MAUI 2010 LAST DAY IN PARADISE

I don't want to go home. I want to stay in paradise for ever!!! As you can tell this is the day we pack up our suit cases and head to the airport back to our lives in cold snowy prairies.

Our flight does not leave until 11:30 pm, so we have a whole day to do what ever we like. The people we rented our condo from have been gracious and let us leave our stuff in the condo until we head out and they did not charge us an extra day.

Today it is very windy. All the wind surfers are out on the oceon. So cool to see the different colors and sizes of equipment.

Guess what new pet I have met? You are never ever gonna guess. Okay I will tell you. A Honu Turtle crawled out of the water to sllep and sun tan. This is a rare thing to see, as they mostly stay under the water.

I asked at the Whale sanctuary if the Honu was sick. They said no. This particular turtle loves to come out on the beach and sleep in the sun.

Wow!! A dream come true to see a Honu up close and personal. Take a look at her photo. I named the Honu "Lyla".

The last sun set before we leave. This is a beauty.

This is the end of the Maui 2010 story. It has been perfect.

P.S. When we arrived home, our luggage was not with us. It got left behind in Vancouver, BC. Eventually the luggage was found and returned to us.

THE END

MAUI 2010 JANUARY 24th

Just another day in paradise. Hot sunny lazy day. Good food, new friends, and excitement on the beach.

We decided to stop in at Denny's to visit and eat. Had a wonderful visit with the GM and scored a staff shirt and menu for a souvenir. Hawaii Denny's and Calgary Denny's have many different items on the menu. Strange to see birds flying in and out of the restaurant.

Next, a picnic and sun tanning at a beach.

SURPRISE was waiting for us at the beach. Can you guess what it was?

Okay I will tell you............say please first.

We saw a Hawaiian Monk Seal sleeping on the beach. There is only 1200 of these species left, making them an endangered species. He stayed on the beach until after sun set. It was breath taking to witness.

*Pictures from Stuart*

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/hawaiian-monk-seal.html

For more information see the above site.

Honu's were everywhere .

A new pet in our yard. Meet Froggy the Frog. Isn't he cute?

Sun set

MAUI 2010 JANUARY 23rd

Just another day in paradise. Today we went to "Peggy Sue's 50's Dinner" Big juicy burgers and thick chocolate shakes. So yummie.

Here is a bouquet of flowers from the store. Hawaiian Pro Tea's. Aren't they amazing?

For dessert we went to the beach and watched whales belly flop. WOW were the whales loud!! Found a turtle close to shore, but of course I didn't get him in the picture. Collected some shells and watched the sun set.

I forgot to mention, we have a new pet in our yard. It is a mongoose. I am scared of it, as they are mean.

Soon this trip to paradise will be ending. So sad:( . I do not want to go back to cold and snow.

MAUI 2010 JANUARY 21

Today we went on a Turtle hunt. I love Honu's (Hawaiian for Turtle).

Turtles are hard to find as they tend to stay in the water. Honu's are not sun tanners.

Look!! I took a picture of the turtle. Can you see him? Growl...........he got away, but I saw the Honu...believe it or not.

Let me try again. I took more pictures and well..........no turtle in the picture. I know I will go get Da Prince, he is good at taking pictures. I will go wake him from his beach sleep.

Oh look...a HONU!!! Isn't he a cutie? He is HUGE!!

I am officially done with being a photographer. I will leave the picture taking to the talented ones.

MAUI 2010 SUN KISSED JANUARY 20th

Life is good. I have graduated from crutches.............woo hoo. Left leg and ankle still swell up ,but managable.

Went whale watching on a hill. Amazing to watch those huge animals. It was very hot and windy. I got kissed by the sun. So as of today I am now a "Lobster" color............oh it is a big ouch!!!

After the sun went down, we had a fabulous picnic. I did not want the day to end.

Today we went house hunting. Not sure if we want to buy a condo for the purpose of renting it out or buy a house and move here? Tuff decision??? Our amazing real estate agent Karen, gave us fresh star fruit, lemons,papayas, hugs and good advice. Thank you Karen, you are a beautiful person.

Went collecting seashells...........my favorite past time at the beach.

Da Prince bbq'd huge huge steaks for our dinner. Good food, good wine and good company.....I am in Heaven I think?:)

This a picture of apple bananas. They taste like a Granny Smith Apple but it is a banana.

MAUI 2010 5TH DAY AND BEYOND

I have new friends. They are Fred and Sally. Fred is very out going and Sally is very shy. They are Gecko's that live in our yard. I talk to them daily. Sally ran away when I brought out the camera.

Feet are feeling better. Still swollen and look like Fred Flintstone.

Visited different beaches. Watch amazing sunsets each night Gone out for fish and chips and Maui tacos. So YUMMIE. Sit in the hot tub before bed time.......makes a person relax and sleep well. I need a hot tub at my house.

Hearts are everywhere in Maui. Love is in the air.

Stuart doing what he does good.....snore and sleep.

Today, January 19th, my feet are normal size. I put myself to bed early and the swelling finally went down. Now maybe I can get rid of the crutches?

MAUI 2010 4TH DAY

Today we took is slowly. Went to two beaches and had a picnic. Took in some sun and took lots of pictures.

MAUI 2010 3RD DAY

>I cannot walk on my right foot. My left knee and foot is sooooooooo swollen---I have Fred Flinstone feet.

>Tried ice and a tensor bandage but this didn't work.

>Called my insurance company as I am out of Country.

>They set up all the paper work and found me a hospital 30 minutes away from out condo.

>So much fun at the hospital. Friendly staff, quick service and smart doctors.

>Had x-rays done on my knee and foot.

>Good news no broken bones.

>Bad news---knee infection---possible blood clot---sprained right knee, need crutches for a week. Lots of pain killers and strong anti-biotics for 10 days.

>Just for fun, Stuart fell asleep on the beach and got a nasty sun burn.

>This blog is acting up tonight.......all spaced wrong.......what can I do?

>Good news---insurance covered the hospital visit and crutches.I have to send in receipts and then I will get my prescriptions paid for.

>Happy Day :)

MAUI 2010 2ND DAY

JANUARY 13

>At last in Paradise and on 2 weeks holidays..........so exciting

>We walk accross the street from our condo to get to the beach

>Pictures of plants, bbq and pool in our yard

>First day walked to the beach and ocean and saw a black crab. Stopped to talk to the crab. An under current caught me and I fell and dropped my back pack into the oceon.Oh NO!!! Cell phone is soaked and does not work!!!

> I fell on my left knee and twisted my right ankle.......both swollen up and sore. Great start to a holiday.

>Had so much fun in the sun and with my hubby.

>Did some shopping great way to end a day in Paradise

>

Maui 2010

January 12th

>Up at 2:30 am to be at the Calgary Airport for 4:00 am.

>Get to the airport and there is a sign that says: Be at the airport 2.5 hour prior to departure to the USA, but on the website it states be at the airport 3 hours prior to departure.

>7:00 am finally we are in the air..........heading to paradise.

>To get to paradise, we have to fly to Vancouver go through customs and sit in a holding tank to confirm our luggage has been collected and put on the jet to Maui.

>Stress is over, they did not pat me down at Customs. I was scared of that as I DO NOT LIKE STRANGERS TOUCHING ME!!! I was scared I would hit the security guard that patted me down.

>2.5 hour later we are in the air heading to Maui...........ALOHA

> 1 hour late arriving in Maui do to strong head winds. Oh my ears are killing me from the flight.

> PARADISE:MAUI---I am home. Plus 28 above, light winds and sunny. Friendly people in the airport. Time to wait for our luggage and collect our rental vehicle.

> Oh NO!!! Stuart's luggage is damaged!!! So have to put in a claim.

>Now luggage picked up and luggage put in the rental car.

>Stop at Costco and pick up some groceries and lots of alcohol.

>Drive over to our condo.........what a long day. It is 7:00 pm and we are finally here. There is a 3 hour difference in time. Maui is 3 hours behind Calgary.

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