Welcome to Gilroy, California

Aloha Everyone,

J.J. and I woke up extremely early this morning in Honolulu so that we were able to get to the Honolulu International Airport by 4:30 am. There, we said "a hui hou" (until we meet again) to George and Lena, our friends who dropped us off at the airport.

I ate one of my favorite "breakfast-on-the-go" bars.  <Click here for more information about Kind Bars on my Yoga Blog>

I must say that the United Airlines ground and in-flight crews could show more kindness and compassion to their customers.  

Here are a couple of examples we witnessed today:

At the Honolulu airport, a German couple had a luggage that was ten pounds over weight.  

UAL Crew:  "Your luggage is 10 lbs over weight.  We will charge you $200."

Passenger:  "What we do?"

UAL Crew:  "If you don't want to pay, you have to reduce the weight of your luggage by ten pounds."

Passenger:  "How we know what to take out.  What does ten pounds look like?"

UAL Crew:  (As she walked away) "I have no idea."

Both parties were unhappy, irritated with each other. That was unpleasant way to end their Hawaiian holiday.

Second Example:

A little girl of about 8 years old was approaching the service cart.  A female flight attendant shouted to her, "Stay back, the coffee pot is pot."  

The little girl froze in place.  The flight attendant put out the opened palm of her right hand to illustrate what she meant verbally and said, "Stay back."

Again, there could have been kinder, more compassionate way to communicate.  Unfortunately, such words can be mean and hurtful. They could crowd one's happy mood. 

I spent approximately 2 hours of the 5 hours flying time doing yoga and meditation in the airplane seat.  I will write a separate blog for Yoga and Meditation on airplane  iPhone 5 book which Lena gave me also kept me occupied.  I am so excited to really learn how to use my new iPhone.  

J.J. had arranged for the airport limo service for pick up and delivery to Gilroy, California.  It took approximately 2 hours to drive in the mid-day traffic.  We had an interesting conversation with our driver, Varinder. He was born and raised in California but still speak his parents' native language of Punjabi and Hindi.  We covered array of topics but what was most interesting to me was custom of arrange marriages in India which some families in the states still adhere to.  Below is a picture of Varinder.

Tomorrow we will be seeing our RV for the first time. We are 3 hours ahead of Hawaii.  My iPhone is showing the local time but the laptop is still in Hawaii time.  Good night.

Aloha -- Cathi

A Hui Hou Hawaii

Aloha Everyone,

As we packed up our suitcases for our flight out tomorrow morning to San Francisco, I have been pondering on the proverb, "Every end is a new beginning." I am not saying, "Goodbye" to my family and friends but rather, a hui hou or until we meet again.

It is challenging to stay in the present moment.  I talked about it often in our Kundalini Yoga and meditation class. Inhale, exhale, stay present with myself.  I am becoming mindful, aware of whatever is happening right now and not think about what would happen when we land in San Francisco tomorrow.  It also helps me focus when I chant Ganesh mantra.  <Click here for link to my yoga blog>

Our day began with simple breakfast of coffee and Greek yogurt at Starbucks in Ala Moana with our dear friends George and Lena.

We had lunch at Phuket Thai <click here for weblink to their website> with Sharon, another one of our close friends, after she drove us to complete our last minute errands. Sorry, but we didn't take any photographs of the vegetarian dishes that we ate.  The food was excellent, as always, but not very photogenic.

Our son Jeff came by to "hang out" with us and we walked across from our hotel to the harbor to watch sailboats. It was the quintessential image of Ala Wai Boat Harbor as the evening was setting.

Here is a souvenir photo of Jeff and Cathi

I am listening to Hawaii Aloha sang by Bruddah Iz, my favorite song which I know when I hear it anywhere on the mainland, I will experience "chicken skin" and plan my return trip to Hawaii.

Here is the link if you can't view the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_17vGYa81s

A Hui Hou Everyone!

Aloha -- Cathi

Happy Easter!

Aloha Everyone,

This morning we met dear friends, Larry, Maureen and Cole who came to see us to give us hugs and wish us a bon voyage.  We've known Cole since he was just a toddler.  I remember him to be a precocious little boy who impressed me with using such grown-up expression as, "Daddy, I hear distant sounds at equal intervals..."  

Today's activities included seeing a condominium unit with Jeff for one of our Canadian clients.  Jeff parked his car at the zoo parking lot and we walked about 1.3 miles each way. We felt the Hawaiian blessing of light shower and I thoroughly enjoyed the time I had to converse with Jeff. 

Lunch at Sakura Restaurant.  This is one of our favorite Japanese Restaurants in Honolulu,

This afternoon, we had our glimpse of what our RV life would include -- a laundromat. After being on the "road" for 11 days, we had accumulated clothes to wash. When you have your own laundry room, you don't think of the cost associated with washing clothes. We found the Ala Moana Hotel  launderette located on the 6th floor of the hotel. The cost was $1.25 for soap, $2.75 for washing machine and $2.50 for drying.  For two loads, we paid a total of $13.

Tomorrow is our final full day in Honolulu. There are a list of things we would like to accomplish prior to our departure at 4:00 am on Tuesday, but most of all, J.J. and I like to savor the island life-style, perfect weather and the aloha spirits of the people of Hawaii.

Aloha -- Cathi

Goodbye Pride of America. Until We Meet Again.

Aloha Everyone,

I wanted to add a couple of more photographs of the places I frequented while I was on board the Pride of America.  Here is a picture of the on-board gym where I practiced Pilates.

Yoga was held on the top roof area on a basketball court. Of course this can be extremely difficult to do when the wind is blowing, the ship is sailing and the rain is hitting you! I took this photo this morning when the weather was much more cooperative.

At the start of the cruise, we were each given a plastic card for us to use to disembark and board the ship at each of the neighbor islands.  We also needed to present this card whenever we made purchases on-board such as paying for drinks, island excursion, professional photographer and specialty restaurants.  Some people were so well prepared that they wore a plastic tag with their card around their neck.

My last healthy breakfast on board consists of Greek yogurt with fresh cranberries, stewed apple and prunes, mini croissant and fresh squeezed orange juice.  I ate the fresh orange at 9:00 am prior to disembarkation.

As we bid Aloha, a hui ho (goodbye) to the Pride of America, the loud speaker started to play the song, "Closing Time" by the band Semisonic.  The line, "You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here," made us chuckle. And of course the final line of the song goes, "Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end."

We will miss our cruise, just as we will miss living in Hawaii, but we are also ready to start our new adventure in a few days when we buy a brand new RV and start our senior adventure.  Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end.

Aloha -- Cathi

Last Day at Sea and the Na Pali Coastline

Aloha Everyone,

You live a pampered life on board a cruise ship. The main decisions you have to make is where and what to have for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

This morning I had Greek yogurt with fresh cranberries, an assortment of stewed fruits and brown oatmeal muffin plus coffee and water.

Sherween, our cabin steward made our stay comfortable.  Taken here with one of his "towel animals".

Travis, one of the servers at the Aloha Cafe showed us to tip your chair to indicate to other servers that the place is being occupied.

For some passengers, this was where they spent most of the day and night. 

Philip, responsible for maintaining all of the outdoor deck areas with Bartolomeu who was in charge of issuing pool towels.

Dramatic cliffs of the Napali Coast was the highlight of this cruise. The are so close yet so far away.

J.J. and I conversed with a litigation attorney as we sailed along this amazing coastline.  He was not too keen about going back to New York.

Aloha -- Cathi