Vacation Magic

The author mesmerized by an expert - Kona Kozy

Vacation means escape; the meaning of vacate is, after all, getting out of a place that was previously occupied.  The occupied spaces are sometimes only in your mind.  There are so many cares involved with day-to-day living, even in semi-retirement...put this away, wash this, don't forget your doctor's appointment, what's for dinner, does the car need servicing?  Vacations are necessary respites from the quotidian.

One of the best escapes of this vacation was a one-man performance from a magician/comedian who calls himself Kona Kozy.  Kozy is a large and loud man who brings to the stage a rare combination of bombast and subtlety.  He is no ordinary magician; nor is he an ordinary comic.  In fact, there's nothing ordinary about him.  His legerdemain involves more than sleight of hand; it includes reading minds.  When a calculator is used to add, subtract, multiply & divide random numbers supplied by the audience results in a phone number that, when called, rings in the audience, it must give you pause.

But the astonishment of the mind-reading was exceeded by the laughter, and therein lies the true magic.  A true vacation.  Next time your on the Big Island of Hawaii, don't miss it.  Kona Kozy at the Tiki Palace in the shops at Mauna Lani:  www.konakozy.com.

Vacation Magic 2 - Swimming with the Manta Rays

You can't get too much vacation while on vacation.  It wasn't enough to escape through comedy and magic one night, we decided to escape in the ocean on the second night.

From the magic of laughter, we went to the magic of silence.  A unique activity on the Island of Hawaii is the opportunity to have a night swim with the manta rays.  A half hour sunset ride on a comfortable catamaran took us to a cove on the Kona coast known for its plankton where, attracted by lights and food, manta rays come to feed.

The outfitter supplied wet suits and snorkeling gear, and we all jumped into a warm ocean, grabbed onto a handle attached to a surf board, ducked our heads into the ocean, let our legs float behind us, and focused our eyes and ears on the silent beauty of the underwater.  Almost immediately a gigantic dark figure with a huge gaping mouth rose from the deep circled underneath almost touching us with a glowing white, spotted underbody and disappeared back into the depths.  The only sound was the sound of our own breathing magnified by the water and the snorkel.  A surreal and magic universe.  Ahh, vacation.

Another Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

The perfect tropical breakfast at Sheraton Kona Resort on the Big Island

It's easy to understand why Hawaii is high on the bucket lists of so many people. The weather, the music, the resorts, the ocean, the papaya and pineapple, the people...everything combines to create the perfect vacation renewal spot.  The word fecundity comes to mind.  Some vacations provide you with stimulating new experiences, filling you up, enriching you.  Hawaii's beach resorts allow you to empty out, be still, and be at peace with nature, life and death. 

Our little slice of heaven.

A group of four friends and I traveled from Durango to visit a friend who moved here about 7+ years ago.  Such a different vibe from the mountains.  Yesterday was the fourth day of the trip and, true to form, it was "catch up" day.  Tour operators have long known that the 4th travel day is a low-energy, low-motivation day.  Two of us took advantage of that low energy to station ourselves in a lounge chair by the pool overlooking the Pacific.  But first, we took the morning to arrange for Hawaiian adventures, including dinner and the performance of a magician/comic, swimming with the manta rays, and finishing with a sunset dinner cruise before our departure.  I know what you're thinking!  Now is the time to book your tickets!

Waiting

Don't travel (especially when Mercury is retrograde) unless you're prepared to wait.  Here I am in the United Club at SFO airport waiting for a flight to Kona Hawaii.  It's only delayed by 45 minutes, but I'm on my second Chardonnay and hunkering down to endure whatever happens.  Incredibly enough, it's just what I need...a little true down time.  Nowhere to be; no one I need to talk to; no chores to be done.  A true vacation in an airport lounge. 

As waits go, airport lounges are much better than the hustle and bustle of the general vibe in the airport terminal.  I actually deserted my group to land here in the lounge because I had a pass that would expire in 7 days, and am feeling a bit guilty for deserting them and enjoying the "free" wine and eats while my friends pay good money to eat the drab airport fare.  I'm travelling with a group of 3 friends to Hawaii to celebrate another friend's birthday.  We're a group of "old" friends who were originally brought together by our Hawaiian buddy, so it's a reunion of sorts.  There are so many reasons to travel and get away from the usual, and travelling just to get away is a good reason.  I think I'll go get another Chardonnay. 

Where do you want to go next?  And why?  For whatever reason, get on the road.  Cheers!