Gidget Goes Hawaiian- Kauai & Aulani 8/2012 TR- 5/24 COMPLETE!!

[podsnel]

What an awesome update !!You are all sooooo brave snorkeling or scuba diving !!! Not in amillion years would I do that!!!Not even with Ricardo Those donuts or whatever they are called looked yummy even un filled !!!

Thanks, rosie- it was fun, other than sharks, I'm not afraid down there- it is so beautiful. Not sure I would do it at night, though- or in a cave- those things freak me out. Although, you can scuba with eel rays and giant mantas at night, so maybe I'd get over my fear for that!

And the malasadas were hot and yummy- but they would have been SPECTACULAR filled with coconut creme....I'll know better next time we are there!

 

[MEK]

Birthdaypolluza? Very funny, but I don't think I spelled it right! Glad you had a great ongoing 50th celebration. 50 is pretty liberating! I can, of course, speak from personal experience!

More great pictures. I got a new computer (something you need..ahem...) and everything looks so fantastic. Better than ever!

I am more and more convinced I need a trip to Hawaii! Thanks for the update!

 

[CRdisMom]

wow snorkeling looks grand, especially today when it is 3 degree F outside. lol does it seem claustrophobic or is it fairly freeing? I loved that you were the most buoyant--it means you must weigh less than all the rest

Happy be-lated birthday

 

[podsnel]

Birthdaypolluza? Very funny, but I don't think I spelled it right! Glad you had a great ongoing 50th celebration. 50 is pretty liberating! I can, of course, speak from personal experience!

More great pictures. I got a new computer (something you need..ahem...) and everything looks so fantastic. Better than ever!

I am more and more convinced I need a trip to Hawaii! Thanks for the update!

50 is very TIRING!!! I am exhausted!

We did finally get a macbook pro- Tyler and Tim are enjoying it. Someday it will be my turn-

Hawaii is sooooo worth the trip! Go!

wow snorkeling looks grand, especially today when it is 3 degree F outside. lol does it seem claustrophobic or is it fairly freeing? I loved that you were the most buoyant--it means you must weigh less than all the rest

Happy be-lated birthday

Thanks! Many people don't scuba because they are claustrophobic- and I can see where if you focused on all the things that could go wrong, it could be very intimidating. I am usually too fascinated by what's around me to freak, though. And we only have gone 35 feet down, so nothing crazy deep or dark- you just have to remember not to rise faster than your bubbles do. Even with my buoyancy issues, that is pretty easy to do- just don't panic.

And yea- that's it! I weigh the least! Timmy will be so pleased!

Thanks for the bday wishes!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Happy birthday!

The scuba diving looked really cool. Pretty funny that you couldn't stay down! I guess the upside is that you can tell everyone you don't need to lose any weight. You're already too light!

I will definitely check out the North Shore. Looks beautiful. And I'm glad you got to the malasadas! I had read about them and wondered if you'd make the stop. They look delicious (even without filling).

 

[dizneeat]

Awesome update, Ellen!
I am in awe with the snorkelling photos ... sooooooo cool!

Sorry about the "doughnuts" not being filled - I had a look at the website and they look yummy!!!!!!

 

[Misskitty3]

Your dive pictures arde really cool!! What a fun experience!

And...what a big box of malasadas! Sorry, they weren't filled....

 

[dvc4life]

Great update Ellen! The snorkeling photos are just awesome. What a wonderful experience for the whole family.

 

[saintstickets]

Turning 50 is a BIG deal, it turns out, and I have had a VERY full dance card lately- lucky me! But I think bithdaypalooza is over,

Congrats! Turning 50...I remember those youthful carefree days of yore!

we had about a 45 minute dive and saw plenty of fish down there in the cove. Well, everyone did great except for me, that is. Kind of. I was wearing a brand new wetsuit that made me VERY buoyant- Ricardo kept throwing weights on my belt, but really I had to be pulled down under water. AND...my mask was foggy. Which is the pits. But....it was still enjoyable, and for what it's worth, when all was said and done, I had the most air left (meaning I wasn't freaking out and over breathing- I was very calm) so woohoo for me.

That is hilarious about the buoyancy, but hey, I'll gladly take that on as long as I can breathe! Remember my scuba scooter experience! GASP!!

Great pics of Shark Cove. The North Shore is fantastic. We could have spent all of our away-from-Aulani time there. DD and DSiL are leaving Friday, December 14th and they plan on spending a lot of time there. This is the time of the year they have the pro-surfing competition with the 20-30' waves!

Can't wait to see more of your TR!

 

[Wicket's Mom]

Good for you guys doing the scuba thing! I could never ever do something like that! I can barely swim & my biggest fear is drowning!

Congratulations on being 50, wow it's been awhile since I turned 50, heck my 50th anniversary will be in 3 1/2 years. Gosh my marriage is almost as old as you are! Now I feel really old!

 

[JKSWonder]

I LOVE this one! We're standing on the floor of the ocean- pretty cool!

Love it!

I asked for some of each kind. The PROBLEM is that I did not say FILLED. Make SURE you say FILLED. Because ours were not. They were plain. Just different sugars or something on the outside. And we are positive of that fact because we ate the whole freakin box looking for the FILLED ones. Here is a link to their website so YOU can find them FILLED when you go- http://www.leonardshawaii.com/locations.html

We had had a glorious day on the North Shore- you MUST MUST MUST go when you visit Aulani!

Not filled!!! Ack! I would find that to be such a crushing disappointment.

On a side note, I have booked us on a DCL Fantasy Western for 8/16/14! Hoping we receive no surprises with Mike's vacation pics that year and that we actually get to go! Thinking of visiting Nachi again (or perhaps Mr. Sanchos). This one stops in Falmouth, Jamaica. Never been, so I'll have to do some research on what, if anything, the kids and my Mom could do there.

 

[franandaj]

Great report, you guys are having such a great time!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Great scuba pics! It's like you did everything on MY wish list! Now that you've tried it all out, I can get advice from you for our return visit.

You all look really good posing in the sunshine with Ricardo!

 

[ACDSNY]

Another great update! We just came home from Aulani on Thursady night and I want to go back so bad.

 

[rndmr2]

Just found your latest update. Looks like you had a great scuba experience. I went once in St Thomas about 12 years ago and it was fun but I ended up with some issues with the ear popping and re-seating the mask/suction and my mask got flooded and they had to pull me out of the water! So it started out fun and ended up with a near drowning! LOL I can laugh about it now but it was scary at the time. You were lucky to get some great pics underwater.

 

[Beth D]

I'm glad to see I've not been the only one away from the DIS for a while...

Work's been crazy, but good! I ended up going out to LA for a week, and the time difference between there and Oh just killed me. 6 days and I never really did adjust. I don't know how I would manage in Hawaii. Oh well, more time in the ocean!

But I did manage to sneak in a visit to DCA and Disneyland one night! Didn't get to everything, but did get to see Haunted Mansion and IASW all decked out for XMAS!

Love the turtle pics, and I'm glad there weren't any sharks in the cove! I was thinking the same thing as Jen!

Happy belated 50th! You truly don't look or act it! I hit the big 40 this past spring, and that wasn't too bad. Hope it's been a fabulous one so far!

 

[chepic]

love the turtles and the donuts!!!! note to self, ask for filled!!

che

 

[knewton64]

make SURE those donuts ARE filled!!



Glad to see u r back -
Love the updates.




Say, gotta a Goofy ? & it's about wines.


Q: What local SO CAL wines do you suggest would go great w/seafood?
....or what wines period.

(my question is explained in more detail in posting #25 of my below listed blog, "My adventures n San Fran.....").



Whatever help you be wud b mucho mucho appreciated.







T.T.F.N.

 

[podsnel]

Happy birthday!

Thanks!

The scuba diving looked really cool. Pretty funny that you couldn't stay down! I guess the upside is that you can tell everyone you don't need to lose any weight. You're already too light!

I wish that were true!

I will definitely check out the North Shore. Looks beautiful. And I'm glad you got to the malasadas! I had read about them and wondered if you'd make the stop. They look delicious (even without filling).

Yea- we had to try them- even without the filling, they were hot and yummy. But I REALLY wanted the coconut!

Awesome update, Ellen!
I am in awe with the snorkelling photos ... sooooooo cool!

Sorry about the "doughnuts" not being filled - I had a look at the website and they look yummy!!!!!!

They were still good- YOU would have LOVED them, being a crispy creme addict!

Your dive pictures arde really cool!! What a fun experience!

And...what a big box of malasadas! Sorry, they weren't filled....

Scuba is great- we really should get certified- but then, I don't know if I really need to go down any deeper than I already have on these little dives-

Great update Ellen! The snorkeling photos are just awesome. What a wonderful experience for the whole family.

Thanks! It was a great experience for all of us- so relieved Tim was good with it, most of all-

Congrats! Turning 50...I remember those youthful carefree days of yore!

OMG!!!!!! Of YORE?? How many centuries old are you??
That is hilarious about the buoyancy, but hey, I'll gladly take that on as long as I can breathe! Remember my scuba scooter experience! GASP!!

Yes- we did MUCH better than you, thank-goodness! Your experience must have been terrifying.

Great pics of Shark Cove. The North Shore is fantastic. We could have spent all of our away-from-Aulani time there. DD and DSiL are leaving Friday, December 14th and they plan on spending a lot of time there. This is the time of the year they have the pro-surfing competition with the 20-30' waves!

Can't wait to see more of your TR!

How did they like it? I would love to see those waves!!

 

[wiigirl]

Great report! Love your scuba pics!