Day 10, Nepali Coastline Cruising

 

So many elevators.

We had a prime spot until the sun hit.

We moved to the 270 where they were teaching Hula classes.  No, we didn't join but it was fun to watch.  The group has learned 3 dances and they are performing them tonight.

The ship did a spin so everyone got to see.  6 hours of touring the coast.  Lots of people commenting they have been to the top and the view is endless ocean.  Seeing the island was quite different.  

Goodbye Dino land.

I had the silliest conversation with an old fellow in the hallway, he was upset he didn't see any Teradactyls flying, I said I was sad I didn't see a Mastadon in the ocean, he was quick, and said don't lean over the railing.  Haha.

Monkey?

We also met a fellow in the library that is single and he travels by cruise a LOT.  Top tier RC.  He is also a baby Jeeper.  1st Jeep.  He loves it.  He lives in Illinois and has seen videos from our group!!  We gave him our email and invited him to come for a run. Small, small world.

We're in our room to cool down.  It's 31 out there.

There a lot of people sunburnt right now.

This is Joy, the Washy, Washy Girl.

Iykyk.

For every 30 positive comments she gets extra time off.

Tomorrow she is off until dinner shift and is heading to Waikiki Beach.  Sweetest girl.  I'll be sure to leave her and our room guy Imade kind words.

Honolulu tomorrow.

Day 9 - sea day

 

I had a rough night after the turtles.  No clue why.  Possibly the heat.  Possibly I didn't eat enough.  Sugars were whack.  

Up early and starving.

We spent the day hanging out.  Scouted around areas out of our path looking at art.  We bought sale tshirts.  We had an unknown credit on our account.  We have to spend it on board (not transferable) but we haven't found anything we want yet.

After a perfectly lovely day I was sick before dinner time AGAIN.  No clue why.  It's the wee hours now, it's finally passed.  I ate some snacks just now.  I'm feeling great. Eric is thinking it's just too much food that isn't my normal safe foods.  It's definitely a struggle to find healthier versions.  I don't typically eat white flour, added sugar, added salt or cooking oil.  I also eat a lot of low fat dairy and dairy in general is only available at breakfast.  The goal tomorrow is more volume of the most plain and boring food I can find.

Hair bobs. 

Yesterday we invited another couple to join us in our Uber to see the park with turtles.  They had thought to just wander around the port.  They have never used Uber.  We had a great time.  They really wanted to pay half.  We said, no extra cost to you joining us, no worries.  It was fun to have company.  Last night they had a turtle painting sent to our room.  So sweet. I love it.  Now to McGyver a way to get it home safely.  

Also, Eric complained to a dining room manager about our bed.  He was looking for cruise feedback.  Around food in general but he tried to get us a topper.  Then we were sent a coupon for 10% off our next Royal Cruise.  So that was a nice surprise.

I still much prefer Carnival but Royal has some great things going on too.  

Tomorrow we're cruising the Nepali coast line.  For hours.  So exciting.  

Day 8 -Kona

 We swam with turtles!!!!

First glimpse of Kona.

Watching the crew get tender boats sorted.  They used the lifeboats off the ship!  1st time for that.  

The port is very walkable.  Sea wall all along.  Lots of accessible beach right in port.

Kahalu'u Beach Park.

There are washrooms.

I didn't get enough pictures.  And none of turtles.

It was SUPER hot.  We got ourselves settled in a few inches of shade and started getting ready to swim.  We had waterproof phone cases inside waterproof waist packs.  They worked!  However I didn't/couldn't even try for pictures.

The beach is all jagged sharp black lava.  Extremely difficult to get in.  Brutal with the big waves to get flippers on.  Eric is telling me to just get on my belly and swim out, I responded with, "can't, fighting for my life here".  Haha.  

I had to give up on flippers they kept slipping off.  I was told water wouldn't go in our pricey snorkels, it did.  Face mask leaked.  Big waves.  Hard to swim.  I did buy/bring diving socks, they were fabulous at saving our feet from cuts.  

And then we saw them.  Glorious.  Dreams coming true.  They are protected and not afraid.  At one point I asked Eric to hold me so I could just put my face in and watch them.  I dunked and there was one swimming right at me!  Inches from my face.  Wow!!  I pulled away from Eric and was moving back frantically.  We are supposed to give them 10 feet.  They do not have to give us 10 feet though and for sure if I didn't move she would have bumped me.  They were not at all graceful under the water.  The waves were tossing them around too.  A wee one was flipped.

I have ZERO clue how long we were out there.  With all my issues it was a miracle I was there and doing it.  I'm feeling pretty accomplished.

The lifeguard was a constant string of warnings.  Telling us all about the sharp terrain and that they administer a lot of first aid every day. We saw one fellow on board that had lots of visible wounds.  Another staff from the ship told us she was cut up too.  

A baby otter running under the car on the right.

Kona's oldest church.

The Govener's house.

Wee gecko.

The area was hit hard by the storms.

Roofs lifted off, tarps up.  A whole graveyard washed down a highway.  We noticed a disportionat amount of Jeeps.  Our Uber driver said for the higher clearance for all the flash flood water.  He was driving a Forunner that was higher than my lifted Jeeps.

I asked him where we could find ice-cream bananas and he had two in his car.  So score, another Hawaii island thing checked off our list.  They were super creamy and sweet.  Not like a regular banana at all.

We attempted getting a shaved ice but the line was long and we were melting.

When we arrived this area was a nice sandy beach.  Directly beside the tender dock.  High tide was quite high.

Turtle.

This was biggest building we could see.

Guess what was happening while we were there!  Horrible timing for us.  The area was nuts.

The parade of flags was at 4.  We were back aboard around 2:30 so we missed the big crush.

The sea wall.  Water still crashed over it.

The turtle sweatshirt is mine.  I paid too much.  Worth it though.  

I saw a post from home that there were Disney ducks at Walmart.  Jessie was pictured.  I contemplated asking one of the girls to go get it but that seemed extreme.  Then we were in a gift shop in Kona that had all tourist things and one little basket of ducks with Jessie on top.  The universe talks to me in the strangest ways.  Now, if someone finds Bullseye, I need two please.

We had a fabulous day.  I'd happily come back.  On a cruise for a few hours.  I wouldn't fight for my life on a jagged snorkel trip again though.  Once was enough.  Oh, funny thing, the ABC store right in port sells snorkel/mask sets for 10.99.  No need to lug them around.  

Also, Kona only allows three cruise ships a week.  Tues, Thurs and Saturday.  

Day 7

 

We were lucky today to see Ron Lucas.  Very funny.  Very talented.

Good morning.  Sun rise.  

Last sea day before land.  Kona tomorrow.

GQ