Maui No Ka ‘Oi…
As promised, here are a few photographs of our Hawaiian holiday. The island of Maui is a little bit of heaven for those that love sunshine, tropical breezes, salt water swimming, and the tangible feeling of aloha.
About a month and a half ago, Patti at Not Dead Yet Style posted a blog entry titled I’m Blushing! (But Not Bronzing) In it, she writes that Simon Doonan, creative director of Barneys, has declared bronzing/tanning over. Patti invited readers to comment on whether or not we love the look of tanned skin or prefer our natural skin tone. Now, it’s no secret that I am a fair skinned lass. When I was young, I used to hope that my freckles would blend together so that I would be tan like my friends. I did not buy into freckles being the sun’s kisses. Having said that, I have always been very good with sun protection, either by slipping on a shirt, slopping on the sunscreen, or simply staying out of the sun. As mentioned in an earlier post, I have been blessed to be able to visit Maui on a fairly regular basis. It’s always been a rejuvenating holiday filled with many fun filled activities, both active and relaxing. When I return home, I have many times been asked, ‘Where is my tan?’. This simple question does sting. Why is the emphasis on the colour of my skin, I wonder? For a few years I have used self tanning cream and/or bronzing makeup, and ironically, I still get some questions about my lack of tan (really!). Well, after reading the comments in Patti’s post, I declared that I was inspired to forgo the self tanning creams and hassles that came with it. So, I did apply sun screen, I did get an extra dose of freckles, and I did not get a sunburn or artificial tan. And, it was great! A big thank you to Patti for her timely post, and to the lovely ladies with their positive comments. Okay, off my soapbox now. Enjoy the remaining photos without commentary or rambling.
10 Comments
Now, that is an awesome swim suit pattern. Thanks for the Maui picture experience.
Shirl
Isn't it cute! I love the colours and pattern. Bottoms are solid blue.
Beautiful pictures although it would be hard to take a bad picture in Maui! I find your comments about the “tan” quite amusing as I would try to scrub my “tan” off in the bathtub so I could be fair skinned like my sisters! I guess its just a matter of perspective.
Oh, that is funny! We would have been a pair back when we were kids.
I hope we are now both more comfortable in our own 'skin'.
Oh Wow Sue nice pics- We always go south in the winter, usualy Cuba –
I have not tan to speak of, LOL when i come back – i put so much sun screen it's not funny but have to, i so fair –
The boat's name is most appropriate.
I have never been to Cuba. I have been lucky enough to visit Guadeloupe and the Bahamas though. It must be nice destination for you, and not too far.
Tee Hee. I wondered if someone would notice. It was fun for us to bring that boat into the picture.
Wow, beautiful photos – Hawaii looks and sounds like the most beautiful place. I haven't really been tanned since I was a kid (and back then were tanned as the concept of sunscreen didn't exist in the 70s – more like baby oil! – and running around the neighbourhood playing outside with the other kids naturally led to our becoming brown little berries).. But a few years ago some treated me to a fake, spray on tan. I must admit, I loved it (fish-belly white calves look so much more toned and contoured when tanned!), but most interesting to me were people's reactions. In a nutshell, I had men falling all over me. One guy actually followed me in the bus and said I was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen, I kid you not! Funnily, I had the same (very male) reaction when, years ago, I donned a blond wig for a funny work skit. A neat experiment would be to go both tanned and blond, and see what happens! For some reason, these two things are vested with a lot of value, at least in western culture, but it seems that celeb culture has taken it too far (to the level of orange). I laud you for staying au natural! Here in France in the Alps, every one is naturally tanned as they bike and swim outdoors all the time in the summer – here it's a sign of health and vigor. But I wonder what their faces will look like in 20 years? 🙂
Hi Kelly, Thank you for taking the time and leaving such an insightful comment. The psychology of tanned skin versus fair skin is so interesting. It's changed over the ages; once tanned skin represented the working class. And now, it seems to represent health and leisure. I have to respect my natural pigment. Sun kissed is as far as I can go, particularly in this climate.