Kim and I are in India right now...it is....well... different, dirty and difficult, and we spent a ton of hard earned money to come with a guide who turns out to not know much about it or how to get around without us getting ripped off :( we are going to give it a few more days and do our best to see the bright side of things and enjoy it as much as possible. I think that says something about this place that "we" are having to work so hard to enjoy it a little.(Jimmy I can hear you saying 'I told you so') Bangkok foot rubs, Thai street food and swing dancing is sounding awfully good to us about now! Instead we leave Calcutta in a few hours and take an overnight train to Varnasi. Wish us luck in sticking it out!

Dance Camp Was Awesome!

After a late night packing Kim and I didn't get the earliest start on Friday. But we made it to Mendocino in time for Intermediate Lindy Hop class and dinner. Stompy Jones was awesome as usual and there was quite a large contingent of Foothill dancers that we knew. We danced until the wee hours and then made it up for Blues Dance class at 9:30 Saturday morning. After that we took Hand VooDoo Lindy (no idea why it was called that) and after lunch took Balboa Variations for the Not So Faint of Heart as well as Intermediate Balboa Moves. Another even later night of dancing to Stompy Jones after the fun and interesting Variety Show. Some amazing dancing going on in that rec hall in the middle of the Redwoods.

Camp Swing is so much fun that we are already looking forward to next year! And this time the food was amazing so that made it even better.

We cut out a little early Sunday morning to head for San Francisco where we parked the camper on Geary Boulevard and went to Wonderfoot for much needed foot massages and then had dinner with my folks at the Pacific Cafe.

After dinner we drove to the airport and spent the next 24 hours in transit.

I am now sitting in Bangkok catching up on e-mails and I am happy to report we are well and arrived safely. It feels good to be back here. Although I am feeling rather jetlagged the afternoon nap and shower have gone a long way towards making me feel more human. I am sure that as soon as I eat something I will be ready to go back to bed though.

We have all day tomorrow here and then leave for India Friday morning. I am not certain how often I will be posting from India but I will try and remember to take pictures and post as soon as we return to Thailand.

Two days to Dance Camp!

As a kid I got to go to summer camp when I was 11 or 12. I remember being nervous and excited before leaving. I remember worrying about getting along with the other kids and making friends. Well I guess I have grown up a bit because I am not nervous now just excited and glad to have this opportunity to go to camp as a grown-up. Of course this time I won't be making corn-husk dolls or lanyard keychains or hiking for 2-5 days at a time in the Smokey Mountains of North Carolina. I was lucky enough to go to Quaker summer camp. The food was amazing and I learned to love homemade honey-butter and apple-butter. I got to go hiking in Blue Ridge and learned that I am wickedly prone to blisters on my feet, which reminds me....

Travel Tip of all travel tips....take shoes you've already broken in...and real socks (thorlo, ultimax, smartwool) there is nothing like huge blisters to spoil a good time!

This time round, I am going with Kim and other friends to the Mendicino Redwood Camp, several miles inland from the coast. There will be classes all afternoon Friday, all day Saturday and in the morning on Sunday. On Friday night and Saturday night there will be dances with live band "Stompy Jones" and costume contests for Halloween as well as a talent exhibition with some amazing talent.  I plan on working on my Lindy Hop and Balboa Swing technique as well as perhaps learning some new Charleston and perhaps even some Shag. 

Camp ends Sunday mid-day and we will head directly to the airport as our flight to Asia leaves that night.  A mere twenty some odd hours later we will arrive in Bangkok to begin the next leg of our big adventure. I am excited about that too, but first things first...Let's Dance!!

Check out the camp band at www.stompyjones.com

or check out the camp at www.campswing.com

Maui No Ka Oi!

Yes Maui is the best! Kim and I are just having the most wonderful time here. 

We decided that we didn't want to rent a car and have to deal with the expense, parking, theft issues, fuel costs etc. So instead we got off the airplane and took the bus. Someone else drove, it was nice and air-conditioned and we met some fun people on the way. I even traded e-mails with a gal from Australia. She said we could come stay with her in Sydney and I said she could stay with us in California when she visits. Only catch with the bus is, they don't like you to have too much luggage. They looked at us a little sideways because of the size of my bag but because I held it on my lap I think they let it slide.

We checked into the Napili Surf Monday afternoon with just enough time to take a dip in the ocean shower off and catch our rideshare to the Maui Lindyhopper's monthly dance. (SwingMaui.org) We lucked out and it happened to be their annual Luau potluck so we got dinner too! I can't imagine there is anywhere you can get a fabulous Luau dinner complete with purple sweet potatoes, shredded pork and fried rice along with a whole evening of music and dancing for only $10 per person!

We danced until 10pm, which felt like 1am to our bodies and were staggeringly tired but happy by the end.

The first full day here got off to a fabulous start with a 7am dip in the ocean. We had the beach to ourselves and enjoyed the cool, wet, wake-up swim. Then we went next door to the Gazebo where they make the most evil of delicious pineapple pancakes with coconut syrup!

To make up for not having a car, we took the bus to Lahaina and bought some cheap, used, beater, cruiser bikes for getting around. Mine is ugly, only has one working speed, and is perfect...I can lock it to a railing and not even worry if it gets stolen or rained on.

Since then we have made a point of swimming at least 2 to 3 times a day in the ocean. We ride to the market or into Lahaina and we are eating really well from the Honokawai Farmer's Market and fresh fish from Napili Market.

So Todd picked us up as well as two other friends to take to the dance. One of whom was Linley, a soon to graduate massage therapist. Yesterday she came over with her table and I gave her a massage in exchange for one sometime next week. It felt good to cut the nails off and stretch my arms and hands after a week off. She was nice enough to leave her table with us so I will try and work on Kim later. What, the massage therapist's husband getting a massage??? You must be joking!

I think everyone should get over here to Maui as I can't rave about it enough.  You have to experience it yourselves!

Gotta go swim the ocean is calling...

Hugs to all,

Dana

(Da Happy LeiLei)