The "Lasts"

I was so lucky to be able to spend so much time on Kosrae with my daughter ~ but, as with all journeys, all too quickly we started having "lasts"....  

Our last group event: a cruise~

Mike, the other half of the hotel/Bully's business, and water expert, took us out on a boat so that we could enjoy sunset on the water.  We boarded the vessel, along with some snacks and a cooler of beer, and headed out across the bay.

I had to laugh when we passed a boat with a German flag ~ my friends in Dubai make fun of me because no matter where we travel, we always come across Germans and I get to practice my German!  Well, here I am on a teeny island in the middle of the Pacific, and guess what????  We met some Germans!!!!  Here is their boat:

Because there were only 3 of us, Christina & me, and another man taking his last cruise before leaving his job on the island, Mike decided to take us out to his personal boat.

We tied up and sat on the boats, enjoying the sunset, island views, and the moon ~

Our last adventure: to a waterfall ~ 

It was back on our bikes for this one!  I wasn't worried, though.  I mean, after the ride to Utwa, nothing scared me any more!!!!  

As we arrived at the trailhead, I started to have second thoughts.....  Where was the trail???

NO worries, Christina assured me.  There it is:

Yes, she is pointing to that pipe.

Huh.


So we made our way along the, uh, trail... and saw some lovely flora:

We had to climb over rocks and sometimes on the pipe itself.   And at one point, Christina said we should wade through the water, rather than climb on the concrete drain, but I saw a snake in that water so..... I climbed over the drain!!!!

Eventually, though, we made it to the fist of the waterfalls!!!  It was in a small gorge not unlike the Oneonta Gorge in the States.  Absolutely gorgeous! 

Originally Christina wanted to go on, but we got a later start than expected and it was starting to get dark.  I am up for almost anything but hiking in the jungle (where there are snakes in the water!) is a lot even for me!!  But I did enjoy our trek back along the, uh, trail.   We saw this cool toad!!!  

And we had to walk under these huge stalks of bamboo ~ magnificent!  

I felt like quiet the adventurer after this trek!  Thank you, Christina, for sharing so many of your islands sights with me!!

Our last feast: at home with the family ~


I was not going to be allowed to leave Kosrae without one more feast!!!  While Cia worked in the kitchen, we talked and laughed.  I tried to get Alicia to smile at me ~ some days I got lucky, and other days not so much :)  Heisey loved the reindeer horns we won New Year's Eve, and Axa was engrossed in a computer game.

It seems that the puppies are not the only ones who like to run off with my shoes ~ Ruth Ruth!

Aliksa was hard at work cooking outside while others helped clean and prepare food for our last feast.

Christina iced a yummy cake for us!

I was given a lovey wreath of shells for my trip back home, and I was touched by the kind words from Aliksa on behalf of the family.  It made it easier to leave my daughter knowing that she is so loved and cared for.  What a relief for a mom!!!

And of course, once again, the food was delicious!  I am sure going to miss the fresh coconut!!

And of course, our last sunset ~




Christina shared with me the beauty of the early morning hours on her island.  On our last day together, we decided to watch the sun rise.  We headed out across the street and sat on the shore to take in the morning:

I am truly blessed ~