two stops in the state of Hawaii -
first port of call is honolulu and the ship was met with two hula dancers and singers and the odd port worker dancing along as well. i must say i get a bit emotional when we keep getting welcomed and sent off in song and waves by complete strangers. it's just a warm and welcoming way to arrive instead of the impersonal and steral environment of the airport unless you have a friend or family member greeting you.
the big news is we have had at least one death on board so far. there was a code 'alpha' announced on the loadspeaker before dinner two days before arriving to honolulu - and when we arrived at port we saw the coroner's car ready to collect the body. then of course you heard stories about them getting the body off the boat and how people were shocked by it all. but with 2,600 passengers with an average age of 55+ something is bound to happen. plus i think there have been at least 10 broken bones due to the rolling of the ship. and this voyage has been extremely easy. no rough seas with the worst of the waves classified as 'moderate'. there have been almost no white caps and ready calm, smooth sailing. (THANK GOD!)
so onto dry land and we decided to rent a car and drive to pearl harbour and get on base to shop and see the memorials. we did get a few things at the base for a fraction of the cost - but mainly new clothes as i was tired of wearing the same four tee-shirts i brought! gift shopping has been really difficult during this trip as most things look good on the islands but will not translate into the big cities and i am not sure that most people would want or use them. plus - most of the things are made in china - NO KIDDING. to try to find something made on the islands is very difficult! i can't bring lais home and those were the loveliest things i saw....for table decorations - it would be just stunning....as you can preserve them, but if i got caught in customs......it's not worth it.
so let me apologise in advance about my lack of presents back in LA and london as there really wasn't much on offer....maybe you will be happy to have ME back - hopefully that will be a present enough!
went to the arizona memorial and although we couldn't take a boat to it (all were full for the day) you can see it from the land. it's build right on top of the ship and it is very moving as you can see the ship through the water and the stacks still break through the water. so there is still a lot to see even if you can't visit it.
then we went to see the missouri which was recently decomissioned and dad had never seen it before. it's where the treaty with the japanese was signed and it was a most impressive ship. it was last used in 1991 in the gulf war and looking at the computers they were using then was amazing. little macs and pcs....how technology has moved on....
time went by so quickly in honolulu as we got lost trying to get to the north shore and it was right in the middle of rush hour traffic. honolulu traffic can give london traffic a run for it's money! i couldn't believe how bad it was - that was a real downside to the island. but when you are on holiday, you can't get too uptight about seeing and doing everything - especially in 11 hours. cruising is a good way to see many different places, but you only see a little each time. there is always so much to see and do so you have to be selective and effficent if you want to do it all in seven to ten hours. we were the longest in honolulu, but it took a while to go through immigration and that ate up our morning....so we never made it to the north shore - some things much be left for the next visit!
so we got back to the waikiki beach area and walked along the ala moana park and beach. all the families were out and having picnics with little grills watching a perfect sunset. it was a real communial atmosphere and i was longing to find a space like that in london to take advantage of....and get a little grill to cook out in the summer - note to self - find one upon return! and anyone who wants to come over - let's have cook-outs!
returned the car at 8pm and caught the public bus back to the ship with about 20 other fellow passengers. what i found most amazing was A LOT of the people were drunk coming back on the ship! there were so many people who when getting off the bus didn't know which direction to the ship and believe me - you can see the ship from most vantage points!
it was a long day so we had 'poor man's room service' and went to the buffet and took a plate back to our room and ate - followed immediately by bed. i was exhausted!
HILO
on to the largest and youngest islands - Hawaii. we arrived in a large container port but it was amazing manovering to get a large ship in such a tiny port. overheard a couple of people discussing the death on board - and that there had been three mentioned, but only one confirmed so far. seems like everyone is talking about it.
once we get on shore, we are greeted again with song and dance which really makes me feel most welcomed and quite emotional....must be all the water i am surrounded by!
we end up renting a car again to drive around the island. it is a mad scrum again to get to the rental place at the airport as everyone has to go in the shuttles - not just drivers only. there is no courtesy amongst fellow passengers on land - even people i had helped left us in the dust. only dad and i were left after the two shuttles arrived to collect everyone which meant us waiting in the sun for another 20 minutes. when we eventually arrived at the rental office, there was the man i helped just finally getting to the counter to rent the car, so all that pushing and shoving didn't really get him there any faster. it would have been the same....
so on the road - up to visit the volcanoes national park. hawaii has an active volcano so everyone wanted to see lava flowing into the sea. we drove around the park and it was an impressive crater - plus seeing all the lava flow from various times - the colours of the landscape and changes of the scenery - from desert to rainforest and all around the crater. i will hopefully post some more photos once i get to LA as it truly was most impressive.
then off to the state park to see waterfalls - and on our drive there was a road marker for the 'scenic route' and i must encourage all to ALWAYS take the scenic route! the landscape was breath-taking with dramatic cliffs, large trees, beautiful flowers, amazing views of the surf and surfers in the waves....thank goodness we didn't miss seeing that!
then we came into a little town straight from americana 1920's - i can't remember the name of it right now, but most of the original buildings on the islands were built at the turn of the century or early on at it is like going back in town. they would be used for movie or tv sets they are so picture perfect. even the town of hilo and honolulu has some lovely downtown areas that are like main street, usa!
before you know it, we have to return to the ship. the days go by so quickly - especially when you are slowed by administrative things like car rental paperwork and discourteous passengers. everyone wants to see it all and do it all to brag about their adventures. what an incredible time they had and how their adventure was the greatest....it's not a competition but people act like it is.
so back to the open seas again....until our last port of call - los angeles. and then the adventure will end....and back to 'real life' and getting back to london. i have been so grateful for such an amazing experience and to have been able to be included on such a journey....
and dad and i have travelled pretty well. i think sometimes he has to put up with me, but on the whole, it's been great. i am very, very lucky!
sxxxx
No comments:
Post a Comment