Category: The DayBook

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.

Yesterday, I wrote:

Frankly, this wasn’t the best possible day. The worse part was early this AM when my snorkel attempted to drown me….My room is a mess. Think I’ll put the computer to sleep, spend 15 minutes cleaning up my room and toddle off to bed. Tomorrow is another day.

Was I ever wrong – before I made it off to bed, came down with stomach flu, food poisoning, what have you… Spending quality time in my bathroom. Everything settled down a little, so I was able to go to the Holiday Tea at the Palace. Glad, I could make it because there were five no shows. I gave away all of my origami stars. Oh, the tea was lovely.

Came back home and went to bed and sleep. Woke up. Not feeling so very good. Just glad this isn’t next week, when I’ll be on my way to American Samoa. Note: the computer can be used as a makeshift hot water bottle/heating pad for stomach cramps.

I was testing my “health” or lack there of early this morning by walking to the pier – I was just able to get my camera pointed at the night heron before someone scared him off.

Frankly, this wasn’t the best possible day. The worse part was early this AM when my snorkel attempted to drown me. Well, it didn’t. And, the snorkel has been replaced.

Christmas Concert at the Palace this afternoon. And early this evening – the Second Annual Boat Parade. Yes Carlton, they have something new in Kona. You wouldn’t care for the Boat Parade. You didn’t really like parades or fireworks, and the boat parade was sort of like a combination fireworks/parade.

My room is a mess. Think I’ll put the computer to sleep, spend 15 minutes cleaning up my room and toddle off to bed. Tomorrow is another day.

 

You might just be in Hawai’i if a can of Spam shows up in your Xmas Parade.

Note to Carlton: There were no cement mixers or trash trucks in the parade this year.

But, the kahili that were being re-feathered returned with much fanfare today.

Headed out early this AM to the “best” place to photograph fish. A different SD Card was in the camera. Had a fish wrangler with me. Lots of fish but after about 10 minutes – the camera freezes.

So, I get a Return Authorization from BH Photo. But wait. I still want an underwater camera for Samoa. Should I try another TS30. But, by then the sun had set in the east and BH Photo was closed until sundown tomorrow.

Question to self. Is the TS30 worth 99 bucks. Assuming I have a lemon. And, I have this little feeling that my problems with the TS30 have something to do with video. Well, after a lunch of leftovers – I wriggle into my still wet wetsuit and head out into the bay. Not many fish were I went. But I was determined to get the best possible photos out of the TS30.

Took these four images this afternoon, just across the street. There are not a lot of this in this area. But, I don’t have to pay attention to anything except the fish. So, I was sure that the shots were auto focused correctly etc. And, since I suspected video might be the culprit – I didn’t play with video until I was cold and ready to come in.

I did no processing – except color correction to the video. It isn’t very good. The GoPro made lots better quality videos. But, I am not a videographer. I can just put some duct tape over the video button. The video did NOT lockup the TS30. However, when I was looking at the video in camera – it locked up. Video still seems to be the culprit.

Bottom Line: Let the lockup problem slide. I am trying to decide if I want to get a replacement. I do not want to invest a bunch of money in a “better” under water solution. Real underwater photography takes a good camera, lights, and a super expensive housing. I’d rather spend my camera $$$ on land-based lenses for my Oly.

So, the question is: Am I happy enough with the decidedly marginal quality of this $99 camera.

The answer is yes for in ocean work. But, it is not a substitute for by Oly. The quality is not as good as my phone camera.  My Oly is “weatherproof”. I have one “weatherproof” lens. So, bad weather isn’t really a problem. If it rains too hard, there is always the ziplock bag.

The Panasonic TS-30 does not get my seal of approval. It froze during sea trials this morning. Popped the battery out and put it back and it worked again – but, not possible in the the ocean. And of my first 100 pictures 2 were only 1/2 pictures. More sea trials tomorrow. Not 100% sure there is time to swap it out before going to Samoa.

This is the only acceptable shot from this mornings sea trial. The Zebra moray – fairly common diurnal eel. Widespread in the Indo-Pacific. Length – up to 5 feet. Starts out female and switches to male.

BTW – the lack of acceptable images is not the fault of the camera. Well, except for the ones I couldn’t take because the camera was frozen. Today’s venue and conditions were not ideal for photography with a cheap PS camera.

Two 40+ year old Kahili were being disassembled in the Hulihe’e Palace kitchen this morning. I just happened to be there and was lucky to see how these “modern” kahili were made.

So, what is a kahili? In 25 words or less – “A feather royal standard for Hawaiian ali’i and Royalty” Wikipedia has a good and short discussion. Check it out for more info.

I did get some dorky reef shoes today. Figured that a cut foot would be a serious bummer. And, my really cheap underwater camera arrived. Pictures tomorrow. I hope. It is a Panasonic. I have had a bunch of Panasonic PS cameras. Nothing new. Don’t think I’ll RTFM. But, I was pleasantly surprised to find a real dead tree manual and an external battery charger. The battery is tiny. I might would like a second battery.

And, for something really scary – I updated the firmware on the Oly. I was still on 1.4 and the new release was 4.0… Lost all my settings. A good time to RTFM. Indeed, there was a new version of the the manual.

Started off the day with a great snorkel. The light was perfect and the fish huge and close. I am sure that I’ll not be that lucky when I am go out armed with a little red camera.

Time to get something for dinner – cheese sandwich maybe? And, setup the new red camera. I see that the battery is charged.

 

Very slow wifi tonight. So, no photos. Actually, I spent most of the day deleting photos. The Airness was down to 64gb free. Back up to 100gb free. 

Also, did my shopping for my trip to Somoa. I bought a cheap umbrella. That is it. Well, I haven’t completely given up on getting dorky reef shoes. I nixed long pants and board shorts. My legs are just going to take care of themselves. And, if my sorry ass is offensive, I’ll just wrap it up in my pareau. Travel light.