MJG2

Our vacation is now winding down, we will spend our last night in Maui tonight and fly back to Las Vegas tomorrow night on the red-eye. It's been a very relaxing vacation which I've actually spent away from the computer for the most part. The only time I've been using my laptop is for reading email (mostly spam) and uploading photos I've taken while on Maui and Kauai or writing these blog entries.

My only complaint about this trip, which my wife has heard me say up to 3-4 times a day is that there have been no trade-winds during our stay in paradise. Unfortunately, if you don't have trade-winds while staying in Hawaii, it is very hot and humid. This trip marks our third to Hawaii, but first lacking the most relaxing, cooling winds that make you feel like any stress is a lifetime away. This is mostly a note to myself that we should probably schedule our future trips during the later months in the winter or early spring as those times seem to be better from experience.

After this long time away (18 days and the longest I've ever taken) I'm really looking forward to being back at home seeing our two cats and enjoying the dry desert.

Here's one of my favorite photos I took on this trip - all that's missing is the corona :)

Last Sunday Mirella and I felt our first earthquake together while vacationing in Maui. At approximately 7AM on 10/15/2006 I woke up from bed to a rocking and rolling hotel. It was the type of quake that keeps going and going which had me wondering where I should go - we are staying on the fourth floor of a 8 story building. I ended up getting out of bed very quickly and went to a doorway. Mirella had never felt one before so she thought it was a really strong wind or something, but then realized it must be an earthquake.

The photo below is a shot of the area where our hotel is located in Kapalua, Maui.

The quake's epicenter was just 6 miles NW from the Big Island. Maui is the closest island to the Big Island which made it still very strong in our area. It had been a very long time since I've experienced an earthquake and I can certainly say it's hard to not let it shake you, pun intended ;) You never know it's coming, and when it comes you never know what will happen or how strong it will get. Certainly, most earthquakes are very small and don't cause any damage or casualties, but the fact that you have no control is hard to handle. Now that a few days have passed it's already a distant memory, but one that when recalled, makes you cherish each day.