Hawaii day after tomorrow

Saturday January 23rd

Sing with me to the tune of I've got my love to keep me warm...

The seas are calmer, the sky is bluer
And I am feeling the buzz!
Oh yes the buzz of Hawaii is here
And I've got the sun to keep me warm!

I know, I know ...pathetic, but it's just a symbol of the relief and excitement we're all feeling after the apprehension of the last few days. To feel the normal hum of the engines and feel just the slight movement of the sea beneath us and to be able to walk upright and balanced again seems a precious gift. Add to that the thought of the beautiful Hawaiian islands in the very near future and the world seems to have reverted to sanity and promise.

I had one class today full of historic interest: the period just before world war 2 in china: the combined forces of Chiang Kaishek and Mao Sedung fighting the Japanese, Roosevelt's troubled decision of whether to use air or infantry against them or pour his forces into the European battle against Hitler....and Winston Churchill's pouting preference! That is somewhat of a nutshell of Jonathon Spence's account He is a born raconteur and i could have happily listened to him all afternoon. However liz. Audrey George and I and another couple had supper with him and he told us the tales of two Chinese books he had reviewed which had us in stitches.

I joined the Life Long Learners in the lounge at five to watch a demonstration and explanation of Hula dancing. Our teacher is the wife of the Hawaiian land manager from Maui, she is also a student in my theatre class, Sherry. She is a beautiful dancer and made one want to jump up and join her but I seemed stuck stubbornly to my seat! Others were braver and had a whale of a time. We learned the arm, hand and finger movements representing the stars, sun, moon, wind and rain, boats, flowers, mountains, women and houses. We then translated her story as she danced with our new found knowledge. We also watched the hip movements of the dancer with envy. Each family lineage dances slightly differently and although Sherry herself is American, Scott her husband is almost pure Hawaiian with American missionary ancestors way back. Interstingly only about 20% of the whole population of Hawaii is pure Hawaiian.

Our Global Study class today discussed the moral position of the United States and the way they took over the islands. Verry interrestink! I wanted to say "You know we Brits eventually gave the Empire independence....shouldn't you do the same?" (uproar!) But I know that, apart from the fact that they are not about to do that, it's by no means the majority of the Hawaiian population who really want Sovereignty and Independence. I shall pose the question privately and let you know the answer.

Have finally booked our flights from Chennai to Cochin on 11th March. Liz and Audrey are joining us for our trip in Kerala to a bird sanctuary, a plantation bungalow in Munnar and finally a night on a house boat in Allopey....is that how it's spelled? Not certain: will look it up tomorrow and edit accordingly.. The ship is only spending one night in Chennai and then sailing to Cochin so we shall board again on the 16th March in the latter port.

The booking form was very thorough and gave us a choice of meat or vegetarian dishes for a one and a half hour flight so I decided to avoid any mishaps to order vegetarian for all four of us. We received our confirmation of booking tonight and each one of us is down to eat meat! Ah well it was a good idea while it lasted.

George is sound asleep. Anyone who is surprised put up your hand....right go to the back of the class and put that cone shaped hat on.

More tomorrow.