Home Again

As much as I love vacations and travel, I also like coming home.

SO, here we are, back on the plane; an amazing invention!

Have I mentioned that I love flying, I always have.

I find it so thrilling.

The feeling of taking off, going above the clouds. 

Being between Heaven and Earth.

You can be anywhere in the world in a mater of hours, in what would otherwise take days.

I love the excitement of discovering new places and also, I love going to old cherished places too.

Places where loved ones, family & friends reside.

And where part of my life was spent.

Going home was a long long long retour.

We got on 4 planes.

We left Monday morning Hawaii time and arrived Tuesday morning Houston time.

Honolulu to LA, to Seattle, to Minneapolis to Houston.

Crazy, I know.

 But Happy to be Home!

Our Last Day

Today was our last full day in Hawaii. We did what Mike wanted to do!

He didn't get much rest with all the places we had to see, the snorkeling to do and things to discover.

I pretty much chose where to go, when, almost this whole trip.

So I said to Mike: 

"This is your day, I will do what you want and not complain or suggest something else"... 

It was hard at times to keep my mouth shut!

So what did we do? You ask?

We slept in.

We ate lunch at our place. 

Packed.

Did laundry.

We did nothing relaxed until 3pm. 

We left our place to take a stroll on Waikiki beach, took a little dip in the water.

We watched the parade and had dinner watching the Sunset.

Yep, that was it. 

It was nice and romantic...

 An Asian couple were taking wedding pictures on Waikiki Beach. 

I guess it's a popular wedding spot!

 Mike, being nice. If you can't tell this is his 'are-you-done-taking-pictures-yet-because-i-am?' face.

People lock up their surf boards right by the beach! 

Some of these were HUGE!

And the Sunset was lovely.

Waikiki Parade

Our last full day in Oahu.

A lot of school bands, Judo clubs, hula dancers and asian groups were part of the parade.

Waikiki Beach

We only spent one afternoon on Waikiki beach.

The pictures are bad because Mike's phone had the protective case on up side down. 

It was covering the camera!

Kinda crowded.

It was hard to find a spot in the shade.

We actually put our snorkel gear on and went far where there was a little coral and fish.

But we are so used to snorkeling, when on any beach that's what we want to do.

We just have to see what is under the sea...

But here there was not mush to see. 

Visibility was not good - kinda like these photos...

Return to Hanauma Bay

This time we got there after 7pm.

The crowds were gone & the water calmer than the first time.

A much more pleasant swim.

We were also able to get across the other side of the coral reef.

Past the waves at a distance in the pictures.

It was great!.

At one point a bigger wave caught us by surprise.

We were surrounded by froth & bubbles, it was so amazing!

It felt so good. 

Like being in a giant bottle of my favorite bubbly drink - Izze, that is - you know right when you open it and the bubbles go up to the top!

*****

Can you tell I've not had much sleep last night? (2 hours to be exact!)

My Brother and wife are here visiting from France. 

They just arrived here last night at 1 am! 

I'm so excited! 

I will tell all about it, but first I have to bring this blog up to date!

Another Great thing happening this Summer!

*****

Honolulu Farmers Market

Saturday Morning we went to the farmers market.

We got a couple of hats, souvenir/gifts for the kids, and some delicious local flavored balsamic vinegar!

Those samples were so good! 

They kept giving us bread to sample more and more.

Which proved to be very good buisness for them!

We bought 4 bottles!

We had them shipped to our house.

The Polynesian Culture Center

We were able to meet one of Justine's friend to purchase tickets at 50% off the regular price.

They can be very pricey but it is a worthwhile experience!

Justine worked here for a couple of months last semester.

We had a wonderful time. 

We were there from 1pm till 10pm enjoying the many activities, shows, cultures and foods.

We got an ambassador tour, but will next time get regular admission so 

we can enjoy more of the shows, and we will be there right when it opens.

We only saw 2 shows with our tour guide :(

If I had known... Next time.

Their Web Site Here

Favorites:

Samoa show- the coconut guy - S O   F U N N Y

The Hawaiian Journey Movie - M O V I N G  &  B E A U T I F U L

The Ambassador Prime Rib buffet dinner - D E L I C I O U S

The Evening Show - Ha Breath of Life - A W E S O M E 

Strolling with my man among the villages and sharing it all with him - P R I C E L E S S

Coconut Mild Extracted by hand!
This was the best show of them all. This sweet guy was hilarious!

Man Spear Throwing. The women had a turn too!

All the different island villages paraded. My favorite was Tahiti shown below.

Here was the Hawaiian Journey Movie.

16 Ways Mike & I Are Different

1. He likes nothing but grass all the way to the foundation of our house.

    I like a jungle of beautiful flowers, trees and creeping vines.

2. Every movie is new to him, even if he's already seen it.

    I don't like watching a movie twice, though I have my exceptions.

3. He likes parties and socializing.

    I like to be just us or with just one couple or family.

4. He does not read books/magazines but will still buy them and stack them up. 

    I love to read books.  I get rid of his stacks when he's not around.

5. He can talk and always has something to say.

    I listen a lot.

6. He likes playing team sports.

    I like doing individual sports.

7. He will not eat sushi.

    I can eat sushi all day.

8. He loves ice cream and lots of chocolate and peanut butter. 

    I love fruits & dislike chocolate.

9. He has a good sense of humor but no sense of time. 

    I have no sense of humor when he has no sense of time.

10. He's a night owl. 

      I'm a morning bird. 

11. He can't remember what he ate for breakfast yesterday, 

      but remembers his best friends house phone number from 25 years ago!

      I can't remember my own phone number growing up,

but remember events, people and places pretty well. 

12. He loves long hair on me.

      I love my hair short.

13. He can count. He usually knows what I mean when I get my numbers wrong.

     I can't count! I hate numbers. I constantly get my 1000's, 10000 & 100000's mixed up.

14. He loves going to see movies at the theater.

      I do not care for movie theaters. I much prefer a movie at home in my cozy house. 

15. He is a pack rat.

    When he goes out of town I throw away everything I think he won't notice.

16. He could cuddle all night.

      When I'm sleeping, touch me at your own risk. I am not responsible when in slumber.

********

But other than that, I really think this relationship can work!

Photos from our boat ride @ the PCC

Shark's Cove

I was told to go snorkeling here.

So glad we did!

Again we chose a great day. 

The waves were piratically none existent.

This is on the North Shore. 

Mike is becoming quite the seasoned snorkeler!
He loved this spot.
Who wouldn't?
Turtles are here all the time.
He actually got to follow/swim with turtles for about an hour all put together.
He is the one who wanted to go back in a second time after an hour 1/2 swim!

He even did some diving!