Palm Tree at Night

Palm Tree at Night
Wailea, Maui
September 18, 2019

Chris and I walked along the ocean front last evening and found a place to sit and look out into the blackness. The surf was pounding the shore with a regular rhythmic sound and the stars were shining brightly above us. We confirmed the location of Jupiter with the assistance of an app on my cell phone. 

As we were laying there, on the bench looking at the stars, I decided, with the encouragement from Chris, to take an image of the palm tree stretching up into the night sky. There were stars in the sky and ti was a memorable scene. There was maybe too much ground light. 

I turned on the flash to get a better picture, but the lack of light meant the scene was recorded in a grainy fashion, but the palm tree towered above us as we marveled at the night sky.

And so the scene was captured.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Wailea, Maui 

Maui on my Mind

Beach Near our Hotel
Wailea, Maui
September 14, 2019

Maui is quite a place. It is paradise and it is a working place. 

Over the past few days, Chris and I have walked the beaches and checked out the natural wildlife. 

Snail
Wailea, Maui
September 14, 2019

The local beach is beautiful. It is surrounded by rocks and has red sand. In the morning, it is a joy to behold in the dawn's light. Like the first morning that we were here. That written, I have been on the road a week now, having left last Wednesday, I think I am ready to go home. But, we have a few more days and then a long trip back to Maryland. 

Maui is beautiful. We had a fantastic welcome reception for the conference this evening. The sky was beautiful and the sunset was stunning.


-- Bob Doan, Writing from Wailea, Maui

A Day in the Sun

Chris on the Edge of the Infinity Pool
Wailea, Maui
September 16, 2019 

So I have determined that we are on the arid side of Maui--it has not rained since we have been here and there a large areas where the grasses are brown from lack of rain. I guess that is good for the tourists. The clouds hang over the mountains every day and look very ominous--but there is no rain in Wailea. 

Looking to the Ocean
Wailea, Maui
September 16, 2019

It has been hot--some of the hottest days of the summer they tell me. And the trade winds have calmed down. Meaning--it is not just hot, it is really hot!!

There is a nice swimming beach not far from the room that we enjoy walking on to get in touch with the ocean. But even so, the pools are very nice, such as the infinity pool I took a picture of Chris enjoying yesterday. 

The weather is great in the morning and early afternoon and again after the sun goes down. We tried to get a sunset image yesterday--but it didn't work out. We still have a few more days to get another sunset shot. I have taken a few on the trip and will put them together as I can when I get back.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Wailea, Maui

Monday Musings - September 16, 2019

1. It is now the third Monday of September. The month is slipping away precipitously. 

2. Amazingly, the Orioles won a series by beating the Tigers two our of three games. The Orioles are 49-100, .329 with 13 games remaining. Hopefully, they will find a way to keep loses below 108. 

Turtle at Turtle Town, Maui
September 15, 2019

3. Family Football results:
     Ravens defeat Cardinals 23-17
     Cowboys defeat Redskins 31-21
     Steelers lose to Seahawks 26-28

4. I love snorkeling where there are some awesome pictures to be taken. This turtle was imaged yesterday morning off the Maui coast.

5. Flying isn't hard as long as the landings are smooth.

6. Getting away is good, except all of the work I am missing is just piling up at work.

7. Today in History: On September 16, 1932, in his cell at Yerwada Jail near Bombay, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi begins a hunger strike in protest of the British government’s decision to separate India’s electoral system by caste.

A leader in the Indian campaign for home rule, Gandhi worked all his life to spread his own brand of passive resistance across India and the world. By 1920, his concept of Satyagraha (or “insistence upon truth”) had made Gandhi an enormously influential figure for millions of followers. Jailed by the British government from 1922-24, he withdrew from political action for a time during the 1920s but in 1930 returned with a new civil disobedience campaign. This landed Gandhi in prison again, but only briefly, as the British made concessions to his demands and invited him to represent the Indian National Congress Party at a round-table conference in London.

Headlines

Saudi Oil Attack Photos Implicate Iran, U.S. Says; Trump Hints at Military Action - The New York Times

What Chinese Students Abroad Really Think About Hong Kong - The New York Times

OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma files for bankruptcy - Reuters

China's slowdown deepens; industrial output growth falls to 17-1/2 year low - Reuters

Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week



There's an account of two of America's greatest postwar statesmen traveling to Hungary soon after the war. Budapest lay devastated by weeks of street fighting, but there was rejoicing in the city. The Soviet occupiers had allowed a free election, and the anti-Communists had won a clear majority. Cheering Hungarians thronged the streets, blocking the way to the American mission. Recalled one of the diplomats: "There was an enormous crowd celebrating the victory under the American flag.'' He said, "It made me very humble to see how much these people looked to the United States as the protector of their freedom.'' And recalled the other: "Here was the hope of the world -- the American flag.''

Remarks at the Annual Leadership Conference of the American Legion - February 29, 1988

-- Bob Doan writing from Wailea, Maui

Out the Hotel Window - Maui, Hawaii

Break of Dawn Out the Hotel Window
Wailea, Maui
September 14, 2019

Palm Tree
Wailea, Maui
September 14, 2019

The scene out my hotel window is beautiful, but not so photogenic. It is Hawaii, and therefor, beautiful. I had to wait until yesterday morning to take an image. There is a small beach just barely visible from the hotel room. Chris and I walked the beach as soon as it was light out and I was able to shoot the morning sun beginning to light the the sky and drive the darkness away. Chris and I continue to get up very early due to the time change that we have experienced. 

I also got this really great shot of a palm tree with the moon and the sunrise sky. 

It was very nice to be on the beach just before dawn to get the colors of the sky. 

Today, we will be heading off for a snorkeling trip. That should be fun. I even remembered my GoPro camera! 

-- Bob Doan, writing from Wailea, Maui

Maui on my Mind

Out the Hawaiian Airlines Window
on Approach to Maui
September 13, 2019

I arrived in Maui last evening for the second part of my 10 day business trip. I worked a full day and did not arrive at the hotel until about 8 PM. It was a long day and I would like to say that I took some great pictures, but I didn't. 

Tiki Torches
Maui, Hawaii
September 13, 2019

I suffered through some terrible traffic yesterday morning in Honolulu! Worse than Baltimore. One night cycled four times before I was able to get through it. It made me late for the first meeting of the day and shortened the discussion, but no permanent damage was one. 

The torches which were lighted at the hotel were a nice touch. As Chris and I arrived last evening, it was a bit late to do any exploring.

Tomorrow, we explore and learn of the beauty and secrets of this island paradise.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Maui

Waikiki

Sunset and Sailboat
Waikiki, Hawaii
September 12, 2019

As the Colors Fade
Waikiki, Beach, Hawaii
September 12, 2019

On two successive nights I have had the opportunity to view Waikiki as the sun set. On both nights it was stunning. the view, the colors in the sky, and the people. 

Last evening the colors were stunning and rapidly changing. In about a 15 minute span, the colors turned from orange to magenta. The water turned purple in the weaning light of day as night began to fall. 

I took the second shot from my table in a restaurant where I stopped for dinner. I was mesmerized by the colors and how quickly they would change.

Autumn is settling in already despite the increased temperatures of late.

-- Bob Doan, Waikiki Beach, Hawaii 

Out the Hotel Window - Waikiki

Out the Hotel Window - Waikiki
September 11, 2019

The beach calls and I am in a hotel with a beach view. Of course, my room does not have a beach view, I have a city view--but I am in Hawaii.

Out the Window Near the Elevator
September 11, 2019

The traveling during the day was fine, but long. Getting to the hotel in afternoon traffic was like trying to navigate the Baltimore beltway at rush hour. But the sky is beautiful, as are the mountains. The scene is just, well, Hawaii.

I took an image from the windows near the elevators and I could see the ocean. It is not too far off and I fact I walked the beach last evening, just because. It was a nice walk after dinner. The beach was still very much alive after sunset--surfers were catching waves and the catamaran sunset cruises were moving ashore to discharge their passengers. It was a great scene and I am happy to be here.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Waikiki Beach, Hawaii

Into the Wild Blue - Again

And so . . . , that is a strange way to begin a blog.  But it is the way that I feel right now as I am sitting on an American Airlines flight headed to Phoenix. The jet is soaring at 34,000 feet, winging me over the U.S. and all of the window shades are drawn.  I feel as if I am in a cigar and I cannot tell that I am flying. There are no outside clues to our movement or progress except for an occasional bump from some unsettled air. 

I brought my old iPad along to watch movies on the flight only to learn that the movie app used by American is not compatible with my ancient iPad Series 2 which told me that there were no software updates for it. I only use the iPad anymore when I fly preferring instead to use my laptop for most things. Perhaps I need to reexamine this approach to managing my electronics stable. 

At least I was able to work on my morning blog entry to document my journey. 

Phoenix is just a stop-over on my way to Hawaii. Sitting on this flight now for over three hours I am reminded of why I love the Caribbean--I get all the benefits of Hawaii for a 3 hour flying day instead of the scheduled 12 hours of flight time I will log today. And the water is warmer in the Caribbean. When was the last time you heard someone complain about going to Hawaii?

-- Bob Doan, airborne somewhere over the Central U.S. 

After the Wedding

Bowling at the After Party@ Pinstripes
Bethesda, MD
September 6/7, 2019

The wedding Chris and I attended over the weekend was well planned and had a full evening of activity incorporated into the festivities. 

Canopy Hotel
Bethesda, MD
September 8, 2019

There was the wedding ceremony followed by dinner and dancing. But, after the reception came the after party--bowling. I have not had the opportunity to bowl in a very long time. It showed in my score. It is frustrating not to be able to do something that was once easy and enjoyable. But it was an enjoyable after party and I did have some residual pain the next day. 

The hotel had an interesting feature that I discovered during breakfast--a wine cart! What an interesting item for a dining room. It was the one feature of the hotel that I appreciated, but did not get to enjoy.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD