Honolulu and Waikiki Beach is a photographer's dream...Photo of our tent, one year ago...

Last night's sunset at 6:15 pm.

I'll never profess to be an experienced photographer. After less than two years of passionately taking photos, I still have a lot to learn. Perhaps, in another two years, I'll be able to consider myself in a class of an experienced amateur photographer.

The Waikiki Trolley.

For now, I'm reveling in the pure joy of capturing moments as we see them, Tom with his keen eye for the perfect scene, sunset or moon and me, with my curiosity for the less common scenes. Together, we find ourselves constantly holding a camera when out and about, scanning our surroundings for the next shot.

A fountain and surfer statue at Waikiki Beach.

Based on our current equipment and my inability to hold a heavy SLR camera, we make do with the camera we recently purchased, an inexpensive Canon SX50 HS. As mentioned in an earlier post, if this camera lasts for two years, we'll be thrilled. By that time, newer technology will aid my accumulated skills.

Another surfer statue at the beach.

Some of our distant photos aren't as clear as we'd like. Although at times, we choose to share them for their content as opposed to their acuity. I can't imagine hauling a tripod and multiple lenses around the world with us. The weight restrictions are a constant source of concern.

A sign describing the beaches at Waikiki.

Each night on our way to dinner, we head out early to ensure we have a chance to capture the sunset in Waikiki from the perfect location across the street from our condo hotel. Each night is different.

The Royal Hawaiian Hotel. Long BT (before Tom) I stayed at this hotel on a few occasions. Now, the rooms start at over $400 a night

Other than a daily walk in the area and again going out at 5:30 for the evening, we've tended to stay inside the little condo in air conditioned comfort. Each sunny day we head up to the 10th floor veranda where there are chaise lounges for a quick 40 minute dose of Vitamin D and a little tanning.

The breakwaters at Waikiki to protect the bathers.

There's a pool on the property but, its entirely shaded by trees making it useless for our occasional sun tanning. What do we do the remainder of our time? We do what others do in their homes; laundry, cleaning up, checking Facebook and our email, banking and financial tasks, talking and laughing. Tom often listens to his favorite radio podcast, Garage Logic, using his earpieces while I listen to the news in the background.

The surf at the breakwater should be increasing with the upcoming trade winds.

Also, we spend considerable time each day taking and preparing our photos and stories which easily fill a morning or afternoon. Preferably, the next day's post is completed by late afternoon, leaving our evenings free to go to dinner and later relax watching a movie or favorite TV show.

Tom thought that Spam was a popular item in Hawaii which was confirmed by this Spam sandwiches to go display at an ABC store, of which there is one at almost every block.

In many ways, its a simple life when one is free of "stuff," household maintenance and social obligations. We do miss the social interactions but after two fabulously social cruises, we're good for awhile.

On the pier in Waikiki Beach.

In six days, we'll leave Honolulu, heading to Maui for a six week stay in a condo with more space where we'll feel more comfortable. Our 40 minute flight is booked and we've checked our baggage restrictions consisting of a maximum 50 pounds per bag at $35 per bag. We'll use our travel scale to get this right hopefully, avoiding excess baggage fees.

Have a wonderful weekend, whatever you may do. We plan to...
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Photo from one year ago today, October 10, 2013:

This was the interior of our tent at Sanctuary Retreat's Camp Olonana in the Masai Mara where we went on safari. It was quite the tent with AC, indoor plumbing and electrical. The WiFi didn't work in the tent requiring us to work in the lobby of the main building. We were so happy to be there, we didn't mind a bit. Plus, they turned off the electrical power during the day to save on power. But, they left ours on to recharge our equipment. For details of that post with more photos of the camp, please click here.