There and Back Again: Airport Beach

September 29th is a special day for me.
It is the birthday of my cousin, Ana Banana, who passed away when we were in high school.
We fought like cats and dogs.
We always argued who got the bigger piece.
We would constantly try to make each other jealous.
But we also could talk for hours about anything and everything.
We were the first person we called when something happened.
I knew all her secrets and she knew mine, and we NEVER EVER told anyone else.
Yes, we loved and hated each other at the same time.
She was more than my cousin...she was my sister.

So every year on her birthday I try to do something in her honor....
It hasn't always worked out.
In law school and after, there were some times I would remember, but something at work would distract me.
But I still try....I also try to do something that I normally would not do.

So today - I went hiking.
Yes, yes, yes I know there are fools out there who love it...live for it...
are renewed by it..
I am not one of those people.
But I thought - for Ana Banana -- let's do this!
And let me go somewhere pretty - that is so Ana, she would momentarily suffer for something pretty at the end.

So I decided to go to Airport Beach...which is parallel to the runway.
It is a 30 minute hike over lava rocks.
I decided to watch the sunrise.
So I woke up around 5AM, packed a bag with water, a flashlight, snacks, phone, and a blanket.
My friends told me where to start, and just head East...good enough for me.

WRONG....dead WRONG.
Here are the lava rocks...and blow holes!!!

So now imagine this scenario - pitch black darkness!
And my dumb ass was like - Okay!
I took a few precarious steps out to the middle and thought - oh no ...oh no...wth was i thinking?
It was at that particular point - I heard a familiar bark.
I turned around, and the three stray dogs from our complex greeted me: Hercules, Princess, and Harrison.
Side note:  Our landlord hates these dogs because she thinks it messes with the perfection of our complex.
But in reality, these dogs are sweet, loyal, and kind, and keep out all those bad wild dogs.
I love these dogs - coming home to them saved me from insanity.

Back on track - these dogs found me at the trail!
And then they kept barking at me - like they wanted me to follow them.
So I did, and I found an alternative path to the beach... a much safer path!
It was so funny - like I had my own personal police escort.

Harrison would run 50 or 100 feet out front and bark something to the other dogs.
Hercules would walk a few feet ahead of me, showing me exactly where to step.
And Princess walked beside me.
A couple of times I tried to let her pass me, but she wouldn't budge from my side.
And that is how we walked for about 30 minutes.
The vegetation is so thick that I couldn't see much around me.
After a while, Harrison barked again, and Hercules changed direction, veering right.
I was scared...I couldn't see a thing through all the branches and leaves and bushes.
But I decided, "What the heck, the dogs took me this far safely"
And lo and behold, I came upon the west end of Airport Beach.

The sand is mixed with lava rocks and coral pieces.
There is an east side that is lovelier.
Unfortunately, it was still high tide and covered.
But I was content with this stretch of beach.
I laid out my blanket and chilled, and watched the dogs play.

And of course, I watched the sunrise perfectly above the ocean.

The dogs swam and chased each other.  I had fun watching Hercules bark into every blow hole and then cower and whine when a wave erupted into his face.

After a bit, I realized I was drenched in sweat...with each passing moment, I felt the temperature rise.
I didn't want to wear my swim top and trunks because I thought it was make me sweat more...but I realized you sweat in American Samoa even sitting still.
I had a dark colored sarong...and I thought...I could twist and wrap it around me and swim.
I was just getting the nerve to change out in the open when...suddenly...out of the horizon and clouds...

there appeared a frakkin cruise ship.
it moved slowly
and it got closer and closer

Hercules even started barking at it!
Well...there went my plans...but as the sun beat down on my face...I said screw it, and swam in my T-shirt and shorts.  Somewhere there are tourists who think Samoans swim fully clothed with dogs...those poor bastards.

I stayed there for an hour...the dogs and I explored...I collected some shells, and they barked at everything.
We were all getting hungry, so I decided to head back.
Our little troop trekked back with Harrison as scout, Hercules at front, and Princess by my side again.

I wish I took more pictures, but the walk is sooooooo unstable that I wanted my hands free in case I fell.

All in all, it was a start to a good day.
After I showered and changed, I visited the Catholic Cathedral, which was gorgeous.
Then I went out to brunch with a friend.
We ate and talked, and stared at the thousands of tourists who had the bad fortune of visiting on a Sunday, seriously this whole island shuts down.

Next on my list is finding a safe place to watch the stars.
Safe as is in not too secluded and accessible.