amazing thing of the day

[keryx]

I drove over to Kona (the other side of the island) today. [If you aren't familiar with Hawai'i, it's about 50-60 miles across, but it takes at least 2, probably 3, hours to drive that. There's no speedy and efficient way across this island. There might not be anything speedy or efficient about this island, come to think of it. That's part of what it does best.]

Anyhow. I drove over here to SNORKEL WITH MANTA RAYS. It was amazing. There were probably 20 mantas out. The way it works is every boat takes out their divers and snorkelers. All the divers hang out on the bottom, and the snorkelers hang out up top. Everyone shines lights. It's otherworldly. Seriously. Amazing. Did I say amazing? I'm not sure you grasp how amazing I'm really talking about here. It's like every day I get to do something bizarre and fantastic. Today's wasn't even physically hard.

I'm staying overnight since the snorkel didn't end till 9. Aaaand. Apparently I need to skip my lazy, slow return back to Hilo and get up early in the morning - there's some crazy weather hitting all the islands that might mean flooding in the afternoon. Did I mention the lack of speedy and efficient ways to get back to Hilo? I like Kona okay (they have tacos!), but I don't feel a need to stay here for the next couple of days. Not even if Kona still has sun while Hilo is submerged; Kona reminds me too much of California suburbs.

Comments

[spuffyduds.livejournal.com]

Wow, that does in fact sound like the coolest thing EVER.

[luguvalium.livejournal.com]

/me raises a cup of fresh brewed Kona coffee to you

[kiaroskuro.livejournal.com]

My parents are on the Big Island right now, Kona side, in Waikaloa. they own a condo there...

They said it was supposed to be crazy weather today!

And... OMG I WANT TO SNORKEL WITH MANTA RAYS!!!

[keryx.livejournal.com]

Crazy!

And yes, DO IT. I went out with these guys from Big Island Divers because they sounded friendly and disorganized when I called. And they were a good time - professional, but not an over-engineered experience. Even if you only see one manta it will be worth it.

[box-o-spiders.livejournal.com]

That is so freaking awesome!

I lovelovelove manta rays. It sound like the most heavenly thing to be able to swim with them. did you get to pet them? They feel like muscle-y pancakes!

[keryx.livejournal.com]

You're not allowed to pet them per se, since a whole bunch of people doing that would rub off their special manta coating. But that's okay! Because they? PET YOU. Having a manta roll up my belly and then gently whap me in the face with its little manta tail was pretty awesome.

[(Anonymous)]

Try the Saddle Road. I can get from Hilo to the Kona airport in well under 2 hours. It probably helps that I learned to drive on the Saddle Road and know it well -- but the recent construction has made it much easier to drive than it used to be.

[firecat]

I spent a week in and around Kona once. I need to get to Hilo someday.