A Hand at Skiing


I wondered….
Fresh snow under naked toes
Dream-like feeling that only snow knows
Oh Yes..!
scrunch of puff-balls
A delightful sensation I cannot fake
crystals, hexagonal lattice
hydrogen bonds shatter under
crunch...

Oh No...!
its COLD
Despite my perceived relish, I must confess
Definitely
Naked toes in snow are not the best
....no naked toes...
Skiing...
For that, I will be back...



A Hand at Skiing



Skiing has totally got to be the most fun sport (after jet ski!) and I just looove it. I’ve been asked to try it for a couple of years now, but my fear of falling kept me back. My impressions had been built up by the those guys zooming down near vertical slopes so I had made up my mind that such activities belonged strictly in the realm of TV watching and Winter Olympics.

Last winter, however, I was bulldozed into skiing, My cousin Arjun had tried at Thanksgiving and he reported that though falling was inevitable, it was super fun. Janna told me I was confusing the black diamond slope with the beginner slopes which were relatively user friendly. In Dec 2011, my parents had taken me to the Heavenly Ski Resort, as part of a Tahoe trip, and made me watch some of the beginners learning. I was given a parade of examples of other kids who’s tried and were enjoying it. Willy nilly, it became clear that I would end up on those ski slopes.  But it was still with some trepidation that i agreed to give it a try. It was already March 2013, the end of the ski season, so the weather was warmer. But maybe that was better for this nervous nube. A day trip was planned to Tahoe and Alpine Meadows Ski Slopes where DSA held lessons.


Ski rentals were the agenda after checking in at the DSA office at Alpine Meadows. How on earth was I going to manage all these  apparatus was the thought in my mind. Motor planning has been a weak point, which attempts at coordinating those bollywood dance steps had so aptly demonstrated, so how was I going to coordinate these elongated extensions, in addition to coordinating my hands and feet.  Ski boots are HEAVY and very difficult to put on. Walking with those heavy boots was, well, difficult but then I found, they were not so bad as well. I often do have a body-space disconnect, and the heavy ski boots were kind of grounding for me, which felt good. On the other hand, stiff as they are, ski boots are not the most comfortable of footwear, so i was very conscious of the weighty things that hung around my ankles. To add to it all, I was told that I need to carry my skis too. Wasn’t I already carrying around 2-3 pounds at my ankles? Now I had to carry around 2-3 pounds on my shoulders too!


I had 2 instructors and they took me onto the snow. They helped put the skis on and we did some  warm up exercises for some time. I had to learn what to do with the elongations attached to my feet. How do I manipulate each foot. Would I even be able to balance? I had fully expected to fall right away and go sliding and gliding all the way to kingdom come. Au Contraire, to my surprise, I was able to balance reasonably well (and I had 2 instructors to help). It kind of felt like the times I’d been roller skating many years ago. Before I knew it, I was being led in the direction of the Subway ski lift. It was good that I was not given time to think, the immediate task was to get me seated on the ski chair. The instructors had the operator slow the chair down, which made it easy for me to get on.


I watched the ground disappear beneath my feet as we rode up the ski chair. Dad and Mom waved and shouted encouragement from below. Cameras clicked busily. The bigger trick is to get off the lift at the other end without falling, it does not slow down there. Dad had talked a lot about falling off at the other end; I most definitely did not look forward to the falling off the lift. There is a little slope where you have to get off, I got up, and viola, landed on my feet. My skis slid the few feet that slope to the plateau, but I was still very much on my feet. Success!


At the top of the Subway Lift and just by the Meadows Lift,  is a snow travelator, called a magic carpet and we practiced on it for a while. The slope next to it is very gentle and so you go up the carpet and ski down. I was put through the paces. Confidence grew!


I got ready for my first downhill skiing. The subway slope is a beginner slope but then I was still only the beginner of beginners. The slope loomed down, my muscles murmured, “it must be a 80 degree slope,” though my rational mind scoffed at that thought, and attempted to correct the degree accordingly. The instructors used a  kind of harness which helped me be independent yet kept the instructor in control, should the need arise. It must look funny to the onlookers eye. I felt like a reindeer, who stood next to Santa on the snow. A tie of sorts between my 2 skis kept my skis parallel. The goal was to get me to go down the slope without worrying about skis going awry. Down I flew, the World War 2 flying ace. OMG! It was a total rush! The instructors were on either side of me the entire time. No wonder this sport is so well loved. I got to ride the ski lift and ski down quite a few times for the remainder of the lesson.


I was back 2 weeks later for another lesson. It was March 31st and the ski resort itself was closing down. The crowds had thinned down. I still had the tie which kept my 2 skis parallel like two french fries, but this time there was no harness. Instead I held onto one end of the pole, while the other end was held by the instructor and we skied parallely. So there was even more independence as I zoomed down the Subway slope and rode up the Ski Lift. We practiced on the magic carpet too.  Mom was also skiing that day and we crossed each other several times.


There was a light snowfall that day. Snow is not condensed rain as some may think. Rather it forms in the clouds as water vapor condenses around dust particles and falls to the ground. It has its own hexagonal crystal lattice structure - all H2O molecules still.  I watched as the snowflakes fell like little cotton puffs on my sleeve as I rode up the ski lift. I could feel the sensation of the steel edges of the skis slicing through the layer of fresh powder snow on the ground as I skied down. It was beautiful. Nature was gracefully exiting winter with a gentle show of snowflakes.  This was the way to ski - in gentle snowfall!


I had started off being scared of skiing. Anxiety at start had instead turned to a promise of adventure. Thanks DSA for making it happen.  


That was last winter.


This winter I was back with eager anticipation in my eyes. My first lesson was on 12/28/13, then I came for back to back lessons on 1/11 and 1/12/14. For the first 2 lessons, I again had 2 instructors, but for the 3rd one, I was down to one instructor - John. I had no clips on my skis this winter either. One instructor and no clips or harness - that indicates progress. Yeah!  The subway slope was closed this winter for lack of snow, so we had to use the Meadows slope and lift, which is the next level. That slope is steeper so the instructors were more hands on with me.  We even practiced a tried a few turns, that is harder and will probably take more classes to improve. Pizza (wedges) and French Fries (parallel skis)!  In my last lesson with John, I did fall a few times and one time I went tumbling to the side when I was halfway down the Meadows slope. John was trying to make me lean forward and so was skiing backward in front of me and trying to make me do hi-fives so that I would reach out forward with my body while skiing. OMG, He must be really good at skiing, in order to be able to ski backwards. But I feel I am getting better. I look forward to my future classes.


I was actually late for my class on 1/11 with instructors Allie and Carolyn. The weather had turned south and it had started snowing while we were driving to Tahoe. Snow chains or snow tires were mandatory. Soon the snowfall became so thick that traffic crawled to a standstill on 80 West well before Truckee. There was either the need for snow removal or an accident up ahead. Cars were getting thickly coated with snow, the wipers could barely keep up. Dad was getting somewhat worried. Cars were making fresh tracks on the newly fallen snow, the road beneath was barely visible. Most of the traffic was headed for the ski areas. Californians not used to snow, were driving cautiously and very slowly. In the Bay Area, where I live, if it rains even a little bit, the traffic slows tremendously; we just are not used to bad weather.


The ski lesson that day was a first in terms of the weather for me. The sky was overcast with gloomy gray clouds. Snow fell constantly. But this was no gentle snowfall like the one  last March. A strong wind whipped the snow around and sent it forcefully to the ground. The wind rocked the Meadows ski lift as we rode up each time. Tops of green trees peeking out through the snow were bent sorrowfully with the wind. Snow was flying around. Gloom made the world around, including the snow, seem light gray. The gray was uniform from from ground to sky. The force of the  snowflakes stung my face as I tried to ski. Thermals were a default necessity for such a day. I had not needed them before. I also needed a clava to protect my face. Only my nose was visible between the helmet, goggles and clava. I felt like a masked bandit, totally camouflaged.   My gloves, though technically waterproof thinsulate, did get wet from the few falls and I had to get a new pair in between. Though it was wet, windy and cold, it was the winter ski experience. Skiers and snowboarders were falling constantly on the slope that day. Nature was flexing her wilder wings and you have to appreciate all aspects of her personality. My mind extrapolated briefly on what a white-out would be like,  and prayed I’m never actually in one; it is best experienced on TV or in a Jack London short story.  It must be a million times crazier than this.


The ski resort was packed, and crowds milled around the more advanced lifts. Skiers apparently love this weather. The crazier the snow, the better the ski experience apparently. The slopes were crowded as was the restaurant. I ate nachos after my lesson at the bar area. There were clusters of people gathered around the big screen TV. It was gametime - Saints vs SeaHawks. Bay Area was rooting for the Saints in a big way that day.   The Niners would have to face the winners. Drunk and boisterous fans at the bars yelled with disgust at the SeaHawks every move. A SeaHawks win would mean Niners playing them at Seattle. CenturyLink field holds the record for stadium decibel level, which gives them a clear home advantage. It was the first time I’ve seen so many drunk people in one place. It was a study of human behavior under the influence. There were spontaneous bursts of songs; both avid delight and disgust.


We had dinner take out from the China Express restaurant in North Lake Tahoe. We’d eaten there during a summer trip to Tahoe with cuz Arjun. The name of the inn we stayed in, had the word Spa in it, but it was far from a spa, the way its normally thought of. Instead the inn had hotel toiletries with the brand name “spa” in the bathrooms. Really!! Seriously!! Talk about misleading! The walls were so thin, we could hear the conversation next door well into the night. A hotel not to be repeated definitely.
  
The weather was delightful the next day (1/12/14); I was there for a morning class. The sun was out and it was refracting rainbows through snowdrops on the trees. How could I not plunge into visual stims. I kept stopping to pick up and feel the fresh powder snow. I was wearing gloves, but the way the snow fell in a twinkling shower from my hands was delightful to watch. Oh the trials of autism - it allows us to see and appreciate so many details yet is so  disruptive to our motor planning and our activities. Obviously I was going to fall if I tried to bend over to pick up snow, and I did indeed fall a few times. When I rode up the lift, the skis dangled awkwardly on my feet as usual, but when I moved them, the packed snow on them fell in a picturesque shower of powder. So I did it some more and enjoyed the show. The mountains loomed on either side. It was as though the word had been painted a soft white with patches of green and  brown peeking through. It was not cold like the previous day; even the snow goggles were hot, just sun glasses and the helmet were enough. The snow gleamed under the bright sunlight, yet the previous day’s snowfall had left a layer of powder that the skis sliced through while skiing. Nature was displaying yet another side to this appreciative fan. 


Images and Videos


01/12/14 Photos  Videos
01/11/14  Photos  Videos
12/28/13 Photos  Videos
03/31/13 Photos  
03/02/13 Photos  Videos

Aloha Maui 1/5

Hawaii Travelogue Part 1
 

Humuhumunukunukuapua’a 
- that’s the name of the Hawaii's state fish that grunts like a pig!  What a mouthful!

I had a lovely vacation in Maui this December. In Hawaiian folklore, Mau’i is the name of the half-mortal god who fished out the islands of Hawaii with a fish hook. He forgot to tie them all together so they spread out. The island of Maui is named after him. The Hawaii island chain is actually a volcanic seamount chain that formed as the Pacific tectonic plate moved over a magma hotspot. Islands no longer on the hotspot, reduced and stopped their volcanic activity and over time became coral reefs like Kauai in the north. Ancient Hawaiian legend says that Pele (Goddess of Fire), was chased by her sister Na-mako-o-Kaha'i (Goddess of the Sea), from Kaua'i in the north all the way to the Big Island in the south, where she now currently resides. Big Island has active volcanoes and a new underwater volcano Lo’ihi is forming further south of  Big Island. Maui has a dormant volcano - Haleakala. Sunrise from its summit is supposed to be spectacular - but its also supposed to be freezing cold up there early morning (some 35 deg). 

When you land in Hawai'i, the first thing you notice is its laid back, ‘take it easy,’ atmosphere. Given its warm weather, the airport itself has open air corridors. An immediate reminder that you are in Hawaii, and  not just any tropical place, are the signs outside the airport restrooms. The figures on the sign for the men’s (kane) and women’s (wahine) restrooms both wear the Hawaiian lei (garland made with the plumeria flower). It sure brought a smile to the lips. It was warm after the California cold, bordering on 75-80 deg. 

I got to visit Kauai and Big Island two years ago and this was my first visit to Maui. Everytime I visit Hawaii, I really don't want to come back. I would like to just live permanently by the beach

Aloha and Mahalo Maui

..  kou moana ( your ocean)  
..  kou kahakai (your beaches)
..  baby kohola jumping (whale)
... honu swimming (turtle)
..  the ua (rain) in Hana
..  and the waterfalls 
Just nani !(beautiful) 
I loved my visit 
Mahalo  Mau'i  (thanks)

- Hari Srinivasan


Hawaii Travelogue 2012
Part 1 - Aloha Maui
Part 2 - I Survived the Road to Hana
Part 3 - West Maui
Part 4 - North Beaches and Watermen
Part 5 - Whale of a Tail
Part 6 - Humuhunukunukuapua'a and the Coral Reef
Part 7 - Living Aloha

Humuhumunukunukuapua'a and the Coral Reef 6/7

Hawaii Travelogue - Part 6

Humuhumunukunukuapua'a and the Coral Reef

A ride on the glass bottomed boats, called reef dancer, provides a closer look at the coral reef environs off Maui’s coast. Maui’s coral reef is still relatively young so it does not have a barrier reef like Australia. The reef dancer essentially is a narrow boat with  an underwater cabin. The cabin has glass windows so you are able to see what’s going on beneath the surface. As you travel from shore the views alternate between the sandy bottom and coral colonies. Coral is actually live - the polyp floats around looking for a place to anchor itself. It then grows in colonies which acts as a habitat for a range of other marine life. You could actually see numerous schools of fish swimming about along the way. 

The boat stopped around ¼ mile offshore and divers went down to rustle up a few of the shyer inhabitants and displayed them through the windows. There is some irony to this. We go to see the marine life in their natural environment. I imagine the presence of the boat itself is somewhat disruptive to them. On top of that, divers fetch some of the animals out of their lairs to  show the passengers. Having said that, it was interesting to see the creatures they displayed - for unless you scuba dived yourself, how were you going to see the shyer denizens of the ocean floor. 

We got to see various shells - especially a giant tiger cowrie (leho-kiko).  The one we saw was almost 4-5 inches long. They can grow to almost 6 inches. They usually hide in the crevices and cracks of coral and feed on plankton and sponges. No 2 cowries look alike - each have their own distinct markings. The mollusk inside spreads a glossy substances all over its shell to protect it, giving it the shiny look. In Hawaii, cowrie shells were/are used in lures to bait octopus. The divers also showed us some sea stars (pe’ape’a) and sea urchins (vana). Sea Stars look like a brown star shaped pillow. Sea Stars eat by ejecting their stomachs and digesting their prey. And if an arm breaks off, it simply grows into a new sea star. The variety of sea urchin the diver showed us, was the purple-black ‘collector sea urchin,’ (hawa ‘e). It is called that as it  holds onto bits of seaweed and debris. It is painful to step on a sea-urchin and some varieties are poisonous too. 

One of the divers brought out the  day octopus (he’e mauli). It has some 1920 suction cups so can really hold onto its prey. It then inject  a poisonous liquid onto its prey and kills it. The  he’e immediately  latched onto our glass window with all of its suction cups, so we got a good look at its underbelly. The diver was holding onto it all the while, so it was not a Happy He’e.! It then tried to confuse the diver by restoring to its it classic defense mechanism - squirting jet black ink. The octopus is actually one of the most intelligent creatures of its class. The ink is meant to confuse the predator, create a similar shaped decoy or cause temporary blindness -  giving the octopus the chance to make a 'wiki wiki' (fast) getaway. So we got to see the clouds of black ink, which to the octopus’s enormous disappointment was not deterring our diver in the least. The guide infact called that diver an ‘octopus whisperer,” as she was trying to stroke the head of the octopus. When the diver finally let go, the octopus glided away - its swaying movement is like a graceful dance under the sea.    

A few of the fish I saw were Yellow Tang (‘lau’ipala), Orange spine unicorn (lau lau), reef triggerfish (humuhumunukunukuapua’a), Black Durgeon Triggerfish (humuhumu’ele’ele), parrotfish (uhu) and ornate butterflyfish (kikakapu).  The butterfly fish are colorful and disk shaped; early Hawaiians thought they resembled leaves that turned yellow with age so named them after those trees. Some varieties of butterflyfish were considered taboo or kikakapu. The parrotfish is remarkable in its ability to sex-change. It starts off as a female and can change into a male if so required. The reef triggerfish makes grunt like noises when faced with predators possibly to scare them or to warn other fish. The humu-humu-nuku-nuku-apua-a (reef triggerfish) is Hawaii’s state fish, and means the fish that grunts like a pig. It’s a mouthful to say but there is a species of butterflyfish with an even longer name in Hawaii  - lauwiliwilinukunukuÊ»oiÊ»oi,  which translates to  long snouted fish shaped like a williwilli leaf. I was disappointed to not see the pufferfish anywhere. It’s defence mechanism is to swell up with water like a balloon. 

In 9th grade, I had taken Oceanography as an elective and we had studied the habits of many marine creatures, so it was interesting to get to see them. This was a young coral reef and overall a decent trip. I hope I get the opportunity to see the coral life in the Great Barrier Reef one day.

Hawaii Travelogue 2012
Part 1 - Aloha Maui
Part 2 - I Survived the Road to Hana
Part 3 - West Maui
Part 4 - North Beaches and Watermen
Part 5 - Whale of a Tail
Part 6 - Humuhunukunukuapua'a and the Coral Reef
Part 7 - Living Aloha

Maui's North Beaches and Watermen 4/7

Hawaii Travelogue Part 4 of 7


Maui's North Beaches and Watermen

Maui has some of the most breathtaking beaches. The beaches on the north shore and the Hana side are especially spectacular as the ocean is rougher there. A rough ocean means BIG waves followed by BIGGER waves. Huge waves means the Hawaiian Watermen are out and about. Those who passionately engage in water sports like surfing etc refer to themselves as Watermen. 

On Ho’okapi Beach, we saw many of these Watermen plying their passion. There were sufers, wind sufers, boarders, kite surfers. A huge group of spectators watched the Watermen from shore and the lookout point on the cliff. Their play looked effortless but it must be a tough sport. You have to admire the qualities of resilience and patience that sports like surfing entails. They have to wait for the right wave, so a lot of patience is required. There are as many falls as rides on the waves, so a lot of resilience is needed to keep coming back for more. No matter how long the surfer rides a single wave by zigzagging just ahead of the curl of the wave, as some point it invariably waves all over him. Some of the waves carried the sufers almost to rocks on the shore. It almost looked like they would hit the rocks, but at the last minute he would manuever to get to the sandy part rather than the rocks. The wind surfers zipped here and there on their boards with the attached sails. They were incredibly fast.   

Kanaha Beach and Baldwin Beach are 2 other beautiful beaches on the north shore. Pure white sands and nice big waves make for a great swim-shore experience. Baldwin Beach was this vast expanse of gorgeous sand and deep blue ocean that threw out deep blue waters with frothy tips. Many local kids, some maybe just 4-5 years old, were fearlessly tackling these waves on their boogie boards. The waves at Kanaha Beach would curl around your feet and even before it receded, another wave took its place. It was marvelous just standing there at the edge of the sea.  

Hawaii Travelogue 2012
Part 1 - Aloha Maui
Part 2 - I Survived the Road to Hana
Part 3 - West Maui
Part 4 - North Beaches and Watermen
Part 5 - Whale of a Tail
Part 6 - Humuhunukunukuapua'a and the Coral Reef
Part 7 - Living Aloha

West Maui 3/7

Hawaii Travelogue - Part 3

West Maui

Kahana Beach was right outside our hotel, the Outrigger Royal Kahana Resort. It was a long stretch of beautiful silver white sands that curved around the shore. The west coast is windy yet the waves are not too wild and the waters were warm. We could see the islands of Lana’i and Moloka’i in the distance. The first evening we walked upto the end of our beach only to see turtles (honu) swimming and frolikcking about near the rocks. We watched them as the sun set into the horizon. The west side is known for its calmer waters, turtles and snorkeling. 


I stand in West Coast Maui
Strong winds caress the coconut tree
Sway, a salute to the vast sea
Lanai and Molokai out at sea
Honu (turtle) swim by the beach
Sands greet incoming waves
a crab peeps out to play
Nature in harmony 



We had an ocean front view from our room, so enjoyed the breathtaking sunset each evening from our balcony along with pineapple - What’s a trip to Hawaii without eating pineapple? On the 2nd night we were there, we watched a sliver of a moon rise up in the sky right after sunset. The sea had turned a dark grey, almost black, in the absence of sunlight. The rising moon cast its silver light that spread out like a path on that dark sea upto the horizon. It was amazing.


Sea bathed in lunar light
A sliver of heavenly satellite
Moonlight meets the waves
Amazement in its wake
Shimmering path on the dark sea
Crossing the horizon into eternity. 


Near our hotel was a farmers market store which was like a mini Whole Foods. It was all organic and to our surprise, completely vegetarian. They has some lovely dishes in their salad bar and their prepared foods section. We got some yummy coconut milk soup one time and some bean burritos there as well. 
 

Kapalua Beach is the prettiest in West Maui. The water is relatively calm and we saw several people snorkeling. It is also apparantely popular for weddings. On both our visits there, there were at least 2 weddings going on, on either side of the beach. A native islander priest dressed in a colorful floral aloha shirt, a brown ‘lava lava’ (wrap skirt or lungi) and a grass skirt of ki leaves, conducted the ceremony. It contrasted with the formal western wedding wear worn by the bride and groom - the bride wore a white wedding dress and the groom a black suit or tux. We were not near enough to hear the ceremony for obvious privacy reasons but at the end of the ceremony the priest would blow a conch shell which startled me each time I heard it. There was a couple of unnamed beaches on the west side that we visited that were really nice too. Along the way we also saw a lone canoe making its way.

Lahaina which is just south of Ka’anapali is very ‘touristy’ with its many souvenir ships, restaurants, open air Hawaiian band and crafts fair. It is also a harbor of sorts where lots of expedition boats start out - right from ferries to Lanai to deep sea fishing to whale watching to coral reef sightseeing. There was lots of parking and it was very accessible. I enjoyed some exotic fruit smoothies and ice cream (with passion fruit, guava, pineapple) in the many shops there.  

The South side also has some nice beaches but again calmer ones. I watched a sinking sun as I munched a burger in a restaurant on Kihei Beach. 

Hawaii Travelogue 2012
Part 1 - Aloha Maui
Part 2 - I Survived the Road to Hana
Part 3 - West Maui
Part 4 - North Beaches and Watermen
Part 5 - Whale of a Tail
Part 6 - Humuhunukunukuapua'a and the Coral Reef
Part 7 - Living Aloha

I Survived the Road to Hana 2/7

Hawaii Travelogue - Part 2 of 7


I Survived the Road to Hana

.. A narrow road
.. Hairpin bends
.. 620 curves
I survived the Road to Hana!

Highway to heaven
Is through a lush rainforest
What’s a rainforest without rain?
Rain lashes and teases in turn
Revival written in emerald green
Why would I not…
… survive the Road to Hana

Majestic cliffs upto 6000 feet
Waves crash and roar beneath
Ambrosial ocean to eternity
Cool breeze stirs the soul
Why would I not
… survive the Road to Hana


.. 54 (single lane) bridges
.. traffic backed up at each
.. five hour drive
.. for 68 miles
I survived the Road to Hana!

Trickling streams
Through the evergreen
Cascading waterfalls
.. A dozen or more
.. Right by the road
Ocean and Forest, Sapphire and Emerald 
Balm to the eye
Why would I not
.. survive the Road to Hana

Aloha Oi’
Hana No Ka Oi’ (Maui is the best)
Mau Loa (forever)



The Road to Hana is an amazing experience, complete with its 54 single lane bridges and 620 curves. Many visitors simply prefer to take tourist buses rather than drive but the real fun comes in driving the rather crazy winding narrow road and stopping where you felt like. (Caveat: Dad was the one driving and watching for those blind curves.) We left at 6am itself so that we would be there and back before it got dark. There are no gas stations after the town of Pa’ia too! The route is littered with hairpin bends and blind curves and many single lane bridges. Traffic backs up one end of these bridges to allow the other side to pass. The road was build in 1926 so it’s been around for a while. Before the 1990s the road was unpaved making for some pretty nasty potholes after the rains – hence the phrase “I survived the road to Hana.” The road is still unpaved with no barrier in some parts.


Hana lies in the mountainous eastern region of Maui and gets an incredible amount of rain (almost 400 inches), making that area a veritable lush green rainforest with its multitude of flora and fauna. Epiphytes like ferns, mosses and liverworts grow on the trunks of giant trees that form an enormous canopy. Bouts of heavy rain, and sprinkles of showers alternate along the ride, but what’s a rainforest without rain? Mosses are the sponge-like water storage reservoirs of the rainforest - there some 12000 species of mosses alone in the Hana rainforest. And what’s a forest if not for the tree – lots and lots of trees like Eucalyptus and Koa trees. The Hala tree with its aerial root system really stood out in its uniqueness. There were patches of ki plants – the leaves of the ki are used in making the leaf-skirts that Hawaiian dancers wear and also used to wrap food when cooking. The green growth contrasts with the bright blooming flowers like the Anturium, Bird of Paradise, Heliconia, Awapuhi and Hibiscus.

Getting an eyeful of the scenery, especially the many waterfalls along the way is what makes the journey so great. A waterfall seemed to pop up every few mile-markers - quite delightful in the way it merrily cascades over the hill and rock. The Waikuni falls (around mile marker 19) were like 3 parallel waterfalls all packed in one place. There was quite the parking jam as cars and buses alike scrambled to park on the already narrow road. The road divided one of the waterfalls just after mile marker 21, so from one side of the bridge you were viewing the top of the waterfall as it fell down. That was quite a sight. The waterfall just after Pua’a Ka’a Park (23) fell in two levels with a wide mossy pool between. At some places, water tricked down green vines that clung to the rock wall on the sides of the road– it looked like a shimmering green curtain as the sunrays refracted through the water drops. All these variations in the way falling water display itself to the human eye is quite astounding.


The views seem to get better the deeper you go. The views of the forest on one side was more than matched by the magnificence of the ocean on the other side. Emerald on one side and sapphire on the other – Wow! Green, vegetation covered cliffs swept down to patches of white sands and waves that frothed and danced about, like that seen at the Kaumahina Park lookout point (12). We drove down to get a closer look at the Ke’anae peninsula (which we had seen from above) What a color contrast there was at the coast– a blue ocean leading to white waves crashing on the black rocky coastline – all against the green of the vegetation covered shore. The rocks were pretty slippery though. Dad and I tried to climb down to of the rocky planes along the shore, it was a little slippery so we got off. Good thing, cuz a few seconds later a big wave crashed and just swept over that area – had we been on it, we could have gotten swept away. The Ke’anae Peninsula appeared to be a popular fishing site as there were a number of fishing poles securely anchored to the rocks just waiting for the poor unsuspecting fish to take the bait. Can’t help but feel sorry for the carefree fish that will end up on someone’s plate. There were a few fishermen around but most of the fishing poles were unmanned. There was supposed to be taro fields in that area but some local Hawaiians told us there they were no longer there (later on TV we found that there is some water issue going on for the small farmers). Fortunately I got to see taro fields during my trip to Kaua’i 2 years ago and got to even eat a taro burger. At Ka’anae we got to munch on some banana bread. They were freshly baked at a small local store near the peninsula and the warm banana bread was just ono ono (absolutely delicious). 


Sometime after Pua’a Ka’a Park, the rainforest starts thinning out and we started to see more of the shrub type of plants and flowers. The road also get narrower!! There were a few unmanned few fruits stands along the way – totally based on honor system. The price was listed – for example 6 bananas were $1. You simply put the money in a box next to the stand and take the fruits. At one place Dad bought Passion Fruit (lillikoi in Hawaiian), which I tasted for the first time. This variety is yellow on the outside and has a hard gourd like shell. Inside is a yellow-orange like jelly with lots of black seeds. The jelly, which you scoop up with a spoon, is what you eat. It has a tart but tangy taste – a very pleasant and interesting taste, which I enjoyed enormously. Passion fruit is used extensively in drinks and desserts (like ice cream) which I got to enjoy too while I was in Hawaii. 

The town of Hana is significant for Hawaiians as it is the birthplace of Queen Ka’ahumanu, who was largely responsible for converting Hawaiians to Christianity (around 1820s). Just last week, we had studied the annexation of Hawaii in our US History. By 1892, Hawaii had already become important for the settlers in terms of its potential for sugar cane and as a trading port for trade with China. Almost two-thirds of the land was owned by non-Hawaiians. The Hawaiian King was persuaded to let the US build a naval base on Oahu (Pearl Harbor) in 1887. When Queen Liluokalani tried to reassert Hawaiian sovereignty with a new constitution in 1893, the marines were brought in. The queen surrendered and the US officially annexed Hawaii in 1898. 

The small town of Hana is very scenic on all sides, nestled amongst all that greenery. We had some delicious Thai soup in a roadside restuarant near the Hana School. Hana itself is a quiet and peaceful place and very laid-back. The entire Hana Hwy region, including Hana felt more ‘island-like,’ than the over-commercialized parts of west-Maui. Hana once was the sugar-capital of Maui and has its small one lane airport and port. My Raghavan Thatha (grandfather) had spent 4 days in Maui almost 30 years ago. He loved his visit there. It must have been even less developed then and even more beautiful. I got my “I survived the Road to Hana,” T-shirt at a local gift shop. 

Beyond Hana on the Hana Hwy is Hamoa with its Koki and Hamoa Beach. Homoa Beach is said to be the most picturesque beach on Maui and it did not fail to live upto that name. The waves were so high that you could not see the line of horizon when standing on the beach. It was just one magnificent wave after wave on the shore. There were barely a handful of people so it was like being on your very private beach. Sea cliffs (pali) surrounded the bay like beach and you could see the small island of Ala'u. All these islands are delightful with their coconut tree topping. Vaguely in the far distance is supposed to be the Big Island of Hawaii (which we visited 2 years back). The edges of the beach were lined with Plumeria flowers and there were dozens of the fallen Plumeria. 

Time was getting on, and we needed to get back before dark. The forest turned a darker green in the fading light. Hana was pure delight overall. 

- Hari Srinivasan

Hawaii Travelogue 2012
Part 1 - Aloha Maui
Part 2 - I Survived the Road to Hana
Part 3 - West Maui
Part 4 - North Beaches and Watermen
Part 5 - Whale of a Tail
Part 6 - Humuhunukunukuapua'a and the Coral Reef
Part 7 - Living Aloha

Living Aloha 7/7

Hawaii Travelogue Part 7 of 7

Living Aloha

Aloha is this all-encompassing word in Hawaii  - it can be used for a simple hello type of greeting to symbolizing a way of life itself. In the evenings, we watched various programs on TV where the discussion was focussed on 'Living Aloha.' - which is kind of like a cultural identity. Progress means rapid westernization and commercialization, and this leaves many kamaaina (long time residents or locals) feeling like they have lost their Hawaiian/ Polynesian identity. Now there is an effort to revive this identity. (This is actually a common trend across the US, for are we all not hyphenated americans.)  Realizing that the movement requires the active participation of the younger generation, there was a show with 2 teen girls taking the issue head on. They outlined a 3 step plan with Hawaiian titles which was both interesting and based on common sense. 

Shaka or  the hang-loose hand gesture, originally popularized by the surfers, seems  to appear on a great many T-shirts in addition to almost every guide mentioning it. (This hand gesture is where you stick your pinky and thumb out, while closing the remaining 3 fingers.) Perhaps it is reflective of the laid-back island attitude. On TV we also saw some local dances - Hawaii has more than just the basic Hula dance, which the mainland  knows of. It was interesting to watch. I also saw how they make the  tapa cloth. Leaves of the pandanus tree are dried and beaten with a wooden club and these are then dyed and painted. We have tapa cloth at home from Tonga where Mom lived as a child. Each polynesian island has it own set of designs that they paint on. 

The other overriding issue that Hawaiians are grappling with is the impact of commercialization of their island environment.   Even a malihini (newcomer) like myself, notices its effects. West Maui is the most developed part of Maui which is an irony in itself. It is littered with resorts who have sectioned off beaches along the shoreline. All beaches in Maui are technically public beaches and open to the public. But the way the resorts have been built with their elaborate roads and limiting parking only for residents, makes these beaches almost private beaches in practice. Napili and Ka’ahaina were 2 of the beaches where you go crazy trying to figure out the parking situation. Somehow the charm of an island is lost if you are surrounded by tall resorts, artificially lit palm trees and rows of expensive neon-lit shops. You may as well be in Las Vegas. Not to mention the number of golf courses that are needed for one small island. If a tourist who is there for just a couple of days can feel frustrated, it is no wonder that many native Polynesians are even more frustrated as seen in many of their local TV programs. There were many complaints from them about the run-off from golf courses that are negatively impacting the  coastline ecosystem. Native plants and creatures important to them are dying out. Various groups were petitioning  to stop developers from leveling the shoreline areas and building resorts and golf course in various places on different islands. 

The eastern parts like Hana seem more untouched - for now. Rain from the Hana area is channelized via an irrigation system known as EMI in Maui. This is the water for the rest of Maui and for farming. But from the TV programs it appeared that it was the pineapple farms (run by large corporations) who were getting most, if not all of this EMI water. This meant that the small  farmers was losing out and thus the decline of taro farms and other small farms.  It’s unfortunate to hear of this situation in a place that appears to have such a great water source. Hawaii is actually in the dry zone in terms of latitude but gets rain due to the trade winds and the tall mountains. So the windward side of the mountains gets a considerable amount of rain.  Incidentally all the pineapple fields are cordoned off - you have to pay to get a peek at them! What was visible freely in numerous places were the wind-swept sugarcane fields. 

Man vs Nature - the eternal dilemma !

Hawaii Travelogue 2012
Part 1 - Aloha Maui
Part 2 - I Survived the Road to Hana
Part 3 - West Maui
Part 4 - North Beaches and Watermen
Part 5 - Whale of a Tail
Part 6 - Humuhunukunukuapua'a and the Coral Reef
Part 7 - Living Aloha

The Anion needs to go on (Va)Cation

The Anion needs to go on (Va)Cation

Negative charge, the electrons latch on
Mood deteriorates, ionic bond
I am an anion that needs to go on (va)cation
Hang at the transition metal hotel
Sail continents and be a noble gas
A full valence shell, Non-reactive
That’s  (neuro)chemical Equanimity!


ok, this is a chemistry poem.  Taking Honors Chemistry this year, so this poem was bound to happen!
In case chemistry seems like a dim entity, here's a layman's explanation of some of the terms used. 
 Atoms have equal numbers of positive charge protons and negative charge electrons.Atoms can gain or lose electrons in order to form bonds with other elements. Usually they do this in order to complete their electron shells. When an atom loses electrons, it has a net positive charge -  called a Cation. On the flip side, when an atom gains electrons, it has a net negative charge  - called a Anion.
Noble gases have full outer (valence) electron shells so don't feel the need to react. So they are considered pretty stable.
Transition metals are a group of metals kind of positioned in the middle of the periodic table. 


  

Around the World in 80 Years

My Grandfather turned 80 on Aug 25,2012. His natshatram birthday is this Sat Sep 8!

Happy Birthday Thatha. 



Around the World in 80 Years


My Raghavan thatha

Just 80 years young! 

OMG Thatha! What all have you seen?


Ramakrishna Mission started their first school in ‘32

The very school that you and your brothers went to!

Verily, That school is now quite as young as you!

Gandhi was running hunger strikes.

Born in British Madras, now it’s Chennai

Oh how the times change! 


Chennai, Salem and Kerala

Timber, mica and auto parts to boot. 

Fortunes fluctuate with economic turns 

Raghavan, son of entrepreneurial Sadagopan


4 brothers and 2 sisters, a large family

Sadula street house a recounted memory

Their mother departs early, a real tragedy

My mom resembles my kollu-paati


A zoology Prof, a ringside seat

Baby turtles hatching on the beach

Quest for MBA, unusual in his day.

in archeology, finance and industries

Ascension to UN posts of high responsibility

Trotted the globe with fervent energy

Tonga Islands, his home temporarily


Why stop there, said he

Retirement does not mean the end.

I have too much energy.

The Indian Supreme Court beckons!

A law degree needed anon. 

60 is still quite young. 


Dad and daughter both study in college

My mom 20, Thatha in his 50s

Argue Supreme Court cases

… Kaveri waters

… Consumer Protection

………..

Gracious Thatha, What else?



Fall at the feet of Sathya Sai

Possibilities at infinite Parthi

Pray for the grandson. Help him Swami.

Swami agrees “Yes,” ” I’ve blessed.”


Bodily age latches on

Mind says 40 but organs groan 80

Mind wills, the body does not agree.

A universal unavoidability! 


Thatha traversing the world 80 years long.

.. a very interesting journey!

Who knows of the surprises ahead? 

You may live to witness

many accomplishments from me...

including, dare I hope, my near total recovery!


A Birthday that’s easy to remember

It’s always on Krishnajayanthi. 

Celebrating 80 years of your journey. 

Happy Birthday Thatha!