Last Post

This being our last day, we are trying to take it easy and soak up as much sun as possible, since, who knows what weather awaits us in BC.  Before 9, we walked the block and a half to the beach and swam out about 300 metres to a coral reef, where we are able to see some of the same colourful and exotic fish as at Hanauma Bay.  In fact, I spotted a black polka-dotted one (called a Panther, I believe), never before seen by me and a sea snake never before seen by Doug.

We had a take-away lunch by the pool with Cam & Syd, who had their bags packed and ready to go.  There is a tiny hole-in-the-wall establishment beside the Breakers, which turns out to be an Institution in Waikiki.  It is called Henry’s and Henry makes his own sorbet and sells fruit bowls and sandwiches.  The sorbet is to die for!  But, it being lunch, we had sandwiches only.  Bye Cam and Syd.

A word about The Breakers:  This is a Japanese Mom-and-Pop operation.  While humble in many ways, the staff is uber-friendly in an authentic manner.  “Mrs. Breakers” has two cats (with Japanese names), which she keeps on little ropes, so they don’t stray too far nor kill the birds and geckos.  She dotes on these cats and they have good lives, despite their restraints.  I have included a photo of her proudly holding  a professional picture she had taken of her cat!

It was a very lovely holiday.  We are grateful to our friends, Cam and Brenda for looking after Nellie.  It made the adventure so stress-free.  See y’all at home.  Over and out.

On the Dole

After an invigorating swim at the beach a block away, we four (Cam, Syd, Doug and I) drove our rented car  to the western part of the island, missed yesterday.  En route, we discovered a charming little coffee shop, that had a demo mini coffee plantation at the back and that gave out free samples (Dixie cups) of their very good coffee. (And also free advice about treating asthma with grated ginger, but I didn't catch the details, so don't try it!)
Next stop was the Dole Plantation - the largest pineapple plantation in the world.  It is complete with a train (Pineapple Express, natch), a garden tour, and a cafe that served a very delicious Dole-Whip Cone.  It is the kind of attraction that was probably a very big deal in the 1950s.  Perhaps a little tired in the Millennium, and if any of you should go, skip the audio tour of the gardens -TMI.  You could drown in all the facts and figures they figuratively throw at you from your audio-phone.
As we headed back to Honolulu, we found  Haleiwa, a funky ex-sugar plantation town, rediscovered in the late '60s by hippies.  It happens the novel I am reading takes place, in part, in this historic town.
It is Cam & Syd's last evening, so we went out for a nice Italian dinner across the road.

We're having a heat wave...

...A tropical heat wave,
The temperature's rising,
It isn't surprising,
She certainly can can-can.

Irving Berlin must have spent some serious time in Hawaii to know how to compose those lyrics.  To beat the heat, we rented a dark, blue Honda Civic and toured the eastern and northern shores of Oahu.  Besides a stop for lunch, we hit an art gallery and fruit stand.  We went into, but did not tour the Polynesian Cultural Centre, which is run and staffed by Mormon students.  
Tomorrow, we will resume the journey to complete the island.
Take-away sushi by the pool and homemade mango sorbet from Henry's next door helped draw the day to a close.  Bon nuit.

A New Wrinkle

I have a new wrinkle.  The face mask that I wore, while snorkeling, has left a deep wrinkle on each cheekbone.  It might be permanent. Aargh.

Diamond Head and Hamauna Bay

Headline: Man Saves Bee.  The bumblebees are enormous here, like hummingbirds without the beak.  But, from our balcony,soft-hearted Doug saw one struggling in the pool and he risked life & limb, not to mention possible anaphylactic (sp?) reaction , by rescuing it.
This morning, we (Doug, Cam & I) got up early and took a cab to the trail head and hiked up to Diamond Head.  Phew!  220 steps plus long, steep trail in heat.  But worth the view.  A fellow hiker said she admired me for doing the hike.  I wondered why she singled me out as worthy of admiration and now realize that it was because of .my Nordic Poles (non-existent in Hawaii).  Disabled again!
Doug and I grabbed a quick bite at Subway and carried on, by bus, to Hanauma Bay to snorkel and spot the amazing, glorious assortment of tropical fish.  This is a huge amount of fun and worth the long ride and rude bus driver.  We saw parrot-fish, tang and many more that memory does not serve.  Like being in Finding Nemo.

Treat 'em to an Arboretum

Today, like every other day, is hot.  Thank goodness for that delicate breeze that appears later in the afternoon!
We set out, after breakfast, to the Foster Botanical Garden, a collection of rare and beautiful tropical plants and trees.  Like the Bo tree, under which Buddha was enlightened.  Most impressive was the Kapok tree - its trunk looks like cement buttresses.  As the day moved forward, it became clear that we needed to cool off, so we left the gardens, headed into Chinatown and enjoyed a really good Chinese meal at the Legend Seafood Restaurant (Dim Sum), a raucous, busy, air-conditioned establishment.  Then, we bused home on the #2.
Doug and I headed for the beach and had a blast bobbing - for that is all you can do in this kind of water - and picking ourselves up, when knocked over by waves.  It is a bit humiliating, but no one seems to notice how unlovely I look flailing about.
Tomorrow, there are too many choices:  Diamond Head, Haumana Beach snorkeling, flea market browsing.  Doug is the traffic cop at the intersection of it all and will determine how the day will go, all in good time.
Oh yes, today, I saw (oh so briefly) a salamander or lizard flash across the wall of our bedroom.  I have left the shoji open a crack, so it can leave.

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Musings on a Museum

A little about The Breakers  - it is a two story hotel wedged in between some major skyscraping resorts.  As the guide says ”You’ll either love it or hate it”.  It is hilariously dated-looking and could use some major TLC (note the stained bathroom mirror and the chunks of veneer, long ago fallen off the cupboards).  But, our room is clean and I am charmed by the lanai (deck) overlooking the pool and the shoji( sliding paper screen door), going out to it. This is where we are eating our take-away sushi lunch.

This morning, we walked the two blocks to Waikiki Beach for a great swim and then Doug and I wandered through some of the gardens of more upscale hotels and admired the exotic flowers.  Flora is supersized here and one feels a little like Alice, among leaves as long as your leg.

This afternoon we hit the Bishop Museum for a look at ancient Hawaii.  The building is as much a draw as its contents. 

The late afternoon and evening was spent at the poolside chatting with some Australians, moving to...where else?  ...Victoria!

We are over our jet lag and ready to roll.