Saturday, November 18, 2006

Last Day in Paradise

Yesterday's Kayaking trip was so much fun and I managed to spend 4 hours in a boat without burning. Could it be? Is my skin finally creating a protective layer, or am I just getting better at putting on the sun block?

Today I think I will hit the town, take on last look at the city, and the ocean, and of course do a little souvenier shopping!

As to the oringinal Mission here is the list of things I have accomplished, most of which have the greatest photos, and one even has a video to prove it!

Take a photo of a person wearing a bathing suit they have no business wearing

 Take a picture of yourself with a local law enforcer

 Tell someone you are a Pediatric Podiatrist

 Go Line dancing (LEAD A LINE DANCE)

 Ask someone if they have gotten Lei’d while being in Hawaii

 Take a surf lesson

 Make the comment while looking at a volcano “That is some crack”

 Go to a buffet and heap your plate full of one item (I think sushi counts :-)

 ** Went on a pub crawl that ended in a gay bar **

 Dance the hula – in public

 Take a photo of yourself on the beach wearing a mittens and scarf

 bonus points if you follow up with the line “are your legs tired because you have been running through my thoughts all night” (VIDEO TO PROVE)

 Buy a drink that is served in a piece of fruit (COCONUT)

And lets face it. I added a lot of missions to the list - I look forward to sharing all these photos with you.

Friday, November 17, 2006

Eek! Only two days left here in Paradise

Yesterday was amazing. I rented a car, and headed up to the North Shore with my new friend and guide Demetri. We saw some amazing landscapes and managed to dip our toes into three sides of the island in one day.

The best part of the day was spent at Sunset Beach. I couldn't stop laughing and the strong current bashed me around the shoreline dragging me out into the wave and bringing me back to shore over and over (did however get a little sand down the bikini). The waves were spectacular and almost made me want to jump on a surf board again.

Today I am braving the city bus across the island to go kayaking and visit the Seabird Sanctuary. I love the name for their bus. It is simply 'The Bus'. How poetically simple compared to Vancouver's system. Their web timetable does however leave much to be desired.

Bonnie and Sandra (the other part of the "we" in my blog) went home today but I still have a dining friend as I will meet up with Dennis, our California friend here on business, tonight.

Okay, have to go figure out where to catch my bus! See you all soon. Sorry to hear about the torrential rain! That really sucks....but not as much as Mitchell's Chicken Pox.

Thinking of you all!

Thursday, November 16, 2006

Surfing...Maybe not for me

Yesterday we headed out to Cliff Beach, at the base of Diamond Head Crater and learned to surf. The first trip out was great fun, and our excellent instructor, John, stood on a rock in the surf getting us prepared for the big waves so that we could learn to paddling into and get caught up in a wave. It was a ton of fun!

After a break on the beach I decided I wanted to try to stand up on the board - for the full surfing experience. Little did I know until I tried to paddle back out just how exhausting it was! No wonder all surfers have amazing bodies. I was so fustrated as it seemed I as paddling as hard as I could and getting nowhere. By the end of it I did manage to get standing (for a couple of seconds) before falling off the board and came back with two cuts on my foot, a cut & bruise on my wrist, and huge bruises on my hip bones, ribs and on my chest where my bikini top dug into me every time I slammed down on the board after a big wave.

In conclusion - I think surfing is the sport for me. If I magically become stronger and where a padded suit. Maybe I can try Long Beach next time where I would have to wear a wet suit to pad my bones.

Okay time to hobble up to my room and pack. I am renting a car and traveling the Island today.

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

And She Lives!

okay, so yesterday was a bit of a write off until dinnertime when we decided to go out for a huge rack of ribs. Mmmmmmmmm. And although at 8am in the morning I vowed I would never drink again, I did manage to rally, for the sake of my vacation of course, and enjoyed a Pina Colata (sp?). Sadly, the easiest sounding mission, a drink served in a piece of fruit is actually turning out to be the hardest. Does it count if the drink has a large piece of fruit in it?

Well I still have a few items left on the list, but made amazing progress Monday night. A sneak preview includes telling the local police that when he arrests us later to remember how nice we were. As well, think of a Cowboy bar, A rocker bar, a really sleazy bar and yes, even a gay bar.

Off to my free surf lesson now.

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Monday night in Waikiki

As Alex Mitchell would say...I was grossly overserved last night.

Monday, November 13, 2006

My first two Missions: Complete

So last night I decided to go check out the "changing of the guards" that a fellow tourist raved about at breakfast. It was less than I was expecting and so much more all at the same time.

A cheesy little village called 'King's Village' I felt like I had walked into a portal and landed in Disneyland. Cheesy clock tower and cartoonish shops, the changing of the guard happens each day at 6:15pm to all the chinese tourists delight. The amount of flashing from cameras there was enough to light up a city.

At the end of a very comical display of prancing around the village, where toursts follow along like puppy dogs, they give tourists the opportunity to have a picture taken with the guards. Which I did, even holding the riffle, which made me a little uncomfortable but I overcame this with the joy of knowing my first challenge was complete. However, my little cheap camera's battery DIED at that very moment so I have no photographic evidence of my achievement.

Trina you will just have to work on the honour system, since I get full humiliation points here for running around after them for 15 minutes just to get this picture.

Arriving safe and sound, though a little messy

Well I arrived safely, though definately not gracefully in Honolulu. The adventure began when I pranced on in to the International check in at Vancouver Airport and couldn't find my flight on any board, and the NorthWest check in counter was completely shut down.

I'VE BEEN SCAMMED I'VE BEEN SCAMMED! DAMN INTERNET PURCHASES!!!

However, staying calm and collected on the outside, I tracked down a visitor information rep. who, as confused as I was, walked me through the counters. Finally he realized that it was run by Alaskian Airlines, whose counter was open (though not showing my flight) and everything went smoothly after that.

The plane ride down to Seattle was bumpy and I didn't drink my RED wine fast enough, and ended up spending the rest of the flight smelling like a boozer. But at least I wasn't alone. The 5 month old who's blanked I soaked when the wine JUMPED out of my glass in turbulance smelled like a boozer too. Starting so young. What a tragedy. Actually the true tragedy of it....all that beatuful Merlot gone to waiste.

Friday, November 10, 2006

Off to Hawaii

Well, It is Friday night and I am bored. I can't stand waiting to go on my trip to Hawaii.
And the fun will begin the second I get off the plane, as my trusty friends have a plan to keep me busy and scare the locals and fellow tourists...

Terra’s Holiday To Do List

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to complete – and bring proof of completion – the following tasks. Prizes will be awarded based on how many you complete. Good Luck!

 Take a photo of a person wearing a bathing suit they have no business wearing

 Take a picture of yourself with a local law enforcer – bonus points if you are being arrested at the time

 Tell someone you are a Pediatric Podiatrist

 Go Line dancing – bonus points if it isn’t a country bar

 Ask someone if they have gotten Lei’d while being in Hawaii

 Take a surf lesson

 Ask an attractive 18-22 year old male to rub lotion on your back – bonus points if he also rubs it on your front

 Make the comment while looking at a volcano “That is some crack”

 Go to a buffet and heap your plate full of one item (can’t be fruit)

 Collect five match books from different bars – bonus points for gay bars

 Dance the hula – in public

 Take a photo of yourself on the beach wearing a hat, mittens and scarf

 Tell someone you live in an igloo

 Send a drink to a handsome gentleman in your hotel bar – bonus points if you follow up with the line “are your legs tired because you have been running through my thoughts all night”

 Buy a drink that is served in a piece of fruit

I will keep you posted at the successes and failures of my mission.

Over and out!

Terra