Big Island Dolphin Swimming

Not writing or YA related, but this is the vid of the totally awesome dolphin swim we did last month in HI. It was... incredible. I'm the one in the red shirt, and Noah's wearing a bright yellow shirt... we're easy to spot. Look how amazingly close they came to us!!! I swear, I could do that every day for the rest of my life and not get tired of it.

Riding in Waipio Valley

This post is for Leslie <3

Two years and I finally get back in the saddle somewhere. Had a nice 2 and a half hour ride through Waipio Valley on this very pleasant little bay mare named Jessie. I could move here. But I'd get lonely after a while I think.

Please ignore the fact that I'm tilting to the left.
Who doesn't put enough weight in their right foot?

Isn't the Percheron Noah is riding so cute, too?

It was very nice to be back on the back of a horse... still, I could feel shadows of my old anxiety and neurosis fluttering about in my chest. I'm glad to have this happy, relaxed experience under my belt at least... and while the other noobs couldn't keep their horses from eating any and every plant they passed, Noah and I were able to manage very well (they asked us NOT to let the horses graze/eat mangoes, avocados, etc. while we were on the trail). Ha!

Waipio Valley is absolutely gorgeous, as well. And what better way to see it?

Sea Turtles!

Hawaii is amazing... especially because you can be walking down the beach and see these guys just grazing along... we even swam with a few at a different beach! Incredible.

A few tropical flowers...

Island dreaming

I've been a bit busy recently... hence no posting. Don't believe me? See below.

Oh, and I'll be back to posting about life, writing, and internships starting May 22nd(ish)...

Tidepools by the place we're staying. Incredible snorkeling

Lava Tree... created when lava engulfed wet, cool trees
in this forest.

Ube ice cream! Made from purple sweet potato. The color is
all natural!

Rainbow Falls in Hilo, HI

The Red Road. It really IS that color!

Black sand and a re-seeding project in an area that was destroyed
by volcanic activity.

Kilauea Iki Crater

Petroglyph in Hawaii Volcanoes NP

Baby wild boars... rescued by a permaculture farm after
a neighbor killed their mother.

Hilo has a zoo, too!

Two toed Sloth!!!

Namaste the white Bengal tiger.