7 years ago
Jan 3, 2007
Hawaii. It's overrated. Maybe I would like Honolulu better, but the Big Island wasn't that great. Maybe it's just because I missed Okinawa. But I'll talk about it more anyway.
Though the flight from Naha to Osaka turned around half way through because we were going to die if we went on... Or something. All my other flights were smooth and I got to Hawaii.
Our resort was beautiful and we had a wonderful view of the sunset every night:
One interesting thing about the resort is that there was a lot of cats living in the brush around the houses. Little holes in bushes showed where cats would come and go. If you stood around for a few minutes and called one or two would come out of the bushes to see what was up. Only a couple of 'em were nice though. Here is my brother with a nice kitty:
Cows in Hawaii? Yes! The largest cattle ranch in America is in Hawaii. It's called Parker Ranch. Yup, bigger than anything in Texas. I was surprised.
We took one day and drove up to the top of Mauna Kea. Sea level to 13,800 feet and back in one day. Largest elevation change I've been through in a car. Jeff and I got bored in the back so I showed him some of the more goofy settings he has on his camera.
Later on Paul and Julia came from Honolulu. It was great to visit with them for a few days. The second day they were around we went to check out the volcanos. The coolest thing about that was the steam vents. Here is my brother standing in the steam from one. They smelled pretty nasty.
(His Cowboy's and Indian's shirt is awesome.)
And there were also some beautiful trails in the area. Here is Paul and Julia walking down one.
The only other really interesting thing that happened to me was the day before I left. The night actually. I went for a really long walk and ended up on this public beach/park. When I was looking at the water I decided to stand there and meditate. After about an hour and a half or two (I have no idea really, but my legs had fallen asleep) I feel someone walk up behind me and take my knife from my pocket. Not much I could do really, my legs being asleep and all.
I turn and look over to see four cops—three guys and a girl—looking me up and down. I'm not doing anything wrong so I don't really mind. "What are you doing?" They asked. Now, I don't know if you will understand but after meditating for even half an hour it's really hard for me to focus enough to not sound high. My voice is really soft, it kind of crackles like I just woke up, and my eyes don't really focus right because they have been focusing on nothing for so long. But even worse than that I can't stop myself from saying man all the time. So my response to him was a slow, crackly, out there sounding, "Nothing, man. Just standin' here." Ahh! I'm an Idiot! Call the officer sir or officer, but not man!
Not satisfied with my first answer he asks me again. My response this time wasn't much better. "Just standin' out here meditating and waiting for the Lord... man." Argh! I called him man again! I don't remember exactly what I said, but I did mention God and I did say man. I wasn't making myself look very good. Apparently they got a call that someone was selling drugs at this beach. Of course I'm a prime candidate for the purchaser of said drugs in their eyes. I offer to let them search my bag, but after I told the guy I was waiting for the Lord he seemed disinterested in me. The other cops were asking him if they could search me. He wouldn't let them. They also asked if he was going to call my name in to make sure I was clear. But he said "We don't need to worry about this guy." Then they told me to go home because the beach was closed.
I can't imagine the look on their faces as I tried to walk away! Do you have any idea how hard it is to walk in sand when both your legs are asleep from the thigh down? Really hard!
Then I came home. Home to Albuquerque. It wasn't easy. I got stuck in the airport in LA for 13 hours! I knew Albuquerque had gotten some snow. But not enough to shut down the entire airport until 5pm. I was supposed to leave LA it 8am. I got into LA at 6am. I didn't leave until 7:30pm. But it wasn't so bad. I made some friends and all. Ate too much fast food. And then finally got out of there. Only to come home to this:
I hate cold and I hate wet. Snow is both of these things. But even I can't resist playing around in a foot of snow in Albuquerque. I would be a fool not to. So I played with the dog:
Made a peace sign (go figure):
And a tongue:
Then I came in a played with my cat. I love him:
So that was the trip.
I can't wait to get back to Okinawa.
