The first full week of February, I traveled from Chattanooga all the way to New Orleans, LA to see the city and witness the festivities during the last week of Mardi Gras.
If you’ve seen pictures or heard stories from the city’s unique blend of cultural traditions and tourism-based debauchery, then you might have some idea of what living through a Mardi Gras in NOLA entails—Uptown, all of cities most famous parades begin, Bacchus, Muses, etc; while the French Quarter is a non-stop party for days straight, with beads flying through air to over-served college students.
I spent six glorious days wandering the streets with a camera glued to my face, and a bag full of 35mm film. Here are a few of the things that I saw (that are fit to publish).
Kilauea Lighthouse on a rainy day. Just like Soddy-Daisy, there are blue holes!
Recently, I had the opportunity of a lifetime to go to Kauai, Hawaii. Known as the Garden Island, it is rich with lush vegetation and colorful flora. While exploring the island, I noticed some similarities between Kauai and Soddy-Daisy. I thought I’d share some of them.
On the first day, the weather caused flash flooding on the island, so I drove around the backroads to see how the locals lived. There were roadside and farm stands with hand-painted signs. Quaint, small churches were a common site.
There are state and other parks every few miles! So, hiking trails are all around the island, showcasing mountain gorges, blue-green water, beautiful trees, waterfalls, creeks, and caves. I even ran into hunters on a trail who were hunting deer with their coon dog and searching for another missing dog.
Just like Soddy-Daisy, Kauai is breathtakingly beautiful. It is disheartening that junk is on the side of the roads in both places. I’ll never understand why people trash nature.
Unlike Soddy-Daisy, the temperatures were 75° for the highs the week before Christmas. These photos are only the ones which remind me of Soddy-Daisy. The beaches and gaint waves are mezmerizing and deserve their own story.
Wailua River.
Foggy mountain ridges of Sleeping Giant. ʻŌpaekaʻa Falls is in this location to the left.
Waipo’o Falls, Waimea Canyon.
Limahuli Stream at Limahuli Garden and Preserve.
Maniniholo Cave entrance on Ha’ena Beach, northern Kauai.
Wai`oli Hui`ia Church near Hanalei Beach and an Episcopal church near the lighthouse.
Deer hunters with one of theirs dogs. Some gorgeous trees I saw along the trail. And, of course, chickens. We call them fighting cocks in Soddy-Daisy.
Jazzy Fresh Eggs 4 Sale and Slow Da Fuck Down made me feel right at home.
A couple of scenes that made me feel like I was still in Soddy-Daisy because I see this nearly everywhere in our town.
