Hello from the skies! I’m currently flying over the ocean and taking a small break from typing up my lab report, which I procrastinated doing my entire trip. I arrive at 9 tonight and am going to sleep at my parent’s house before driving up to Santa Barbara in the morning and heading straight to my lab. How’s that for a rude vacation awakening?
It’s been a great trip, though I must admit I’m not ready to go back yet. I mean, is anyone really ever ready to come back from vacation? Since I had to plan my stay in Hawaii with my labs, I only had four full days here. Cue sad violins. Oh well, I’m a lucky girl in that I got to go at all!
Enough of me acting like a spoiled baby at my own pity-party. Wah wah wah. Let’s get to the recap of my last few days! If you missed my first one, you can read it here.
On Friday we went on an excursion that’s probably my favorite thing to do when I visit the Big Island: zodiac riding!
We piled into the car at 9 in the morning and drove for about 25 minutes before arriving at the docks where are zodiac boat was waiting for us. We went slowly out of the dock area and right when we got out, we were greeted by a pod of sleepy dolphins and pilot whales.
After hanging around them and learning more about their habits/size/etc, we sped off until our guides excitingly found a large floating log in the middle of the ocean. Apparently it’s pretty rare to find one in Hawaii, but they’re a treasure trove for fisherman since after a few days, they become a floating ecosystem that smaller fish and wildlife use for shelter. This attracts bigger predator fish and the guides told us that you can usually bet on being able to spear dinner in no time if you fish around it.
Buddha (I have no idea if this is his real name, but we just went with it), the assistant, told us that he’s actually been able to jump out of the boat and stab fish with his bare hands 😯 . I asked him what his success rate was like and he said it’s around 1/3 since the first fish is like, “What the hell man, are you trying to stab me to death?” (a pretty called-for reaction if you ask me), the second fish is doubly sketched out by the little tan asian man jumping at it and trying to shank it with a knife, and the third one is used to him and the splash he causes when he tumbles into the water. Me? I’m just impressed he was actually able to catch one that way at all!
If you’ve ever been zodiac riding before, you know that it’s fast, bumpy, and exhilarating! You feel like you’re on an oceanic roller coaster and are holding onto the side ropes on the edges of the boat for dear life. It’s awesome. In no time we came to the place where we had a break to snorkel and eat a lunch of fresh fruit, sandwiches, chips, and cookies, The area has a monument to Captain Cook, a circumnavigator who discovered the Hawaiian islands while looking for a Northwest Passage. He ended up landing at a spot that is riiggghhtttt on the reefs where we snorkeled and was hailed as a god by the local Hawaiians. Apparently since the Hawaiians had never seen metal before, the crew members were able to trade three nails for a…. errr….. stay at the local harlot’s house and in no time, Captain Cook discovered that his ship was falling apart at the seams. Captain Cook eventually died in a skirmish with the locals when he tried to take the king of Hawaii hostage on his ship.
After snorkeling for an hour or so, we turned the zodiac around and headed to tour some of the lava tunnels. Some of them extend for miles, which I think is pretty crazy!
The rest of the day was spent with a nap, dinner, and relaxing. OH. And worrying about how freakishly tan my back had gotten from the day out on the ocean. I applied sunscreen religiously, but my skin tans ridiculously quickly and I felt like a crinkly brown paper bag even though I wasn’t burned at all. My back at the time was probably 6-7 shades darker than the rest of my body and, needless to say, Kyle has been helping load me up with layer after layer of aloe vera.
The next day we headed out around 9 to drive to a Farmer’s Market and explore. Kyle and I were starving by the time we got there and ended up eating a huge plate of pad thai, egg rolls, and a nutella and banana crepe- all before 10:30. Early lunches=food coma all day.
I think one of the main reasons Kyle and I get along so well is because we both like to eat so much. I swear, nothing makes us happier than good food and we always split dishes so we can taste twice as much food. It’s a goooooood system.
After walking around for a while and browsing the various stands, we picked up some fudge and got an iced coffee before heading back to the house to rest up before embarking on a new-to-me-experience, swimming at night with 15 foot wide manta rays!
The boys “guarding the fudge”. How manly.
Andddd since this recap is on it’s way down to China, I’m going to save the manta ray-ing and other festivities for another post 😉 .
I hope your week is going swimmingly!
Glad you had a great time and could get away from schoolwork for a little bit! Hawaii looks beautiful. I’d love to go someday.
I’ve never been zodiac boating, but I have been snorkeling and it was so much fun. I just love how clear and blue the water is! Glad you had a great trip despite your overly tan back haha
Looks like you are having the best time!! My husband and I are also big foodies – we split everything because I always want what he gets!
Zodiac boating sounds fun and Buddha sounds like he could tell you some seriously cool stories! I hate that you had to leave for school but I’m glad you got a little time away.
Good luck on the lab!
Oh my woooord that sounds like an awesome trip so far!!! I would be absolutely dragging my heels in the ground when it would be time to leave! I always come home from trips very discontent 😛
It’s been amazing! And seriously, my heels were dragging like no other when I was going through security and boarding the plane. TAKE ME BACK!
Zodiac boating sounds crazy! I don’t know how well I would handle an ocean roller coaster haha You’re pictures look absolutely beautiful too. Those crepes look sooo delicious! I think one of the reasons my boyfriend and I get along so well is that we love to eat too! He knows when I’m starting to get “hangry” and that he needs to feed me haha and he get’s hangry too. That’s love.
It is SO crazy, but at the same time an absolute blast. And YES to getting along with boyfriends who love to eat haha. True love hahah <3.
Agh, looks like so much fun! I am thrilled to hear you enjoyed your four days. All of your pictures are gorgeous (as per usual!) Have a safe flight! Sorry it had to be over so soon.
I’ve only ever had banana nutella crepes and I do not plan on ever venturing out of that flavor. SO GOOD.
Stop by me before you head to Santa Barbara!!!! We can grab coffee, I’ll drive out toward you!
I’m sorry too! At least I was lucky enough to get out there in the first place. And OMG. Banana+nutella= best flavor combo ever! When I come visit you we need to find a crepe place to gorge on :).
You and Kyle are an amazing couple <3 Hawaii looks awesome – I can't get over how blue the water is!!
Thanks, Liz! We’re a good team :). And isn’t it crazy?! The water is so clear and beautiful!
Ahh Hawaii sounds incredible! I am so jealous! it is a place I hope to travel to as soon as possible
I hope you can get out there sometime soon! It’s an amazing place to visit!
I love how you + Kyle love food so much. My future boyfriend has to be a foodie or else we probably won’t even date. haha 😉 Those pics of the crepe are seriously professional!
I like that ultimatum hahah ;). Being a good eater is a quality I value highly in my men ;). And thanks! We need to talk about how AMAZING your photography has been getting lately! You constantly are wowing me!
So mouth watering! That seems to be amazing.
It was a fantastic trip!
And now you’ve got me missing Hawaii like crazy! I usually take a trip out there when winter has gotten to me big time around March, and I’m hoping to eventually visit all the islands. Got O’ahu and Kauai down — next up is Maui 😀
I’m spoiled in that California winters are a frigid…. 50-60 degrees 😯 . And I LOVE Maui! Growing up I would go with my entire extended family and we all stayed in the huge suite hotel room that my grandparents have a timeshare for. So many good memories!
The boat ride sounds like a blast!!! That is so amazing that you were able to see dolphins so close by. I have never been to Hawaii, but it’s on the list of dream places to visit! Glad you had a great time!
It was amazing! I hope you can find the time to go sometime!
OMG is that a Nutella crepe?! Yum! You’re pictures are beautiful, as always!
So the big question is…when you guys coming down unda 😉