Hawai'i

I went to Hawai'i for work a couple of weeks ago. For me, it was a very last minute trip due to a change in staffing. This made it far more exciting, nothing like having to learn entire chapters of Code on the plane. I have never been to Hawai'i (or North America for that matter) so it was pretty interesting. Of course I had to go to all the shops - the fact they are open til 9pm every night made that easy. Wal-Mart, Macy's, Sears, Neiman Marcus... well, I have to say that it didn't bring about any epiphanies. In fact, living on a small island has made me very averse to crowds, traffic lights and shopping malls. The Ala Moana mall is so big I got lost more than once. I felt like encino man, or the characters from Bill and Teds' excellent adventure.... I can't say it was a good thing, although it probably had more to do with having a developing world salary and a travel allowance that barely covered the cost of accomodation. Mind you, I was over it AFTER I spent all my money and filled up a whole suitcase with things you can't get on Pohnpei, so I am a total hypocrite.

We also had meetings on the Big Island, so I got to go to Kona and Hilo. We were there on the weekend, so on Saturday we went to see the Volcano park. I love volcanoes. They are so cool. Half the park was closed when we were there due to dangerous level of noxious gas, but we still managaed to see the 'park highlights'.

Big crater. In the eighties, this was full of molten lava. Cool, eh?


On Hawai'ian culture, the volcano is a goddess.


With the floor leader


oooh, sulphur dioxide....


I also managed to find time to climb up the Diamond head crater in Honolulu. I'm not a fan of waikiki at all, it's like the gold coast with a tiny yukky beach, but the walk to the crater got better and better as I went along. The houses and flora reminded me a bit of Sydney's eastern suburbs...



There are amazing fig trees all over... I love them


The nicest photo I could take of waikiki - and this is the "Hilton Lagoon"!!

Ahnd Atoll Camping trip

Last weekend, Ben and I and many of our friends went camping on Ahnd Atoll (see some other post from some time ago for the location details......)

It was lots of fun - Friday was a glorious day and the boat ride out was smooth, the water inviting and the sun not too strong.

I think I'll just let the pictures speak for themselves..... we have a new camera to replace the broken one. Whilst I still mourn the loss of the old one, this camera is possibly the coolest thing ever invented. Yep, even over sliced bread. It is 10 mega pixel, waterproof to 10 metres, freeze proof, drop proof (from 6"), sand proof and even fully Joanna proof (by this I mean that it can take up to 350 photos in one day on one battery). And it has a wide angle lens and panormama stitching and so many others things I never knew I needed but now cannot possibly be expected to live without.

The boat trip back was a little different - I loved every minute of it, leading me to believe that I was, in fact, destined to be a fisherman. Others on the boat did not enjoy the swell or crashing waves quite so much...........

Look! It takes pictures underwater! No case required!


And it takes pictures from in the water to out of the water!


Andit takes pictures of men with beer!
















If you are wondering where I was for all the fun in the sun photos, well, I had a little accident. Due to unforseen and unavoidable circumstances, I found myself smashing into a head of coral at very high speed. And staying there to rub my legs on it for a while. Not great at the best of times, particulary not great when it happens to be a head of fire coral. So named for the firey burning pain it inflicts on one who touches it. Anyway, I'm on anti-biotics and slathering cortisone cream on the wounds, so now they look far less impressive - more like Ben has taken to beating me savagely.







Did I mention this camera takes photos UNDERWATER?!?!!

Return to Oz

In mid-December 2007, Joey and I went for a surprise (for us as well) visit to Australia. Perfect timing, as it was Jo's dad's X0th, and of course Christmas and New Years. Jo returned to Pohnpei in early January (would have been earlier but bad weather = cancelled flights and a four day wait for the next connection to FSM), and I stayed in Canberra to work until the end of February. Many shenanigans were had.

Lake Tuggeranong looking, well, appealing. Odd but true.

It was the middle of summer, but the days were cool and clear, and Urambi Hills behind my Mum's house were greener than our Pohnpei rainforest (a dusty browny green anyway...)

Food and friends. Yum. They have everything on the menu. Wow. First world prices. Ouch.

Christmas in Melbourne with Jo's family.

Christmas morning recycling drive.

Around New Years.
Not Pohnpei. (thanks for an excellent time Rob and Katty)

Cheesy grin. It was very tasty. (again, thanks Rob and Katty)

Fallen Angel.
(it's a cocktail now. Who says booze robs your creativity?)

It's no illusion, that's a costume change.

Best not to ask... Rob is that part of your costume?

How I saw the fireworks on the harbour bridge. A tripod would have helped...the photo.

Zain and Catherine's wedding at Gundaroo.

Nice brolgas Dick.

Yay!

Another North Head camping extravaganza.

Babies everywhere! Isabel...

Amelia...

and Lily.

Armpit freshening pose, Mt Franklin Road, Brindabella Ranges.



Mist is great, but then it turns into rain and hail and lightning. Ouch!

Beyond the Brindabellas...

You made it this far, enjoy a chuckle!

Ben