Three month mark in Hawaii

Honestly, it doesn't at all feel like I've been here three months. I've been filling my off time with reading, beach trips, hanging out in hammocks and general relaxation. It's currently coffee harvest season so I've been doing that after work some days; $15 for a 25-lb bucket of beans. I intend to use that money to supply food during the few weeks of camping I have planned for December.

I changed my departure date from the WWOOF farm to Dec 13th; for a number of reasons. I feel I have not learned anything in my stay here and I feel somewhat like an indentured servant. I still would have visited this farm if I had known what it was to be like, but only for a few weeks not several months. I feel as though I could of learned so much at another farm - although the living condition would have been less luxurious. So on the 13th I will head south to Green Sands Beach and camp there for a few days. Hitchhike to Volcano National Park from there and spend about a week taking in all the trails, craters, lava tubes and lava flows. I have a few contacts I've made in the Puna area so I'll probably check them out and I have a WWOOF stay 'planned' for two weeks starting around the solstice. The farm is basically a survival camp; no work quota or leaders - only need to gather foods to feed ourselves. It's located on a road which is well known for communities, survival camps and the like. So, if I don't like it - I'll walk to the next place. If I don't fall in love with a community there and end up staying I'll head to Hilo and check out some of the touristy sights; the waterfalls, caverns and camp on some beaches. Then further north and trek into Waimanu Valley for several nights. There's a few farms I'd like to check out for a few days in Waimea and Hawi before committing to a longer stay. One is a paint (type of horse) ranch that also installs solar panels; which is 8 miles from the highway. Another is a hatha yoga/raw food/detox/hare krishna place - I've always wanted to visit one to see what all the fuss is about. If none of those places pan out I'll arrange a stay at the Kona hostel for AM work and get a part time job in the evenings. After a few months I should have enough money to spend a few weeks exploring the other islands before flying to New Zealand or Australia.

Aside from all those plans I want to go with the flow. That's my basic outline so I feel like I have a purpose. Although it is liberating to not have a plan at all - it sort of causes me a bit of stress. I like to have something to anticipate. Shaheen, another WWOOFer whose been on the farm with me for almost 6 weeks is leaving Sunday, Ian will be here until January and we have a newcomer, Doris, who arrived last night. All are great people and I'll be sad when we separate paths.

I've been doing great! Trying to do yoga, meditation and eat vegetarian. Although, Thanksgiving is tomorrow. I've started writing a journal-type thing in a book; although I can't say whether I'll actually write in it. I've been trying to live in the present as much as possible (besides all the above planning). Enjoy the wind, smells, sounds and the contact with my fellow humans. I actually feel a lot better when I do not think and only absorb the moment. It's freeing and comforting. And no mom, I'm not turning into some Hare Krishna person. Actually this thinking started while reading "Dharma Bums" and then "A New Earth" (which is that book that Oprah talks about - remember when you told me to get online and do something with her program or something). Not to ruin a surprise but that will probably be your Xmas present.

Well, today's my day off and I don't know what to do. Probably go read and catch a ride into town to buy a camp stove and some propane. It's hard to believe that I leave in two weeks. Very exciting though!

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Another day in paradise

After fighting an urge for chocolate for a few days I made the walk with my meager tip earnings to the gas station down the highway. A long walk up the driveway lined with avocado, guava, coffee, lime, macadamia nut, bananas and beautiful flowers of all kinds. Once on the highway it's a narrow, crushed lava shoulder and a two-lane road. The clerk at the gas station is the same aged but always cheery Hawaiian women who's always one duty. I make a mental note to ask if they need help on my next visit. She smiles, as always, as she counts my change and starts conversation with the man, a transplant who seems to know the clerk very well, in line behind me. Crossing the street and turning down the driveway, I notice the vog (volcanic fog) has let up enough to see the ocean. Today is the first day it has been clear enough to see the curve of the earth in the horizon. I sigh, bite into my chocolate, and think of spending my day off snorkeling with tropical fish, sea turtles and dolphins.

I'll be at Rainbow Plantation until Janurary. I'm entertaining several ideas for after that. I'll probably work for three months at a hostel in Kona while taking a parttime job in the evenings. That should allow me time to save money to fly to Australia and get through customs there. Though, there are so many great farms all over the islands that I could spend years here.