Strangers of all kinds

Oh the people I have met on this adventure.

There's the Czech Professional Hockey Manager and his wife who I took kayaking, who spoke barely a word of English and yet made me smile more than anyone else I have met on the beach so far.

The K2 staff of ski bums and outdoor sport junkies who showed up on the beach decked out in ski boots, trekking poles, snowboards, hatchets and hula hoops. They reminded me so much of some of the ski bums I have known in my life.

Nino the incredible musician at the Fairmont Resort who came and sat down at our table during his break to talk story (phrase for chatting). His voice sounds like IZ's voice (look up Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole) (it will make your heart happy).

The local boys who work with me that have decided it is their mission to teach me how to spear fish...let's take a minute and think how ridiculous this situation is going to be...I'll keep you posted (literally) on how that little situation pans out...absolutely outrageous...

Then there is the wonderful couple from Toronto who happened to be sitting next to me on the beach on my day off and took my picture while we watched the sunset. This man had told me he was thrilled that I was embarking on such a journey and it had reminded him of his own travels through Europe as a young man out of school. It is amazing what people will talk about once you say hello. People love to talk and I am grateful...quiet people make me uneasy.

As for me right now, I am recovering from an attack of food poisoning (really made my day special) (I think I went a little crazy with some of the local cuisine and my body just couldn't keep up).

I am on the other side of the big island right now, Hilo, the wet side. I'm sleeping in the rain forest tonight... As I type I am surrounded by the sounds of Coqui (coke-kee) frogs...they sound like mini smoke detectors when they are alone, but when together, they sound like an orchestra of very tiny chimes and whistles...it's magical. I feel like I am down on the bayou somewhere or in the Caribbean amongst the palms and Jack Sparrow.

Geckos are on the wall right now (the daddy long legs of Hawaii) cruising around looking for bugs. Everything is damp outside from an evening shower and the night is alive with the frogs and insects of the night. All I need are fireflies (so out of place) but they would make me feel like I was in a dream.

Tomorrow I have a date with a volcano and the farmers' market.

Beautiful pictures to come of the adventures.

Still no SPAM...

Sending love,

M.