Shhh…. I have a secret

According to my app, we are on day 21 of our cruise. However, we are on day 24 of our vacation. Or something like that. I have lost track.

Anyway, we’ve been to Hawaii, the Big Island, Maui, Oahu, back to the other side of the Big Island, and finally, Kauai. We went ashore on the Big Island and did a tour of the highlights on that side of the island. Including the world’s largest macadamia nut plantation! The growing fields, factory and store where all on sight. Now did that make any of the output any cheaper?

NOPE!

But were people constantly trying to get me to sample stuff? Yep.

However, I am allergic to nuts. All types of nuts.

So I am in Hawaii, surrounded by everything that has ever been made with Macadamia nuts. I mean EVERYTHING!

I found SPAM-flavored Macadamia nuts. I mean, ewww.

My stomach was touchy that night. Figured it was just something I ate.

But, damn it! I was in Hawaii and I was not going to stay on the boat!

Persevere!

Spent the time on Maui on the beach. Played in the water. Got sand everywhere.

Hubby wrenched his back with a misstep in the sand.

Got sick the minute I got back on the ship. Spent the next 36 hours in bed, drinking Body Armour and living in the bathroom.

It was fun.

Missed an entire day in Honolulu.

Felt better when I woke up on day two. Hubby did not.

Luckily, we hadn’t scheduled a tour. The beach (that we could access staying on the ship and not in a hotel/motel/condo/etc. in other words, public) was to far to visit on my own, without an excursion. So I went shopping.

There was a free shuttle from the ship to Hilo Hatties in the mall.

Made use of that!

Shopped, got lost in this HUGE mall. Bought souvenirs. Started feeling sick, went back to the ship, and back to bed.

Seriously folks! This was supposed to be our once in a lifetime trip!

Next day was Kona on the Big Island- the opposite side from where we were to begin with. Finished shopping.

However, the ship was too big to go all the way into the port. We had to be tendered in.

Using the ships lifeboats.

In huge swells.

Rollercoaster! Up and down, side to side.

And muggy in the boat.

I was never so glad to get to land, and then get back on the boat.

I felt bad for the people that were on the last two trips back. For what ever reason, they were stuck out there for over an hour. Delayed out departure by an hour.

Next day was Kauia. We grabbed a shuttle (free) and went to the beach. Well, part of the beach. It was surrounded by private beaches from the very swanky hotels.

Found a large tree that was down, might have been considered driftwood, to sit on. Renting chairs for $65 EACH was more than my frugal little heart could take.

Played in the water, then walked over to the botanical gardens and a huge Koi pond.

Eventually, we walked back to the shopping center to catch the shuttle back.

I made the mistake of getting coffee- the first place I found in Hawaii that had decaf- probably should have gotten iced instead of hot. And an apple hand pie. Waited in the sun for the shuttle and was stuffed in it like so many sardines.

Sweat dripping down my back….

Halfway back to the ship, I realized I was in trouble.

To hot, nausea, seeing blackspots…

Barely held it together through customs and getting back on the ship, and into our room.

I took everything off- had to have hubby’s help, I was having coordination issues. Threw myself in a cool shower and realized that I was very close to heat exhaustion/stroke.

Cool shower. Laid down. More Body Armour (electrolyte balance). Felt better.

Went to dinner and drank another Body Armour.

I figured out after that, that it was the Body Armour that was making my stomach so angry with me. Something about it does not agree with me.

I sincerely wish I had known that the first time I was sick. I know now for future reference!

Today we are back at sea, and our vacation is winding down. It is Thursday and we dock Tuesday and head for home on Wednesday.

And hubby has come down with a cold.

Geez. What a run of…. Something.

I am sad that we are almost at the end of our trip.

But I miss my kids, my dogs, my cat and, oh how I miss my bed!!