Update from Maui

It's time for a little update. Since last blog, Dagfinn, Ida and Johanne has arrived here on Maui. Dagfinn came Wed 8. Apr, while Ida and Johanne came Tue 14. Apr. Me and Dagfinn have had 4 days windsurfing and enjoyed it alot. The wind has been a bit too strong for me the latest days. I ended up on a 3.7 sail, and still felt it was too big. I have bruises all over my body after trying to learn surfing with a harness.

From Maui 2009

Today we went to Hana and back and had a good time jumping cliffs and watching the tropcial Hawaii.

From Maui 2009

Jumping Venus Pool

From Maui 2009

Many thanks to Johanne for shooting all the pictures!

We're leaving Maui tomorrow and going to Ohahu and Honolulu. I'm going back to Maui on Sunday, because my flight back to Calgary leaves from here.
Only 6 days until I'm back in Norway now! I'm looking forward to meeting friends, family and my colleagues :) See ya all soon!

Whalewatching

Today was my first close encounter with the big Humpback whales

I was on a 2 hour trip with Pacific Whale Foundation where we experienced 2 major whale breaches where the whales jump out of the water. I got a photo of the nearest one:

From Maui 2009

The guide and the captain said that breaches this close to the boat only happened 4-5 times per year, so we were quite lucky.
The whales go to Hawaii in the winter for mating and calving, while they travel to Alaska and Bering Sea in the summer to feed.
Onboard the boat there was paper where you could sign up for protesting against Japan, Iceland and Norway's whaling-activities. I didn't sign up...

Haleakala Crater

Today I went up the highest point here on Maui; The Haleakala Crater with a summit 3055 meters high. The vulcano is considered as an active vulcano, but the last eruprtion is believed to be in the 1600s. This is in the Haleakala National Park

From Maui 2009

I had planned to walk on the trails around the crater, but I didn't bring enough clothes. I should have brought a jacket and some gloves, the wind was pretty cold there.

From Maui 2009

Since there are very good conditions for astrophysical research (and of course surveillance of any kind), there is a Space surveillance center at the summit.

From Maui 2009

And yes, you can drive all the way to the top ;)