Schools of fun

You know you're waking up too early in the morning when a shower is bypassed and food is scarfed. Today was a day for that kind of morning. Why on Earth would we allow for such an early (5:15am) rise? Because we had an appointment for a boat cruise with a company called Fair Wind. We boarded our vehicle vessels about 5:45am and drove straight to Kona and the Keauhou Bay where we boarded our sea-going vessel the Fair Wind II. My stomach was full of a fantastic apple fritter as the line we stood in began to move toward our ship. After given a hand to step on board, we headed to the top deck to enjoy the view and Sun. Once the boat got underway we gently bounced and swayed through the beautiful, irredescent sea toward Kealakekua Bay. After passing near a coast of dark, 150-year-old lava flow we rounded a spit of land that lead us into our destination bay. From the front of the ship myself and someone else spied the watery breath of a humpback whale. Far off in the distance the mother and her newborn calf randomly surfaced side by side to reap the benefits/mammalian requirements of sweet oxygen. Clicks and whirrs of cameras marked the sight. Silence was the sound issuing from everyone once our attention was diverted towards the dosile pair. The boat slowly rounded a corner which brought us to our destination. Snorkling was contained to a small area which didn't include venturing ashore to the nearby Captain Cook monument. Shame too because it's a small chunk of land owned by England that I wanted to stand on just so I could proclaim that I was in the same country as Sarah, my girlfriend. Anyway, with the boat parked the fun began. Most set out to snorke, others caught some Sun, and still others (myself included) choose to spend lots of time jumping and sliding off the boat. The bay was wonderfully calm and gave us a great chance to view even more species of fish. Lunch was soon served to all on the boat which, I must say, was really tasty. I couldn't decide then whether or not to hit the water considering the new nurishment in my stomach. I soon bet that I'd be fine and dove off the upper deck into the water. Not a problem on the tummy! I avoided snorkeling the rest of the trip not because I was tired of it but because jumping off and using the slide on the boat were a blast! Time passed quickly and we soon headed back to port. The ride back was quicker than the ride out and also included dazzling displays by some nearby spinner dolphins and a small school of flying fish. We docked safely and set foot on dry land soon thereafter. Not to sound like a commercial or anything but Fair Wind did and incredible job which I would recommend anyone visiting the Big Island partake.

The ride in the Benham's van back to KMC was a long one consisting of a stop in downtown Kona and a couple places in South Point. While wandering around in Kona, I decided to purchase three more necklaces for myself. Since they were at a marketplace vendor's stand, cash was the name of the game. And I had none. Nick joined me as I saught out a magical machine of money (also known as ATM's). We quickly found one and I proceded to withdraw $60 from my savings account. I was shocked at the $2 charge for using that ATM but was even more shocked when I received my receipt. A rather large number caught my eyes on the small slip of paper which I took to be my balance. Curious of this number I gave it a glance. $200. Hmm, that's too little to be my balance and is far larger than the amount I queried the machine for. A few double-takes later I realized that that $200 figure was what the receipt said I withdrew! Not right. Here we go. I wanted $60 and I got $60. What's wrong with this picture here? We went to the store nearest the theiving machine and asked if other people had come to them with similar such problems with that machine. Without hesitation the store owner answered in the affirmative and pointed us across the street to Uncle Billy's Hotel. Supposedly they run the ATM and could solve all my problems. I believe I ended up talking to some kind of assistant manager type about the problem. He xeroxed my receipt and had me give him all my vital info and a description of the incident. We'll see how this turns out but I bet when I check the last few transactions on my account that I'll be, oh say, $140 short.

I bought my necklaces (damn you Nick for infecting me with those ideas!) and we slowly headed back to camp. The evening was a slow one at the ol' firehouse. This being the case, Kristin, Matt, Nick, Renee, and I left a makeshift study session and ventured out to the nearby steam vents guided by the road and lit by the reflected Sunlight of the Moon. We talked about things that people talk about when they're getting to know one another. Sex, dreams, and our futures would about sum up the nocturnal steam vent talk. Once we all got chilly and Nick was thoroughly soaked from standing right in the steam's way we walked back. The remainder of the night was pretty much nothing. Good day though. Can't always say I say humpback whales, spinner dolphins, flying fish and volcanic steam vents by Moonlight everyday.

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Wed. January 19, 2000

Schools of fun

6/4/2007 @ 4:08am

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