More Hawaiian Photos.....

I really felt ambitious the other day and went through my albums for pictures to share with you on my Blog. Hawaii is a place very close to my heart because I found so much peace while there. Living in a highly populated area with close to a million or more people surrounding you really does increase the tension and stress levels in your body and mind. If you can afford to take a vacation, it is extremely important to go some place where you can erase your tensions. A lot of people take vacations, but end up doing the same thing they do at home. They are always on the go, they put themselves on a schedule to do this and that, and though they might appreciate what they see; when they arrive home they often find that they need a vacation from their 'vacation.' With each trip we took to Hawaii, I added a day or two, did my 'running around' during the beginning and dedicated the last week to just 'chillin'. After going back home to Boston I took an additional 3 days before I went back to the 'madhouse' of the work world. Well; enough of my philosophy, let me share some of those photos with you!

This photo was taken on the island of Maui at a Buddist Temple. It is the largest statue ot Buddha in the United States, and the background setting is simply breathtaking!

Here is Charlie standing beside some incredibly large leaves! We were visiting a botanical park on the Big Island. I was just in awe at the size of some of the leaves going in Hawaii!

These are gigantic Lily Pads! Our tour guide told us that they are strong enough to support 30 pounds each!

The 'Mighty Ocean.' I could sit for hours watching the waves roll into the shore.

I was brave enough to drag myself onto a helicopter so we could see Hawaii by air over the island of Kauai. We flew over and into the Waimea Canyon, the wettest place on the planet with over 500 inches of rainfall a year. Here is one of the pictures. Hawaii is a very beautiful group of islands. It is the reason why it is often the setting for many of Steven Spielberg's movies.

Here is another Canyon photograph. I love the iron-rich red soil of Kauai!

A beautiful aerial beach scene

Another beautiful aerial shot of one of the bays on Kauai

Isn't this beautiful? It is a giant clam shell sink (fully functioning) located in the bathrooms at the Coco Palms Hotel on Kauai.

The lagoon of this hotel was used to film the wedding scene of Blue Hawaii; an Elvis Prestley film classic.

Here is my Hawaii beachfront home (another 'just kidding' remarks). This scene was taken on the Big Island of Hawaii from our rented condo apartment.

On the Island of Molokai, this beautiful beach scene was taken

More beautiful iron-ore rich soil of Kauai taken from the helicopter.

Who would like to join me on the grounds of this hotel on Molokai?

Refreshing, rushing water coming from a waterfall...

There are crystals, and there are crystals! This one lies in a Temple on Kauai and is 36 inches tall. This crystal is also very powerful. If I told you just how powerful, most would not believe me; so I just won't go into it here. However, if you are curious, email me at delores@exploremaine.com and I will tell you what I know.

Here is a Giraffe Family living on the island of Molokai. I was surprised to discover just how very skittish they are. If you make one suddenly move, they will scamper like a herd of elephants to get away from you.

Cabbage Island Trip

Thursday, John and I drove to Boothbay Harbor and took an excursion to Cabbage Island; a 5 acre privately owned island for a lobster bake. It was our second trip there, and the second was just as enjoyable as the first! The boat ride was about 45 minutes long and just wonderful! The roundtrip boat ride, the lobster bake plus tax came to a nice $47.50. Quite a bargain if you ask me; especially when you get fish chowder, two lobsters, a healthy helping of steamed clams, an ear of corn, a baked potato, a hard boiled egg, a baked onion (why anyone would want one of those, I don't know), a nice hunk of blueberry cake (more like blueberry bread) and complimentary coffee, iced tea, with sodas costing a dollar; and there were alcoholic beverages for a fee. Everything is served picnic style on picnic tables you share with friends or strangers. I think they call that 'family-style' now. Of course the boat ride revealed many wonderful homes along the shores of the Bay; folks with plenty of money have palatial homes. Here are some photos I snapped of the island, and a few along the way.

Here's my place...... (kidding!) but I could 'live' quite well having the deed to this property!


A boat in the harbor.....


Here's another beautiful home on the way to Cabbage Island.
Some beautiful scenery on the way to the Island


Just leaving Boothbay Harbor


Arriving at Cabbage Island

A small island right next to Cabbage Island


Here is where you collect your Lobster dinner


Here are two happy souls walking back to their tables after receiving their dinners


Here's another happy person.......

Here is a photo of my dinner. I intended to take it before I started eating it, but I forgot! Sorry about that. Missing are my steamed clams and most of my potato....

Here's John! I think the expression on his face says it all about how much he is enjoying his lobster!

Look at him plowing into his corn! My man certainly enjoys his food!!

Thought you might enjoy seeing some scenery of the island. I love pictures showing the beauty of Mother Nature. Her greenery, water, rocks and flowers really moves my soul!

The sun was setting by the time we left , so here is a beautiful scene.......


The owners of Cabbage Island live in this house.


I love rocks and boulders.....


This is the entrance to the indoor seating area. The bar and restrooms are also inside.


Last but not least is a close-up of a beautiful flower growing on the grounds....
I hope you have enjoyed our trip to Cabbage Island, Boothbay, Maine!

More Egyptian Pictures......

I went through my photo albums and scanned more pictures taken while touring Egypt. I wanted to take many more but despite good intentions, I became sick after the third day and missed out on excursions to various tombs. By the time we left Egypt, if I even looked at food, my intestines steered me to the bathroom!

One thing I never expected to see were live scarabs! I thought they were extinct! Not so! They hibernate under the sand in the hot day sun and come to the surface once the sun sets and the ground is cool. I found this out while sitting on some beach chairs waiting for the Sound & Light show to begin at the base of the Great Pyramid. I noticed something moving on the sand towards us, and when Charlie told me they were scarabs, I raised my feet onto the chair in front of me!
They are large too! I don't remember anything about the Sound & Light Show at all. I was too busy concentrating on 'keeping safe'!


Here is the Guard-Guide of the Pyramid who asked me if I would like to spend the night locked inside the Kings Chamber. I politely thanked him but declined. Looks like a character from an Indiana Jones movie or The Mummy.

This photo was taken at the Temple of Philae. It was physically relocated when they built the Dam. You can see water marks if you look at the buildings and columns.

Here is a better view of the columns from the Temple of Philae

Here are members of our group walking towards the Step Pyramid; one of the earliest attempts at creating a pyramid.

This picture was taken inside the walled city of Cairo. This portion of the city is extremely old, dating back to the times of Mary, Joseph and Christ. As a matter of fact, there is a church located within these walls where Mary, Joseph and Christ hid from Herod. People still live in apartments here.

This photo was taken inside a Tent Party on our last night in Egypt. The men are Dervishes. Men typically do the dancing in Egypt. They play instruments and eventually begin spinning at incredible speed in a circle, giving themselves the name of 'Whirling Dervishes'. Whenever you see a Belly Dancer, it is a forbidden activity, and considered something akin to topless dancing in this country.

Here is a member of our group resting on a granite bench in the Kings Chamber inside the Great Pyramid. It was a hard climb to this chamber and it was quite warm and the air was very 'still'. Sitting or standing with your back against the granite walls was very cooling to the body. If you look closely you can see her reflection on the wall behind her.

Though I did not take this photo, I am including it here because it gives a clearer image of what the coffer in the Kings Chamber looks like. The granite block that appears in the image above is more easily seen, and they have a tendency to move the block around from time to time, as well as the coffer. There is more lighting inside the pyramid today than back in the 80's. When we were there, there was one florescent tube and the light was very dim.

One final photo: The was taken inside a Perfume Shop. The man you see poured various oils into small bottles and sold them in the boxes you see on the table. There was nothing you could 'spray on'. All perfume is sold in their natural oil form.

Another Turkey Visit......

I looked outside this afternoon and saw 'Mother Turkey' with her two babies enjoying the bugs again today. Afterwards all three of them sat down and enjoyed the surrounding countryside for about 20 minutes......

 

Surprise Visitors!

While running past my kitchen window to check on the roast chicken and potatoes, something unusual caught my eye. I looked and was startled to see three turkeys on my lawn! This is not the first time I have seen them this year. But I thought it was a 'one-time-visit'. I told John the other day I heard some strange 'large-bird' noises in the woods as I walked from the car into the house... You never know what you will find on your property when you live in a rural area. The only thing we haven't seen is a bear! I am sorry the photo is not very sharp. I was over 150 feet away and had to 'push' the camera to its limits to get the picture you see below.

Porter Lake

Yesterday John, myself along with four others had the pleasure of touring Porter Lake by Pontoon Boat. Porter Lake is located in my small town of approximately one thousand residents. I never realized how large it is. It even has an island where residents are allowed to camp out on a first-come-first served basis. The lake is pretty much dotted with 'camps'. Some residents live there year round, many enjoy their lakeside homes only during the months of May through October, then head South (usually Florida) for warmer climes.

In the background you can see the Foothills and Mountains of my town

One of the Camps on Porter Lake

Here is another Camp along the lake

Here is the Camp of Zip Cahil who generously gave us a tour of Porter Lake

Here is a partial view of the island

Young resident enjoying a swim

Father and daughter skimming the lake

Here is Zip at the wheel

Here is John "clowning" for the camera

Here are Lovie, Jim, and Bonnie