Japan & Polynesian Islands

Margeaux and Jon went to the Polynesian Culture Center. It looks like she's taking a nap.

native tribe of New Zealand, beautiful singers, and cool pom poms. . . .

Tahitian hula girls -Mike, you can't look at this one. . .
ok Mike, you can look at this one. . .

Japanese Byodo Temple
the autograph tree
Buddha
Margeaux banging the gong for good luck
koi

Adventures at the beach

Last night we drove to Waimea Bay to watch the sunset. Out of about 30 pictures, we finally narrowed it down to this one. It was a beautiful evening.

This morning we drove back to the North Shore, to Three Tables beach. Margeaux snorkeled for the first time and loved it!

Jon and Margeaux walked over to Shark's Cove, leaving Cindy at 3 Tables. Jon decided to go snorkeling, but didn't tell Margeaux he would be swimming back to 3 Tables. She thought he had drowned!! She was on her back to tell Cindy that we needed to call for help, only to find that Cindy had discovered what happened and went to tell her all was well! Poor Margeaux!Margeaux, like Faith, was fascinated with the roosters (not the ones that wake her up every morning). Here's one, cocka-doodle-doo!

Brunch at Kahala

Today we went to the brunch buffet at Kahala - it was ono! Then we just walked around and enjoyed this beautiful hotel.

ah, nothing like a cup of Kona coffee!

view from hotel of Koko Head
where we ate brunch

here we're standing at the orchid wall, yes the orchid is real and I did not photoshop it in!

we may go here for high tea another day -

Diamond Head & more

Margeaux at International Marketplace, Waikiki, where she remembers going when she was a little girl.

Wonder what Margeaux's thinking, maybe "I wish I were in England?"
Look at our tropical diet cokes - how fancy!
Here she is at the top of Diamond Head. Pretty good for a girl afraid of heights, not to mention the fact that the lights in the tunnel and the spiral staircase were out! Not a good climbing experience for someone afraid of heights and also has claustraphobia, but she did it!! Do you see the fear in her face?
Ok, NOT a flattering picture, but this one is for Mike to show him that Margeaux climbed 99 stairs!!
Look, it's tiny Britain! Right here in downtown Honolulu, looks like Margeaux gets to visit again after all, but alas, no Mike.

Margeaux's graduation & trip to London!

Here is Margeaux on graduation day!

Congratulations!!

After graduation, Margeaux went to England to see Mike, her English boyfriend! Here they are at his parents' home in Kent.

This is Leeds Castle where Henry XIII lived. "I'm Henry the 8th, I am. Henry the 8th I am, I am. I was married to the widow next door, she'd been married 7 times before". . . . .well you know, that one.

At Saturday market in Hackney, where Mike lives. . .
At Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery

Bellows and Pali

Margeaux at Bellow's Beach - she's not smiling, but she is having fun. . . .her dad wanted her to wear the goofy hat she's holding behind her back.

The Pali Lookout
I think now she wishes she had that hat on!

North Shore - Ola's, honu & shaved ice

Yesterday we all went to the North Shore, shopped at a cool art gallery we'd never been to before, then lunch at Ola's. Next stop was the honu (sea turtle), then a much needed shaved ice. Was a great day!

Aloha Margeaux!

Margeaux's here! She just got her masters, visited England for a week and now is here with us. She is quite the jetsetter, though as you can tell, a little tired. After picking her up at the airport, we went directly to Waikiki for dinner. We're so glad to have her with us!

from Arizona to Alaska

Jon was in Arizona for work and while there visited Tombstone. Here is a reenactment of the Gunfight at the OK Corral! He was showing me where Wyatt Earp is, etc, think it brought out the little boy in him.

Boot Hill
Now you can probably tell, he's no longer in Arizona, but in Alaska, at a state park. Could not go beyond this point because of bears seeking out the salmon in the rivers. He got back home this morning and now is officially on vacation! And Margeaux arrives Monday!

Rainbow

Jon was in Arizona last week, this week in Alaska and he took the camera, so I have taken no pictures and not much to report. But I checked the Jodo Mission's blog tonight to see when their Bon Dance is since we were told that we would have tai chi outside the week of the Bon Dance. Look at this cool picture they have on their website with the rainbow behind it.
I think class will be inside tomorrow, and hope so because we will probably have rain due to hurricane Flossie. But it's going great, we are in with the regular group now and do the entire movement, which takes about 40 minutes, then they break us out to work with us more on those parts we don't know so well. And if you're wondering what a Bon Dance is, I'm not sure. If we go, I'll write about it!

An afternoon in Japan. . . .

Last weekend we visited Byodo Temple, a replica of an 800-year old Japanese temple. We sort of felt like we'd spent an hour in Japan, what a beautiful setting. Aren't these pictures great? I can't take any credit, we went with friends and he took these.

Tai Chi Update

We went to class last night. Every class Master Dong leads us in the form, adding a little to it each week. So we think we're doing pretty good, and last night he does a complete 360 turn!! Next class should be interesting, especially since Master Dong is leaving for China for a month and we are no longer going to be in the beginner class, but are all going to be in one group. I think I better practice that move before Thursday class! Here's another picture of the statue. He has on new apparel now. And notice the drink and the orange. Think he has something to do with protecting children, but I will find out for sure.