So, Hawaii is everything that I thought it would be, and more. Actually, going into this vacation I had remarkably few expectations, as I did't have enough time to form any. A quick breakdown of my activities the past 10 days (well, most of my activities) - this is mainly for my guidance, and not for readership:
(and for those of you wondering why I have found the time to blog while on my honeymoon - T.J. likes to sleep in, I don't. Simple as that).
1. Turtle bay resort was amazing! I am blown away though, by how early things shut down on the island each night. I guess I am used to Alberta, where the sun stays up over 5 hours later each day in the summer.
2. We snorkelled and used glass-bottom Kayaks to see sea turtles in the bay near the resort - talk about cool! First one we found was on the beach sleeping and couldn't have cared less that we were there!
3. I ate bacon every morning at the buffet! Totally scared to step on a scale now, but happy that I don't have the stress of trying to fit into my dress.
4. Giovanni's shrimp truck was yummy!
5. Kualoa Ranch - I got to see where part of Jurassic Park was filmed, as well as Lost, Pearl Harbour and many many more.
6. Snorkelling in Shark's Cove was epic!
7. Shave Ice is the best ever, though I wonder at how Matsumoto's got such a good reputation, as I found it mediocre at best. There was a little place by the food land on the East side of the island (I think it was called Angel's) that had the best shave ice.
8. I have never spent so much time napping - I love it!
9. Driving round the island in a blue mustang convertible rocks. Thank goodness that T.J. and I work well as a team when it comes to directions though.
10. Sunday we went shopping at the Aloha stadium - checked out all the vendors surrounding the stadium - I spent a lot of money!
11. Yesterday was the Honolulu Zoo - pictures will be up soon!
(daily itinerary, from the best I can remember)
Sunday September 12 - arrived at the hotel really late after getting our car and driving up the island after getting a little lost.
Monday September 13 - Went for a walk along the beach first thing in the morning. Walked really far, it was so warm, and humid! Then went for a drive down the east side of the island and ended up going around almost the whole thing - the drive was awesome!
Tuesday September 14 - went to Kualoa Ranch and Giovanni's shrimp truck in the morning. The ranch trip was a couple hours, and we saw tons of movie sets and a WWII bunker. After a lovely nap, we went snorkelling in a bay near our resort and saw our first turtle.
Wednesday September 15 - went kayaking in the same bay as before, with glass-bottom kayaks. Also saw the Lost giant Banyan tree. Also went golfing at the George Fazio course, was so fun! I was doing quite well by the end of it (we were the last on the course at the end of the day.) I had ribs for dinner at the clubhouse.
Thursday September 16 - Went snorkelling at Shark's Cove first thing in the morning, long before the crowds could get there. after an afternoon nap we went into Haweli for some shopping, and had Aloha General Store shave ice, as well as New York Style Pizza.
Friday September 17 - Went to the Dole Plantation, took the Pineapple Express train, ate more pineapple than I could ever imagine, went shopping and went through the world's biggest maze with a woman named Lin from Seattle. enjoyed our last night at Turtle bay by drinking our champagne and watching the sun set while walking around the resort. Dinner was a hawaiian buffet with prime rib at the resort.
Saturday September 18 - after our last buffet breakfast, we drove from the resort down the east side of the island towards Waikiki. I slept most of the way. Stopped at McDonald's where there was a very epic mural. It was really weird. Woke up in the middle of Waikiki and T.J.'s need for a map - a little stressful to say the least. After we checked in, we headed to the A La Moana mall (which is massive!) Ate Bubba Gump's Shrimp Co. shrimp, and did some shopping. We then walked down the main street which was closed for a festival - otherwise known as a business promo - found out there were 6 coach stores within 10 blocks of each other. There were stages on each block, and the music was really good.
Sunday September 19 - went shopping at the Aloha Stadium, had another epic nap, and watched the sunset at the Waikiki beach. Then went for dinner at this famous buffalo wings place, and played Buzztime - thanks to the time changes, we were 15th in the US at one point!
Monday September 20 - Spent the morning at the Honolulu Zoo after doing laundry at the hotel (our hotel pool is depressing) - we walked there which took a long time. Took lots of pictures of animals. Walked back to the hotel, then off to the beach for a sunset snorkel. Nightlife in Waikiki not really great (as we are not bar folk and don't really care about hitting a luau all the time, and are generally fooded out), so we went to a movie at the Ward Centre. Saw "the Town" with Ben Affleck - wasn't too bad.
And now here I am, all caught up.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Moments
There are certain moments in time that need memorializing, no, deserve memorializing. Here I sit, at my computer in the first room I ever lived in in my Clareview condo, contemplating how fast my single life on this planet has come to an end.
Of course, it's two in the morning and I can't sleep. Actually, who am I kidding, I don't want to. I don't want tomorrow to come and go as fast as I know that it will. I anticipate the smiles on people's faces, and the joy that I will feel (something that is too rare nowadays, and not just with me.) I will see my parents cry, my relatives attempt to dance, and my friends drink more liquor than they probably should.
I anticipate ahead of time that there will be a moment in all of this chaos, where I will look from the head table around at those who are most important to me on this planet, and feel the sense of calmness and serenity that is wholly inappropriate for the circumstances, but right nonetheless, as it will be a reflection of the pride I have, the pride I have in where I come from, where I've been, and who I am today. That was a long sentence... I wonder if it is grammatically correct... The bonus is that I get to have this moment of accomplishment sitting next to the most handsome man I know. The uber bonus is that if everything turns out right, at that time we will share a common name.
This week has been a whirlwind, from throat infection to birthday and bar call. Many have remarked at how crazy I have made this week for myself. I have thought of this, and find it funny, as this is how I have done things for as long as I can remember. When it comes to events, parties and life changes, go big or go home. It's like a band-aid analogy, only with a positive spin (yes, there can be a positive spin on ripping a band-aid off of a semi-healed wound).
Oh, the girls have gotten quiet - it may really be time for me to go to bed. You see, some of my closest friends (sadly, one missing, but that is how life changes as we age... eek - I'm almost 30) are sleeping in the master bedroom of my condo right now. Yep, all four of us are having a girls night, eating junk (dear G - please let my dress fit) and watching the dumbest movie of all time. At least we were, until it was 2 in the morning, and sleep became more important than calories.
It's funny, there's so much I want to say, yet I'm struggling. Rarely do I struggle with words, even at 2 am (yep, it's been a 20 hour day). I'm trying to capture this moment in a picture made of words, to look at years down the line, when such a big day becomes remembered by a simple romantic dinner at home, (or a blow-out vacation on Turks & Caicos when we grow old... and wealthy). Drawing a picture with words is not an easy task (though one I have to get much better at in order to fulfill the T&C fantasy!)
So... what's going through my head right now (yep folks, the bare, honest and brutal truth):
1. Oh dear, I've pulled in a 20 hour day, which means I will likely have a migraine tomorrow. That will ruin my wedding. How will I push through it?
2. The redbull is in the fridge, right?
3. I hope I don't forget my vows (remember... 11 lines, and count them on your fingers).
4. I wonder how the rum and coke T.J. is drinking out of a coffee pot at the Delta is tasting? Perhaps he will be more hurting than I.
5. What the heck did I ever do to end up with such a handsome, successful, and (gulp) normal man?
6. Forever sure is a hell of a long time.
7. I wonder what our kids will look like?
8. I can always sleep in Hawaii.
...
9. Hopefully that brief pause was a sign of sleepiness... nope. Damn.
10. The quiet at 2 am is remarkably refreshing.
11. I can't wait to see him smile. I hope my vows make him cry. I hope his vows make him cry, but not too much... a manly cry, no gratuitous weeping.
So there you have it, what I think about on the night (ha ha - morning) of our wedding.
During the dress rehearsal there was a full double rainbow in the sky. Was it a sign? The humble part of me doesn't want to admit that I have any significance to anyone with the power to make a rainbow, let alone two of them. The dreamer in me says "I knew you'd come" in response.
My final thoughts drift to those in my life who could not make it. Not those who are across the country, or stuck working, as those are positions that are full of life and consequence. We all have to live, our wedding does not stop the passage of time for the world, just me and T.J. I think of those who would have not missed it for the world, had they still walked it. Perhaps the tendency towards the morbid has roots in my childhood, or those traumatic teenage years. Perhaps it's the joy I get in thinking that they're not really gone, but silent observers at the happiest day of my life, as of yet. It may be a soft warm hug, telling me that there are things that go so much deeper than a dress, flowers, centre-pieces and fireworks, but that for the time being, it is perfectly OK to focus on these diversions as the even the fundamental tapestry of time gets to celebrate and party occasionally.
Time to attempt to sleep. I await some epic dreams.
Of course, it's two in the morning and I can't sleep. Actually, who am I kidding, I don't want to. I don't want tomorrow to come and go as fast as I know that it will. I anticipate the smiles on people's faces, and the joy that I will feel (something that is too rare nowadays, and not just with me.) I will see my parents cry, my relatives attempt to dance, and my friends drink more liquor than they probably should.
I anticipate ahead of time that there will be a moment in all of this chaos, where I will look from the head table around at those who are most important to me on this planet, and feel the sense of calmness and serenity that is wholly inappropriate for the circumstances, but right nonetheless, as it will be a reflection of the pride I have, the pride I have in where I come from, where I've been, and who I am today. That was a long sentence... I wonder if it is grammatically correct... The bonus is that I get to have this moment of accomplishment sitting next to the most handsome man I know. The uber bonus is that if everything turns out right, at that time we will share a common name.
This week has been a whirlwind, from throat infection to birthday and bar call. Many have remarked at how crazy I have made this week for myself. I have thought of this, and find it funny, as this is how I have done things for as long as I can remember. When it comes to events, parties and life changes, go big or go home. It's like a band-aid analogy, only with a positive spin (yes, there can be a positive spin on ripping a band-aid off of a semi-healed wound).
Oh, the girls have gotten quiet - it may really be time for me to go to bed. You see, some of my closest friends (sadly, one missing, but that is how life changes as we age... eek - I'm almost 30) are sleeping in the master bedroom of my condo right now. Yep, all four of us are having a girls night, eating junk (dear G - please let my dress fit) and watching the dumbest movie of all time. At least we were, until it was 2 in the morning, and sleep became more important than calories.
It's funny, there's so much I want to say, yet I'm struggling. Rarely do I struggle with words, even at 2 am (yep, it's been a 20 hour day). I'm trying to capture this moment in a picture made of words, to look at years down the line, when such a big day becomes remembered by a simple romantic dinner at home, (or a blow-out vacation on Turks & Caicos when we grow old... and wealthy). Drawing a picture with words is not an easy task (though one I have to get much better at in order to fulfill the T&C fantasy!)
So... what's going through my head right now (yep folks, the bare, honest and brutal truth):
1. Oh dear, I've pulled in a 20 hour day, which means I will likely have a migraine tomorrow. That will ruin my wedding. How will I push through it?
2. The redbull is in the fridge, right?
3. I hope I don't forget my vows (remember... 11 lines, and count them on your fingers).
4. I wonder how the rum and coke T.J. is drinking out of a coffee pot at the Delta is tasting? Perhaps he will be more hurting than I.
5. What the heck did I ever do to end up with such a handsome, successful, and (gulp) normal man?
6. Forever sure is a hell of a long time.
7. I wonder what our kids will look like?
8. I can always sleep in Hawaii.
...
9. Hopefully that brief pause was a sign of sleepiness... nope. Damn.
10. The quiet at 2 am is remarkably refreshing.
11. I can't wait to see him smile. I hope my vows make him cry. I hope his vows make him cry, but not too much... a manly cry, no gratuitous weeping.
So there you have it, what I think about on the night (ha ha - morning) of our wedding.
During the dress rehearsal there was a full double rainbow in the sky. Was it a sign? The humble part of me doesn't want to admit that I have any significance to anyone with the power to make a rainbow, let alone two of them. The dreamer in me says "I knew you'd come" in response.
My final thoughts drift to those in my life who could not make it. Not those who are across the country, or stuck working, as those are positions that are full of life and consequence. We all have to live, our wedding does not stop the passage of time for the world, just me and T.J. I think of those who would have not missed it for the world, had they still walked it. Perhaps the tendency towards the morbid has roots in my childhood, or those traumatic teenage years. Perhaps it's the joy I get in thinking that they're not really gone, but silent observers at the happiest day of my life, as of yet. It may be a soft warm hug, telling me that there are things that go so much deeper than a dress, flowers, centre-pieces and fireworks, but that for the time being, it is perfectly OK to focus on these diversions as the even the fundamental tapestry of time gets to celebrate and party occasionally.
Time to attempt to sleep. I await some epic dreams.
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