Monday, March 22, 2010

Sunsets


*


 Each time we visit Kauai
we make a point
of going up to 
the old Sheraton Hotel
on the bluff
at Princeville
The hotel is now
called the St Regis...



Not because 
we like to swan around
in elegance and luxury...
although it is fun to pretend



Not because 
we may rub shoulders
with the rich and famous...
although that could easily happen



 Not because 
we miss the fresh sushi
made right there at the bar...
although that is very tasty
  


 Not because 
we need
a cool corona and lime
or a mai tai
or a pina colada...
although they are very enticing



No
for none of those reasons


We always like to drive
to the hotel 
at least once 
on our holiday
at the end of a Hanalei day
because it is from there
that you see
some of the best sunsets
in the world...





You can park your car
and walk around the bluff
posing with your beloved
in front of Bali Hai -
as a lasting memento
of your wonderful 
Tsunami wedding holiday









and then with drink in hand
Hawaiian melodies
as a serenade






and eyes over the ocean






you can watch
the sun send forth
its crepuscular rays






and take a final bow
behind the magical peak
of Bali Hai






and give thanks
for another happy day



*

39 comments:

  1. It is surely a gorgeous spot to watch the sunset from and be a part of one in a photo. It sounds like a tremendous way to end your trip. I hope to visit Kauai one day.

    ReplyDelete
  2. It's easy to see why you would want to end your day looking at such a spectacular view. You and Jim look so happy there. The final photo is really stunning. I can see you do have Happy Days there.

    ReplyDelete
  3. How could you not be happy when confronted with such beauty? Truly stunning photographs and a very nice shot of a relaxed and happy couple.

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a lovely spot for sunset viewing! We spent a week on Kauai about 20 years ago and I remember the lovely Bali Hai profile.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ahhh... (big and long sigh). What a view! Many thanks for the photos, the poetic atmosphere and the words. Still lapping them as I write.

    Greetings from London.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hello Delwyn
    The best and the prettiest sunsets I have ever seen.
    Nice picture of you and your beloved.

    Have a great week!

    Best
    Tracy :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. How perfectly romantic and gorgeous!! Those images are breathtaking, but the smiles on you and your beloved are the best part of this post.

    Again congratulations for the newlyweds and a hug to you, my dear.

    Lola xx

    ReplyDelete
  8. delwyn my oh my that's beautiful! no wonder it's been my wife's dream since she was a little girl to visit hawaii. wow!! steven

    ReplyDelete
  9. Beautiful happy photo of you and your beloved, the backround is stunning as are all the other photos.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Beautiful photos! Thanks for sharing your happy day, Delwyn and giving us a lasting memento as well.
    ...Wanda

    ReplyDelete
  11. Lovely - the photos of the sunset & the photo of the two of you. Lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Glorious, inspiring, sacred ... speechless.

    ReplyDelete
  13. A beautiful place to view a beautiful sunset. We have an open field behind us at the country house with an unobstructed view of the sunsets or which there are many glorious ones there.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Looks like it's the best seat in the house for reveling in sunset splendor (or waiting for tsunamis that luckily are not much of an event).

    ReplyDelete
  15. Breathtaking pictures. How fortunate you are. And how fortunate you are to have eyes to see and a heart to appreciate.

    Happy Days, Delwyn.

    ReplyDelete
  16. My favorite word for today crepuscular. Good one Delwyn. Nice to see you and your hubby?

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hi Amy
    From what I know of you I think you would love Kauai. - plenty of walks and adventures, wonderful greenery and landscapes too...

    Happy days

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hi Dan

    It is a place to really unwind and relax...the pace of life is so slow...it's referred to as 'Island time...' no-one is rushed...and the roosters crow all day long...even they are not time bound...

    Happy days

    ReplyDelete
  19. Thanks Martin

    we feel a special affinity for this place, it feels like a second home. I think growing up with a pacific cultural influence in NZ with the Maori population may have had a lasting impression.

    Happy days

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hi Joanna
    Well it may be time to return and renew your wedding vows here...or any other vows..like a vow to slow down and relax...

    Happy days

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hi Violet

    I often do sigh out of awe violet when I see tumbling waterfalls or brilliant rainbows...

    Happy days

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hi Mr C

    have you travelled through Hawaii?

    Kauai is quite different to Oahu with its manufactured tourist trade, but beauty never the less..

    Happy days

    ReplyDelete
  23. Hi Tracy

    thank you for the kind words. See what I mean about being one of the best places to view sunsets...

    Happy days

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hi Lola
    thank you for your nice comments and kind wishes.

    We never tire of visiting the hotel for a night's viewing and tipple...

    Happy days

    ReplyDelete
  25. WEll Steven
    I just think that you should save up and take her for that special wedding anniversary that is coming up...I am sure you can get package deals...we have many on offer downunder...but be sure to come to Kauai the least developed island...Oahu has its charms, as do the other islands but for a low key natural wow everywhere you glance kind of holiday you must visit Kauai.

    Happy days dear friend

    ReplyDelete
  26. Thank you Ann

    I am always reluctant to post pics of myself and family but just felt the mood was right here...and the context suitable...

    Happy days

    ReplyDelete
  27. Hello Wanda

    It was a lovely time. In addition to the wedding it was our wedding anniversary - of 38 years...being in Hanalei was celebration enough...

    happy days

    ReplyDelete
  28. Thank you Jennifer...
    The view must be one of the most photographed natural images in the world I think...

    happy days

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hi Bonnie

    you don't need words to describe that view do you?


    Hi Jinksy

    and always changing skies...

    Happy days

    ReplyDelete
  30. Hi Ellen

    my new home faces west whereas the river house faced east and so I am enjoying the evening views although they are through the gum trees. It must be nice to have an expansive outlook like you have

    happy days

    ReplyDelete
  31. Meri
    yes on tsunami day hoards of people stationed themselves on the bluff in front of the hotel awaiting the wave. Being so high up it would have been a great vantage point if a wave came. We were all up on the bluff residential area out of harms way...

    We often go to the outlook to watch big surf roll in and gasp at the tow in surfers who are fearless.

    but most times we are content to sit with a beer or a cocktail and enjoy the Hawaiian music and hula while the sun goes down...

    Happy days

    ReplyDelete
  32. Thank you Friko

    I am glad that I have developed 'eyes that see' and I think I have a 'heart that appreciates...' yes...I do...

    I love that line...

    thank you

    happy days

    ReplyDelete
  33. Hi Maggie
    it is nice to see you to. I learned the word crepuscular through blogging!
    Reya of the Gold Puppy used it in a post once. I had always referred to the rays as God's fingers...

    Happy days

    ReplyDelete
  34. Delwyn, These are magical photos of sunset in a magnificent landscape. I thank you for sharing them. I also enjoyed the portrait of you and your beloved - it's nice to put a face to the blog!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Hi Barb

    you are so right...and thank you for getting to know me..

    happy days

    ReplyDelete
  36. That must be very near where the old Club Med stood. It is that exact view that we had every day! (It was an old plantation that sat on the bluff looking down at this view of the bay). The bungalows then staggered down to the ocean. Princeville was to the right of the club looking out to sea.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Hi nancy

    well just to the left of the hotel is the HBR Hanalei Bay Resort and I think the club med tumbled down the hills toward the river...Maybe it was under construction for a rebuild because there are frames of buildings rotting away in the vegetation....

    They must have been a wonderful place to stay. The view from up there is amazing. There are now a number of large homes on the Princeville bluff around from the HBR facing west on the top of the rise that overlooks the bay...where the buffalo farm was.

    The hotel has lost some of its old worldly charm ...other than the incredible views it is like many others inside.



    happy days

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.