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Published: August 2nd 2006
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Monday 26th June 2006: I had to get up early to pack and get myself to the airport for my flight back to Honolulu. I rushed around saying goodbyes, grabbing email addresses and giving away my food (ate out too much!). Bumped into Holly and Anne again when I got to the airport, as they rushed to get their flight.
The flight was fine & I got the shuttle bus back to the Polynesian Hostel Waikiki - my snowboard bag was still there :-) I backed up my photos to CD and then it was time to meet a local (Holly) for a few drinks in Waikiki.
I was to meet her at the pier and stood watching the crazy boogie boarders riding waves, just feet from a large concrete breaker. I looked up and down the beach, there were thousands and thousands of people in the water and on the beach. I decided Waikiki is far too busy for me and a huge contrast to the beaches in Maui.
We did a mini bar-crawl along the Waikiki beach, trying new cocktails on the way. We did the last stretch on a short bus journey, to a place
that had 'Happy Hour' on, cheap beer and 'Poo Poos'...(choice of nice entrees, called Poo Poos in Hawaii). I had really nice spicy chicken wings and a few beers. We then went onto a bar until her boyfriend finished work and met us for a beer. They very nicely dropped me off near my hostel on their way home.
Tuesday 27th June 2006: Got up, had breakfast, bumped in to Amy (from Banana Bungalow, Maui) and had to get my taxi to the airport. Got a flight to Fiji, which stopped at Christmas Island. Christmas Island looked very remote. All I could see as we flew over was flat ground peppered with lagoons and palm trees. I didn't see any hills or settlements. The runway looked like it was a war-time airstrip with no repairs/improvements done since. The 'airport' consisted of a few tents and huts.
They also obviously didn't have many flights a day, as when we landed and got to the end of the runway, we just stayed there, we didn't taxi off out of the way. We had to stay in the plane on the ground for two hours as they refueled and sprayed the overhead lockers and cabin with bug spray, which made your eyes feel funny and really stank. The second time they did it (just before take off) they had just given out drinks! So I downed mine quick and got my nose under my t-shirt just before they got to my row of seats. Glad I didn't sit in an isle seat - they would have got it right in the face!
As we prepared for take off, the usual safety briefing video started. The first words being "Ladies and Gentlemen, please listen to the following safety instructions, we require your full attention..." Right on cue, the lady asleep next to me started to snore loudly! Perfect comedy timing!
Watched two movies while on the flight - Narnia and Last Holiday - both pretty crap really. Read my book on Fiji and was pleased to read that tipping is not expected or encouraged in Fiji - nice change from the U.S. 'tip expected for everything' policy.
Part of the flight crossed over the international date line, so I lost a day - Tuesday became Wednesday.
Wednesday 28th June 2006: After landing I treid to get cash and email access. You can't get cash on the islands and many don't take credit cards, I had to decide how much cash to last me 17 days - my travel and food was already paid for. I got out 600 Fiji Dollars - about 200 pounds.
But we landed too late to get online - internet access at airport and at Nadi Bay hotel shut before 9pm. I wouldn't be able to email for about three weeks (no internet access on the islands). I was sat on my own, drinking a beer, knowing no one again and missing the friends and good times of Maui. First time I had felt really low and lonely since I left...
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