Honey Bunches of Oats Fond Farewell
The cocktail party was wonderful. It was so much fun to talk to the other winners and hear how this trip has impacted their lives. In short, for all of us, this was nothing short of a miracle. However, there is another miracle in the works as well. Remember the adorable twins who attend Berkley and have an apartment full of Honey Bunches of Oats cereal? Well, they entered the dance contest they have been holding all week long here at the resort. They have narrowed the finalists down to two people. Those people are..... The twins. The prize? A four day, three night all expense paid trip to the Dreams Resort and Spa in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic! What a kick! So, they will be coming back to enjoy this paradise sometime in the near future. No matter who wins the final dance off – the winner will bring the other one! I've been grinning ever since I heard!
I know that Post Cereal ran this promotion to attract new consumers. I hope they are OK with just rewarding a loyal consumer because Honey Bunches of Oats is pretty much the only cereal in the house. I'm sure like everyone else, their jobs at Post becomes just what they do every day to make a living, but I hope they can see the lives they have changed through this promotion. What they have done has been so meaningful for others. Through this one promotion they have changed 200 people's lives forever. What we saw and experienced here will forever alter how we view the world and live our lives. It has given us memories with our friend, or family member who came with us that will bond us in a way we won't ever have with anyone else. A lot of the winners came from circumstances, especially in this economy, that would prevent them from ever having a trip like this in their whole lifetime. For all of us they have reinforced the feelings of hope in our lives and the belief that dreams really can come true.
I know only my kids have probably read this blog, but just in case anyone from Post stumbles upon it. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Exploring Paradise
Today has been the lazy, relaxing day I had envisioned when I received my win notice from Honey Bunches of Oats. I blogged in a beach hut while Neal kayaked around the ocean. We went in for lunch and now I am poolside while Neal is enjoying the pool.
I want to tell about the remarkable detail they have gone to when building this resort. It is amazing. There are little walkways all over the property, all leading to the beach. As you wind around you get to enjoy the little touches that make this experience so unforgettable. On the side of one of the paths is a small pond for the beautiful pink flamingos. These are especially beautiful at night. They have the pond lit and the color of the birds really stands out. Several brilliant peacocks stroll the grounds and we are awakened by them every morning, like unto a rooster. As we were coming in from the beach today, they had set up a fruit stand along the path and there was a girl working magic with the local fruit. Neal and I each walked away with mango's and pineapples on a stick in the shape of an island flower. It was as much fun as a Mickey Mouse ice cream bar at Disneyland, but it was free instead of $7.00 and probably better for you. As we explored another time, we encountered a man with monkeys interacting with the guests. The sounds of exotic birds are heard all day long. I never really see them, and they may be just some ordinary crows or something, but I picture, in my minds eye, bright parrots or Macaws when I hear their song. It smells terrific everywhere you go. I keep thinking it is the smell of gardenias, but I'm not sure. But the pathways are bright with pink, orange and purple blossoms. There are plants here I've purchased from hot house nurseries only to kill them when they got home. But here they are ten feet tall and growing.
They also have special areas of the resort just for children and one for teens. The teenage one is especially cool, with a mechanical bull, billiards, batting cages, and all sorts of sports games. There is a snack bar offering endless pizza and popcorn. These areas are tucked away so well that you have to have a need, or the curiosity to look for them, to know they are even there. So people, or family members could have completely different vacations while still being in the same resort.
Now I want to talk about skin. Everyone has great skin in paradise. I'm not kidding. I don't know if it is the humidity or the glow of perspiration, but everyone's skin has a glow to it that makes us all look like a Johnson & Johnson baby oil commercial. Even pasty white skin like mine looks good, and that is saying a lot. But, the darker the skin shade, the more beautiful the glow. The same goes with about anything here. I noticed on the beach a young man standing next to me. The white sand on his dark skin looked like powdered diamonds glistening off his feet. I thought it might have been the sand itself until I looked down at the sand on me. Unfortunately, all that looked like was a woman with dirty feet...
Neal and I enjoy vacations differently I think. I enjoy everything I see and learn along the way. Neal enjoys everything there is to do. I think he wishes a little that he were here with one of the kids instead of me, they are more "doers" but I think he is having fun.
Today when we returned from lunch to our room there were "goody bags" waiting for us. They were very nice canvas totes with the Honey Bunches of Oats logo on them. Inside was a boogie board, a beach ball, and mine had a box of cereal and Neal's had a little cereal travel cup. It was such a fun surprise and another little unexpected "extra mile" touch that has made this trip so unforgettable.
I am very excited about the cocktail party today hosted by Honey Bunches of Oats. It will be fun to be around everyone else who is sharing this once in a lifetime moment. I know that we have all had different experiences depending on what we have done, eaten and seen. However, it is nice that they are getting us all together for another common event because this is such an unbelievable opportunity and I want to feel a part of the people that shared it with me in some small way, even if we never encountered each other along the way.
Tomorrow our adventure is at it's end. We have plans tonight so I won't be able to finish this blog until we return home. I plan to spend the rest of today memorizing ever sight and sound that brought me so much joy along the way in this Party in Paradise!
I want to tell about the remarkable detail they have gone to when building this resort. It is amazing. There are little walkways all over the property, all leading to the beach. As you wind around you get to enjoy the little touches that make this experience so unforgettable. On the side of one of the paths is a small pond for the beautiful pink flamingos. These are especially beautiful at night. They have the pond lit and the color of the birds really stands out. Several brilliant peacocks stroll the grounds and we are awakened by them every morning, like unto a rooster. As we were coming in from the beach today, they had set up a fruit stand along the path and there was a girl working magic with the local fruit. Neal and I each walked away with mango's and pineapples on a stick in the shape of an island flower. It was as much fun as a Mickey Mouse ice cream bar at Disneyland, but it was free instead of $7.00 and probably better for you. As we explored another time, we encountered a man with monkeys interacting with the guests. The sounds of exotic birds are heard all day long. I never really see them, and they may be just some ordinary crows or something, but I picture, in my minds eye, bright parrots or Macaws when I hear their song. It smells terrific everywhere you go. I keep thinking it is the smell of gardenias, but I'm not sure. But the pathways are bright with pink, orange and purple blossoms. There are plants here I've purchased from hot house nurseries only to kill them when they got home. But here they are ten feet tall and growing.
They also have special areas of the resort just for children and one for teens. The teenage one is especially cool, with a mechanical bull, billiards, batting cages, and all sorts of sports games. There is a snack bar offering endless pizza and popcorn. These areas are tucked away so well that you have to have a need, or the curiosity to look for them, to know they are even there. So people, or family members could have completely different vacations while still being in the same resort.
Now I want to talk about skin. Everyone has great skin in paradise. I'm not kidding. I don't know if it is the humidity or the glow of perspiration, but everyone's skin has a glow to it that makes us all look like a Johnson & Johnson baby oil commercial. Even pasty white skin like mine looks good, and that is saying a lot. But, the darker the skin shade, the more beautiful the glow. The same goes with about anything here. I noticed on the beach a young man standing next to me. The white sand on his dark skin looked like powdered diamonds glistening off his feet. I thought it might have been the sand itself until I looked down at the sand on me. Unfortunately, all that looked like was a woman with dirty feet...
Neal and I enjoy vacations differently I think. I enjoy everything I see and learn along the way. Neal enjoys everything there is to do. I think he wishes a little that he were here with one of the kids instead of me, they are more "doers" but I think he is having fun.
Today when we returned from lunch to our room there were "goody bags" waiting for us. They were very nice canvas totes with the Honey Bunches of Oats logo on them. Inside was a boogie board, a beach ball, and mine had a box of cereal and Neal's had a little cereal travel cup. It was such a fun surprise and another little unexpected "extra mile" touch that has made this trip so unforgettable.
I am very excited about the cocktail party today hosted by Honey Bunches of Oats. It will be fun to be around everyone else who is sharing this once in a lifetime moment. I know that we have all had different experiences depending on what we have done, eaten and seen. However, it is nice that they are getting us all together for another common event because this is such an unbelievable opportunity and I want to feel a part of the people that shared it with me in some small way, even if we never encountered each other along the way.
Tomorrow our adventure is at it's end. We have plans tonight so I won't be able to finish this blog until we return home. I plan to spend the rest of today memorizing ever sight and sound that brought me so much joy along the way in this Party in Paradise!
April 24, 2010 Blogging in Paradise
Blogging in Paradise
I was exhausted from the events from Thursday so I will cover them today. But first, I will paint you a picture of my current situation. I am stretched out in my own little thatched roof hut with someone bringing me endless coca cola. Yes, this IS paradise!
I have stories to tell today. First is one that I failed to mention on the first day. As as the winners gathered on the bus we sat next to a pair of Asian twins who attend Berkley. They were so excited that they were about to self combust. It was adorable. We started talking about entering the contest and they went into great detail about wanting this so badly that they chose to eat only Honey Bunches of Oats cereal until they got a winning code. Apparently there were boxes everywhere in their tiny apartment. When they did enter a winning code they were so stunned that they didn't know what to do. They took a picture of the screen with their camera, printed out a picture from their computer and then saved the screen shot. It makes me grin every time I see them, picturing these two struggling students buried in cereal boxes desperately trying to escape for a few days from the stress of college life.
The rest of our first day was spent exploring the resort property, having dinner and checking out the events of the evening. I was bone tired and not much even seemed fun through the exhaustion but there were neat activities. We went to the buffet and there were offerings from around the world. Neal tried lots of new stuff. I hunted for familiar foods. I have found that unfortunately I am not the international foodie that my darling niece, Heather, is. She embraces the new foods and textures with such zest. I find that in a new and strange environment, I need something very familiar. Not just kind of, VERY familiar. I want a hamburger, grilled cheese, french fries. Something that says everything in my life isn't different. So, I went for some nachos and a hot dog. This frustrates Neal to no end, who also dives into new food with gusto, but I think it may be a coping mechanism for me,
When it was dark, there was a beach party. There were merangie lessons, and dancing into the night. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight... There was a beach bonfire and the smells and music of the night were just like I had imagined it when I was a teenager watching "Gidget Goes Hawaiian."
Walking back to our room we saw that they had a big screen showing Avatar on a patio on the beach. I would have loved to see that if I wasn't so bone tired.
Yesterday started out early with a breakfast with the Honey Bunches of Oats family. It was kind of a "drop by" event, and we were the first to arrive. I was very excited that the people from POST foods were there, not just their event planners. As I was trying to tell them how grateful we were for this experience, especially on our 30th anniversary, I got all choked up and I'm sure they thought I was nuts or had recently had way to much sun, but I hoped they could see what this means to me.
Neal has been excited about snorkeling ever since we heard we were going to be able to come here. We investigated the free snorkeling here at the resort and found out that there really isn't much to see. So he signed up for an excursion to Catalina Island (not the one in CA of course) and we met our bus in the lobby at 7:45. At first I felt badly because we were crashing an excursion that was mainly full of a wedding party – but after asking around, we found others who weren't with them and didn't feel so weird. It was the only excursion for the week, so we had to take it and the experience may be the best we have had while we are here.
The 1 ½ hour bus ride was the ride from heck. I need to write a long thank you letter to the makers of Dramamine for their product because I didn't have any motion sickness problems. I wish I could say the same for the others in the bus. We had three adorable kids, all who threw up repeatedly as well as three or four adults. The smell of fresh vomit waifing through the bus would normally be enough to set me off, but my trusty little pills did the trick.
All along the dusty, hot, bumpy ride were sights that made me wish my eyes were cameras that could send images to a printer so I could remember them forever. I didn't expect the poverty that I saw and how people lived. The homes were tiny. Mostly little box shaped houses with no glass in their windows. Some have little wooden doors on the window cut outs others just have the holes. The front doors on many of the homes were more like barn doors, but it appeared that they did the job. The lucky ones have homes made from cinder blocks, and the houses are not much bigger than my living room. Others have houses, or even lean to's made from corrugated tin or metal of some sort. All of the homes are painted bright cheery colors, oranges, greens, and lots of pink. The shops have raw meat hanging from the awnings ready for sale. That was pretty gross, especially the ones that were definitely the carcasses of dogs. People would walk up and they would hack off a chunk for them to take home and cook. I saw no way of knowing how long the stuff was hanging out in the blistering heat, but I guess if people died from it, they would quit doing that, so it obviously works for them.
I love seeing the countryside and how people survive. The people here are cattle ranchers and many of them have fields of bananas. Some of them do both, with cows grazing beneath the shade of the banana trees. The cows are adorable. I have never seen anything like them before. They have long floppy ears, kind of between a rabbit and a basset hound. I felt completely delighted every time I saw one. The ranchers are strong and have defined muscles, not from hours at Gold's Gym but from a lifetime of working so hard to survive. Their bright colored clothes are a sharp contrast to their glistening dark skin and it is quite something for a girl from America's wild west, whose own grandfather was a rancher, to be able to see such a different kind of cowboy on the other side of the world.
As we passed through one of the towns there was a woman, with a long flowing brightly colored skirt walking through the city streets with a metal washtub filled with bananas balanced on her head. It was, for some reason, a strikingly beautiful sight. It was like a National Geographic photo come to life. I tried to snap a photo through the dingy bus windows but we were past it before I could.
Next we came to acres and acres of sugar cane. I felt very lucky to be here during harvest time. Great, strong men were cutting down the cane with sickles. No kidding, sickles! They picked up big armloads of the cane and tossed it into big wooden or metal wagons that were pulled by long horned oxen. It was like something from a movie from the 1950's. No roaring motor of a gas powered hedge trimmer or something, just the swing of a giant knife and the muscles of men who have worked the land for generations. These men had cleared acres of cane with hundreds more to go.
As I looked at these people, who live so simply, and work so hard, I wondered if I am the one who has life all wrong. These people are HAPPY. Joyfully, delightfully happy. Everyone is always smiling and jovial and their laughter is so deep, robust and genuine that it penetrates to your very soul, releasing something in you that makes you feel like nothing is really all that bad.
We arrive at the dock and board the boat to where Neal will be snorkeling. Half the boat is filled with scuba divers, half with snorkelers and we stop halfway between the shore we left and the shore of an island we are soon to discover. Neal said the snorkeling was amazing with schools of fish parting like the red sea as they swum around you. He said there were long tubes of coral that looked like organ pipes and bright colored fish so numerous you couldn't take them all in. He must have snorkeled for two hours, and his sunburned back will testify to that.
There is a DJ on the boat and a girl that reminds me a lot of Brooke, always posing for pictures. The music is another reason I think the people here are always happy. ALL the music is party music. The waiters, busboys, etc., break out into song and dance just randomly. It is a very fun environment. Our boat blared party music, and it was definitely a party boat. The girl and the Dj would grab people and start dancing with them and soon there was dancing everywhere with Neal and I cowering in the corner hoping they would leave us alone. The party girl did end up snuggling up to Neal and I got a great blackmail picture of her on his lap. I am envious of how confident people are with themselves here. They embrace their bodies whatever height, shape or weight they are and just let it all hang out and enjoy life. I wish I were more that way, not always wondering what people were thinking or worried I'd look dumb doing something. I have learned, sadly, when it comes to skin anyway, whatever I do let "hang-out" gets either burned or bitten...
When the snorkelers were done, they took us to the island for lunch. It looked completely deserted, except for a few grass huts where we were to eat and chairs to enjoy the beach in. It was covered in large palm trees and the whitest sand imaginable. I thought the beach at the resort was white, but not like this. This was stunningly white next to the clear blue water. It looked so unreal that it felt that it must be a movie set. Surely nothing in this world was this perfect! There was no one there except the inhabitants of a few scooba/snorkeling tours so it really seemed like you had paradise all to yourselves. I sat under a cluster of great palm trees and let the sounds of the ocean and the salt air breeze seduce me into some sort of indulgent peace. Neal donned his snorkel and went out to discover the reef.
Lunchtime came filled with island delicacies and I longed for a nice burger. I settled for a roll and a plateful of fresh pineapple. I noticed Neal wasn't feeling as adventurous as usual, taking the chicken, but not touching it. It looked positively dangerous.
Sadly, our time in this deserted island, which had seemed very intimite and personal came to an end. When we boarded the boat, things became more intimate and personal than we may have liked. With the diving over, it was safe to take advantage of the free flow of alcohol and the party music was cranked up to a new high. It was festive, fun and outrageous for those of us observing rather than participating. Our island DJ and babe introduced us to a whole new level of dirty dancing never before achieved... It was intensely uncomfortable to watch, and yet you had to put a little effort into looking away. It was loud, proud and certainly an experience I won't forget.
The bus ride back was again by the fields of sugar cane, with employees working long into the evening getting the harvest in. We passed by men with wheelbarrows of fresh exotic fruit and children in crisp kakaii and blue uniforms walking home from their small two or three room adobe school with no glass in their windows and no playgrounds for them to create imaginary adventures. The girls neatly corn rowed hair was adorned by bright colored beads and their smiles were quick and genuine as they waved when we passed. People have little tables set up scattered along the side of the road, selling their wares, mostly for the locals, not the tourists. I think that is because very few tourists venture out of their luxury cocoon that is our resort. Several of the little tables had nothing but bottles of motor oil. Just driving down the road it was obvious the need for this life necessity... The cars are decades old and smoke like chimneys... And although there aren't many rules of the road, or so it seems, there aren't any accidents. I got to where I didn't look out of the front of the bus because often there were people coming right at us, in the wrong lane, making it seem like we were in the perpetual state of impending head on collisions. It seemed that we got back to the resort way too soon and I hated leaving the little glimpses of life and culture behind as I entered the totally pampered lifestyle that is available here at the resort.
Speaking of pampered. A waitress just brought me , here in my little hut, another ice cold coke, just feet from the surf.
I was exhausted from the events from Thursday so I will cover them today. But first, I will paint you a picture of my current situation. I am stretched out in my own little thatched roof hut with someone bringing me endless coca cola. Yes, this IS paradise!
I have stories to tell today. First is one that I failed to mention on the first day. As as the winners gathered on the bus we sat next to a pair of Asian twins who attend Berkley. They were so excited that they were about to self combust. It was adorable. We started talking about entering the contest and they went into great detail about wanting this so badly that they chose to eat only Honey Bunches of Oats cereal until they got a winning code. Apparently there were boxes everywhere in their tiny apartment. When they did enter a winning code they were so stunned that they didn't know what to do. They took a picture of the screen with their camera, printed out a picture from their computer and then saved the screen shot. It makes me grin every time I see them, picturing these two struggling students buried in cereal boxes desperately trying to escape for a few days from the stress of college life.
The rest of our first day was spent exploring the resort property, having dinner and checking out the events of the evening. I was bone tired and not much even seemed fun through the exhaustion but there were neat activities. We went to the buffet and there were offerings from around the world. Neal tried lots of new stuff. I hunted for familiar foods. I have found that unfortunately I am not the international foodie that my darling niece, Heather, is. She embraces the new foods and textures with such zest. I find that in a new and strange environment, I need something very familiar. Not just kind of, VERY familiar. I want a hamburger, grilled cheese, french fries. Something that says everything in my life isn't different. So, I went for some nachos and a hot dog. This frustrates Neal to no end, who also dives into new food with gusto, but I think it may be a coping mechanism for me,
When it was dark, there was a beach party. There were merangie lessons, and dancing into the night. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight... There was a beach bonfire and the smells and music of the night were just like I had imagined it when I was a teenager watching "Gidget Goes Hawaiian."
Walking back to our room we saw that they had a big screen showing Avatar on a patio on the beach. I would have loved to see that if I wasn't so bone tired.
Yesterday started out early with a breakfast with the Honey Bunches of Oats family. It was kind of a "drop by" event, and we were the first to arrive. I was very excited that the people from POST foods were there, not just their event planners. As I was trying to tell them how grateful we were for this experience, especially on our 30th anniversary, I got all choked up and I'm sure they thought I was nuts or had recently had way to much sun, but I hoped they could see what this means to me.
Neal has been excited about snorkeling ever since we heard we were going to be able to come here. We investigated the free snorkeling here at the resort and found out that there really isn't much to see. So he signed up for an excursion to Catalina Island (not the one in CA of course) and we met our bus in the lobby at 7:45. At first I felt badly because we were crashing an excursion that was mainly full of a wedding party – but after asking around, we found others who weren't with them and didn't feel so weird. It was the only excursion for the week, so we had to take it and the experience may be the best we have had while we are here.
The 1 ½ hour bus ride was the ride from heck. I need to write a long thank you letter to the makers of Dramamine for their product because I didn't have any motion sickness problems. I wish I could say the same for the others in the bus. We had three adorable kids, all who threw up repeatedly as well as three or four adults. The smell of fresh vomit waifing through the bus would normally be enough to set me off, but my trusty little pills did the trick.
All along the dusty, hot, bumpy ride were sights that made me wish my eyes were cameras that could send images to a printer so I could remember them forever. I didn't expect the poverty that I saw and how people lived. The homes were tiny. Mostly little box shaped houses with no glass in their windows. Some have little wooden doors on the window cut outs others just have the holes. The front doors on many of the homes were more like barn doors, but it appeared that they did the job. The lucky ones have homes made from cinder blocks, and the houses are not much bigger than my living room. Others have houses, or even lean to's made from corrugated tin or metal of some sort. All of the homes are painted bright cheery colors, oranges, greens, and lots of pink. The shops have raw meat hanging from the awnings ready for sale. That was pretty gross, especially the ones that were definitely the carcasses of dogs. People would walk up and they would hack off a chunk for them to take home and cook. I saw no way of knowing how long the stuff was hanging out in the blistering heat, but I guess if people died from it, they would quit doing that, so it obviously works for them.
I love seeing the countryside and how people survive. The people here are cattle ranchers and many of them have fields of bananas. Some of them do both, with cows grazing beneath the shade of the banana trees. The cows are adorable. I have never seen anything like them before. They have long floppy ears, kind of between a rabbit and a basset hound. I felt completely delighted every time I saw one. The ranchers are strong and have defined muscles, not from hours at Gold's Gym but from a lifetime of working so hard to survive. Their bright colored clothes are a sharp contrast to their glistening dark skin and it is quite something for a girl from America's wild west, whose own grandfather was a rancher, to be able to see such a different kind of cowboy on the other side of the world.
As we passed through one of the towns there was a woman, with a long flowing brightly colored skirt walking through the city streets with a metal washtub filled with bananas balanced on her head. It was, for some reason, a strikingly beautiful sight. It was like a National Geographic photo come to life. I tried to snap a photo through the dingy bus windows but we were past it before I could.
Next we came to acres and acres of sugar cane. I felt very lucky to be here during harvest time. Great, strong men were cutting down the cane with sickles. No kidding, sickles! They picked up big armloads of the cane and tossed it into big wooden or metal wagons that were pulled by long horned oxen. It was like something from a movie from the 1950's. No roaring motor of a gas powered hedge trimmer or something, just the swing of a giant knife and the muscles of men who have worked the land for generations. These men had cleared acres of cane with hundreds more to go.
As I looked at these people, who live so simply, and work so hard, I wondered if I am the one who has life all wrong. These people are HAPPY. Joyfully, delightfully happy. Everyone is always smiling and jovial and their laughter is so deep, robust and genuine that it penetrates to your very soul, releasing something in you that makes you feel like nothing is really all that bad.
We arrive at the dock and board the boat to where Neal will be snorkeling. Half the boat is filled with scuba divers, half with snorkelers and we stop halfway between the shore we left and the shore of an island we are soon to discover. Neal said the snorkeling was amazing with schools of fish parting like the red sea as they swum around you. He said there were long tubes of coral that looked like organ pipes and bright colored fish so numerous you couldn't take them all in. He must have snorkeled for two hours, and his sunburned back will testify to that.
There is a DJ on the boat and a girl that reminds me a lot of Brooke, always posing for pictures. The music is another reason I think the people here are always happy. ALL the music is party music. The waiters, busboys, etc., break out into song and dance just randomly. It is a very fun environment. Our boat blared party music, and it was definitely a party boat. The girl and the Dj would grab people and start dancing with them and soon there was dancing everywhere with Neal and I cowering in the corner hoping they would leave us alone. The party girl did end up snuggling up to Neal and I got a great blackmail picture of her on his lap. I am envious of how confident people are with themselves here. They embrace their bodies whatever height, shape or weight they are and just let it all hang out and enjoy life. I wish I were more that way, not always wondering what people were thinking or worried I'd look dumb doing something. I have learned, sadly, when it comes to skin anyway, whatever I do let "hang-out" gets either burned or bitten...
When the snorkelers were done, they took us to the island for lunch. It looked completely deserted, except for a few grass huts where we were to eat and chairs to enjoy the beach in. It was covered in large palm trees and the whitest sand imaginable. I thought the beach at the resort was white, but not like this. This was stunningly white next to the clear blue water. It looked so unreal that it felt that it must be a movie set. Surely nothing in this world was this perfect! There was no one there except the inhabitants of a few scooba/snorkeling tours so it really seemed like you had paradise all to yourselves. I sat under a cluster of great palm trees and let the sounds of the ocean and the salt air breeze seduce me into some sort of indulgent peace. Neal donned his snorkel and went out to discover the reef.
Lunchtime came filled with island delicacies and I longed for a nice burger. I settled for a roll and a plateful of fresh pineapple. I noticed Neal wasn't feeling as adventurous as usual, taking the chicken, but not touching it. It looked positively dangerous.
Sadly, our time in this deserted island, which had seemed very intimite and personal came to an end. When we boarded the boat, things became more intimate and personal than we may have liked. With the diving over, it was safe to take advantage of the free flow of alcohol and the party music was cranked up to a new high. It was festive, fun and outrageous for those of us observing rather than participating. Our island DJ and babe introduced us to a whole new level of dirty dancing never before achieved... It was intensely uncomfortable to watch, and yet you had to put a little effort into looking away. It was loud, proud and certainly an experience I won't forget.
The bus ride back was again by the fields of sugar cane, with employees working long into the evening getting the harvest in. We passed by men with wheelbarrows of fresh exotic fruit and children in crisp kakaii and blue uniforms walking home from their small two or three room adobe school with no glass in their windows and no playgrounds for them to create imaginary adventures. The girls neatly corn rowed hair was adorned by bright colored beads and their smiles were quick and genuine as they waved when we passed. People have little tables set up scattered along the side of the road, selling their wares, mostly for the locals, not the tourists. I think that is because very few tourists venture out of their luxury cocoon that is our resort. Several of the little tables had nothing but bottles of motor oil. Just driving down the road it was obvious the need for this life necessity... The cars are decades old and smoke like chimneys... And although there aren't many rules of the road, or so it seems, there aren't any accidents. I got to where I didn't look out of the front of the bus because often there were people coming right at us, in the wrong lane, making it seem like we were in the perpetual state of impending head on collisions. It seemed that we got back to the resort way too soon and I hated leaving the little glimpses of life and culture behind as I entered the totally pampered lifestyle that is available here at the resort.
Speaking of pampered. A waitress just brought me , here in my little hut, another ice cold coke, just feet from the surf.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Anticipating Paradise
April 22, 2012
Here we sit in the Atlanta airport waiting for 4 hours for other last leg of our flight. Today is Neal's birthday so it will be so fun to arrive in Punta Cana on his birthday. I saw someone else in the waiting area with a red honey bunches of oats folder so I went over and introduced myself. They are as tired – and – and excited as I am. I'm wondering how many other red folder couples we will be seeing as the time approaches for take off.
Our earlier flights were better than expected, but this is the one I worry about. I have the middle seat and Neal has the window. I don't dare ask him to switch and be in the most uncomfortable seat on his birthday.
I haven't had wi-fi in any of the airports so I am doing this in a text document to upload when we get to the hotel. Hopefully there will be lots to tell in the next few days.
Airports bring out the oddest people in the middle of the night. Yes, I realize that this says something about me as well. However, there is a guy here in Atlanta that is having a real “what were you thinking” moment. He is about 65, and is sporting a full on Santa Claus beard, snowy white and everything. He's got the bowlful of jelly thing happening and you would think that he would seem very warm and approachable. However, what is a little unexpected and a bit off putting is the 5 inch Mohawk he's wearing on top. Now I'm not talking a nice, thick 3 inch wide Mohawk that would scare the begebbies out of you in a dark alley in L.A.., This one consists of a strip of hair less than a quarter inch wide, only a few hairs wide. It is about five inches long and sticking straight up, spiked with so much gel that he could put an eye out with it. He seems to be especially anxious for everyone to notice his “do” because he has dyed it a lovely neon blue, so blue you can see it clear across the airport waiting area, however he is making the rounds so everyone can get a good look. I was very amused by this guy until I looked down at myself and realize I have my own issues. I'm wearing a glaringly stupid passport holder. It is a Nintendo GameBoy color holder that is bright turquoise and purple and sports a nice picture of every one's favorite Pokemon, Pikichu. The place that is supposed to hold games has a zipper and it is perfect for cash, credit cards and ID. The part that was supposed to hold the gaming system is the perfect clear pocket for my passport. It has a nice buckle closure that keeps things secure but is easy for me to open quickly. It is ridiculous, but works perfectly, and I certainly won't ever lose it. I guess I'd better not be pointing out other peoples problems...
While sitting in the airport I see another person with a Honey Bunches of Oats red folder. I went over and introduced myself and she was awesome. Her name was Susan too and she was from California and brought her sister to the event. In the course of our discussion she mentioned that her husband was from Las Vegas. I told her that I was raised there and as we talked further I discovered that her husband went to my high school. But the craziest thing was – I went to the Senior prom with her brother in law. Small world...
The flight to the Dominican Republic was uneventful but the sight that met us when we landed was very unexpected. First, there was no”gate” tunnel. We deplaned by going down the stairs. And, the airport is a bunch of grass huts! I'm not kidding! It is a series of open air huts with thatched grass or palm leaves as the roof. We were met with a cheery “hola” by girls with fruit on their hats and a mariachi band was playing. It was certainly a signal that this was going to be a vacation like none other.
It was a long ride to the resort – but breathtakingly beautiful. I felt that if the bus slowed down for even a minute that the vegetation would grow right over it. It is so lush! If the breeze stops for even a second it feels so swelteringly hot that you think you will smother from it. But when the breeze is blowing, you don't even notice the heat. Luckily there is a light breeze most of the time!
The resort is beautiful. No other word for it. The lobby is also open air with granite floors and seems very elegant in a casual sort of way. We were met by Karen, the Honey Bunches of Oats planner that put this whole experience together for us all. She was just as delightfully warm and attentive as she had seemed with our preparatory interactions with her. It made me feel a little more secure to know I had someone to go to if I needed help in this environment where I was so unfamiliar. She led us back to a room flowing with cereal and fun and promptly plopped a margarita in both of our hands. Awkward... Most of you know that we are not drinkers and it was a little uncomfortable trying to figure out what to do. We just set them down at a little bistro type table and mingled without them. The room was full of happy people anyway, and with an open bar as well, people were downright giddy. There were sandwiches and cereal and although we were really only there for a few minutes it was an awesome and elegant kickoff to the event.
Our room is beautiful with it's own private balcony. It has a four poster king size bed and a beige/ yellow gingham check love seat. The whole room is a yellowy beige with white tile floors and a white ceiling fan. French doors open up to the private balcony that has a darling bistro set and hammock. It mentioned that the rooms were individually climate controlled in the brochure. However, how that seemed to be done in our room, was by pulling the chain on the ceiling fan. Slow, and slower... But it worked well enough to cool things down in the evening, and frankly, no one should be in their room during the day when they are blessed enough to be in a place like this!!! It screams relaxation in it's every inch. However, we have to work very hard for that relaxation. Top floor, no elevators...
There is what seems to be a continuous pool that meanders around the entire property. If you follow the pool it spits you out at a private beach with the softest, whitest sand I have ever seen. Tall palm trees sway in the cool breeze and just feet from the water's edge is my favorite part of this whole resort – the beach beds. Awesome doesn't even describe it. They are king size poster beds, complete with mattress and pillows, built high off the ground so the tide can come in under them, with canvas curtains you can pull all around them for private sunbathing. I just want to say, I know I'm not in Kansas anymore, but more women should have pulled the curtains around them. Totally topless with children everywhere. Multiple men will probably go home with whiplash from the double takes of what they couldn't believe they just saw! But anyway, I could live on one of those beds with a good book forever. I like to leave the curtains open to let the breeze from the ocean in. The cool breeze dancing over your skin and the sounds of the ocean transport you to a place in the world of relaxation that you can't imagine. My perfect vacation? Spend the entire time on one of those.
I'll write more tomorrow about what happens this evening – most likely from my laptop atop an ocean bed oasis...
Here we sit in the Atlanta airport waiting for 4 hours for other last leg of our flight. Today is Neal's birthday so it will be so fun to arrive in Punta Cana on his birthday. I saw someone else in the waiting area with a red honey bunches of oats folder so I went over and introduced myself. They are as tired – and – and excited as I am. I'm wondering how many other red folder couples we will be seeing as the time approaches for take off.
Our earlier flights were better than expected, but this is the one I worry about. I have the middle seat and Neal has the window. I don't dare ask him to switch and be in the most uncomfortable seat on his birthday.
I haven't had wi-fi in any of the airports so I am doing this in a text document to upload when we get to the hotel. Hopefully there will be lots to tell in the next few days.
Airports bring out the oddest people in the middle of the night. Yes, I realize that this says something about me as well. However, there is a guy here in Atlanta that is having a real “what were you thinking” moment. He is about 65, and is sporting a full on Santa Claus beard, snowy white and everything. He's got the bowlful of jelly thing happening and you would think that he would seem very warm and approachable. However, what is a little unexpected and a bit off putting is the 5 inch Mohawk he's wearing on top. Now I'm not talking a nice, thick 3 inch wide Mohawk that would scare the begebbies out of you in a dark alley in L.A.., This one consists of a strip of hair less than a quarter inch wide, only a few hairs wide. It is about five inches long and sticking straight up, spiked with so much gel that he could put an eye out with it. He seems to be especially anxious for everyone to notice his “do” because he has dyed it a lovely neon blue, so blue you can see it clear across the airport waiting area, however he is making the rounds so everyone can get a good look. I was very amused by this guy until I looked down at myself and realize I have my own issues. I'm wearing a glaringly stupid passport holder. It is a Nintendo GameBoy color holder that is bright turquoise and purple and sports a nice picture of every one's favorite Pokemon, Pikichu. The place that is supposed to hold games has a zipper and it is perfect for cash, credit cards and ID. The part that was supposed to hold the gaming system is the perfect clear pocket for my passport. It has a nice buckle closure that keeps things secure but is easy for me to open quickly. It is ridiculous, but works perfectly, and I certainly won't ever lose it. I guess I'd better not be pointing out other peoples problems...
While sitting in the airport I see another person with a Honey Bunches of Oats red folder. I went over and introduced myself and she was awesome. Her name was Susan too and she was from California and brought her sister to the event. In the course of our discussion she mentioned that her husband was from Las Vegas. I told her that I was raised there and as we talked further I discovered that her husband went to my high school. But the craziest thing was – I went to the Senior prom with her brother in law. Small world...
The flight to the Dominican Republic was uneventful but the sight that met us when we landed was very unexpected. First, there was no”gate” tunnel. We deplaned by going down the stairs. And, the airport is a bunch of grass huts! I'm not kidding! It is a series of open air huts with thatched grass or palm leaves as the roof. We were met with a cheery “hola” by girls with fruit on their hats and a mariachi band was playing. It was certainly a signal that this was going to be a vacation like none other.
It was a long ride to the resort – but breathtakingly beautiful. I felt that if the bus slowed down for even a minute that the vegetation would grow right over it. It is so lush! If the breeze stops for even a second it feels so swelteringly hot that you think you will smother from it. But when the breeze is blowing, you don't even notice the heat. Luckily there is a light breeze most of the time!
The resort is beautiful. No other word for it. The lobby is also open air with granite floors and seems very elegant in a casual sort of way. We were met by Karen, the Honey Bunches of Oats planner that put this whole experience together for us all. She was just as delightfully warm and attentive as she had seemed with our preparatory interactions with her. It made me feel a little more secure to know I had someone to go to if I needed help in this environment where I was so unfamiliar. She led us back to a room flowing with cereal and fun and promptly plopped a margarita in both of our hands. Awkward... Most of you know that we are not drinkers and it was a little uncomfortable trying to figure out what to do. We just set them down at a little bistro type table and mingled without them. The room was full of happy people anyway, and with an open bar as well, people were downright giddy. There were sandwiches and cereal and although we were really only there for a few minutes it was an awesome and elegant kickoff to the event.
Our room is beautiful with it's own private balcony. It has a four poster king size bed and a beige/ yellow gingham check love seat. The whole room is a yellowy beige with white tile floors and a white ceiling fan. French doors open up to the private balcony that has a darling bistro set and hammock. It mentioned that the rooms were individually climate controlled in the brochure. However, how that seemed to be done in our room, was by pulling the chain on the ceiling fan. Slow, and slower... But it worked well enough to cool things down in the evening, and frankly, no one should be in their room during the day when they are blessed enough to be in a place like this!!! It screams relaxation in it's every inch. However, we have to work very hard for that relaxation. Top floor, no elevators...
There is what seems to be a continuous pool that meanders around the entire property. If you follow the pool it spits you out at a private beach with the softest, whitest sand I have ever seen. Tall palm trees sway in the cool breeze and just feet from the water's edge is my favorite part of this whole resort – the beach beds. Awesome doesn't even describe it. They are king size poster beds, complete with mattress and pillows, built high off the ground so the tide can come in under them, with canvas curtains you can pull all around them for private sunbathing. I just want to say, I know I'm not in Kansas anymore, but more women should have pulled the curtains around them. Totally topless with children everywhere. Multiple men will probably go home with whiplash from the double takes of what they couldn't believe they just saw! But anyway, I could live on one of those beds with a good book forever. I like to leave the curtains open to let the breeze from the ocean in. The cool breeze dancing over your skin and the sounds of the ocean transport you to a place in the world of relaxation that you can't imagine. My perfect vacation? Spend the entire time on one of those.
I'll write more tomorrow about what happens this evening – most likely from my laptop atop an ocean bed oasis...
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
TODAY'S THE DAY!
Tonight is the beginning of this great adventure. Can't believe it's here! It's funny that I feel this way when it has seemed so long in coming. Now that it is here, I can't believe it.
Last night we went out and got the things Neal needed, including a snorkel. I can't wait to get some pictures of him with that! I'm picking up the last of the items I need sometime today.
Last night we went out and got the things Neal needed, including a snorkel. I can't wait to get some pictures of him with that! I'm picking up the last of the items I need sometime today.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
HBO Party in Paradise Trip to the Dominican Republic!
In July 2009 I was notified that I was a winner in the Honey Bunches of Oats Party in Paradise Sweepstakes. I was stunned and overjoyed! They selected 100 winners who could each bring a guest - so there will be 200 people there as the guests of Honey Bunches of Oats. Wow! Beyond not being able to get over the fact that I won, the idea of going somewhere so exotic seems very unreal. I hope I can get my head around it once I get there. To be exact, our trip is to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic and we are staying at the all inclusive Dreams Resort. When they say all inclusive, they mean it. It includes all meals, activities, snacks, shows, gratuities, etc.
The timing for this trip is perfect. We will be celebrating Neal's 55th birthday as well as our 30th wedding anniversary while we are there. Both reasons to celebrate, and what better place than this!
I am a little anxious about flying and we have several connections which makes it even more difficult for me. They were unable to find Neal and I seats together on the the longest leg of out trip home which will cause me such anxiety that I hope I don't throw up the whole way. I tried to express to the planners the difficulty I have if I'm not next to the person I travel with, but I don't think I was clear enough, or perhaps they just couldn't make it work. I hated to be too pushy or crabby when the poor people were trying to arrange travel for 200 people! We were sitting behind one another, but I went on to the Delta site and was able to get us two isle seats across from each other. That will be better, but I prefer not to be next to anyone but the person I am traveling with. I don't have many anxieties, but this is definitely one of them... I'm hoping that things will work out along the way so we can change seats or something. I'm thinking someone might want to change for an isle seat if they have a middle one. Who knows?
I am off today to get some "daring" crop pants. That is about as much skin as I'm willing to show :) -- I might pick up some sandals as well if I feel extra sassy...
I always feel such anxiety before I travel, but have a blast once I get there, so I'm keeping my eye on the end result today!
The timing for this trip is perfect. We will be celebrating Neal's 55th birthday as well as our 30th wedding anniversary while we are there. Both reasons to celebrate, and what better place than this!
I am a little anxious about flying and we have several connections which makes it even more difficult for me. They were unable to find Neal and I seats together on the the longest leg of out trip home which will cause me such anxiety that I hope I don't throw up the whole way. I tried to express to the planners the difficulty I have if I'm not next to the person I travel with, but I don't think I was clear enough, or perhaps they just couldn't make it work. I hated to be too pushy or crabby when the poor people were trying to arrange travel for 200 people! We were sitting behind one another, but I went on to the Delta site and was able to get us two isle seats across from each other. That will be better, but I prefer not to be next to anyone but the person I am traveling with. I don't have many anxieties, but this is definitely one of them... I'm hoping that things will work out along the way so we can change seats or something. I'm thinking someone might want to change for an isle seat if they have a middle one. Who knows?
I am off today to get some "daring" crop pants. That is about as much skin as I'm willing to show :) -- I might pick up some sandals as well if I feel extra sassy...
I always feel such anxiety before I travel, but have a blast once I get there, so I'm keeping my eye on the end result today!
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