I wish I had remembered to bring my camera with me today to show you some pictures from yesterday. I’ll have to get them up here soon…

Yesterday I spent the day with my cousins who live on the Windward side of the island. We went snorkeling in Hanauma Bay, which is a wildlife preserve and state park. There’s a coral reef inside a crater there that’s protected from sharks and overly large fish, and has a wide variety of tropical ocean fish. I need to get an underwater bag for my camera so I can take some photos of them… Anyway, it was a lot of fun and we got some sun, too, which I needed. I’ll have to get my own snorkel gear, though, so I can go again. ^_^

After that, we drove back along the coast and stopped at a natural formation called the Blowhole, which is a place where the volcanic rock is exposed to the waves and the water rushed up through a hole in the rock and spouts like a geyser. Right at the base of the rocks we saw several sea turtles popping up for air and then sinking back below the waves. It was very cool. Apparently it’s a good place to see whales in the winter months as well. I’ll have to go again.

Once we got back to my cousins’ house, their kids decided to bake me a birthday cake, so that provided afternoon entertainment– it was a very cute cake once they were done with it– and then I stayed for dinner. It was a very good birthday, even though J had to be on the ship. I’m sure he and I will do something fun this weekend, though.

Our furniture comes tomorrow, so I’ve been busy trying to get the house ready. I have to clean out the loaner furniture (especially the dresser!) and make sure it’s all ready to go away tomorrow as well. I’m so ready to have my things again, but I’m a little worried about their condition… I guess that since we got here safely, and the cats got here safely, I really shouldn’t worry about anything else, but I can’t help thinking of things like a couple of bottles of nail polish that were in the bathroom… heh. I may be in for a few surprises.

We get internet and cable next Wednesday and I won’t have to make daily treks to Starbucks and Jamba Juice anymore, which will be nice. Plus, I’ll have my own tea kettle back, so that will make everything better. Now all I need is a good tea shop; the tea at the Exchange just isn’t doing it for me.