Thursday, October 13, 2005
Well,
I must have been mistaken. Flying stanby certainly has its
perks....until you get stuck somewhere, that somewhere being Vancouver.
So for the first 4 days of my trip, instead of "G'Day", it was just
"Hi" (that's how they say hello in Vancouver) I was very lucky to have
awsome friends who like me weren't working and were able to hang out
with me. It was certainly a lot more fun than it could have been.
After a few trips to the airport we felt like enough was enough and my
father, my hero decided to escort me onto Hawaii. One step closer. So
for the past 4 glorious days it's been "Aloha", but so I don't sound
like a loser I still say "hi". So it was just me and my dad hanging in
Waikiki. Yup, that's right. Sniff...no big deal. Yeah, it's pretty
awesome here. After the Vancouver cold and rain, which wouldn't have
been so bad if I had clothes other than sandals and shorts (I hear
Toronto is the same) the sun and beach were quite welcoming. Up until
yesterday my dad and i were staying in the Coral Reef hotel beside a
bar called "Da Big Kahuna". I'm not kidding, they actually HAVE one of
those! I've also never knew a coconut could be carved into so many
different kinds of monkey. Fascinating. My favorite discovery so far
though is the fact that Don Ho is STILL here!!! and as my dad pointed
out to me, still singing Tiny Bubbles. He was here on my parent's
honeymoon. Too Funny! So after a few days of hanging out on the beach,
drinking beer and Mai Tais and eating mahi, my dad has finally left me,
but with some good memories. Because I'm here on my own for my birthday
tomorrow, ahem, my dad took me to a fancy luau to celebrate it early.
To say I've been spoiled would be an understatement. There were over
500 people at this luau (yes, I counted) and the host got me to stand
up while everyone sang me happy birthday. My dad thinks of everything.
Oh, but the fun wasn't over, oh no. For the grand finale of the show, I
was pulled backstage, dressed up in a hawaiian skirt and palm crown and
was told do whatever the Hawaiian dancer did on stage. Well, the guy
went crazy....which left me no choice but to go crazy as well. Then
four Hawaiin male dancers started closing in on me until they were
wildly spinning around me, bumping me back and forth, trying to make a
Cindy milkshake. Thank goodness my dad got it aaaaallll on video. It is
surely a moment I will want to relive many times over.
So,
here I still am, staying at the Waikiki Beachside Hostel, phone #
808.923.9566, so feel free to call me!.... or make reservations for
your own trip. It's a pretty nice hostel. There's only one crack-head
in my room. My dad's not laughing right now. He met him. Anyway, he's a
very nice crack-head and I've met a ton of other people already. I
already have trips planned, the next one being up to the north shore. I
am having the time of my life. That's why I'm still here and not in
Australia...or more importantly in New Zealand. (I'll get there soon
Pete and Sue!)
So I'm looking forward to hearing from all of
you. Thank you so much to all of you who sent birthday wishes. They
really mean a lot to me. I've been loving your emails too so pleeeease
keep them coming, even if I can't respond right away. My grocery budget
has gone soley into internet cafes so far and at some point I have to
eat so I might not be able to respond immediately. i will try my best
though.
Anyway, wish you were all here!!!!
Love, Cindy xo
