“This is a new world.”

And this is a new day. We get a whole day in Honolulu. Good thing I’ve seen it. I’ll just be at the beach, on solid ground. It’s enough for me to feel the warm air and breathe the flowery sea air in the park next us.

“Senses are under-rated. How quickly we forget what this is like. This is a dream compared to the wintery desert we left behind.”

This is a new world.

And in this world,

“I bet there’s a Hilton.”

Obligatory Duke statue.

“They look like uninflated beach toys.”

I got a sunburn on this cloudy day. I was just napping in the sun like these people.

“The whole time 4 teenage girls played some new hacky sack game. All day they played with that energy that wipes out adults.”

I rarely feel that good, but sometimes it happens.

Hawaii has many exotic birds. Hawaii is known for its diversity.

The locals come on board the ship and do a show in the theater. It is as good a show as you will see at any dinner luau. There are a dozen little performers too. They get paid in pizza. They love it, they are so happy to eat pizza. Princess pizza is the best!

The cruise ship parks close in. You can walk to many things or take a taxi or Uber very quickly. The Ala Moana mall is close by as well as Waikiki Beach. Sometimes a port means you can stock up on supplies. Other times the port has nothing for you.

After just one day here, we are headed South now, towards Austrailia and New Zealand.

This ship isn’t going through the Suez Canal. This whole tour has been re-routed under Africa. I’m getting off before it turns North. I’ll visit Asia next time. When the announcement is made I don’t hear any complaining from the others. They don’t seem too caught up in the destinations. I also heard someone say ‘don’t be upset because the ice cream machine is broken, enjoy your vacation’.

There it is.

“The water is so incredibly deep blue! Where are we?”

Earth. 🌏

“Could you be more specific?”

0” 0’ 168” 31.936’W

“We did it!”

I even got this certificate to show I was here and made the arduous crossing. 

“Ya, looks real tough. Did you get wet? Is that the hardship? Since when u a doctor anyhow?”

You don’t remember? You were there. Guatemala? November 2023.

“Huh?”

The ancient Mayan temple Iximche. The Ayuhasca ceremony. The Shaman. It was very spiritual and he granted me special healing powers and insight into the interconnectedness of all living things.

“I remember the pile of rocks and overgrown jungle they called a temple. I remember the gift shop with the native headdresses made in China. I remember the food truck you bought that weird grilled meat on a stick thing. You dipped it in the green sauce that was so hot it blinded you for an hour! You were having trouble breathing and sweating all over me. I remember that.”

It was a very moving experience and I’m changed forever. It’s all coming back to me now. Yes, the splendor.

“My head is still spinning. So now you’re a what? Witch doctor?” 

When I got off the boat and set foot on this new land, a little voice inside me said this is a new world, and in this world you can be whoever the fuck you want to be!