Boulevard of Bumps

More Hawaiian holiday moments No images of the Domestic Surf God surfing were captured in the Hawaiian surf, as I was too busy watching the "grommets" and making sure they didn't get too "scubetubeular" (awesome underwater poundage). DSG throwing himself into helping his "grommets" in the surf. "Smiley Style" "Boss" Bunny!  Surf lingo was common to many of the people we met in Hawaii. Granted we mostly spoke to people in surf shops, at the beach, by the beach, about the beach, leaving me feeling like I was in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, Dude! The surf was sometimes "mushburger" and at other times "flushopolis", but there were days when it was "cooking", but it was never "epic". I was no "Betty" but I managed to balance on a paddle board down a creek with turtles. Smiley hitched a ride on the front a...

This post is a bit like our holiday to Hawaii, a little rushed. With one week too play with we decided to avoid lining up with the hordes of tourists to ponder the tragedies of Pearl Harbour, pretend to run from dinosaurs in the great valley, hula along to the swinging hips at the Polynesian shows or fall for the consumerist trappings of outlet shopping. Instead we went with our usual holiday activities of surfing, swimming and a little souvenir shopping thrown in. We swam with turtles most days, except at Sunset Beach, where the boys surfed within metres of a sun lounging Monk Seal, named White Spot. This is the best photo of a turtle I could manage, eventhough they were in abundance. That dark blob to the left is a turtle watching Bunny and DSG paddle out to the break. Unfortunately a stomach bug caused sleepless nights and more washing than desirable on holidays. I will carry the guilt of chastising Smiley for n...

This week we were fortunate to go birding and swimming in Rock Pools  with Bird Girl. Over the two adventures we spotted two baby Mao's and their Mamma Mao's, Samoa's National Bird, which is unfortunately on the endangered list. This is Uri, he hasn't developed his tail or flying ability yet, but hops around with flair. We learnt to listen for Mamma Mao calling him by his name "Uri" and his replies of short little mao's. The boys loved their forest adventure. Where no tree is just a single tree, but a layering of ferns, orchids, moss and a plethora of plant life. Once the sound recorders were in place we explored the forest further. In search of the Temple of the Octopus, the crumbling ruin of the pagan Octopus God. Who it is told made his way up the streams and waterfalls to make a home in a huge piece of coral in the forest. Next door is a Banyan Tree House. ...