Location - Honolulu, Hawaii
Dates: October 25, 2014 - October 28, 3014.
Here we go. I have been traveling now for 14 days. My goal was to blog daily, but after traveling some I realized that goal will be slightly altered. So here we go. This idea for me to travel originally stemmed from my time in Hawaii where I reconnected with the world again for its magnificent beauty. I thought, what else is out there in this great world? I have always wanted to do WWOOFING (more to come when we get there) and I found a place in Bali. Based off the timeline of when I was needed in Bali, I realized that I can use this time to travel and see the world, meet other people, live in cultures, expand my American blinders and be one with this amazing thing we call…”Life”.
So what do I do? I plan a trip through Southeast Asia by not planning a trip. I wanted a good experience to set me free from my chains, so I felt like I needed to be free from the beginning. So as the trip has gone and hopefully with continue to go; I will meet people, see things and decided what I am doing that day. No pre planning (or as much as I can), just living. So far it hasn’t failed me yet and I have met some amazing people in just these 2 weeks. I have always loved a scene in the movie “The Rebound” with Catherine Zeta Jones and Justin Bartha. There is a sequence where he feels like he has no where else to go in his current life so he buys a one way ticket and sees the world. Cue emotional music and a montage of sappy scenes with children and animals and you have me hooked. But in all seriousness, it is kinda what I was feeling in some ways. When it all came down to it, I had the time, the means and finally the ability to face my fears and just do it.
Since I have spent the last 6 months in Hawaii and I was headed to Asia, it seemed fit that I spend the first few days of my journey in Oahu to see and experience things I have always wanted to. My good friend Jen and I got my rental car and headed to lunch with Karlene, one of the dancers from our ship. I am going to miss these girls more than I will ever know and can’t wait for the day to see them again. As I always say, its not goodbye its See ya later! After 6 months on a ship, sleeping on land can take a bit of getting used to. It has been two weeks and despite jet lag from flying across the world, I still am not back to my normal sleeping patterns but I’m sure I will get there in time.
When I lived in West Virginia I started developing a new found love and passion for hiking and nature. Oahu is nothing short of amazing spots to do so. For two years now I have wanted to do a hike called “The Stairway to Heaven” or the Haiku Stairs. It is a beautiful hike up old radio tower stairs from military time that is supposed to be one of the most breathtaking views of the island. Unfortunately it is now illegal because of safety and trespassing. Normally that wouldn’t stop me for something like this but it has become such a big deal that they have posted guards and police are issuing tickets and court dates to those who try, since I do value my criminal record, I figured it best to keep it clean and hope one day things calm down. Oahu will alway be there. That left Diamond Head State Park, another beautiful hike up to Diamond Head Crater with views overlooking Waikiki and downtown Oahu. It was worth the wait, a beautiful way to see the city and say goodbye after 6 amazing months.
My final day before leaving I was finally able to make it to Pearl Harbor. Both my grandfathers served in WWII so not only that but also for my country I felt it was right to visit and honor those who had passed in defense of her. Well needless to say it was a very memorable experience. From the men who are cremated to come back and be buried on the USS Arizona with their fallen comrades, to the videos and movie of live footage narrated by Stockard Channing, it was a day that will for sure stick with me forever as the attack was 73 years ago for so many others.
When I was trying to figure our where to stay in Oahu, I had remembered that a good friend of mine from back home, Kathy Holsworth, had family here. I ended up staying at the apartment of a musician on the ship but that didn’t mean I didn’t go and say hi to her family. Betty Gail and Prudy are two of a kind gals and the best hosts one could ask for. It was a great afternoon, they both have traveled the world and gave me so many pointers. We had laughs and reminisced about times when Betty Gail and I actually met some 13 years before when Kathy and I performed “Hello Dolly” at Pensacola Little Theater.
As everyone knows, no airport travel is complete with out its hiccups. There was a traffic accident on the H1 freeway in Oahu headed to the airport. So I jumped on my iPhone before my plan was suspended for travel and found a couple alternate routes through neighborhoods, and got there in time to return the rental car and be on my way. Flight number one headed from Oahu to Tokyo for a total of 8 hours. Aloha and A hui hoe kakou or Goodbye and Until We meet again!
