Month: October 2009

Austria 2009 – a sad journey

We went to Austria to say goodbye to my dad. While it is always sad to say goodbye, the circumstances there were even more disturbing.

We still managed to take some photos

We went to visit the Styrassic park – but the non-extinct animals were cuter…

…and the slides and circus very exciting…

But we also looked at the dinosaurs – and we learned to spot the speakers before they went off and scared Leilani…

We visited Thomas, Maria, Laureen and Linda

And their cats!

Leilani loves her cousins

The last photo of my dad. His 3rd caretaker in as many weeks had just been fired, and I helped him into the wheelchair and out of the house for the last time so he could enjoy sun and fresh air.

Helmut

Camels at the Circus

Birgit’s son Jakob at the circus

Ein Maennlein steht im Walde…

Gerd

You need to press this button… (with Edith)

Leilani was really good at the funeral (it only lasted 5 minutes and there was no speech… no music either…)

Edith and Ingo

We went for a hike on the Kulm mountain

Our friend Walter has a really cool vehicle… one of the reasons I really like technology. Actually, if I go back to programming or to engineering I want to work on one of these.

I am still pondering whether to put the details on the blog. I told most of my friends what was going on, and I don’t care about others and this is also my diary… but it is still too painfull…

Bay Area – less than a week

We barely had time to unpack between Kauai and Austria… but while Leilani was at a play night at the little gym we squeezed in a short hike on Sweeny Ridge with a beautiful sunset (Andy style, sunset at destination, hike out FAST.)

We could clearly see the Faralon Islands at a distance

Looking North, SF and Mt Tam in the distance

Leilani and Isabella at a playdate (if you look closely you’ll see Sydney too…)

San Francisco Golden Gate Park

Andy and Leilani went to San Francisco, they visited the Golden Gate Bridge and a playground in the Golden Gate Park

Who says only Leilani can do photo art? Andy’s art is almost as good…

Leilani’s art now

I have to catch the wave…

Caught it…

Leilani is way up in the net…

Kauai Fall 2009 – End

All things must end, and this was the end of our trip. I flew home a day earlier, because of a meeting, and Andy and Leilani stayed an extre day.

Last breakfast at our own house – Leilani decided to sleep in, even after she fell out of bed and the sun was too bright…

A morning double rainbow – Kauai still has lots of them

Leilani and Andy met Julian

The advertisement is “I fly Go” – I call this “No fly Go” (Pidgin for “Don’t fly go”) Notice the strap that held on the engine? They made it safely to Honolulu, as the next photos prove… but that’s because they flew Mokulele Airlines

If it can be stored underneath the seat, does it need a ticket….

Kauai Fall 2009 – Kokee

The last weekend we spent in Kokee, with Jaya, Aditi and Adam. We started out by visiting the thriftstores in Hanapepe, where Aditit and I scored lots of nice toys, among it a “Stitch” (Experiment 626).

Salt pond beach was the next stop. here we are collecting things with holes, corals and puka shells, that we made into necklaces later.

Waimea canyon view

We went on the Iliau Nature Loop

The next morning was cold

Island fruit for breakfast

We hiked the Pihea trail. Notice how clean we are….

Beautiful Kalalau Vistas

Leilani crossing a mudbridge

It was the “funnest” trail for Leilani – climbing, balancing and getting dirty…

Did you know that tree ferns are that fluffy? They used to make mattresses from them…

At the top!!!!

Back at the camp