Hawaii

---

This is gonna be weird cos I'm writing it from home sweet home - dear old Adelaide. Couldn't let the blog go without giving a review of Hawaii but we have been back home since Sunday - landed at 10.30am in Adelaide to 36 degrees and looks like those temperatures are going to continue for a while.

We decided that as Hawaii was our last spot, we would upgrade from a hostel to a hotel. We stayed in Waikiki at the Aqua Waves hotel - very nice big room with two lovely soft queen sized beds plus our own bathroom and a balcony where you looked to the left and saw the sea in the distance, then looked to the right and there were the mountains. We had a fridge (luxury) microwave (luxury) and tea/coffee making facilities (pure luxury). We also had a TV which we watched a bit in the mornings usually - ya feel ya have to cos it's there right?

Anyway, the weather was hot and humid - got a bit of rain while we were there but rain when it's hot isn't so bad as rain when it's cold - that's just miserable but if you're lying at the beach and the rain starts to come down - just dive into the water cos the water is lovely. None of this going in slowly because it's a bit chilly - just wade in there and start swimming. We were tempted to buy li-los which everyone seemed to be using over there but I guess we just couldn't be bothered.

We didn't do much at all really though we did catch the bus that goes all around the island. Takes four hours for the whole journey and all for $2.25. We got off at the North Beach area after 2 hrs - that's where all the surf beaches are. Big surfing competitions will be starting up this weekend. Only thing was you were not allowed to swim at those beaches - not surprising really as the waves are huge and there are lots of surfers. We sat on the beach for a while but the rain started to come down quite heavily and it seemed everyone was heading for shelter so that's what we did too. Caught the bus back to Waikiki and went via the coast this time - very beautiful scenery.

There are lots of free cultural things available in Waikiki at the Hawaiin Cultural Centre. You can learn to hula, learn to make leis and I can't remember what else. There are also free cultural shows put on in most of the shopping areas - they are all on at different times so you can go from centre to centre seeing Hawaiin singers, dancers and even fire jugglers. The shopping centres pay for them to put on the show so there is no charge at all. There are shows you can go to which are quite expensive too but we just stuck with the free stuff.

We drank quite a few Mai Tai's - they were on special next door to the hotel for only $2 each. We ate at Dukes which I can thoroughly recommend. It's right on the beach and although the dining room is a bit pricey, the barefoot bar menu is not bad at all. We were going to order the chicken and cashew stir fry and the waitress recommended we share it - the serves are very big. We took her advice and ordered a serve of calamari too - both dishes were very tasty. Had to have the Hula pie for dessert - again, we shared it as it was enormous and we both felt a bit sick at the end of it.

There are some rather large people in Hawaii and the normal t-shirt size in most of the shops is XXL. I think you can gather why from the above paragraph........

We had 5 days in Waikiki and our plane left on Friday 6th at 9.45pm. We decided to have our last lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe - good decision as the burgers there are very tasty - nothing like your Maccas rubbish. Fries were good too. It's a little out of the way but apparently they are moving to the centre of Waikiki next year sometime. We also went to see the Royal Palace and watched a DVD about the Hawaiin Royal Family who of course are no more. Lyn decided she wanted to visit the interior but I'd seen the DVD and that was enough for me so I sat in the shade outside and lost myself in Jeffery Deaver.

So, finally after almost 6 months on the road we're back and it's strange but having been back only a few days it's almost like we never went away - how does that work? Anyway this isn't the final blog - my last one will be the Epilogue or Epiblogue where I will rate the Hostels we stayed in and give some valuable insights into what should have made it into the pack and what should have been left at home. Expect that in a week or so. I've enjoyed doing this blog and may just have to become a blogger and get myself a site - The Secret Life of Cazz. Mmmmm, that's a thought.

Aloha

---

Photos

Hawaiin paradise
Just like in the movies

Look who just got
Lei'd

Tropical Island
paradise

Hard Rock Cafe
good burgers and fries

Comments

[Spencer]

Nice one Carol
Good to have you home. Sounds like you had a fabulous trip with relatively few dramas. Excellent blog which I thoroughly enjoyed. Most imprresive. :) S