There is something amazingly frightening about going away, and knowing that things will probably never be the way they used to when you get back. As in life, you have to enjoy one day at a time, because eventually one of them will be your last. Traveling changes you. Whether it is a relaxing vacation to a tropical island, experiencing culture through a local's eyes, or just a few days to escape the routine that engulfs us all. These experiences teach us to appreciate the little things. Horizons are expanded, and you can't help but return, and look at the world a bit differently.
Hawaii is a consistently evolving, and revolving place. People are constantly coming, and going. Life seems to flow in, on and out of the islands as consistently as the waves that crash upon their shores. People from all over the world come to escape one thing or another. They experience a beauty that is almost indescribable. Waikiki beach, despite the hotels, and thousands of people visiting a day, remains a beautiful place, with clean beaches and crystal clear water. I thought Oahu was a beautiful place, but Kauai knocked me off my feet. As the oldest island, it is home to the wettest place on earth. Mt. Waialeale sees nearly 460" of rain a year. A glimpse of its peak is a rare sighting, as it is almost consistently covered with clouds. They say that this mountain, with 7 rivers running from it to the ocean, is the birthplace for all the water. There are places on this island, that no one has ever seen or touched. This is the stuff that gives me goose bumps. Rising out of the sea 6 million years ago, the "Garden Island" was born. Not a day went by on the island when it didn't rain. And rainbows were an almost everyday sighting.
Our vacation began with me just starting to pack at 10:30 the night before our plane was to take off. I am a fantastic packer. I think my suitcase weighed in at 47lbs... haha! Add the duffel bag, and the backpack, and I think I brought 75lbs of clothes, personal hygene products and food. Thats right, I brought food on my vacation. Just snacky stuff, from trader joes. We also brought a bottle of wine! We landed in honolulu, and got a cab to the pagoda hotel. I thought we were in hawaii... not Japan! As far as I could see, there were no other Americans anywhere! On the elevator ride up to our thrid floor room, the elevator stops somewhere between floors 2 and 3. The elevator doors open, and all we see is a gray wall. Oh this is not good. not good at all. I am going to die in this elevator, before having stepped foot on the beach! Right as I started to panic, I pushed the close door button, and thankfully the elevator lurched, and the doors opened on the correct level. WHEW. It was an old hotel... and we only booked 2 nights, thank goodness. We were in downtown honolulu. MILES away from Waikiki beach. After a bit, we decided to go looking for some dinner. We didn't have a car, so we thought we would walk! It was only about 91°... So we walk. and walk and walk. And then we realize that 91° and 90% humidity is fucking HOT! We are looking for the "Brew Moon" brewery. We have NO idea where we are going. finally we ask a little Japanese lady where it was, and she pointed us in the direction and said it was only a few more blocks. Eventually we found it, and I was half melted by the time we got there, and it only took one look from Jarrett to see that I was just NOT HAPPY. So we ordered some drinks, because that makes everyone happy!
This was my first drink: a Sexy Alligator. It was Chambord, Midori melon, and Jagermeister on the top! Whew... I was feeling pretty good after this drink, but I think I ordered 2 more... can't really remember. So that was our first day in paradise. It did get better, but unfortunately it got worse before it got better.
The second day we took the bus to Waikiki, and spent the day at the beach. The water was absolutely beautiful! There were a lot of people, but we found room. Even though I was not in tip top bikini shape, there were so many people that should NOT have been wearing bikinis, that I looked like Kate Moss in comparison. And I actually felt like I looked good! We rented boogie boards, and tried to catch some waves. It was kind of scary, but fun! On the way back to our hotel, I realized that instead of SPF 50, what I should have used was spf 550! I was burnt to a crisp. Mainly on all the areas that had not seen the sun in ages. So my chest, my back, my thighs, and the back of my thighs. Oh SHIT. basically the next two days I was in extreme pain, but in the end, I got a really nice tan. We checked into our hotel down in Waikiki the next day, and it was SO much nicer. We had an ocean view, and we were right in the middle of things! We went to the beach, walked around, got really drunk, watched TV, went shopping, played glow in the dark 3D mini golf, and went on a snorkel cruise. We ate good food! (The absolute BEST japanese food ever - Tanakas of Tokyo - an award winning teppan style resturaunt, and we were in heaven the food was so good!) and went to the zoo! WE did so many things! Most importantly we had a lot of time to relax! Here are some pics from honolulu:
on waikiki beach
On the snorkel cruise
Rainbow!
Some VERY relaxed black and white ruffed lemurs! His tail was actually dangling in the water~
Jarret w/ Daimondhead in the background.
Then we said goodbye to Oahu, and headed to Kauai for Phase two of our vacation.
Phase two coming soon!!!
