Kauai -- Princeville

I'm finally here. And it is idyllic. My condo is a simple two-bedroom place on a golf course on the ocean. Beautiful. With the tradewinds no air conditioning is needed, so all the windows open to let the breeze flow through. A favorite scene: watching the curtains dance while the cool winds blow, creating a sensual flowing of sorts. I'm not sure why I love it ... But the simple sign of life through nature seems to be here, in my room. Even while napping early afternoon, the sheer curtain would come to greet my foot at the end of the bed ... And I just smiled. It's really that simple. To walk to the beach closest my place, I must walk approximately two miles, most of it down a steep trail the winds around through the rainforest-looking foliage. Breathtaking, since the rain had come, the leaves and the mud proved to be a bit slippery. But taking good advice from my hiking friends, I had purchased a good pair oF Keens to balance my stature. Once at the end, the quiet beach has the expected lava rocks here and there; however, the beauty lies in the greenery ... The trees the create an overhang above the sand, a picturesque setting. The intrigued occurs on the return trip, a steep uphill climb, still beautiful, but as someone who is only a little more in shape, I had to stop a fees times to get breathng in sync ... And check on my other physical well being. Definitely worth the trip. The next hike -- Ke Ala Hele Makalea -- and our first offical trail proved to be as beautiful as claimed. It runs along the coastline from Kapaa north. What makes the walk mesmerizing is the constant roar of the waves hitting the wall of Black lava rocks that lie at the bottom of the cliffs. My favorite is the white foam that forms and the water meets the edge, and today the rain showers that hit sporadically made for a stunning show with the waves surging with greater force. Although the trail is mostly flat, it didn't disappoint. I will stop here for now. Many stories to come ...