Travel Day

We rented a car yesterday and travelled to the North Shore. We stopped at the Outlet stores on the way. I spent over an hour in it and bought a pair of running shoes - leaving my old ones for them to throw out. Then we headed to the Dole Plantation.

We went on the Dole train and the Dole gardens and ate in their restaurant. Nothing was free but it was worth the trip.

Riding on the Dole Plantation Train

We went into the Dole Gardens and did a tour and they were beautiful. Here's a sampling of some of the plants.



Pink leaves that remind me of my rhubarb



Amazed at the red in the middle only on the leaves

We also went out to the beaches and the beautiful scenery. Unfortunately we had to sit in the car for a bit while it rained but it was still beautiful. The sun eventually came out and we got out of the car.

Raining on the North Shore

This was mainly 'boogy boards' not surfing - a real undertow

By the time we got home we were all tired. We did our usual International Marketplace 'take out' and relaxed in our room. Both of us went to bed early!

However, this picture is of the north skyline taken from our balcony just after we got home. We know what the weather was like there! Glad it was sunny in Waikiki! Looking forward to another sunny day in Waikiki today.

Our hotel faces North and it is beautiful!

Aloha!

Another Beautiful Day

We love our room - full width balcony on right side

We have moved into a new room. Our first room did not have a kitchenette but this one does. It makes a difference just to be able to make my oatmeal each morning and do fried eggs. The microwave is good too. In the standard room you get a fridge but that's all.  We also lucked out with another king size bed. They told us it would be a queen. Anyway, we have a beautiful corner room viewing north and east - PERFECT!! We get some sun for about 2 hours in the morning which is great and then shade in the afternoon - wonderful again. No complaints here.

We have been doing our walking faithfully at about 6:30 a.m. each morning along the canal. This morning it was still dark - the sun just starting to rise. Beautiful. What a reflection!


Sunrise walking along the Canal facing east



Same Canal facing west

 Last night we went out to supper with friends who are here from Edmonton. The six of us went to Shorebirds and enjoyed a great view with perfect seats at the beach window. There was a bride & groom having their photos taken at sunset. We took a few pictures of the setting sun also. Can I say it too often? Beautiful!!

Sitting 'beach side' at Shorebirds



Wedding photos at sunset

 Later we all took photos of the sunset. It literally falls into the ocean.  Right after that we watched fireworks at the Hilton which happen every Friday night. It was a great day.



Crowds on the rock wall catching the sunset




Into the ocean!



Fireworks at the beach

After all that excitment, we head to the main street and 'people watch'. The streets are busy with all shapes and sizes. Everyone is out to see the street performers. Some are good - others, well, not sure how they make any money but ...

Well, it's another beautiful morning. We are sitting on our deck, enjoying our coffee and watching the clouds over the north mountain. Beautiful. It doesn't get any better than this.


Mountain view at sunrise




Extremes

I was reading on the Weather Network this morning that it was - 24C in Edmonton with sunshine.  Why, it is almost the same here in Hawaii but + 22C at 9 a.m.  Strange that it could be similar numbers but that little + or - could make such a difference!

We were up early again this morning and walking at 6 a.m.  It was beautiful and it is amazing how many are out at this time - locals going to work - and vacationers out walking and just enjoying the morning. We did our usual walk along the Canal and then stopped at the local outdoor coffee bar.


Walking by the canal




Coffee shop at the end of the canal walk

 This morning we stopped on our return home at one of the little side restaurants for their 'breakfast special' -  scrambled eggs, two strips of bacon, 2 pancakes (no coffee) all for $3.99. That it will be for awhile. I am missing my oatmeal! Today we are changing rooms. We would like a kitchenette instead of this standard room. It's an extra $10 a day but we will use it! I will miss the big king size bed but the kitchenette rooms are much larger and have a stove top and our room will face east instead of west. We like the east view and the sun in the morning. So, that all happens this morning. We are on the 15th floor now but will be moved to the 8th. I will miss the speedy elevator too as it is designated for floors 15 and up. Much faster and not as many people but ... oh well ... it's not like we are in any sort of hurry !!!

Limited view of the ocean

View of Ohana West Hotel from our balcony

We could get used to this weather. It is so nice. It's amazing to think that we came from all that snow and yet it is so nice here too at the same time. We hope to get lots of walking in as well. I do need to go check out some different running shoes as these ones are causing me a bit of angst but will do that later today or tomorrow. The big agenda today...moving rooms.

Aloha!

I Feel a Tan Coming On

Safe and sound in Hawaii. A quick trip from Edmonton to Vancouver and a 6 hr trip from there to Hawaii. I watched two movies and used the 'facilities' three times. Why do they keep offering food and drink and they KNOW you are going to have to 'go'!!! I guess I don't have to take something each time they come by. Anyway, the first movie was 'Morning Glory' with Harrison Ford and I forget the lead female who was very good. The second movie was Moulan Rouge. I saw most of it but had to spend more than a few moments in a lineup for the washroom so didn't see it all. Also, we were sitting in the middle section and a little boy sat in front of me and kept popping up and down trying to see the screen at the front of the row. This limited my vision as well. The seats are so high that it is difficult to watch the screen if you are sitting more than four rows back. We were about six. Anyway, it occupied my time for most of the trip.

We spent a good hour waiting for our luggage and waiting for the transporter. By the time we arrived at the hotel it was 7:45 pm (10:45 Edmonton time). We checked in, put a few things away and then headed out to have a bite to eat somewhere. Well...we are right next to (or close by, anyway) the International Marketplace, so we went there for some chinese/koren food. It was busy too so we had to wait quite awhile. By the time we ate it was 8:45 pm (11:45pm E.time)! Bed time was 10 pm (1pm E time). 

This morning, John was up and awake at 3 am (6 am E.time)  but finally went back to bed after a little while. About 4:30 (7:30 am E.time) he tried to get on the computer but it was not working). We supposedly have internet in the room and did have it in the evening... but this morning....nothing. I got up to see if I could reconnect it somehow and nothing was working. So, we decided to make coffee in our room and sit on the balcony. It was still dark outside. At 5:15 we are relaxing with our not-so-creamy-coffee (only one powdered coffee packet each with one Sweet'nLow package each too). Ugh. Nevertheless, we are here in Hawaii, sitting on balcony in the warm breezes.

We finally decided to go downstairs and see if they had coffee there and check out the internet. You wouldn't believe the activity down there. I guess everyone gets up and heads to the lobby. Anyway, we decided to go for a walk (even though it is dark) and saw lots of people out doing the same (crazy vacationers!).

We eventually stopped at ... you guessed it ... MacDonalds! We had our coffee (picked up a few extra cream and sugar) and ordered some early breakfast and now we are back in our room, the internet is working, our tummys are full and we are doing our crossword puzzles, and thinking about going for a longer walk. We will pick up a few 'staples' on our return from the walk and then head to the beach. We are not staying out too long today - fair skin people that we are - and will need a nap in the afternoon to 'catch up' with the zzzz's we missed yesterday and then tomorrow will be our first 'regular' day here in the tropics!

Ah, vacations...aren't they wonderful!

ALOHA!

Today we are packing for our trip to Hawaii. What to take? With the new regulations of only one suitcase - max 50 lbs or else you get charged, we are doing our best to NOT take all the stuff that we never use.  That's not easy.  At this end of the trip, we always think we need MORE things. At the other end, you often wear the same thing (dare I say it? more than once)!!! I always take two suitcases with the 2nd one being filled with shoes, hair stuff and extras. I usually use what's in this case. But...guess it has to be transferred now.  I weighed my suitcase empty and it is 11 lbs. leaving me only 39 lbs for clothes, shoes, and accessories. I wish I knew how to travel 'light' like the International travellers.

The weather is improving here although it is still -13 C and overcast today. It will remain like that for another week according to the weatherman and then warm up to about 0 eventually next week. In Hawaii, it was 25 last night. This week is is supposed to be around 23-24 all week. Sounds great.



What we are leaving behind ...




What we are heading to ...



Guess I can organize things into one suitcase! Aloha!

Beautiful Faces

We went to another funeral today. A young woman - well - she was 72 but that is getting younger all the time. She was beautiful - inside as well. A healthy woman until she got a sore throat, strep throat and then one thing led to another and before you know it ... she is gone.

Beautiful service and it appears as if it would have suited her - strong faith, prayer warrior, loved to serve her family - a wife of noble character who can find? Proverbs 31:10

I guess it shows that we all should have our 'ducks in line' or 'our house in order'. That leads me to my same old quest of trying to clean up our spare room. It continues to be a 'catch all' for me. Not that these two subjects have anything in common... and yet... being ready for 'the day' is something we all should be prepared for. I know I should never end a sentence with a preposition but... (oops...I did it again).

Tonite I am headed out with a group of ladies who meet regularly. Our evening is filled with laughter, a few sober moments but mostly ... fun. A relaxing time. We all could use more of these. Sometimes it is hard to get ourselves 'motiviated' to 'get there' especially after working a full day. Other times, it doesn't come fast enough. It's called fellowship... friendship...  kinship. We all seem to be more or less on the same page - varying ages but the same values or beliefs but a wide variety of opinions. Makes for quite an evening.

Ok, I appear to be rambling. Sometimes it just seems like there are a lot of thoughts in my head. One being ... I will miss seeing Wally and Christa behind us in church. Now there will just be Wally. He will be alone but not lonely. He said to me that she was not afraid. She knew where she was going and said that if she did not have quality of life ... let her go. We know in our hearts she is better off but in our heads we will miss her smiling face ... that beautiful face. Heaven will be even brighter and more welcoming for us now.

Snowing Again

It's snowing again. Get the shovel out - winter is not over yet! I am so looking forward to warmer climates !  Can't wait.

They were out grading the bus routes yesterday - clearing away all that ice and snow that was left from residential grading last week. At first, I was thinking of phoning the City as there were huge chunks of ice being left all over the place. You had to drive 'around' them and into the oncoming lane to avoid big chunks. On my return home from the store, everything was cleared away and looked good. I think there is a message somewhere in that! Have a little patience. Forecast for the next few days is 'continued cold with flurries'. Sounds like what we've had over the past few days.