Enderwiggin's travel blogs:
|
|
  | |  |
A good road trip day
Entry 2 of 6 | show all | print this entry |
|
So my first full day in Hawaii, and it was going to set the tone of the rest of the trip, little benognest to me. It was great and not so great all at the same time.
So got up early, enjoyed the included brunch and then hit the road to get in my living space appointments. The first was a really cheap place near where I was staying, on the outskirts of Waikiki, and found out why a 2bdrm 1bath place there was going for $1000/month... crack town. I kept driving as I didn't really have an apt yet and didn't want to bother as I'd already axed it, even if it was 10 min from the beach.
Next two were in Westcliff, which surprisingly enough.. is west of Honolulu and (gasp!) on a cliff! I took a few shots of this area and the gorgeous views from there, though it was definately suburb living (would need a car at min.) had two appointments out here, one was a no show and the other had to dealy til the afternoon. I told the one in the afternoon that if he'd just give me the code, I could undo the lock box and check it out as I was right there waiting.. but was told unless I was an agent, no can do-o. ah well, looking in from teh window, it was a very nice place, so Westcliff is a good choice if I want to stay close to Honolulu but not actually in it.
Next two stops were in Ewa Beach and North Shore. Ewa beach was "just like resort living without having to pay for it." That intrigued me, and went out there... and drofve, and drove and drove... thought I'd got lost a few times, but kept seeing signs pointing the way so others must have had the same exp. According to the GPS we were in nothing ville, nothing around for miles.. what gives? Then it was all explained at the checkpoint... it was on an actual naval base area. They asked my business and told them checking out rental property.. gave me a pass and gave me instructions, told me not to deviate or linger. Okay... don't want to get shot. :) got to the leasing office, and looked closed... weird. Checked the window and sure enough, sign saying "sorry for the inconvenience, we'll be closed form 11-2p" it was 11:30a.. didn't feel like waiting around for that, and well, not one for living on a base for various reasons.. what do you do for fun around there? great access to beach and all, and cheap (later found out from locals why is because they, the ministries and the high-class squaters don't pay taxes. The last group is the most interesting, as they just park their boats at various warfs around the island.. tax free. One guy was telling me that they have the highest income squaters in teh world, these boat house livers... hmmm.. now that's an idea... :)
So to get to North Shore, thought I'd check out the island and ride the coast all teh way from the southern to the northern end via the east coast. Best thought I had all trip, as this was the most gorgeous and enjoyable part of my trip (besides the beach.) Later learned that the west side is the dry side (shanty town area... get to that on my last day) as all the rains dump in the center but mostly on the east side so it is the most lush and green there. making it also the most gorgeous as it has all these wonderful coves and shorelines.
After hitting all the interest points with such interesting names like Tantalus Lookout, Diamond Head Lookout, Koko Crater Botanical Garden and Stables, Makapuu Lighthouse, Kaneohe Bay View point and Kualoa Sugar Mill Ruin as well as all the beaches along the way I finally made it to the Polynesia Cultural Center, where I was going to check out the center as well as the nightly Lua and evening show I bought tickets for.
http://www.polynesia.com/ticketing/alli-luau.html
It was very interesting hitting the various "islands" or centers of information they had, and while I didn't hit them all since I was getting there later in the afternoon (though missed the Long Canoe Pageant and Rainbows of Paradise) . I only got to hit the ones on Tonga, Somoa, Fiji and Hawaii. Hawaii had teh best and most interesting presentation, not surprising, but I'm sure I would have been very fascinated with teh Tahiti one if I'd made it... more on that later. :)
So the Luau was very interesting, though seemed a bit low key to me. Maybe it was my company.. :) Since I was one of the only "singles" there, they were going to seat me at this table with this chubby couple and their kid and their grandparents. I saw the japanese college girl troupe pass me by and quickly asked "Could I maybe get seated somewhere else... like over there" pointing to where the troupe was getting seated. I got told sorry, but this was the only table around with one seat available. I tried getting past this massive guy who was crammed into his seat to get to mine in the back, and the old couple must have got confused as they were trying to literally pull up the seat and hand it to me. "No, no, I'm sitting there." weird... but that was only the start. It seems little jonny and the family weren't used to beign in tthe sun all the time, and were in a really grouchy mood, and their pre-teen boy, as all pre-teen boys was doing what they do best when they're bored... annoying all those around them. Strange they weren't used to humidity and heat, as they were Oakies and Texans, but whatever. Nothing was right for them most of the night. But I got back at them later, as I was talking with their son about video games (only interestig conversation I could get started) I told him to not listen to his parents "Playing video games isn't a waste of time. I mean look at me, I'm living proof of it. It was all research, and landed me a great job that I love doing, and make a good living at." I got the stink eye for that one. :) Ah well... all the food was great even if teh conversation and company wasn't; the pork that is made by slow roasting in the "imu" all day with pinapple and bannana leave(?) delicious! Surprised my good friend Taro was there, as I thought that was a big asian thing. Taro rolls, poi(?) that me and the kid were big fans of but nobody else.
http://www.polynesia.com/shows/horizons.html
So the evening show Horizons was definately teh highlight. no photos there either, so you'll have to hit up the website above. I sure wish I had a website for the Tahiti part... drool... so now that I've baited you all enough, I'll explain. So the main event or dancing and show part was very interesting, with the varied dances from teh various polynesian islands, some were serious, others comical, and the most amazing and thrilling of course were the fire dances. but watching all this, something kept leaving me with a weirded out impression. It wasn't until almost the intermission that I got it as one performer was explaining a dance and that teh performers are all from teh next door BYU, which I guess is a LDS organization? Now the pieces stareted clicking into place... the women were cover from neck to toe, nothign like the typical movie or stereotype of skirt, lei and little else while the men were in nothing but grass skirts.. and well the longest boxer or board shorst I'd ever seen. One of the locals had told me about how the hula had almost been stomped out at one point by the missionaries as beeing "too lewd" or sexual in nature. Well this show didn't have anything to worry about there.. until Tahiti took stage.
So the lead lady of the dance for Tahiti had figured out an ingenious way around the decency thing that my hat goes off to her. She had this white body dress, that while it did cover from neck to toe, was stunning looking on here, even from 100 feet away. It looked like it had been painted on her figure with this added red ruffle right around her middle, kind of like a tutu but higher. I was thinking, that's strange, until she turned around and did her solo. you could literally hear a few hundred jaws drop and hit the floor... it was so amazing! while the rest of her body was almost perfectly still, with only the slightest raising and lowering of her right foot and the subtlest movements of her hips... her ass was goind all over the place, and the red ruffle made it clear even to the people in teh cheap seats. OH MY GOD! It was like seeing the sistian chapel being painted before your very eyes in 10 minutes.. a true master of her craft. If I was her agent, I'd pit her against the whole Cirque Hawaii troupe anyday.. just her for like 2 hours, and I'm sure I'd put them out of business. The rest of the show was good, but that was definately the highlight for me and left me smiling all night.
(this is the only link I could find that even comes close. the outfit is similar, but definately not the same girl or skill level, but you get the idea... :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E90TRRg3hGg
Driving back along the north shore at night, I got to thinking... that kind of skill would be impossible to date someone who could do that. you'd be in the biggest, heated arguement and she'd break into that move and you'd be like "AND ANOTHER THING That... I can't stand... that you.... do............. is............... (head frantically bobbing trying to keep up) ... I'm sorry, was I saying something? Do you want a hot oil massage? Foot rub? Anything?" :)
It started raining on the way back so had to put up the top, but strangely took me about 20 minutes to figure it out as nothign was coming into the car... I actually had to put my hand above the glass to feel any moisture hittign anywhere but the windshield. So as I was putting up teh top, it was just a light rain.. and I was thinking. this is paradise... it rains, but only at night? How cool is that? :)
Next day, my touring day so hit the bar/grill.. stayed up later this time chatting up the locals for more information on living in heavan (which I kind of already covered, so next entry..)
|
|
If you like this entry, search for other entries by enderwiggin, from Hawaii, United States or try a new search. |
| |
Back to Entry - Back to Home
|
