books, books, books!

David has been reading up a storm on our vacation, mostly but not limited to, Ken Follett books.... In the past 2 weeks he has red no less that seven novels. Two of these Ken Follett books he read before we even left because he bought them too soon before our trip and couldn't wait.

I wish I could read as vorasiously as he does. I bought one novel and am only half way through it. It is terrible. I have been reading another very Good Book though. In my book Paul just dumped Barnabas and took off with Silas! He's off to the Greece .

Reading is what David loves to do on vacation. It is going to be hard for the two of us to get back to the daily 6am grind.

We are somewhere over the Pacific when you read this post...or maybe sitting in the Minniapolis airport...me trying to snooze, David reading his tenth Ken Follett

Pali Pan

Here are a couple of panoramics I stitched together in Photoshop from some photos atop the Pali Hwy look out. It is quite a beautiful view of the East side of the island.

Kailua Beach..a short visit.

After a great time of fellowship with our friends and International Baptist Church this past Sunday morning, David and I headed over the Pali Hwy to Kailua Beach.

Kailua Beach is said to be one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. The sand is so soft and the water a gorgeous turquoise.

It has been a rather windy this week and the "windward' side of the island was particularly windy today. So despite it's beauty, Kailua Beach was blowin' up a storm.

This meant that lying on the beach was not too enjoyable.

However the guys out sailboarding and para surfing were having a great time and we enjoyed watching them (with our sweaters on).

They were pretty impressive.

Hawaiian Turtles are BIG!

Look what I saw off our lanai just after sunrise Monday am.







You can also see the shadow of our condo building on the water. The sun rises directly behind us - which means it sets directly off the lanai. I will post some sunsets.


But this was sun rise at about 7am and this is the first time I think, in my life that I have seen both ends of a rainbow. The left side went right down to the shore and I was looking for that pot of gold, but it wasn't there.

I just love how my wide angle lens captured this image and I think the polarizing filter helped make the ROYGBIV all the more clear. Okay quick test how many of you remember what ROYGBIV is?

After breakfast I drove David off to the golf course to golf 18 holes while I headed for a workout on the beach. I tell ya my calves have never worked so hard. Walking briskly in wet sand for 45 minutes is a great leg strengthener. I was watching for turtles during my whole walk and didn't see one.

But wouldn't you know it? As soon as I got back into the condo and looked out the lanai ...well there he was. A nice big one.

A quick switch to the zoom (wish it were a telephoto) lens and I got him when he came up for a little air.

Try clicking on the photos to get them in larger size. Not as clear as I would like but pretty darn good for 10 stories up! Then again had I had that telephoto.....

I was off to pick David up at the golf course and have lunch with him there. It is such a beautiful spot to eat out on the terrace overlooking the golf course.

We had....gee this is getting kind of embarrassing....want to guess???

You got it!!

It is just so darn tender and delicious.

We spent the afternoon Monday hanging at the pool and going for a dip in the ocean. Oh I wish I could capture that on film. So warm and the waves so much fun... but very salty and after a while those waves keep rocking you back and forth and back and forth and back and forth.....and it is time to get out and try to stand in one spot without keeling over.

I can't imagine being lost at sea. Man, would I do a lot of throwing up!!

It's hot dogs for supper tonight- got to start cleaning out the fridge. So sad....

Time to phone home and tell the kids to clean the place up and order in some warm weather to Saskatoon.

Get on that would someone please?

Ah ...... experience Waikiki

We came for the food....

What?

More fish?

We'll be growing fins soon!

Well, we just can't get enough Ahi tuna. It is one of the big reasons we come to Hawaii.

Along with some fabulous grilled Opah fish. OPAH!! no, wait, that's Greek!

When in Hawaii eat fish - it is fresh, fresh, fresh and it is what the Hawaiians do best.

Trust me - do not order beef on this island.

Okay, the drinks are pretty darn good too and sooo pretty to look at.

No, Murray we didn't order the back scratcher, but almost!

And you and Cherl along with Jan and Larry should have been there with us!!

But the dessert....

It is about 6 spin classes worth of calories....

Do you know how good this tastes on a hot day on Waikiki beach???

I knew you would want to see it from a few different angles.

...and we ate it all!

Besides great food and drink, the surf and the sun, Waikiki is about people watching!

I love to people watch and at Waikiki you see it all - they come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and they are NOT afraid to show you.

Yes Waikiki is all about people - scads of them lining the beach soaking up the sun's rays before they have to head back to shovelling snow and their cold dark homes somewhere up north.

..and there are over a mile of them... all ages, all sizes, all colours, all shapes....just hanging, relaxin, soaking up the sun and doin NOTHIN! Some of them are wearing the craziest things - and they DON"T care. This is THEIR vacation!

This guy is feeling no pain!

They come to get the tan and pay big bucks to say they surfed Waikiki.

The sensible ones take lessons because it just might not be as easy as it looks!

Some of them surf well into retirement.

And then there are the "normal" people who just come for more Ahi tuna!

and volcanic ice cream cake.....

Have you been to Waikiki Beach?

Share your experience with us!