I'm thinking for myself

I try to remind Vivian to think for herself as often as I can. When I'm not telling her to listen to me.

Sometimes Vivian says something like "but my teacher told me so". And I tell her "Honey - think for yourself. Don't believe it just because your teacher said it. Or mommy or me for that matter". 

We were having an argument the other day in the car. Vivian had finished watching Dr. Suess' The Lorax on the iPad. I haven't seen the movie. And I don't remember the details of the book. But Vivian noted that in the movie (not the new 3D one) you don't see the Once-ler's face. And at one point the Lorax or someome calls him a monster. Vivian announced that she thought that the Once-ler was a monster.

Vivian has an active imagination. She often has nightmares. So we try not to add to the menagerie of monsters in her head. This line of reasoning led Jo and I to vigorously defend the Once-ler from acquisitions of monsterhood.  To which Vivian loudly and clearly stated "Dad! You want me to think for myself. I'm thinking for myself and you are telling me what to think."

Silence.

I needed a minute. My response: "People will often guide you one way or another. You can choose to listen to what they have to say. But in the end you need to examine the evidence and make up your own mind. So if you have considered it through and think the Once-ler as a monster, it's yours to do so."

And I thought she wasn't paying any attention.

Waves

I'm mesmerized by them.

When you spend a bit of time by the ocean they become a part of your life and the sounds you hear and the rhythm of your thoughts. Manini beach - our beach - the beach we visit everyday was hit by the trailing edge of the phenomenon that wrecked havoc in Japan last year. It swept a few homes off their foundations. Sandy Esperanza, the beach supervisor, showed us where the homes were jostled around by the tsunami. The beach was closed for six months.

I went to Captain Cook's memorial today. It's a short SUP or kayak ride from Manini but we didn't want to chance it with Evan and the rougher surges of the last few days. So I walked down the long way. I stood on the edge of the lava rocks with my camera as a wave came crashing into the rocks. I was standing at least twenty feet into dry rock when I started taking these photos. By the time I was finished a few seconds later my feet were damp. I guess it was a bigger wave than the last few. At it's peak the spray is about 30 feet up in the air and the ocean is about 20 feet below where I'm standing.

Vacations Never End

They just get old. And after 9 months I'm almost ready to be home. I think we all are.

We spent at least one night in London, Hyderabad, Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Mussoorie, Goa, Mumbai, Pawna, Bangalore, Singapore, Kuala Lampur, Sandakan, Kota Kinabalu, Hong Kong, Hilo and Kona. We traveled approximately forty thousand miles.

Most useful travel accessory: Evan's Baby Bjorn Travel Crib. Don't leave home without it. Most versatile travel clothing: My Keen Newports. Wore them to the beach, trails, parties and even lunches at the Secunderabad Club. I wore them everyday for nine months and then left the remains for Savitri's husband to wear. With some care he'll own them for years.

Most important travel tip: Do it. It's cliched but it is surprisingly easy. Kids aren't a burden. In fact their flexibility and adaptability are inspirational. The cost isn't that much more than just living in Austin for the same time. There are a hundred reasons within easy arm's reach why you shouldn't embark on months of travel. We couldn't find one that was a show stopper.

The kind of travel we liked the best is going and staying put somewhere for a while. We spent over 10 days in Goa, about two weeks in Hong Kong (in both places over two trips), over a week in Mussoorie and almost three weeks in Hawaii. And that's the way we like to see places. Slowly and lazily.

Except for  Kuala Lampur, Singapore and Sandakan, every other place we visited was either with friends and family or to visit friends. Seeing places is great. But being with people you like is even better.

Evan and Vivian had an amazing time. Vivian was on the cusp of learning Hindi. She acquired a familiarity and comfort with India and traveling that I hope stay with her for life. Evan transitioned from a bumbling toddler to a worldly wise traveler. He has a limited vocab, but it includes a first-hand notion of the sun, moon and stars, chocolate, wine, cheers, dolphins, monkeys, backpack, airplane, beach, waves, sand, and who knows what else.

My primary objective was to spend some time with my dad and figure out the next steps. I achieved half of that. Which is good enough. And Evan and Vivian got to know him one tiny bit. Next steps shnext schepts.

Thanks to everyone who made the last nine months so memorable. In Austin, Hyderabad, and along the way. Who took the time to travel with us. Who blessed us and wished us well with fair winds and sunny skies and gentle rains and connecting flights. And finally thanks to my lovely wife who kept things moving along smoothly and took everything in her stride.

The final analysis: will we do it again? Most certainly yes.

Tsunami Tsigns

Tsunamis are no laughing matter. The last two big ones - in the Indian Ocean and Japan together almost killed a quarter million people, making tsunamis the worst natural disasters on record.

But the tsunami signs in Hawaii are pretty funny. They comes in twos and show which way you need to run. The Crossfit box in Kona has the tsunami warning sign on it's t-shirts.