In fall 2023, Mr. Lang and I embarked on a bucket list vacation to celebrate our 25th anniversary in Oahu. We spent 12 days on the island between three resort hotels, which allowed us time to relax and connect as well as adventure & experience so much of Oahu.
I've been reflecting on my travels over the last 18 months and how grateful I am to have these experiences, especially with my partner. And in doing some reflection I wanted to share three experiences in which I felt the most alive I've ever felt. The memories continue to show up in my body when I think of them, even today over one year later. My body feels tingly and my whole being lights up as I recall how connected to the Universe I felt. And I wanted to highlight these travel memories and hopefully inspire you to find what makes you feel something.
Feeling JAW-some
Yes, that's me in a cage, snorkeling with sharks. We booked this with North Shore Shark Adventures (not sponsored) and it was a highlight of our vacation. We had the first boat out on the water that morning and headed out approximately 3 miles from shore where the water was 400-500 feet deep. I had zero hesitation about getting in the water and volunteered to be part of the first group in. The photo doesn't do the water or the sharks any justice...it was such an indescribable blue color. The Galapagos sharks were 6-12 feet in length and they are used to fishing boats being in the area, so they naturally come to investigate when they sense the boat; no chumming of the water to attract them.
The sharks would literally come out of the blue, it was a bit spooky. We spent a solid 10 minutes in the water, bobbing up and down, marveling at these beautiful creatures around us. Near the end of our time in the water, I became motion sick and was the first of many to not feel so hot. I spent the ride back to land keeping my eyes focused on a focal point near shore to help from getting sick again. On our way back, we were blessed with a beautiful rainbow that shifts in vibrancy. All in all, this was an experience that was SO WORTH IT! I felt so alive in the moment, even being ill for part of it. I have no regrets and would do it again in a heartbeat!
Take The Step
I have a long-time fear of heights, of falling, and after some personal growth work & therapy, I was ready to "step into the unknown." Well, on our Oahu vacation, that meant ziplining. This is an activity that I've always wanted to try, but the fear had never let me imagine doing so. With the Jurassic Park Ziplining activity booked through Kualoa Ranch (not sponsored), I was so ready to step out of my comfort zone and face this fear. Mr. Lang was so excited I was willing to give this a try!
Our guides (Lily, Nate, and Nui) were fantastic teachers & guides and helped bring our small community of adventures together. Over 3 hours, we ziplined, laughed, shared stories, and had fun together. This helped me have zero nervousness and at the first platform, I stepped off without fear. I trusted myself and the guides, which allowed me to feel...brave, alive, free, and proud of myself.
One of the ziplines was called Koa, which was also the name of my furry soulmate who unfortunately left me the year prior. He was with me, living free in the moment. And to get even more personal, the views and the experience offered me a peace I didn't know existed. It felt like I was in Mother Nature's place of sanctuary and I felt so content. It was a spiritual experience. Even writing this now, I can feel the wind against my skin, the sound of the zipline, the awe of the beauty around me.
Stargazing
During our stay at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, we enjoyed a stargazing event on the beach in Ko Olina, Oahau. Greg McCartney is an astronomer who operates Stars Above Hawaii, a Polynesian star voyaging laser guided stargazing tour (not sponsored). He sets up his giant computerized telescopes and offers us a chance to view the Universe in a way we never have before. The moon craters, rings of Saturn, star clusters, and so much more. All while also sharing the stories of how the Polynesians navigated by the stars, it was awe-inspiring, romantic, and incredible.
Greg asked where we were all from, then shared how the skies differ based upon our location on Earth. We happened to be the most “north” guests, so he showed us where the “North Star” appears in Oahu compared to where we see it in central WI. We all had a chance to look through the microscope multiple times and ask as many questions as we wanted.
He also has a camera telescope with him that takes photos of what we were looking at that he then transferred to our cell phones, so we could take the views home with us. The last three photos in the gallery above are some of those photos. The photos I took are with my iPhone and I was standing on the grass yet next to the beach in between Aulani and Four Seasons. Mr. Lang and I were the first to arrive, so we laid on the grass and watched the evening sky while waiting.
This was an experience in which I was continually fueled with positive mystery, seeing stars shimmer like Las Vegas signs or diamonds (depending on what we were looking at). We enjoy talking about and viewing space as a family back home, so this was a treat. I was, once again, left feeling so alive in this Universe.
I hope these experience inspire you, or made you feel something as you read/viewed them. I'd love to hear about it in the comments! Thanks so much for reading!
~Denise
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