KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN ( NOT THE HEALTHIEST CHOICE BUT SOOOOO GOOD ) AND FOUND THE PERFECT PICNIC TABLE NEAR THE OCEAN. IT REALLY WAS THE MOST WONDERFUL LOCATION TO WATCH THE SUNSET …AND TO PLAY TILE RUMMY UNTIL IT BECAME TOO DARK TO SEE.

I WANT TO REMEMBER THIS PLACE .

0 My Daughter, Emily

January 19, 2020
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

Marvettas

Geoff and Emma

Bad Buddy

Emily as bass player

Em in Vissia

I AM SO PROUD OF OUR DAUGHTER, EMILY BACHYNSKI. ALTHOUGH SHE AND HER BOYFRIEND, GEOFF, HAPPEN TO BE WEARING ‘CHRISTMAS BOWS’ IN THEIR HAIR IN THIS SILLY PHOTO I CAN ASSURE YOU …THIS IS THE LEAST OF THE SILLINESS THAT GETS GOING IN OUR FAMILY… HA HA. OUR WHOLE FAMILY LOVES TO LAUGH AND EMILY IS NO EXCEPTION.

MY ENTIRE FAMILY IS VERY ARTISTIC …STARTING WITH MY PARENTS . HMMMM. I WILL WRITE TO YOU ABOUT THEM IN A LATER BLOG. SAME GOES FOR ALL OF MY SIBLINGS . THIS COULD LEAD TO A LOT OF BLOGGING… HA HA.

I AM BLESSED TO HAVE GROWN UP IN THIS INCREDIBLE FAMILY OF MUSICIANS AND ARTISTS. TERRY AND I WERE ABLE TO PASS DOWN SOME OF THESE GENES TO OUR CHILDREN TOO.

EMILY WAS THE SOUND ENGINEER ON OUR LATEST ALBUMS. SHE OWNS HER OWN STUDIO CALLED ‘ BITTER NORTH‘ AND IS ALSO QUICKLY BECOMING THE ‘GO TO PERSON’ AROUND TOWN ( EDMONTON…AND OTHER CITIES TOO) FOR THE BEST LIVE SOUND ENGINEER FOR YOUR BAND. EMILY WORKS AT THE STATION DOWNTOWN AND DOES REGULAR LIVE SOUND FOR THEM AND OTHER COMPANIES FOR ONE OFF GIGS. ( SHE JUST DID LIVE SOUND FOR THE MASSIVE MEMORIAL EVENT FOR FLIGHT PS752 -THE PLANE THAT WAS RECENTLY SHOT DOWN. SO SAD BUT SO AMAZING THAT EMILY COULD PULL OF THE LARGEST EVENT OF ITS KIND IN CANADA )

I LOVE THE SOUND EMILY PRODUCED FOR ME ON MY ‘ WORDS ON A PAGE‘ ALBUM. SHE PRODUCED TERRY’S ALBUM AS WELL ( HIS GREATEST HITS …HA HA …THE JOKE BEING THIS IS HIS FIRST PROFESSIONAL ALBUM) . SHE HAS AN INCREDIBLE EAR AND IS FANTASTIC AT MIXING THE SOUND YOU NEED. SHE IS SO WELL THOUGHT OF SHE WAS ASKED TO ENGINEER SOUND AT ONE OF THE LARGER STUDIOS IN EDMONTON CALLED ” EDMONTONE ” .

I DON’T KNOW HOW SHE HAS TIME FOR ALL THE MANY OTHER THINGS SHE DOES FOR WORK . EMILY IS SO MUSICAL IN HER OWN RIGHT …SHE PLAYS SEVERAL INSTRUMENTS INCLUDING PIANO, GUITAR, PERCUSSION, BASS AND TRUMPET.

SHE WRITES ALL THE SONGS FOR ONE OF HER 5 BANDS ( THAT’S RIGHT : FIVE BANDS !) , BAD BUDDY , AS WELL AS FOR HER SOLO ACT, ” BITTERS ” . I LOOOOOOVE HER SONGWRITING . IT IS SO COOL. HER BOYFRIEND, GEOFF , IS AN INCREDIBLE DRUMMER IN BAD BUDDY. BAD BUDDY WAS CHOSEN AS ONE OF THE BEST CONCERTS OF 2019 IN THE EDMONTON JOURNAL. THE REVIEWER GAVE THEM A GLOWING REVIEW INCLUDING ….
” THEY’RE SO ELECTRIFYING -COMICAL AND FIERCE, A TOTAL CONFIDENCE MACHINE WITH THRASHY POP SONGS SO INFECTIOUS YOU’RE STILL BANGING YOUR HEAD TO THEM SIX MONTHS LATER….”

SHE ALSO RECENTLY RETURNED HOME FROM A CANADIAN TOUR WITH THE BAND, JOM COMYN . SHE PLAYS BASS IN THAT BAND. THIS WAS THE TOUR WHERE SHE MET UP WITH SPIRITLINE ( US !) WHEN WE WERE ON OUR CROSS CANADA TOUR AND HAPPENED TO BE IN FREDERICTON AT THE VERY SAME TIME !

I HAVE HEARD EM SING IN THE BAND, VISSIA, TOO. THE VISSIA SISTERS ARE ALSO IN BAD BUDDY ! THEY ARE VERY TALENTED GALS.

LASTLY , EMILY IS IN A BAND ( ALSO WITH THE VISSIA GIRLS) CALLED ” THE MARVETTAS” WHICH IS A THROWBACK TO A SORT OF MOTOWN SOUND WITH FANTASTIC HARMONIES AND VINTAGE COSTUMES . ( SEE LINK BELOW FOR PHOTO) . I HAVEN’T HAD A CHANCE TO HEAR THIS ONE YET BUT AM REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DAY.

AS I MENTIONED , I DON’T KNOW HOW EMILY MANAGES TO WORK ALL THESE JOBS INTO HER DAY TO DAY LIFE AND CONSTANTLY TOUR. BUT I DO KNOW THAT SHE IS THE HAPPIEST I HAVE EVER SEEN HER SINCE SHE WAS A LITTLE GIRL. AND THAT MAKE ME VERY HAPPY TOO.

JUST THOUGHT YOU MIGHT LIKE TO ‘MEET’ OUR EMMA. LOOK FOR ANOTHER UPCOMING BLOG ON EMILY’S TWIN, LANA !

2 Hilo, part 2

January 18, 2020
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

Terry near graffiti wall

Interesting tin wall

Laura near wall

Old Palace building

Mural colours

Mural Face

Mural Snake Lady

Rainbow Falls

Tree near Falls

Us at the Falls

Massive tree near falls

Kauman Caves sign

Terry treks down to cave

Chickens in the tree

The ground near cave

Our sunset on the way back

AFTER WINDOW SHOPPING SOME MORE AROUND THE TOWN AND WALKING THE STREETS WHILE ENJOYING THE MURALS AND NICE WEATHER IT WAS TIME TO HEAD BACK TO KONA.

WE DECIDED TO HEAD BACK AROUND 4:30 AFTER SPENDING MOST OF THE DAY IN HILO BUT JUST AS WE STARTED OUR RETURN DRIVE WE NOTICED A SIGN FOR THE RAINBOW FALLS. I HAD NOTICED ON A WEBSITE A FEW DAYS PRIOR THAT THIS WAS A WELL KNOWN DESTINATION FOR TOURISTS AND TERRY SUGGESTED WE MAKE A DETOUR TO CHECK THEM OUT.

WE WERE BOTH SO HAPPY WE DID AS THEY WERE SO VERY CLOSE TO WHERE WE WERE ( ABOUT 5 MINUTES AWAY) AND IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WATERFALLS WE HAVE EVER SEEN. IT WAS HUGE AND SURROUNDED BY LUSH LANDSCAPE THAT REMINDED ME OF SOMETHING ONE MIGHT SEE IN A FAIRYTALE KIND OF MOVIE. ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS !

THEN , WHEN WE THOUGHT WE WERE FINALLY ACTUALLY HEADING BACK TO KONA , TERRY NOTICED A SIGN FOR A CAVE SO WE DOUBLED BACK TO CHECK THAT OUT TOO.

THE STAIRS WERE A BIT TOO STEEP FOR MY MOBILITY ISSUES BUT TERRY MADE HIS WAY DOWN TO CHECK IT OUT . SUPPOSEDLY ONE COULD WALK FOR 18 MILES INSIDE AND THEN HAVE TO TURN AROUND TO RETURN. HE JUST CHECKED OUT THE ENTRANCE AND RETURNED TO ME.

OUR RIDE HOME STARTED OUT MISTY/ FOGGY BUT SOON CLEARED UP TO REVEAL THE MOST WONDERFUL , ALTHOUGH SHORT LIVED SUNSET .

ALL IN ALL , OUR HILO DAY WAS …. PICTURE PERFECT !

0 Hilo , part 1

January 18, 2020
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

Sunglasses tan

Kona Coffee stop

Off to Hilo

My purchases from Troy

Antiques

Colourful buildings

Fun colours

Terry at ” Pineapples ”

Laura with ” Pineapple Pow “

Material purchased from Tim

TERRY AND I TOOK THE DAY TO VISIT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ISLAND : HILO!

IT WAS SUPPOSED TO RAIN ALL AFTERNOON SO WE TOOK TERRY’S GOLF UMBRELLA AND OUR RAINCOATS . WE WERE HAPPILY SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT IT RAINED MOST OF THE DAY IN ( USUALLY) SUNNY KONA AND WE HAD NARY A DROP.

WE LOVE STARTING A DRIVING DAY WITH A KONA COFFEE SO THAT’S WHAT WE DID BEFORE WE HEADED OUT FOR OUR HOUR AND 45 MINUTE CURVY, SWERVY DRIVE. IT DID RAIN ON THE WAY THERE ACTUALLY BUT WHEN WE ARRIVED THE SUN CAME OUT TO OUR DELIGHT.

THERE ARE SOMETHING LIKE 35 DIFFERENT TOPOGRAPHIES IN THE AREA AND WE SAW MOST OF THEM IT SEEMED …FROM LAVA ROCK LAND- TO LUSH HILLS- TO BARREN SCRUBS- AND MUCH MUCH MORE.

THE TOWN OF HILO GETS ABOUT 400 INCHES OF RAIN A YEAR ! MANY OF THE BUILDINGS DATE BACK TO THE 1920’S AND THEY LOOK QUITE RUN DOWN AND AFFECTED BY THE RAINS AS WITNESSED BY THEIR STAINS AND WEAR.

I LOVED THE MURALS THOUGH…SO MANY OF THEM. I WILL INCLUDE A FEW IN PART TWO.

WE STOPPED TO CHECK OUT AN ANTIQUE STORE ACROSS FROM OUR STREET PARKING AND ENDED UP FINDING A COUPLE OF TREASURES AND A NICE CHAT WITH TROY OF “BRYAN BOOTH FINE FURNITURE, ANTIQUES & RESTORATION “.

WE HAD A WONDERFUL COCONUT AND PANKO BATTERED FISH FOR LUNCH FROM TROY’S RECOMMENDATION… ” PINEAPPLES ” RESTAURANT…AND I TALKED TERRY INTO SHARING A ” PINEAPPLE POW ” NON-ALCOHOLIC DRINK WITH ME. IT WAS DELICIOUS AND REFRESHING.

WE MET ‘ TIM ‘ AT A TIBETAN STORE AND ENDED UP PURCHASING THE LOVELY MATERIAL YOU SEE IN THE PHOTO ABOVE. WE GOT A GREAT PRICE FOR IT AND WE WILL USE IT AS A TABLE RUNNER WHEN WE GET HOME.

….TO BE CONTINUED….

0 Artisan Street

January 17, 2020
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

Pretty Church

Post boxes

Old Post Office information

Blue, Yellow, Green

Kona Hotel

Laura in front of ” Marla’s ”

Former Theatre

Driveway

Blue Bottles

Pretty Porch Table

Talented Carver

Our Favourite Game

Incredible Ocean Views

THERE ARE QUITE A FEW ARTISANS IN KONA AND WE REVISITED ONE OF OUR FAVOURITE STREETS THAT SEEMS TO BE THE PLACE TO FIND MANY OF THEM.

HOLUALOA VILLAGE IS A VERY SHORT WALK BUT HOUSES ABOUT 30 DIFFERENT ARTISTS AS WELL AS OTHER SHOPS AND A LOVELY ( BUT SLOOOOOW SERVICE) OUTDOOR RESTAURANT, THE HOLUALOA CAFÉ. ( WE DID HAVE A VERY GOOD SANDWICH LUNCH HERE THOUGH WHEN WE FINALLY GOT OUR FOOD ABOUT AN HOUR AFTER WE ARRIVED……)

LATER, WE TOOK OUR TIME AND WANDERED INTO EACH SHOP , SPEAKING WITH MANY ARTISTS , AND PURCHASING A FEW TREASURES HERE AND THERE. BEING ARTISTS OURSELVES IT IS FUN TO SEE WHAT OTHER FOLKS ARE CREATING.

MY FAVOURITE ARTIST OF THE DAY WAS A LADY NAMED KAREN WHO CARVES LARGE GOURDS AND TURNS THEM INTO GORGEOUS SCULPTURES/VASES. SHE TOLD US THAT SHE GROWS THE GOURDS, SCRAPES OUT THE MIDDLE, AND CARVES A RELIEF ON THE OUTSIDE . WE SAW MANY WONDERFUL DESIGNS FROM HULA GIRLS TO FLOWERS TO CHECKER BOARD PATTERNS….. AND SO MANY MORE. REALLY BEAUTIFUL WORK. THEN SHE FILLS THE GOURD WITH LIQUID COFFEE AND LETS THE ‘DYE’ SET IN FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS. AFTER THIS TIME PERIOD SHE EMPTIES THE GOURD AND SCRUBS OFF THE OUTSIDE CARVING TO REVEAL A SMOOTH, CHOCOLATE BROWN IMAGE. THEY ARE VERY EXPENSIVE ( ABOUT $4OO.) BUT WORTH IT FOR THE WORK INVOLVED AND THE BEAUTY. ( WE DID NOT BUY ONE AS WE DID NOT WANT TO FIGURE OUT SHIPPING , ETC. BUT NEVER SAY NEVER….)

I ALSO HAD FUN JUST TAKING SOME PHOTOS OF THINGS IN THE VILLAGE THAT CAUGHT MY EYE.

TERRY AND I LOVE PLAYING TILE RUMMY AND WE FOUND A WONDERFUL SPOT BACK AT OUR HOTEL, AFTER OUR DAY IN THE VILLAGE, TO PLAY IN THE SHADE WITH A WONDERFUL LITTLE BREEZE .

ANOTHER GREAT DAY!

2 Octopus Farm

January 16, 2020
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

The Kona Octopus Farm !

The Life Cycle

All of the Octopus Enclosures

The Tour Guide Speech

Ready to head over

Hand to arm !

Touching

Changing Colour

Male vrs. Female

Ready to mate

Reaching out

TODAY WE HAD A REALLY UNIQUE EXPERIENCE : WE WENT TO THE KONA OCTOPUS FARM.

NOW I HAVE BEEN TO QUITE A FEW FARMS BUT THIS WAS UNLIKE ANYTHING I HAVE EXPERIENCED. IT TOOK US ABOUT A HALF AN HOUR TO DRIVE OVER TO THIS SCIENTIFIC OCEAN-LIFE SITE AND THERE WERE ABOUT 30 OF US BOOKED FOR THE TOUR.

OUR GUIDE SPOKE A LITTLE TOO FAST WITH HIS INITIAL SPEECH BUT HE WAS OBVIOUSLY VERY KNOWLEDGABLE. ( REMINDS ME OF A MATH TEACHER I HAD IN HIGH SCHOOL …. A VERY INTELLIGENT MAN WHO WAS A BETTER MATHEMATICIAN THAN A TEACHER ) .

SOON WE WERE BROUGHT TO ABOUT 16 ‘BINS’ WHICH EACH HELD ONE OCTOPUS OF MEDIUM SIZE. SOME WERE MALE AND SOME FEMALE AND ALL OF THEM DIFFERENT COLOURS…SOME CHANGING COLOURS RIGHT BEFORE OUR EYES . I DIDN’T KNOW THEY COULD DO THAT ! WE ALSO FOUND OUT MANY INTERESTING FACTS . FOR EXAMPLE , THEY EACH HAVE THIS TUBE STICKING OUT OF THEIR HEADS WHICH CAN SPRAY ( US !) OR THEIR INK TO MASK THEMSELVES FROM THEIR ENEMIES. ( I KNEW ABOUT THE INK BUT NOT THE TUBE AND ITS LOCATION)

THEY HAVE THESE VERY SMALL BEAK-LIKE PINCERS IN THE MIDDLE OF THEIR LEGS WHICH CAN CRUSH SHELLS OF LOBSTER AND CRAB SO THEY CAN INJECT THEM WITH THEIR SALIVA , ANESTHETIZE THEIR PREY , AND SUCK OUT THEIR MEAT TO EAT IT. UNBELIEVABLY , THESE OCTOPI CAN ACTUALLY SQUEEZE THROUGH OPENINGS AS SMALL AS A TINY BIRD BEAK SIZE TOO.

THE TOUR GUIDE TOLD US THAT THEY SURROUND THE BINS WITH ASTROTURF BECAUSE THE OCTOPI DO NOT LIKE THE FEEL OF IT IF THEY SHOULD WANT TO ESCAPE. ( IF THEY DO ESCAPE THEY ONLY HAVE A COUPLE OF MINUTES BEFORE THEY DIE OUT OF THE WATER).

THE TOURS PAY FOR 100 % OF THE RESEARCHERS’ COSTS . THEY STUDY EVERYTHING ABOUT THE OCTOPI FROM THEIR EATING TO THEIR MATING HABITS.

WE WERE TAUGHT HOW TO GENTLY PUT OUR HANDS IN THE TOP OF THE WATER AND WIGGLE OUR FINGERS AROUND SO THAT THE OCTOPUS MIGHT REACH OUT AND GRAB OUR HANDS. I DIDN’T THINK I WOULD HAVE THE GUTS TO DO THIS AS THERE WAS THE POSSIBILITY OF THEM TUGGING US TOO HARD DOWN INTO THE BIN OR MY FEAR OF HOW WEIRD IT WOULD FEEL TO TOUCH THE SUCKERS ON THEIR TENTACLES.

BUT I DID FINALLY TRY IT ( YAY !) AND THE SUCKERS WERE VERY SOFT BUT THE ARMS WRAPPING AROUND MY HAND WERE VERY STRONG. MAN ! WE WERE TOLD NOT TO JERK OUR HANDS OUT BUT TO PULL THE SUCKERS OFF OF OUR HANDS LIKE A BANANA PEEL.

WE ALSO GOT A CHANCE TO FEED THEM . THIS WAS ALSO A BIT UNNERVING FOR ME AS THEY NOT ONLY WRAPPED AROUND OUR HANDS BUT THEY PULLED THE CRAB BITS OUT OF OUR HANDS. A BIT CREEPY BUT ALSO COOL .

I CAN RECOMMEND THIS EXPERIENCE TO YOU IF YOU ARE EVER IN THE AREA . IT WAS REALLY FUN.

0 Market Day

January 13, 2020
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

ANOTHER GREAT DAY IN KONA ! EVEN THOUGH WE EXPERIENCED ANOTHER RAINY DAY ( I CAN’T REMEMBER EVER HAVING RAIN HERE IN ALL THE YEARS WE’VE BEEN COMING ….. CLIMATE CHANGE ?) IT WAS WARM AND A PRETTY GENTLE RAIN.

I THOUGHT WE MIGHT WALK DOWN TO THE MARKET NEAR OUR CHURCH . IT IS A FAIRLY SHORT WALK AND THE RAIN CERTAINLY DIDN’T KEEP THE GENERAL POPULATION INDOORS . THE OUTDOOR MARKET WAS BUSTLING . I STARTED OFF WEARING MY RAINCOAT BUT THE HUMIDITY WAS BRUTAL THAT I CHOOSE TO GET WET RATHER THAN BE WET….FROM SWEAT… HA HA.

AFTER A BIT OF TOURISTY SHOPPING THERE WE STOPPED AT A NEARBY COFFEE SHOP FOR MY FAVOURITE COFFEE…APTLY NAMED ” KONA COFFEE “. WE HAD A NICE VISIT WITH A LADY NEXT TO US AND WE NOTICED THE GIANT SNAILS PICTURED ABOVE. THEY WERE ABOUT 2 1/2 TO 3 INCHES LONG !

SOON IT WAS TIME TO WALK BACK TO GET READY FOR MASS AT ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL CHURCH. I WAS SURPRISED THEY STILL HAD ALL OF THEIR CHRISTMAS DECOR UP. I WAS ALSO SURPRISED TO SEE A MEXICAN LOOKING DECORATED TREE COMPLETE WITH A SOMBRERO TOPPER AND DAY OF THE DEAD SKULLS.

I WAS AGAIN SURPRISED TO SEE A ROOSTER WALKING AROUND THE SAFEWAY PARKING LOT WHEN WE DID OUR FEW GROCERIES AFTER MASS. YOU KNOW YOU’RE IN HAWAII WHEN…..

WE CAPPED OFF THE DAY BY ORDERING A FRESH PIZZA AND WATCHING THE OUTDOOR VOLLEYBALL AGAIN. SUCH FUN AND WE EVEN GAVE AWAY THE LAST FEW SLICES TO A FAMILY OF 3 WHO SAID, ” BOY , THAT SURE SMELLS GOOD …. ”

0 Paleaku Botanical Gardens

January 11, 2020
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

A gorgeous day!

Walking through…

A very ‘zen’ library

Incredible Sand Art

Talking Harriet

Birdbath

Yellow Hibiscus

Pink Hibiscus

Pink/Peach Hibiscus

Interesting Blue Flower

An orchid

Terry under giant tree

Grapefruit tree

Incredible root system

Weird fruit

Labrinth

Tall beauty everywhere

Wee Lizards

Tonight’s Sunset

TODAY WE HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE OF CHANGING OUR ORIGINAL PLANS TO GO TO HILO AND INSTEAD CHOOSING TO STAY ON THE KONA SIDE TO EXPERIENCE THE WONDERFUL GARDENS AT PALEAKU. (WE HEARD THAT THE CHANCE OF RAIN WAS LIKE 90% WITH POSSIBILITIES OF FLASH FLOODING IN HILO. YIKES !)

OUR DAY TURNED OUT TO BE VERY HOT ( 86 DEGREES) AND VERY SUNNY. ALL THE BETTER TO ENJOY THE MANY SHADY CORNERS IN OUR INCREDIBLE BOTANICAL GARDEN EXPERIENCE.

ONE HAS TO WALK THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP ( OF COURSE !) TO GET TO THE GARDENS BUT EVEN THIS WAS A BEAUTIFUL VISION OF LOVELY THINGS TO PURCHASE AND SOFT COLOURS ON THE WALLS TO FLATTER THEM.

THE ENTIRE GROUNDS ARE A TRIBUTE TO THE FLORA AND FAUNA OF THE AREA BUT ALSO TO MANY WORLD RELIGIONS. THERE WERE STATUARY AND SMALL GARDENS AT EVERY TURN DEDICATED TO EVERYTHING FROM CATHOLICISM TO HINDUISM TO TAOIST TO ….WELL …YOU GET THE IDEA.

WE WERE SO HIGH UP THAT THE OCEAN VIEW WAS INCREDIBLE AND THERE WERE BENCHES AT REGULAR INTERVALS TO REST AND ENJOY THE MANY VIEWS.

ONE GARDEN REPRESENTED OUR SOLAR SYSTEM ! THIS WAS THE GARDEN THAT HAD THE GORGEOUS HIBISCUS FLOWERS.

WE MET A PRETTY TALKING PARROT, ” HARRY ” , AND THERE WERE DELICATE YELLOW BIRDS ON THE GRASS THAT CERTAINLY SEEMED USED TO GUESTS WANDERING NEAR.

WE SPENT A COUPLE OF HOURS AT THE GARDENS AND THEN HAD A YUMMY PANINI LUNCH IN THE CAPTAIN COOK AREA. WHEN WE NEARED OUR HOTEL WE ENTERED A VERY RAINY ZONE. NOT SURE HOW LONG THEY EXPERIENCED THE WET WEATHER BUT WE CERTAINLY HAD ‘THE BEST OF THE DAY’ WHERE WE WERE .

THE RAIN STOPPED VERY SHORTLY AFTER OUR ARRIVAL AND WE HAD A TON OF FUN SITTING IN THE OUTDOOR CAFÉ PLAYING TILE RUMMY. THE SUNSET CAPPED OFF A BEAUTIFUL VACATION DAY. WE HEARD IT IS -35 BACK HOME. W0AH.

0 Rainy Day

January 9, 2020
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

RedHatSociety

Sunny cruise ship arrival

Cruise ship departure

Rainy time for a bit

Sunny soon enough

Relaxing on the balcony

” No Juan Can ” ha ha

Our view during dinner

SOMETIMES RAIN GIVES ONE AN EXCUSE TO REST. NO EXCURSIONS. NO BUSY-NESS. JUST A CHANCE TO READ AND REST AND THIS WAS MY DAY TODAY.

ALTHOUGH I MUST SAY THAT TERRY PLAYED GOLF IN THE RAIN TODAY. HA HA.

BUT FOR ME I HAD JUST FINISHED MY POOL WORKOUT WHEN THE RAIN STARTED TO PELT THE AREA SO I GOT OUT, GRABBED MY BACKPACK, GOT INTO THE OPEN SHELTER AND WARMED UP WITH A COFFEE .

I WASN’T SURE HOW LONG THE RAIN WOULD LAST SO I RETURNED TO OUR ROOM, CLEANED UP AND DRESSED AND IT WAS LOVELY TO RELAX ON OUR BALCONY WITH A GOOD BOOK .

FEELING VERY THANKFUL.

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