Showing posts with label hawaii. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hawaii. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Random Vids from Hawaii

I had uploaded these in Hawaii, but can't view them here in Samoa, so I'm just hoping that these are whatever my captions say they are:

One of the many broken boards I witnessed that day:


Another vid of Pipeline:


Another vid of pipeline (and at this point I'd like to point out that my first day on the south shore of Samoa I witnessed waves at least 3 times as big as this. Waves I didn't even know existed until recently):


And a shot of one of my roommates at the backpacker's cabin (On the porch and not surfing?? VERY RARE FOOTAGE!) :

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Okay, this is just cute.


291, originally uploaded by mandy.mantzel.

This is my friend Allie and while she was holding the gecko, it jumped on her nose. But I wasn't able to get my camera out until it reached her hair. Either way, it perched itself on her hair for a while. Don't act like this isn't cute.

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Starbuck, Stubb, and Flask


P2100348, originally uploaded by mandy.mantzel.

This is the day I went out with my friend on their boat to go snorkeling. I was the only snorkeler because I'm not "scuba-fied" (scuba certified), but that was okay. And I can hold my breath really well, anyway. They are all scuba instructors so I got some free lessons, and will take that knowledge with me to Samoa:)

The boys that don't speak any other language than Surfer-nese


P2090334, originally uploaded by mandy.mantzel.

From L to R, Gary was from the Caribbean and spoke very little English, but he was able to converse very well about surfing and could always point out every surfing break on TV or in pictures. Middle is Kevin who was from La Jolla in San Diego, CA. If it weren't for him, I might have been lost in the surfer lingo. He was able to relate surf breaks in La Jolla to what they were talking about on the north shore so that I wasn't totally lost. He was a funny guy, and was always on the phone with/ talking about how much he missed his girlfriend. Then the last guy is Nathaniel from Australia. He was typically quiet. I had two other room-mates not pictured-- one named Robbie from Australia (easy on the eyes) and another whose name I still cannot pronounce from Japan.

These guys woke up at 6 every morning to go surf, and when they got home they would do nothing but watch surfing videos. But hey, we were on the North Shore.

The family that plays together stays together


P2090307, originally uploaded by mandy.mantzel.

I was wandering around looking for breakfast on the North Shore and I heard music coming from a shop and thought "WOW those are great speakers!" So I wandered in, and it was Ron and his family recording a new album. On the far left was the bassist, then the short guy was wandering around (but I'm sure he plays something) then Ron (or Papa, as he told me to call him) was on the Keyboard and was singing. the next shorter guy was on the timpani and bongos, then on lead guitar was the next guy, then the two girls were on keyboard as well, and while they were recording his wife talked to me about what they do. It was a saturday morning and they were all so happy to be playing together. They'd look over and smile at each other, and at the end they'd talk to each other saying "oh man I really liked what you did with that riff there" and complimenting each other. I saw on their logo "A family that plays together stays together". Talking to them, and especially Vicky (Ron's wife) about what they do made me really emotional. I wish I had the time to put into words exactly how they made me feel, but I will leave it at that. I left their house feeling totally inspired and optimistic about the world.

Kailua Beach


P2070152, originally uploaded by mandy.mantzel.

Even on a cloudy day, Hawaii is beautiful. I went swimming here and there was a point where I really didn't think I would ever voluntarily come back to shore.

Mister Eko's Church


P2060089, originally uploaded by mandy.mantzel.

For those LOST junkies...

Waimea Sunset


P2070185, originally uploaded by mandy.mantzel.

LOST


MORE LOST, originally uploaded by mandy.mantzel.

So I made a friend that took me to the "secret" lost beach where they have all their huts located and the set is roped off. After wandering around the outside for a while, the security guards offered to let me on the set to take pictures. :D:D:D

Cattle at Kualoa Ranch


P2080224, originally uploaded by mandy.mantzel.

It's "Lord of the Flies" time, Piggy


P2080264, originally uploaded by mandy.mantzel.

After wandering around Kualoa Ranch, they let me feed Wilbur:)

Monday, February 11, 2008

Breakfast at the hostel in Waikiki

This hostel wasn't too bad... the people were more around my age. Here I befriended people more around my age from all around the world-- Brazil, Ireland, Guam, Toulouse, England, Australia, etc. But as friendly as everyone was, I just didn't make any strong connections like I did up on the North Shore.

Isabelle on our porch from the backpacker's hostel

As much as I hated sleeping on a soaked bed under a leaky roof... I loved this hostel. And I loved the people that I stayed with. Isabelle is this awesome girl from Ecuador who was a phenomenal surfer. And she's a fellow couch-surfer! My first night at backpacker's, I stayed with her, and older couple from england, and a 45 year old woman who was also a really active surfer. We spent much time on this porch complaining about the weather yet admiring the surf.

I went swimming with the sea turtles on the North Shore:)

The time I went to Kualoa Ranch


P2080209, originally uploaded by mandy.mantzel.