Chuck and I went on a 2 week long trip that unexpectedly turned into 3 weeks. Our goal was to get the most out of our free flying since I'm hoping to quit my airline job soon. The original plan was to visit Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. At my airline, in order to get to Southeast Asia you have to fly through Tokyo. All of the flights to Tokyo from the US were booked except for the flights from Hawaii. We decided to take a detour and spend a few days in Hawaii. Because of this we didn't make it to Vietnam but were still able to spend enough time in Thailand & Cambodia.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Traveling through time zones.
Chuck and I went on a 2 week long trip that unexpectedly turned into 3 weeks. Our goal was to get the most out of our free flying since I'm hoping to quit my airline job soon. The original plan was to visit Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. At my airline, in order to get to Southeast Asia you have to fly through Tokyo. All of the flights to Tokyo from the US were booked except for the flights from Hawaii. We decided to take a detour and spend a few days in Hawaii. Because of this we didn't make it to Vietnam but were still able to spend enough time in Thailand & Cambodia.
I was so glad that we were forced to fly through Hawaii! We had never been there and I was really longing for some sun! Hawaii turned out to be one of the best places I've ever been. There is so much natural beauty there that you can't help but get lost in each and every moment. It was so hard for me to get over the fact that here I was sitting on this tiny island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean! I mean it was incredible to think that I was surrounded by thousands of miles of ocean in each direction and on top of it, probably sitting on some of the newest formed land in the entire world!
We stayed in Waikiki but spent most of our time hanging out at the beach in Northshore and hiking on the windward side. Waikiki was a little too touristy for me but we stayed at a little hostel near the beach and met some fellow world travelers so it made it worth it. Renting a car was probably the best thing we did because getting out of Waikiki was wonderful. Once you get out of the city you are surrounded by lush mountains and breathtaking views no matter which direction you look.
Hiking was phenomenal too. It was amazing to see the difference in vegetation from one side of the island to the next. Near Waikiki, the Manoa Falls trail (leading to a waterfall) was filled with thick, green, and jungly type vegetation; while the windward side (Laie trail) displayed pine trees and tall grasses.
At the end of the Laie trail we were lucky enough to run into some local guys in the middle of a field lighting a homemade bamboo cannon. They had taken the widest piece of bamboo I've ever seen (probably 8-10 inches wide) and put a smaller, hollow thing in it. Then filled it with kerosene. They were lighting it up and it was making this incredible boom. Before you knew it we were putting all kinds of things in it to see how far it would shoot out of the cannon. I guess kids everywhere, even in paradise, can get bored :)
Wow, I can only hope to follow in your footsteps someday. Now bring on the politics :)
ReplyDeletevery cool! tho i would have loved to hear ur panama stories if u would have come out here instead.
ReplyDeletewheres the rest of the pictures?