Biggles Takes Off
Trip Start
Aug 08, 2003
1
12
36
Trip End
Jul 07, 2004
Fiji,
Western,
Fiji
Monday, February 2, 2004
First impression of New Zealand was 'we're home' - in places it looks just like a Surrey town, with some familiar vegetation although we are back in the summer flower season which is confusing. We're staying in the first of our backpacker hostels, the splendidly named Foley Towers, and we find everything we need down to the comfy sofas, all for $48 or GBP 18 for the two of us. We're think we're going to like it here...
This and the next journal will fill in our adventures en route. I wouldn't normally talk about flying but the Hilo-Honolulu trip was of some interest. I booked it for low price and short check-in, not realising that these are achieved by using 10 seater Cessna caravans! About 10 minutes before departure, the pilot arrives with a luggage trolley and a list, IDs are checked and then it is all aboard and chocks away. The safety briefing is done by the other pilot leaning over the back of her seat, and you can see out the front and watch the dials. Sadly it was cloudy (and bumpy!) so we didn't get a free aerial tour of Big Island,, although it was clear for the flight up the Hawaiian chain back to Oahu. When we were safely on the ground, Andy mentioned that he has seen a sign saying that landing at a particular location was not guaranteed..
It has to be said that Waikiki bach is not actually the best of places; it is too shallow for swimming, very crowded and completely backed by huge hotels which block the inland view, with the fortunate exception of Diamond Head. So we spent a day at a far better place; Hanemau bay. This is a magnificent horseshoe-shaped flooded crater with waves crashing in, a palm fringed back and a coral reef just under the water.This makes for a fabulous snorkelling location - or 'goggling' in our case (more portable). Another ambition achieved; meeting the fish in Hawaii!
We revisited the Manoa falls in rather drier weather, following longer trails up and down through the ridges behind Honolulu, down through a varied environment including rainforest, huge fern-like trees and a million midges. That evening was Chinese New Year and we were treated to a martial arts demo and an acrobatic lion dance. Luggage logistics prevented us getting to the Arizona Memorial (plus it is a long bus ride away and you only get 15 minutes there) so we opted for the more accessible veterans cemetery in the Punchbowl crater. Unlike the European cemeteries, at first sight it appears empty; the grave markers are all flat to the ground. Only then does the scale of the place become apparent. Hawaii's first astronaut, Ellison Onizuka, who was killed on the Challenger shuttle in 1986, is buried here, and there is also an impressive memorial to the thousands missing in action.
While America watched the Superbowl (and the half-time incident!) we walked down from Punchbowl and into a sightseeing tour of Honolulu. This included the Aloha tower, where part of the views were dominated by a huge cruise ship, full of people with precisely six hours to spend in Hawaii. Finally we stopped at the locals beach, Ala Moana, for a well deserved sunset swim and (at last) a sight of the 'green flash') next journal - our Fijian adventures!
