I woke up at 3 am and wasn't able to go back to sleep. Having had the experience of someone missing a plane that I was responsible for, I have a hard time sleeping now when I have a plane to catch or someone to get to the airport. My flight was around 6:15 am and the airport is about 20 minutes away without traffic, so I had plenty of time. Of course I was slow (because I thought I had so much time) and actually didn't have much time to spare by the time I got to the airport. I was VERY lucky because there were no lines for check-in or security. I flew from Phoenix to Salt Lake to wait for my traveling companion and best friend, Rachel. I was suckered into buying a $45 travel blanket from Brookstone in the airport because I was SO cold on my first flight and thought there's no way I'm going to be that cold for the next 6 1/2 hour flight. Yes, $45 for a 40" x 50" blanket. It's nice, but not THAT nice, the thing should have been stitched in gold for that price. Down the street I'm sure one like it was selling for $10--and they were probably making an $8 profit. {It came in quite handy a week later on the way home...but our flight from SLC to Honolulu was actually hot.} As "luck" would have it, I was sick. I'd gone to the dr's the day before with a firey sore throat, swollen glands, a bad headache, and fatigue. The strep test was negative but the dr gave me antibiotics anyway since I was going on a trip. I was either really hot or really cold, very tired, and bummed out to start the vacation of a lifetime feeling like death dragging through mud.
As we were pulling away from the gate, we were asked to turn off all electronics, especially phones. But they announced a contest; we were supposed to figure from the distance, air speed, flight time, head-wind, etc. in hours, minutes, and seconds how long it would take to get exactly halfway to Honolulu. Rachel excitedly said that my husband, Ken, is SOOO good at things like that, I should text him and ask him to figure it out so we could win. I did that and just as I was about to hit "send" I heard this booming male voice say "PUT THAT AWAY!!" The flight attendant happened to be standing right behind me and saw the phone and I got in trouble. This was the first time...but wouldn't be the last time...that Rachel got me in trouble on the trip!
We got to see "Frost/Nixon" and "Marley and Me". I love movies on planes, it really helps to pass the time.
For the halfway contest, we guessed that out of a 6 hour, 21 minute flight, we'd reach halfway point beyond the 3 hour, 10 1/2 minute obvious choice for a few reasons. First, it takes some time to reach cruising altitude and cruising speed. We also had a headwind and flew north west over Oregon before heading south to Hawaii. I still don't get that, but whatever. So Rachel and I guessed something like 3 hours and 20+ minutes. She wanted to guess 2 hours and 55 minutes, or something close to that time, but I talked her out of it. As we were landing, the pilot announced it had taken only 3 hours and a few minutes--less than half the time, not more--because we picked up a tailwind when we turned south. Dang it! Rachel would've won had I not talked her into a different guess, sorry Rach! We don't know what the winner got but it was fun trying.
We took a very scary taxi ride from the airport to the Outrigger Waikiki where we stayed. (Our taxi driver came within inches of other cars several times, rode his breaks, and was an awful driver!) It's a nice hotel, you can see Diamondhead in the background. They have a fun restaurant there called Duke's where you can eat in a dining room or eat at the barefoot bar where you eat almost on the beach. What a great view!
We took my niece's advice and did a sunset cruise on a catamaran. I was quite nervous since the ocean scares the @%#^&* out of me...and I didn't know if I'd get seasick or not. I was already not quite myself from being sick, the long airplane ride, and scary taxi! But it turned out fine, no seasickness and no problems. If you go to Hawaii, you really should do a catamaran ride! If you go during the day the rides are 1 hour but you can snorkel. At sunset they go for 1 1/2 hours but no snorkeling.
This guy carried Rachel onto the catamaran so she wouldn't get wet, as you can see, you have to walk into the ocean to get onboard. If you don't time it well, the water can be up to your thighs when you get to the ladder!
What a great way to start a vacation!! There were dolphins that jumped along with the catamaran, but with the delay on my camera I never got a clear picture. The experience was incredible, what a way to see Diamondhead, Waikiki beach, and a beautiful Hawaiian sunset.
We did some shopping at the international market across the street from the hotel. There, I got my first glimpse at opening oyster shells to find a pearl...we watched several people open shells. They tap the oyster 3 times, then yell "Aloooooha!" for good luck, ring a bell and make a big deal out of it, then open the oyester. We saw a few people get chocolate pearls, which are really pretty. My favorites are grey or black, but chocolate is nice, too.
After being awake for 21 hours and traveling, you'd think I would sleep like a rock, but I was too excited to see the ship the next day!
No comments:
Post a Comment