Hawaii

Thursday, March 1st ‘07

Finally got myself out of bed after sleeping for 16hrs. I’ve been walking around town enjoying the beautiful day exploring the surroundings. It is nice hot and sunny, got a bit confused this morning when thinking what to wear. Passed by a store which has a humongest tank where you can go in a tube that takes you “inside”. It was really nice! I just can’t wait to go diving. At this moment, I’m in some kinda “outdoor” shopping mall (international market). There’s lots of malls here. You can buy pearls still in the oisters (13$) and have it mounted on a ring, necklace or something. I also saw some Yukuleles for 10$ and reminded me of Steve who brought his at Marc-Andre’s party. Wow, people are really nice here, doesn’t feel like it’s a US state.

Everyone’s been saying Aloha to me as I walk down the streets. I saw a Cheesecake Factory which reminded me of my mom. Hey! Found the beach. Wasn’t too hard just got my ass where all the big expensive hotels are. Cool! I just found my salvation a Denny’s. Wooooohoooo! Here’s a taught for Isabelle who got sick last time. Sorry girl I still love this place. Wow, it’s just noon! This is supposed to be some kind of vacation where I should enjoy, relax but it seems hard for me to do.

There’s Hula and Ukulele lessons today at the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center which I intend to go and I think tonight’s BBQ night at the Hostel and there’s some swing as well. Feels good to eat a real meal. This is so good. I’m eating local food this is an American state! I should check out for more regional food, especially seafood but not Red Lobster which I saw yesterday while on the shuttle.

Well, I got my ass on the beach. Swimming in the ocean, yup the pacific ocean. The water was colder than I expected. And Hawaii is not that hot! The cold breeze really takes the temperature down especially when the sun’s covered by clouds. There are a lot of surfers out on the ocean and lots of surf schools/rentals. Maybe one day I’ll get myself to learn. Waikiki is definitely very touristy. I’ve used up a lot of sunscreen but I’m hopping to tan fast so I don’t have to worry about getting burned so much.

I don’t know yet what are the local treats but I came across a Baskin Robins as well as a Hagen Daas. Gotta be careful on my spending since I’m out of a job for now. Just did a Hula lesson, it was really nice! The woman who taught us was beautiful and explained what each moves meant. It was really nice, hope I remember enough to do it again. Now, I’m waiting for the Ukulele lesson. This is so much fun. I know it’s tourist stuff but at lease I’m learning about the culture. It’s really nice and there’s a show later on and swing is at 9pm plus BBQ at the hostel (I think!). Well, it’s gonna be a busy evening. Also, I spoke with a guy at the front desk about dives and he’s a diver as well. Great! He recommended these divers that go away from the tourists. I’m excited about that one! Well, our Ukulele teacher just got here and it’s the same lady who taught us the Hula. These classes are happening every Thursday s at the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center in Waikiki (check the website for exact location and to make sure there’s no changes). The Ukulele lesson was fun! I can play one song now. Cool! Now I’m waiting for the show that starts now (6:30 – 11:30 MTL). I was supposed to call my mom but I’ll call her tomorrow.

8pm (1am MTL)
McD’s. Oh yeah McD’s! Real American food. There was a BBQ at the hostel but I had to buy tickets in advance so. Here I am. Got the fish fillet and an Hawaiian Ice tea (not good at all). It really gets cold at night. I changed to go out dancing and I’m wearing my jacket. Still have an hour before the dance. Well, I’ll get myself to Chinatown (where the dance is) and walk around if I’m too early. It’s better than to do nothing. But first I’ll have to get myself a 4 day bus pass (20$) so I can go around and leave. This “city” area. There are so many Asian tourists here even the signs are translated for them. Well, I’m on my way to go dancing. I’m not too sure of myself but I’ll get my ass there! I guess I’m in Chinatown now, there’s lanterns over the streets. Wow, this area is sketchy, not a big fan. Wow that was nice, people are fun and very nice here. It’s small and there’s not a lot of dancers but I had a lot of fun. I’m really glad I came. They even told me about this other dance happening tomorrow. Cool!

Friday, March 2nd ‘07

I’m on a bus on my way to Diamond Head. I’m hopping to do some hiking and enjoy the view. Last night really helped on my spirit. They were all so very nice to me. Just missed my stop on purpose. One might ask why I would do that. Well, sometimes it’s nice to not do as planned. Not stop were was supposed to, not turn, not do, not change, not move just not do things as planned. There are beautiful hills on this island and I enjoy watching them from the bus. Everyone got off at some nature preserve so I got off as well. It was very nice. Wow this is beautiful I’m so glad I didn’t got off where I was supposed to. The view is just magnificent. I found myself at the end of the route Sea life park. I’m not going in. I’ll just wait for the bus back. The good thing is, I found other, nicer, less crowed beaches.

OK, the sun is hitting hard right now, really glad I’ve put some sunscreen and have a bit of a tan from yesterday. Well, got myself to Diamond Head, hiked all the way to the top. It’s really a beautiful view from up here. We get to see the crater, the ocean and a nice view of Waikiki. This is not a long hard hike but it’s really hot and there’s a long flight of steep stairs. I’m glad I came all the way up here but now all I want to do is go in the water as well as get something to eat. Ate at McD’s, weee!

Just made some reservations to go diving tomorrow. Leaving at 7am. Wow, will I be able to get up at 6:30? Will have to. Just plugged my laptop on the hostels laptop AC adapter and it works. So my problem is the AC adapter. Wonder how much this will cost me. This is crap! Ah well, at lease it’s not my laptop. This adapter doesn’t give enough juice to my laptop. I can only recharge it. I also have to book my hostel in Sydney.

I called my mom. Lola misses me. She’s soooo cute, my mother found her sleeping in my bed. I love her soooo much. Well, it’s a bit too late to go swimming now. It’s ok! I’ll be in the water a good part of the day tomorrow. I miss you guys! Sure hope you’ll give me some news! 5:10pm and the dance is at 7:30pm. I have 3 full days left. And on my way to a hotel were there should be live music and swing dancers. Well, it took me 2 busses and a bit of walking to get to this 5 star hotel in which I’m scared to touch anything as it’ll cost me a thousand dollars just for leaving my finger prints. They apparently also have their own tank with dolphins. Just can’t imagine how much my ginger ale will set me back. I’m really glad I’m wearing my poke dot dress with my nice new shoes. OK, new shoes, killing I want to shoot my feet!

11:30pm at Denny’s
Well, I saw the tank and the dolphins, there was at lease 6 of them. It was a really nice evening. I’m so glad I went. Right now, I’m enjoying a good big piece of carrot cake. Yummy! One of the guys have a computer hardware store, I shall be stopping by and he should find something for my laptop. Oh so nice of him. Wow, people here are really nice. This carrot cake is really very good! Well, I should go now as I have to be up at 6:30am tomorrow morning. For some reason, guys are obsessed with my shoes at lease 3-4 complemented me on them.

Saturday, March 3rd ‘07

7:24am – 2:24am MTL
I’m in a bus on my way to go diving and of course, I forgot my logbook. Ah well! I’m so excited about this it’ll be really fun. Well, I’m on the boat waiting for a guy that’s late. I’m pretty excited about going and I just bought an underwater camera the down side : it’s not digital. Ah well, I’ll deal with it. I think I can have the pix put on a CD directly. We’re about 14 people including the instructors which is a good thing not to be too many.

He’s finally arrived! We’ll be able to leave now. Good! Joke time on the boat now. And it’s time to go! Weeeee!!!! Wow! Just saw a bunch of dolphins swimming in front of the boat. This baby one kept on jumping and flipping in the air. They’re just too cool. I hope they’ll come to us while we’re diving. Just came out of my first dive and we went into a WWII sunken ship. It has coral and frog fish, spotted rays and eels. It was so cool and nice. I bought a camera so you’ll be able to see pix when I come around to it. Now, I’m eating pineapple as we’re getting to our second dive location. I hope to see sharks but they say it’s a thing of luck!

So awesome! I must’ve been really lucky, I saw 2 white tip sharks. They were magnificent. I also saw a sea turtle and played with an octopus. This is just soooo much fun. I wish my dive camera was a digital one. The 2 sharks were really the highlight of the dives. Just called my mom to tell her. Wow, that was sooo much fun. And now, I’m exhausted! I’m gonna take a nap. Well, that was a good nap – half disturbed by people talking -. Right now, I’m walking around Waikiki and the shops looking at what I should buy my mom. There are some restaurants that have been suggested to me to eat local but haven’t seen any around.

Cool! I just found this 50’s restaurant/store. It’s totally awesome! I could so imagine the Howling Hound Dogs there with all the Greasers and the Jivers. It’s really nice, I’m really enjoying walking around I haven’t even seen the time pass, it’s 10 past 9. Sharks, sharks, sharks, sharks, sharks. I saw sharks! This guy that was with me took some nice pix and he’ll send them to me. That octopus was surprisingly soft, it was a nice feeling having it on me and petting it. Really fun! I’m glad then guy at the hostel recommended them to me. That sea turtle at the end was huge!! And apparently it was a medium size one. It was huge to me. I totally love diving!

Sunday, March 4th ‘07

Was going to go for my laptop and snorkeling at the same time but I’m not sure it’s open so instead of risking it, I’m gonna go to Pearl Harbor and Chinatown. There’s 2 days left! I’m leaving the states and going to Aussie land. My “vacation” is almost done. L I had lots of fun! And the swing dancers are great! It’s a small scene but it’s very nice and enjoyable. Great people! Well, I’m on the bus to Pearl Harbor. I’m not not excited but I’m not excited either. It’ll be nice to see it. I have some interest in WWII and I love learning about it. Since Pearl Harbor is the reason why the US got into war makes it a key site.

I’m here! I’m at Pearl Harbor. I don’t know why I’m surprised but every time it seems like their paranoia astonishes me. I was not allowed my purse inside, actually no kind of bags are allowed inside ( fanny pack, purse, back pack, camera bags, ect) it costs 3$ to have it stored. Now, I have to wait 2hrs to get in. To see the USS Arizona is free but all other museums are pretty expensive. There’s also gift shops and a small food courts. Price is surprisingly average. There’s this old man who wrote a book about Pearl Harbor here and he’s falling asleep. Poor old guy! Nobody seem to care about him and his book.

Got myself a mango-orange smoothie my treat for today. So the movie and tour starts at 2:30pm I won’t be out of there before 3:45pm and I’m hopping to get to Chinatown before it closes. I’m hungry and I can’t wait to get out of here and into Chinatown to get some food. Up ‘till now, all I’ve been seeing are missile and torpedoes, weapons of massive destruction. This place is too much of an American “spirit” for me. I’ve been waiting for so long, I don’t feel like seeing this goddam ship. Still 5 mins to wait. I’m gonna do a really quick tour and then leave if I want to get to Chinatown before it closes.

Well, I’ve seen it! The USS Arizona. A shipwreck full of dead bodies carcasses, metal and still some oil. The memorial is nice but not worth the 2hr wait. The video with original footage was nice tho. I’m starting on a head ache. I’ll be headed for Chinatown. I’ll have about an hour before I have to get back to the hostel and get myself to the YMCA where there’s a dance at 7pm or 7:30. I’ve seen all there is to see of Pearl Harbor. My bus pass ends tomorrow and I have to get to the computer shop where Kenny works. So I’ll be taking the bus again tomorrow and then again on Tuesday to get to the airport. Not a lot of time before I leave and get my ass to Sydney. Waiting for the boat back to shore and then I’ll be waiting for the goddam bus that takes a long time.

Finally got myself into shabby Chinatown but apparently, almost everything is closed at 4:30pm on a Sunday. I’m waiting for a bus to get back to Waikiki and I’m hopping to come across a Zippy’s or a L&L for food (they were recommended to me). It’s now 5:20pm and the dance starts at 7pm, I hope the bus’ll come soon.

Well, I’ve done all I wanted to do. Tomorrow, I’ll go for my laptop and snorkeling before the Lei necklace class. Well, got on the bus and met this guy from LA (Daniel) who moved here in Hawaii to study at bible school did so not know that existed and he got the idea in his mind to convince me that Jesus (God) did exist. We both got off at the same stop but I went to Zippy’s and he went to buy a moped. It didn’t take long that he joined me at Zippy’s to eat with me. Well, it’s the first meal I eat with company but it was also one of grand existence discussion. Everyone who knows me, knows it never worked and I got close to convincing him of the opposite. Let’s just say, he’ll be asking some serious Qs. Not what I intended but he was really stuck on the subject. Well, I ate Mahi Mahi which is fried fish and it was very good (I know Cynthia, fish is not meant to be fried but it’s soooo good!).

Well, it’s 6:30pm, I’m on my way to the hostel to change and then I’ll go dancing. I’ll be a little late but what can I do!? OK, I’m late! Ah well, what am I gonna do about it?! Everyone here is so nice. I’m really having a blast. Great people to dance with. Wes is such a great guy, he brought me home every night after the dances. Tonight, he brought me to an ice cream shop where I get to eat mochi. It’s ice cream covered with some kind of dough that looks a bit like a whippet but it’s sooo good! It’s really tasty and they have it in many different flavors. I really enjoyed it! Apparently, mochi originally isn’t made with ice cream but these were quite tasty! Well, such a gentlemen! It’s now time to go to bed. Good night!

Monday, March 5th ’07

10:48am – 3:48pm MTL
Well, I’m on my way to Kailua where one of the swing dancer’s computer shop is to fix my laptop. That is so nice of him. Actually, the problem is my power bar. And then, I’ll go snorkeling as it’s apparently the place to do it. Today is also packing day. It’s my last full day in Hawaii as I’m leaving tomorrow morning at 11:55am.

Well, just got at the computer store and we looked at my laptop. So it is my power bar that doesn’t work. Went to do some snorkeling. Kailua is really very nice, it’s beautiful! It’s really worth the detour. It’s sad that I didn’t get to see one fish while snorkeling. Ah well, that’s life! Wow, Kenny’s really nice. He found me a power bar that works, so nice of him. He’s the best! I stayed at his store for awhile. Got on the net chatted and updated my blogs. It felt good to do so and especially to chat with some friends. I also got to talk with Kenny and his employees. He really has a nice store. They repair computers, offer internet and sell records (mostly jazz), it’s a very nice little shop. It’s a very nice little shop. It’s very cozy.

Well, it’s 7:30pm and I’m waiting for the bus to get back as I have to do my luggage before the others go to bed. I wanted to eat at L&L today but I just need to get back pronto. The bus doesn’t pass by often and I don’t have the schedule (actually, I do but I can’t read it even locals have a hard time with it) funny, as I was getting to the beach there was a guy that said hi to me (some kinda surf bum/hippie) and when I left the beach he started talking and “flirting” with me but I just kept going. Lots of guys have been saying hi and talking to me here. This drunky I stalking to this girl and I but I’m mostly ignoring him and I’m pretty cool with it. It’s getting darts and cold (wind) it’ll be worst in the bus with the goddam AC. Ok, so when the bus finally arrived, the girl and I started talking. She was on her way to see a band that plays covers and that are her friends. Right away it made me think of the Jello Shots. She was very nice and fun to talk too. We had so many things in common, it was crazy. Well, I’m grateful I met her. Wow! Tonight is stupid crazy guys and hooker night. They’re like all out.

Tuesday, March 6th ‘07

Well, it’s departure day today and it’s been hell! Got up at 8:30am left the hostel at 10 past 9 then got myself to the bus stop. The bus arrived at 9:24 and wouldn’t let me get in with my luggage. Crap! Got myself back to the hostel called 3 different shuttle services before I found one that could pick me up. Then I had 20mins to run 6 streets to the bank to get money and run these 6 same streets back to the hostel to catch my shuttle to the airport. It picked me up at 9:50 and got me at the airport by 10:30. My flight leaves at 11:55. A good 9h52min flight. I am just exhausted from all the running and being nervous about not getting to the airport on time.

I’m finally on board the plane. The flight isn’t full so the girl that was sitting next to me moved to other empty seats. That’s great! Now I have the 2 seats to myself for the entire flight. This is great! I have my pj on, my slippers on, my pillow +2 airline blankets. Got myself an individual Pizza hut pizza as I haven’t eaten yet and I don’t know how much food I’ll be having on the aircraft. Goodbye Hawaii and I’m coming Australia! I missed the Lei necklace class yesterday, ah well! Can’t do anything about it now. I had a great time in Hawaii, it was really nice and I hope to go back sometime.