February 22, 2007, Thursday, Day 26
This is packing day and our last view of the Hawaiian sunset. It’s been a wonderful stay and we are already planning our return.
Bob’s Blog
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Sunday, February 18, 2007
February 17, 2007, Saturday, Day 21
Tomorrow is Chinese New Year, and Chinatown was abuzz with kiosks of food and souvenirs and entertaining lion dancers. A movie maker was putting up a poster advertising his special surfing movies, last year was the year of the dog so he had trained a dog to surf. This year is the year of the pig but he said he was having trouble teaching a pig to surf. I told him that at the Calgary Stampede they reward the pigs with Oreo cookies and they will do anything. He said he would try it.
Bob’s Blog
February 15, 2007, Thursday, Day 19
The LPGA season opened today with the SBS (Seoul Broadcasting System) Open at Turtle Bay’s Palmer Course on the North Shore. We took the 2 hour trip (each way) from Waikiki to take it in. It was great fun to see the players we’ve seen on TV for years, Inkster, Davies, Webb, and Canadians Coe Jones and Kane. Plus all the new young guns, several Americans and a contingent of Koreans, they can hit it a ton. The weather was perfect with light winds, the course is awesome, the officials and volunteers were extremely friendly and helpful, (they gave us bottled water and subway sandwiches, but the beer cart didn’t show up). But they don’t let you take photos, except for the leader board at the Pro Shop, and I snapped a photo of the surf off of the 17th hole, much bigger than Monday.
Bob’s Blog
February 14, 2007, Wednesday, Day 18
Hawaii Kai is a residential area near Hanauma Bay that has a nice little shopping center beside a small yacht harbour. We had lunch at the Kona Brewery, they serve great pizza as well as their own brands of Kona beer. Besides the Brewery, our favourite shop is “Bark Avenue”, strictly a dog shop. We picked up Murray’s gift here. And more sunset photos.
Bob’s Blog
February 13, 2007, Tuesday, Day 17
After two weeks here we finally got around to going to the beach and swimming in the ocean. We have also concluded that we look better than 90 percent of the people out here. We had lunch at Duke’s Canoe Club, another excellent restaurant. Tonight we enjoyed a magnificent Hawaiian sunset.
Bob’s Blog
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
February 12, 2007, Monday, Day 16
Roberts Hawaii Circle Island Tour is an excellent way to see most of the Island and get a brief history of many of Oahu’s interesting places. We stopped at the Dole Plantation, had lunch, a Kalua BBQ pork sandwich, at The Breakers Restaurant in Haleiwa, delicious. Stopped to see the big waves, not all that big today, at Sunset Beach, and the view from the Pali, and finally Hanauma Bay, where we saw another mongoose and actually managed to photograph it. So there, they do exist.
Bob’s Blog
February 11, 2007, Sunday, Day 15
The Aloha Stadium Swap Meet drew us back for some bargains. Better prices here than the International Market. This evening we stood in line with a hundred other people to get into the Cheesecake Factory. It turned out to be the best food yet, with over 200 selections, made it very hard to decide, and the best part, you don’t have to have cheesecake.
Bob’s Blog
The Aloha Stadium Swap Meet drew us back for some bargains. Better prices here than the International Market. This evening we stood in line with a hundred other people to get into the Cheesecake Factory. It turned out to be the best food yet, with over 200 selections, made it very hard to decide, and the best part, you don’t have to have cheesecake.
Bob’s Blog
February 10, 2007, Saturday, Day 14
The Waikiki Aquarium boast thousands of extremely colourful tropical fish from Hawaii and around the world. It’s one of the best kept secrets here, so if you can’t get out snorkeling at Hanauma Bay, just visit this wonderful little aquarium for a feast of colour and enjoyment.
We discovered a Mexican restaurant called “Cha Cha Cha”. It’s slogan is “If we were any more authentic, you’d be afraid to drink the water.” Good food, …and water.
Bob’s Blog
February 9, 2007, Friday, Day 13
The Sheraton Surfrider Hotel, originally the Moana Hotel, was Hawaii’s first luxury Hotel. Opened in 1901, 26 years before the more famous Royal Hawaiian, it was completely restored in 1989 to its original design. Guided tours are conducted three days a week providing an informative and entertaining account of this historic building.
The Queen Mary 2 was in port, having arrived from San Francisco today. It’s an impressive sight, almost rivaling the Queen Elizabeth 2 which we saw in Sydney, Australia last February. (see www.aroundpartoftheworld.blogspot.com ).
Bob’s Blog
February 8, 2007, Thursday, Day 12
Bishop Museum
We went to the Bishop Museum this morning. The artifacts from Polynesia are amazing. It is interesting to see how different the cultures are in the various areas of the South Pacific. There is also a tremendous collection of artifacts from the Hawaiian Royal family. Unfortunately, part of the museum was closed for renovations but we enjoyed the parts that were open. The original Museum building, built in the late 1800’s is beautiful with truly gorgeous wood paneling and stairways.
Sharron’s Blog
Bishop Museum
We went to the Bishop Museum this morning. The artifacts from Polynesia are amazing. It is interesting to see how different the cultures are in the various areas of the South Pacific. There is also a tremendous collection of artifacts from the Hawaiian Royal family. Unfortunately, part of the museum was closed for renovations but we enjoyed the parts that were open. The original Museum building, built in the late 1800’s is beautiful with truly gorgeous wood paneling and stairways.
Sharron’s Blog
February 7, 2007, Wednesday, Day 11
The Foster Botanical Garden in downtown Honolulu began in 1853 as the residence of William Hillebrand who planted many of the trees that adorn the property today. Thomas Foster acquired the property many years later and continued to add to the collection of tropical plants. The Foster family donated the property to the city of Honolulu in 1930. Today it is a magnificent collection of tropical plants from around the world.
Bob’s Blog
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
February 6, 2007, Tuesday, Day 10
It’s a two mile walk from Waikiki to Ala Moana Park. The Ala Wai Canal abounds with fish that congregate along the shore hoping that you will throw them a meal. Ala Moana Park is alive with thousands of birds. They reluctantly step out of your way as you walk, letting you know that you are invading their space.
Bob’s Blog
February 4, 2007, Sunday, Day 8
We went to the Swap Meet this morning. It was about an hour bus-trip out to the Aloha Stadium where the meet is held three days a week. It is enormous! There are stalls the whole way around the parking area of the stadium. Clothes, bags, t-shirts, art, jewelry, souvenirs, food—it’s all there. The weather was perfect and even though we walked almost non-stop from 10:30 when we arrived until 1:30, we still didn’t see it all. Great fun!
Sharron’s Blog
We went to the Swap Meet this morning. It was about an hour bus-trip out to the Aloha Stadium where the meet is held three days a week. It is enormous! There are stalls the whole way around the parking area of the stadium. Clothes, bags, t-shirts, art, jewelry, souvenirs, food—it’s all there. The weather was perfect and even though we walked almost non-stop from 10:30 when we arrived until 1:30, we still didn’t see it all. Great fun!
Sharron’s Blog
Saturday, February 03, 2007
February 2, 2007, Friday, Day 6
Opposite Kapiolani Park, there is a small pier where numerous and colourful fish come in looking for a meal. It’s very entertaining watching them in the beautiful clear water as they dart to and fro. It’s another perfect day here. We cooled down with a glass of Hawaiian Punch at McDonalds.
Bob’s Blog
February 1, 2007, Thursday, Day 5
Today is replenish the supplies day. It’s February and we can now ride the bus as often as we wish with our pass so we went out to Costco and picked up some things. We had lunch at the Chowder House in The Ward Warehouse shopping centre, one of our favourites from last time. This evening we strolled Kalakaua Avenue listening to the street entertainers. Finally the wind has subsided and it is perfect Hawaii weather at last.
Bob’s Blog
January 31, 2007, Wednesday, Day 4
Hilo Hatties is an Hawaiian tradition. They sell every possible souvenir; clothes, jewellry, food, and stuff, lots of stuff. Their shuttles pick you up in Waikiki and drive you out and back free of charge, and the place is packed. It’s fun just walking around looking at the stuff. Just next door is “Sam Choy’s Breakfast, Lunch and Crab”, the sign reads. Sharron says you must have to bring your own crab. I assume she meant me. We stopped there for lunch, it’s a seafood restaurant about the size of a warehouse and it’s chock full of entertaining nautical themes. The food is great. We had eaten here last time too and it hasn’t changed a bit. Tonight we found a new restaurant, Atlantis, which served excellent food and smaller senior portions which suited us fine. Still very windy.
Bob’s Blog
January 30, 2007, Tuesday, Day 3
Today was a lazy day. We wandered through the International Market and the malls along Kalakaua. The proprietor at the Lassen Art Gallery insisted on taking our photo. Bob and Pat have joined us on this trip and we have really enjoyed their company. We discovered an excellent Chinese Restaurant, Lau Yee Chai, which offered excellent choices at reasonable prices. We’re sure we will go back again. We tried walking along the beach but the wind driven sand was too much. How windy is it? Just take a look at this statue of MM.
Bob’s Blog
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