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Published: September 25th 2014
As I type this, Daryl is fast asleep next to me having managed to keep awake all day, I on the other hand, had to have a couple of hours earlier since I woke up at 4am.
Our last morning in Hawaii consisted of another good breakfast at Lulus, looking out to the beautiful Pacific Ocean and savouring our last moments of paradise. We managed to reunite the phone found on the pier last night, with a man who hadn't realised it was missing until his new bride informed him she'd had 4 missed calls and a text from 'him' that morning! They found us in Lulus and naturally were really glad to get it back.
Somehow we managed to pack our Hawaiian holiday into our backpacks, and despite having minimal room for gifts, managed to cram some little keepsakes into our bags and head to the airport for our long journey home.
Leaving Honolulu, we changed at Los Angeles and the Boston whereby I had to change from shorts to trousers as the chill of New England prepared us for the chill of Old England. All of our flights although long, were trouble free and
we both managed to get a bit of sleep before landing at Heathrow in the early evening.
My bag was awaiting on the carousel which was a good sign after the hiccup of the lost luggage on our way out there. We waited for Daryls bag, and waited, and waited. It seemed his bag had had such a good holiday and had decided to stay a bit longer-in LA! Yep, lost bag going out there, lost bag coming back! After filling out required paperwork, we made our way to the car and hit the road.
Initially we were going to head straight back to Wales, but figured it would be nice to have the opportunity to see Gareth, Michelle and the boys, so in our usual manner of springing our presence on them at the last minute, and their usual manner of welcoming us to the spare room, we spent some time catching up before heading off to bed.
The next morning we showed Reuben the pictures of the turtles taken on the underwater camera, and despite asking us to draw a coloured mask over their face to make them ninja, did seem quite impressed.
After dropping him off at school, bleary eyed we hit the M4 to our final destination of Wales.
In our time away there has been the announcement of a second royal baby. The Invictus games debuted in England, America upped the military intervention against ISIS, and Scotland remain a part of the UK after voting 'No' to independence. So much can happen in one single day let alone 2 weeks away, but to be able to hideaway for a time, in one of Earths little corners of paradise, and escape the real world for a short moment in life is a blessing.
Our Family and Friends were still very much with us, and had it not been for people like Lesley and Auntie Michelle asking if I'd write another blog, and friends like Lucy or my sister Joanne who has always told me she likes to read my ramblings, I probably would have let it slip by, and miss an opportunity to look back and laugh at this blog in years to come.
Be it Charlie the Cockerel, the little bird of paradise with a bright red head we nicknamed Reuben,
or the butterfly's on the beach we called Isabelle every time one fluttered by. The whistling kettle at Sharks Cove that we called Shaz after my mum, as not only does she have the same kettle, but also like my mum, took ages to be ready then made a sudden piercing noise which demanded you hurry to attention as though it had been ready to pour all along (Mum I say this with affection!) the Japanese couple in Waikiki that wore his and hers luminous green wetsuits so we nicknamed them Japanese Rhyd and Lau. The Jan and Den Dashboard Hula Dolls, the email from my sister restoring my faith that she too remembers the crap tv we used to watch about Boy Scouts getting stuck in caves, thus scarring our adventurous side of life forever more. Anyone with a quiff or wearing a loud Hawaiian shirt got called Rhys and Caleb the cat on account he too has a little squished ear like the newest member of the S-J family, and the nickname we gave each other: 'hard bloody work' during the times we bickered about flight connections, alarm clocks, one snoring too loud in between the times of
being woken up by the bright light of the Kindle by the other. The disagreement over the driving directions or as Daryl put it 'this holiday has been one long U Turn!'
From the lost luggage, the breakfast bagels, the new love of Lava Flow and Mai Tai cocktails (and Banana Bread for DSJ), seeing the results of Hawaiian volcanic activity along its beautiful landscapes and swimming in the amazing waterfalls, meeting people like Bridget and Issac, (and Issacs Dog.) Walking through a bamboo rainforest, buying Budweiser before 9am, and swimming with our first ever turtle, who in our eyes was totally ninja. Meeting a really nice couple who despite living in the Netherlands and Bolivia, came together to enjoy 3 months travelling America together and making more memories. Seeing the sunset over Maui from Haleakalas summit after trekking the landscape to get there, writing happy birthday in the sand, and chilling out in the hot tub. Experiencing Aloha Friday.
Seeing a dog wearing sunglasses and a Lei, meeting the German girls, meeting the Brazilian girls, experiencing the special place that is Pearl Harbour and it's touching memorials. Seeing and feeling the best surf
in the world (and inwardly chuckling when Daryl was wiped off his feet as the waves crashed in around us) snorkelling before breakfast, beers on the porch with Castaway Chris, discussing the Welsh Weather and coastal path with the nicest couple Jane and Henry from Canada. Getting a hire car despite booking it for a totally different island and being able to drive the Windward Coast which for me is one of those places that will take my breath away at the memory of it for years to come.
From bunkers to beaches to breakfast all thanks to Gaz and Ali, who gave us some great tips for our Hawaiian adventure. The rained off Luau and cousin Mo entertaining a dishevelled bus 4 full of tourists with the YMCA. Meeting people like Rebecca (whom Daryl called Rachel such is his memory with names) and sharing with her the outrigger, to see the clear water of Paradise Cove.
Seeing fish around the reef that until now, to us, have only been behind a pane of glass and usually at the cost of an entrance charge. A real Coconut Bra, as worn by a real Polynesian
Beauty, and the amazing technology of polarised Oakley lenses! the hula and sunset and fragrant pink Leis to wear around our necks. The street gym that was too hot to use, the loyalty card at the ABC store, bumping into Stephan at the start of Diamond Head (Daryl called him Simon-such is his memory with names!) bringing the bunker tours to life, and marvelling the view of Waikiki from the top.
Throwing flowers into the sea in hope they return to shore. Being able to tell Reuben we also saw the rat, and being able to bring Isabelle a Hawaiian grass skirt back. Our first purchase of something camper van related, even if it is just hula dolls to sit on the dashboard we don't yet have, but will sit as one of many wonderful memories of Maui and Oahu.
And then there's us, Daryl snoring away, me wide awake and blogging, both back to the reality of work, redundancy, uni, car insurance and MOT. For two people so stubborn and single minded as we are it can at times be hard for us to come together as a couple and tolerate our individual
annoying habits, especially when we both have little patience and such strong ideas of our own. Coupled with the uniqueness of a relationship whereby we both try to manage the pressures of life from our box rooms on camp, to the try to leave these behind as we pack our box rooms into a bag then spend 24/7 together experiencing the travels of Hawaii. At times it's tough, and we are tough on each other, but I wouldn't want to Hula in the Hawaiian rain with anyone else.
'I used to be rich until I met you' he so often tells me. 'Instead of money you're now rich with life, rich with experiences and rich with memories' I so often reply.
Thank you blog followers for sharing our travels with us, it's been nice to hear you have enjoyed reading as much as I've enjoyed recording every simple, silly, stupid, surprising and special moment of our trip.
And finally for Daryl, who has yet to read this blog, but has been kept awake from the glare of the screen whilst, unable to sleep, I write it. Daryl, I know you don't
find pleasure in reading in a way that I do, and don't get my enthusiasm for writing a travelblog at all, however if it weren't for you, our bank account would be more full, but these pages would be empty. I have written the words, you have taken the photos.
Thank you for lending me some deodorant when our luggage got lost, and assuring me it's ok to stink-we're in this together. For doing all the driving as mine is so bad let alone on the other side of the road. For making me brews in a morning and confirming 40 Tetly teabags is nowhere near enough for the both of us for 2 weeks. For humouring me and wearing a pink Lei, and making a tent out of a PAC a mac so I could finish my food in the pouring rain. For making sure I had enough sun cream on my back, and blaming me for you burning yours. For spraying my knee with antiseptic when I scraped it on a reef, and for leaving me to sleep on the plane rather than disturbing me even though you spent 6 hours bursting for a pee.
For having a shave even though you're on leave as I complain about your stubble when you kiss me. For letting me buy too many Christmas Baubles from the places we visit, even though I don't like Christmas, we don't have a tree, or a house together to put one in, and for giving and sharing with me, some of the most beautiful amazing experiences and memories of travelling Hawaii with my best friend. For all of these things and more, 'Mahalo!'
Now get to shop and get those tetley teabags stocked up............
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Claire
non-member comment
Glad to here your home safe and sound. Looks and sounds like an amazing holiday. Going to miss your blogs. See you soon xx