life in the old lane

It was raining most of the day today. didn’t let that bother me too much.

I made some packing mistakes. I surely did not need my snorkel stuff or bathing suits. I have been quite happy wearing my Samoa approved shorts and shirt for swimming.

And I really didn’t need to bring two lenses for my camera. Because, my camera body and the macro lens are so called weatherproof. And once I got the macro lens on, no way I was going to take it off and risk the camera  in this hostile environment. It is unbelievable a humid here and I could just see all that humidity mucking up the insides of my camera. 

Note to Carlton: the Redskins just won the division title surprised? And, VT played in some no-name Bowl this afternoon and they won.

  
The sunrise

  
The colors

  
And best of all, the people.

 
Strange xmas eve, even for a devout non believer. Xmas just doesn’t rest easy with Pago Pago.  There seems to be little interest in xmas. Surely no commercial  activities. Sales. Itads, etc. 

I decided this afternoon to throw caution to the wind and go for a swim. What is the worst that can happen?  I’ll get some liver rotting bacterial infection and die. It was lovely. No fish. Sandy bottom. 

Looking forward to tomorrow, for no apparent reason. 

  
Yes, there really are giant bats. This one was from my balcony.  As I was losing the light, I went looking for more. Tomorrow,  I will start my hunt earlier. 

  
I know, it is a crappy picture. I am using my macro lens. 

Samoa.  An interesting place. Like much of Polynesia, litter is a serious problem.  They just haven’t realized that all that plastic isn’t going anywhere. 

There might be a sidewalk all the way around the island for all I know. I have walked about 3 miles this morning and saw nobody on the sidewalk. I saw some boys having football practice. That was about it for people exercising.  I might have the only Fitbit in the territory. 

I am having a  grand time. It is very hot, it is messy, the people are very big and very friendly.  

Note to Carlton. Yes, they have generic island feral dogs. And, the dogs still fall for the imaginary rock throwing trick.  The dogs are the biggest danger  I have seen. 

It is about 6:30am. This is the view from the lanai. Shamu the Phone will connect go WiFi. The iPad does not.

Let me see if there is another picture.

The flight was full. The passengers large and they don’t travel lite.

K

Time to spring into action.

Pago Pago. Well, actually next stop Honolulu. Then American Samoa. I just wanted to switch back to my regular theme, because it handles images really nicely. And, if I am able to post anything it will be using Shamu the Phone. Don’t think I’ll have cell service in American Samoa. They have some NZ cell service. Not worth it to me to buy a SIM. Turns out, American Samoa does not have fiber optic Pacific ocean cable. So, if there is internet, most likely it will be at dialup “speed”.

Leaving for the airport in an hour. Let the adventure begin.

This is the Winter Solstice Eve – The Solstice is Monday, December 21, 2015 at 6:49 PM HAST – but I will be winging my way to Pago Pago – where it will be Summer Solstice. What a day to travel. Shortest day to longest day.

And here, once again is the traditional Solstice greeting that Carlton and I used for years. Even decades.

Wishing everyone the best of the festive season – no matter what it’s called at your house. In pagan traditions, the solstice is a time to put away the things of the old year and look forward to the new. One observance of the solstice involves extinguishing all the fires in your home before midnight on the eve of the solstice and lighting a new fire the next day. This probably won’t be quite as symbolic if you have central heating. Or if you are in Hawai’i.

The winter solstice falls on December 21 – the word solstice means “sun stopping.” The winter solstice is the day on which the sun reaches as far south of the equator as it gets, and is as such the shortest and darkest day of the year in the northern hemisphere. The solstice marks the rebirth of light for the coming spring.

The winter solstice also marks, among other things, the druid festival of Alban Arthuan – a time for bestowing gifts upon those less fortunate than ourselves. Out of this observance has grown the more popular tradition of gift-giving, Black Friday, Super Saturday, maxed-out credit cards and 70% off sales. May the goddess be with you during this season – but don’t blame her if you get fruitcake again.

I am grateful for that which I have.
I am not sorrowful for that which I do not.
I have more than others, less than some,
I am blessed with what is mine.

Leaving around noon tomorrow for Pago Pago, American Samoa. At my age, this could be my last great adventure. I know this is some sort of “whistling past the graveyard” thing. My version of a facelift. Trying to hang on to who I was 50 years ago. Wish me luck, Carlton.  Back in the 808 around 8AM December 29,

Don’t know if I’ll be able to update the blog. Or do facebook. Or even email.

UPDATE: I just found this report from the American Samoa EPA.

The American Samoa Environmental Protection Agency (AS-EPA) wishes to inform the public that on December 16, 2015 the following recreational beaches were found to be contaminated with enterococci bacteria levels that exceed AS-EPA Water Quality Standards:

East:

Gataivai Beach
Yacht club, Utulei Beach
Utulei Beach
Fagatogo Stream
Afono Stream
Vatia Stream
Aua Stream
Aua A/M video
Lauli’i Stream
Alega Beach
Fagaitua Stream
Masausi Stream
Amouli Beach
Tula Beach
Onenoa Beach

West:

Amanave Beach
Asili Stream
Leone Pala
Taputimu, Leala Beach

The public should not swim, wade, or fish within 400 feet of these polluted beaches. This advisory is in effect until further sampling and laboratory analyses indicate that enterococci concentrations are within water quality standards.

Water that contains excessive concentrations of enterococci bacteria is correlated with swimming-associated gastrointestinal diseases. Enterococci bacteria reside in the intestines of warm-blooded animals. Their presence in water indicates contamination by human and/or animal wastes. Swimmers in polluted water are at risk for many waterborne diseases, some of which may cause serious illness.

Note: AS-EPA laboratory monitors the water quality of 44 recreational beaches on Tutuila, the wharf in Aunu’u, and five beaches on Manu’a. Tutuila advisories are issued weekly.

So what you say? So what is that the 3rd Beach on that list is where my hotel is located. It has a nice collection of coral. I was planning on spending lots of time snorkeling around right outside my door. Now, it seems that I should not even walk outside of my hotel door.

I was kicking myself for not finding the sooner – but, the Dec 10th list didn’t include “my” beach. I figure that Dec 24th is as soon as the list will be updated. If then, being Xmas. No swimming allowed on Sunday. And, I assume no swimming on Xmas Day either. SO… this is no longer an ocean oriented vacation. I hung my wetsuit back up in my closet and removed my fins from the backpack. That will sort of remove the temptation to do something really stupid. I am taking my mask, snorkel, and booties. So, if things work out, I can take a little snorkel – but, it will not be the focus of the trip.

Whatever happens is what I planned.

My friend and swim buddy leaves for 3 weeks on the mainland tonight. We were out on a walk this morning when Peter took this butt shot of us and posted it on facebook.

Note to Carlton: You always worried about me and the ocean. Billy seriously encouraged me to take my wetsuit to Samoa. I like travelling light. And, don’t like to look whimpy. So, the wetsuit was on and off the go/no go list. Billy just kept nudging me to take it. It is basically a safety issue in Samoa’s toasty warm ocean. Realistically, I will be snorkeling alone. In an ocean that I know nothing about. The wetsuit makes me floatier. And, it protects parts of my body from dings. So, the old woman is going to wimp out and take the wetsuit. That should make you feel better, Carlton.

Tomorrow is packing day. Today – I went to Longs Drug and got the “stuff” that I normally take on trips to lesser developed regions. Lots of Pepto Bismol tablets, imodium, a DIY dental repair kit, caffeine pills… Except for the caffeine pills – I hope that all that other stuff just stays in the first aid ziplock bag.

Heading over to the Palace soon – Christmas Night at Hulihe’e. When I come back home I’ll steam some veggies and add some eggs – that will be dinner. Gotta get the fridge empty.

 

See my post from December 2009. That post describes a mind blowing experience. Well, it happened again. And, the kid that was the songleader in 2009 is now the “Director of Choral Music”. I thought I remembered him – and asked if he was here in 2009. Of course, it completely freaked him out that this old woman in a Mickey Mouse t-shirt would remember. Remember him specifically. Photographers never forget a face they focus carefully on in their viewfinder.

I was just visiting at the Palace – trying to get a few more steps on the fitbit – then someone mentioned that Kamehameha Schools was coming by within the hour. I hung around and was once again – turned to a little mound of quivering ectoplasm. And, every single one of those kids hugged me and said Aloha. Aloha that was felt and meant.

I think that this was my Xmas. In Hawai’i, there is a concept of “mana”. It is easy to say it means “power”. But, so so much more. It sure isn’t the modern day Western world version of power. I am just beginning to understand/feel it after all these years. Maybe, that is why I am going to Samoa. “Mana” isn’t really a Hawaiian concept. It is a Polynesian concept. The mana was tangible today.

I am pleased with the quality of the photos from my phone. I am currently happen with the native android camera app for normal snapshots, but I am liking Camera FV-5 for more thoughtful work. Oh what do I think of Android (Marshmallow)? Well, I like IOS better. It is just “nicer”. But, IOS, OS-X and Android do play pretty nicely together.

Started feeling better today. Better enough that I am starting to think about going to Samoa again. Hawai’i (Kona) is 19 degrees north of the equator. American Samoa is 14 degrees south. Our water temperature is 79 degrees today – and it is 83 degrees in Pago Pago. If you are curious about the water temperature in an ocean near you check out seatemperature.org

The interest is the ocean temperature is an input to my “take the wetsuit or not question”. Don’t need a wetsuit if the water temp is 83. But, I just feel safer in my wetsuit. It makes me lots floatier. I am not going to blend into Samoa. A white, old, skinny, woman alone – so, how much odder will I look in my wetsuit?

Party time today with my Kona Seaside ohana.

I was very careful with my food selections. I am still tired. I had a hard time making a little 3 mile walk this morning. Glad I have 4 more days to recover completely.

The Republican Follies have ceased to amuse. Time for them to grow up.

 

Every year the various units in the hotel decorate little trees. And, we get to vote on our favorite. Considering my recent illness – my vote went to the Maintenance Staff tree – n.b. they used a toilet seat as the tree stand.

Health update: I am feeling better.  Except for a little trip up the hill to mail my defective camera back and doing the laundry – I spent the day resting. And, eating a little “snack” every couple of hours. And, drinking tea. Don’t want to stress the system.