December, 2004--Helicopter Tour

My brain is expanding, my eyes popping, my breath holding back. I am in a helicopter hovering in the World's Wettest Spot-- the Waiale ale Crater in Kauai. Watching from above the flowing waterfalls, the wandering clouds, feeling like a bird... The first time I saw the Louve, I had the same feeling. The first time I arrived at Heathrow, I had the same feeling. The first time I arrived in the US, I had the same feeling. Back in Oct when I was in Copenhagen and Milan for the first time, this feeling didn't come. I worry that my brain has become a bit idle and then here I am, feeling this feeling of being alive and this feeling of learning and growing again, in the bewilderness of Kauai.

Travel a thousdand miles and Read a thousand books. Indeed.

This was Friday.

Saturday. We went to the West Coast again to cover some of the spots I missed. Got to see some beautiful waterfalls, 2o f them were esp. impressive. So peacefully nestled in the middle of a quiet and serene mountain.

Sunday we went back to the North Shore. It's a bright day. We stayed at the northenmost point and sat down on the beach to watch Sunset. There was a TV crew shooting some Oceanic programs, the misty cliffs and waves in the distance, all under the Sunset. Beautiful. reminds me of the Key West sunset we saw back in 1998, with the additional benefits of this nice ambience of romance, cleanness and warmth. I've achieved since I moved to the states in 1997 and I'm in a more mature state of mind.

This is a great vacation. :-)

the previous times I went to Hawaii (Maui and Oahu), I was busy thinking I'm luckier than many people, busy figuring out how to sustain this lifestyle and also I was under some stress from work during one of the visits, as a result all the comparative thinking, I wasn't able to enjoy the vacation as much as I could have. This time, I took a more peaceful approach. I'm not here to let myself feel I'm better than others, I'm here to enjoy some quiet time off. Part of this is also the fact I'm surrounded with well-travelled people and I have come to know that this is no big deal to many people. Important thing is I've learned to have a good time, to relax and know how to take a vacation without rushing myself. Took me 6 years since my first real vacation to realize this.

Learning on many fronts. Learning more about the earth, the universe, learning more about self and about human emotions. Learning and growing are very exciting things to do.

I value experience. I do. I want to continue to travel a thousand miles and read a thousand books.