We’ve had quite a few other events going on lately and this blog seems to be taking me longer than I expected to finish. We’ve been to see Ace Frehley at The Studio, Auckland. We also saw Motley Crue, Alice Cooper and Devilskin on Saturday night at Vector Arena. It was the Crue’s first and last New Zealand concert. All of which Evan got some pretty cool pictures and I’ve been practicing using Lightroom on so that’s taken up some time. Plus deciding which pair of black pants and colour lipstick to wear to each event.Things reached crisis level when I ran out of hairspray before Motley Crue but that’s a post for another day.
I worked out at the current rate of posting I’ll be finished it in another 4-5 months! Anyhow, I am fucking determined to finish it as I had such a great time and despite the fact it takes a lot of time sorting through the photos I am learning something and it does bring back a lot of happy memories. Especially at the moment when I’m stuck inside at home with fuck all else to do apart from drink diet coke and work.
This day was our last full day on the ship and I was feeling quite tired. We had to pack our shit up and have it outside the stateroom door to be taken away by midnight. This wasn’t too much of a drama except we were sharing a suitcase (well two, one big and one small). Our packing standards vary and even with the help of packing cells, I still didn’t pack to the appropriate standard. As well as being a bit tired, I have a tendency to shove everything in and hope it flattens out in the packing cells/suitcase. I had also accumulated quite a variety of mementos from the different places we had visited during the week. I did manage to avoid purchasing the cruise ship plastic replica or snow globe though I often find myself thinking back regretting that non-purchase.
The Na Pali Coast
What can I say about it that doesn’t repeat the adjectives I’ve already used before? It’s fucking amazing. This and the helicopter flight were probably the two scenic highlights that still stick in my mind to date for the holiday at this point.
The Nā Pali Coast State Park encompasses 6,175 acres of land located in the center of the northwest side of Kauaʻi, the oldest inhabited Hawaiian island. The Nā Pali coast itself extends southwest starting at Keʻe Beach extending all the way to Polihale State Park. The na pali (high cliffs) along the shoreline rise as much as 4,000 feet (1,200 m) above the Pacific Ocean.
Although inaccessible to vehicles, this coast can be enjoyed over land by hiking or in a helicopter, and from the ocean by kayak and paddleboard. We had a fantastic and enjoyable view from our stateroom balcony. Our shipboard neighbours were blasting some Led Zeppelin as we set sail and I have to say I really enjoyed that – it quite set the tone. There is a strict no-smoking policy on the ship (apart from one approved bar) but well our neighbours seemed to be breaking this policy (tho they did ask Evan if he minded) but hey they were enjoying themselves and at least they weren’t playing some horrible top 20 hip hop music!
This was a great time to relax and look back on everything that we’d done during the week as well as just enjoy the beautiful and natural scenery. We even got to see whales a few times (and no I wasn’t looking in the mirror!) I wish we could have just stopped the ship (I keep typing boat and have to delete and correct myself) and parked up and enjoyed it for a bit longer.
I hadn’t really felt any sea sickness until today. I sometimes get car sick but I’m not one of those people that obsesses about it or gets worked up about it. It is what it is. And yes I know a car is not a ship. A couple of times I’d felt a bit nauseous but today was the first time that I’d actually gone to the bathroom feeling that I might actually spew. I didn’t but I came close. The waves were by comparison quite high at some stages – I suppose as we had a long way to go we might have been going a bit faster plus usually most of our travelling was done at night when I was in bed asleep. The feeling passed and I enjoyed a decent dinner anyhow. As I’ve already said Kauai was probably my favourite island that wasn’t Oahu and I’d love to go back and spend time there again one day. The pictures can’t really convey the true depth and feeling of the place but it was definitely peaceful and beautiful.
As I have been writing this blog the last few weeks, the Kilauea crater has been very busy! It’s wicked to think that we were there just a few weeks ago and now it’s got lava spewing out of it. I’m quite fascinated in following the progress of it. There are some great videos and pictures of what’s happening on the facebook page.
As it is the last day on the ship, there’s quite a few things that happen onboard in preparation for everyone getting off on Saturday morning and the next lot getting on not long after us. The maintenance people come along and do weekly tasks such as oiling the balcony railing and the stewards do an extra clean including wiping down the balcony. I’m going to do a general ‘review’ of the cruise in my next blog post I think, to ‘sum it all up’ and look back upon it all over a week as it really was something very special in my life.
One thought on “Day 9 Na Pali Coast, Kauai (Day 2/2), Day 7/8 Cruise”
Lisa Carver Collins
I’m like you, Tracey… it’s so difficult to find words, other than beautiful and amazing, to describe my thoughts and feelings about the photos of this magnificent place. i love your descriptions of your days, and just think! You haven’t used the “c” word ONCE!! (thank you!) I’ve loved your blog! I’m glad you have taken the time to share with us your thoughts, your joys, your true feelings about Hawaii, and all that you experienced there. And, I’m so glad you loved your adventure! 🙂
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