Hawaii - a Harbor and Halloween

I had tried to book a wake-up call twice last night with the automatic service and it didn't work so I rang Guest Services and booked one there. I was awake early, again, and then got three phone calls so obviously the first two did work!

Down the street to get the bus for the tour to Pearl Harbor. Bob the Driver, not Bob the Builder pulled up in the big green coach and welcomed 'Bob's Family'. We were the first pickup and there were two more and we had a full bus.

Out we go with Bob giving commentary on the way. He has a funny turn of phrase so it's quite amusing. At times he sounds like he's a preschool teacher talking to a group of five year olds. Like, "take your digital camera and take lots of photos. You go through them later and delete the ones you don't want." That doesn't come out half as funny as when he said it...

This is also the long tour - I thought I had booked the short tour. And apparently I had ordered lunch... Though I did have an inkling of this when they somehow got out of me that I didn't eat meat. Should have been a clue.

We get to the Harbor, go in and pick up our audio tours. Then inside for a video about the events of that Sunday morning. Very interesting. So many people died. The Japanese were hoping it would cause the Americans to be demoralised and give up but of course it did exactly the opposite. It certainly was a blitz attack, though.

After the movie, we're out and onto the boat to take us over to the Arizona memorial. This is quite a solemn and moving memorial - particularly the wall at the end with the names of all the people who died - over 1,000.

The audio tour is interesting, narrated by Jamie Lee Curtis. It goes into more detail about the memorial. There's oil still leaking from the wreck cos it was refuelled the day before and they can't stop the leak now without destroying it.

Next port of call is the Missouri. We're divided into two groups and we have a guy who is hilarious and gives everything a very theatrical touch. (Insert photo here!) he runs over the signing of the end of the war on the boat. With details like the guys who lined the way the Japanese came onto the boat were not the best or brightest but the biggest and meanest-looking - to intimidate.

It was very interesting but it was hot! After the tour, we had a bit of time so I did the zoom around inside. It was really great to see. The mess halls, the offices, the officers' bedrooms, the bunks for the men, the bridge. All great.

Then out for the lunch which consisted of lettuce, tomato, onion and pickle. A small thing of potato salad and a packet of crisps. Apparently 'vegetarian' means no bread roll - cos that has meat in it - apparently.

Anyway... Back onto the bus and we now have a city tour, which is the extended part of the tour, which I didn't know I was doing but was happy to. Mainly because we went past Iolani Palace, which i did want to see. Also saw the statue of the old king and the courthouse, which is beautiful.

Next, up to Punchbowl which is an old crater and now serves as a cemetery. It's quite lovely too. Beautiful trees, green lawns. The Hawaiian victim of the Challenger shuttle disaster is buried here - they did recover some remains.

Back to the hotel to sit and rest for a bit. I'm trying to find a couple of tours to fit for tomorrow and end up going down to the bookings here and booking through them. Then down to have an early dinner and it's a delicious sandwich yet again - this one with eggplant, tomato, grilled asparagus and cheese. Delish!

Now is when I'd like the photos to be working because I went down to the main street where it seemed like the whole of Waikiki was parading up and down - all dressed up in their Halloween gear. It was amazing! So many people and some outrageous outfits. It was still very hot so every now and then, when it spittered with rain, it was quite nice.

Wondered up the road, up to the Pacific Beach Hotel, a place I considered staying at but only because of the massive fish tank. They were feeding the fish, the person in there had a skeleton wetsuit on - pretty cool.

Then back down the street, sat for a while, just watching. Then it was toomhotmand too crowded so I came home. crazy!

Hawaii - a Crater and Not Much More (no photos still :( )

WWoke really early (3:30) and tried to Google how to fix this blog-saving problem. To no avail, obviously. Law and Order SVU was on before the morning shows started so I had that on. And played some games. Cracking it on Candy Crush!

Sunrise was due at 6:33, according to Mr Google so, as I was up, I went down to the beach. And it was just gorgeous. There were a few others with the same idea. Nice and cool with the sunlight starting to filter through. Beautiful. You will have to just imagine the photos!

After my lazy day yesterday, I'm ready to do something and I decide on a hike up Diamond Head crater. Cos a hike on a hot day is a good choice, don't you know... I do leave early to avoid the midday heat. Down and onto the bus.

It's a fairly short ride and there's a few people with the same idea. We all start up the road to get to where the hike starts. And it's already pretty great scenery.

I pay my dollar and head to the start of the trail. I wonder if this was closed during the shutdown, but it is a state park, not a federal one, so maybe not.

And start to climb. It's uphill to start. As I get to the end of the first bit, a lady coming down says, "a footpath! Thank goodness." I comment that that's not a good sign for me and she says I ain't seen but a little bit - yikes!

There are a lot of Japanese climbing. There are many people doing it in thongs and sandals, which must be difficult. There are a couple of Japanese trendy chickies in high heel sneakers and I do wonder how they are walking at all.

Had a few stops along the way and plenty of water. It is a steepish walk and there are stairs at times but it's just so hot. My head is exploding with the heat. Not a good idea to wear pink when your face is going to be red!

Finally up to the top and it is spectacular. It looks out right over Waikiki and beyond. The photo from my balcony - that is the mountain I just climbed so it's looking right out on all this and it's amazing.

Then it's down the hill again. I'm thinking of going to the palace but I'm just too hot and bothered. I'm on the bus that goes there but hop off at the place to transfer to the Waikiki bus. The zoo is across the road so I go over there, thinking I can sit in the cafe, have some lunch and I can cool off in the air conditioning. But they don't have any - just fans. So I head back instead.

It's quite a lovely walk along the beach road - just as I imagine Hawaii to be. Back to the hotel and I jump in the pool so I can cool down a bit.

Then lunch, then the Apple store where we try and fix this problem. The guys there are great and spend a bit of time trying to work it out. The problem is I can't remember the login name - think I've got it written down at home. They think if I log out and in again, it will resolve. But I can't do that without the login name. So I think we shall just remain photo-less. Thank goodness it's only a couple of days!

I come back and have a play with this, work out that I can at least post text and do so. And that's the day done, really. Another relaxing day.

Hawaii - a Whole Lot of Nothing (and no more photos!)

So there's something wrong with the blog - I can't load photos anymore. I'm just hoping this works cos I feel,quite disconnected without it. The Apple people couldn't help - they weren't familiar with this app.

Anyway, to yesterday... It was a really quiet day, which is just what I needed. Downstairs for breakfast at 9ish. Then went touristy and had a ukulele lesson. The sweet guy, who is more feminine than me, taught four cords and then we put the together while he sang. Bit of fun.

Then for a walk down the main street. There's heaps of shops - all luxury, well known shops that have no interest for me whatsoever. Into the International Market, which is full of stalls and shops. And a fabulous koi pond.

Then onto Waikiki Beach. The water is beautiful, blue and green. The sand part is quite shallow. Heaps of surfers not going anywhere fast and one of those big paddle boat things. Past the original Waikiki hotel, known as the Pink Palace.

Walked back along the beach to sit beachside and read. Had a late lunch - delicious portobello mushroom and veggie wrap with salad and the ubiquitous pickle.

When I have had meals here, they have all asked if I want the change. And that would be yes. I'm not going to tip you 30% to 40%. And if you keep asking me, your tip will go down even more!

There's another annoying thing here - there's a shop with some moisturiser that they are wanting to give away (so you go and buy up big). I said no a heap of times the first day. Today's girl started up with, "Come here, gorgeous." Ah, no. That won't be happening. And don't call me 'gorgeous'.

Upstairs after lunch to the air conditioning, looking out at the ocean and just doing a whole lot of nothing. It was at this point that something went wrong with the blog and I can't fix it. (If anyone knows what to do with Publisher Error:403, please let me know). I also read, looked at photos and played some games. Hadn't realised I was fairly exhausted. It's been an intense few weeks!

That was the day. Nice and quiet and restful.

Hawaii - Aloha

Anaheim to Waikiki

I was out at the bus stop almost 40 minutes early cos I did not want to miss the bus. There were four benches and three of the four had homeless people sleeping on them. So I stood next to the sign, a little way away.

The bus stop was across the drive from the hotel, which was the second hotel after the lights to the road to Disneyland, so the location was brilliant.

The bus stop cleaners came along to clean up the stop and woke the homeless up. They're obviously used to it because they just gathered their meagre possessions and shuffled off. 

As they were heading off, a woman came towards the bus stop. She was nicely dressed and with a little suitcase and had that look of 'fellow traveller' about her. I was happy to meet someone to pass the time with, make sure it was the right stop, etc, etc. I asked her if she was catching the shuttle and she replied that she was homeless at the moment and did I have at change. Yep... My travel-dar is not as good as my gaydar.

The shuttle arrives - thankfully, cos I had visions of it not arriving and me having to take a $100 taxi ride - and it's goodbye to Disneyland. A couple of stops, then we're off to the airport. There's a lot of traffic (it is 7:00am so,that's to be expected). And then it's raining! Which it doesn't do much of in California, I've been told.

So it's a good day to leave the mainland.

To the airport and to Hawaiian Airlines. When I arrived here two months ago, I had come down this way accidentally. The woman I spoke to then to get directions to,get back to where I should be said this is where I'd be coming to in the way home and now here it is! And it feels like an eternity ago and just two minutes ago at the same time.

Breakfast, coffee and onto the plane.

It's a bigger plane than I've had on the internal flights - two, four and two across. We get lunch on this one - a little garden salad, mushroom and spinach pasta and a macadamia cookie. All very nice.

One of the ladies I was sitting with last night before the parade told me that Anaheim is not a very nice area, high crime. And I'm glad I didn't know that when I was walking along the night before. Though I had sensed a bit of a seedy feel to it. The taxi driver who picked me up was really surprised there were no taxis when I got off the train. And thank goodness I got the early train - imagine doing that walk at dusk!! Though maybe there would have been taxis meeting the later train.

Anyway... Couple of random thoughts as I sit on the plane...

There are quite a few couples here who dress the same. You can tell it's not an accident, it's planned. I have seen many where they're both wearing khaki pants and green shirts or cream pants and purple polo shirts. The best one was at the San Diego Zoo where I saw a couple in blue jeans and yellow T-shirts. As I came up past them, there in the pram was a really little baby - in a yellow T-shirt. I bet the nappy - sorry, diaper - was denim, or at least blue.

At Disney, there were lots of, shall we say kilogram-challenged folk who were in attire that is for the not kilogram-challenged. And lots and lots of little girls dressed as princesses. The lady from last night had a daughter in one of these. I asked her who she was. Little girl wanted me to guess. Unfortunately, if it's not Belle, Sleeping Beauty or the Little Mermaid before she loses her tail, I've got no idea. Turns out she was Rapunzal. But without the hair, so how do you guess that?

Sore knee today. Sore elbow and hip. All on the right. And weirdly, sore pinky finger. Not sure what I did to that as I hit the deck yesterday.

Had a sleep for an hour or so, which made the whole flight go a bit quicker. The guy across the aisle and one up has decided he wants to chat to me - why? Leave me alone. He asks how long I'm going to Hawaii for. I say four or five days. He says it's terrible and boring and there's nothing to do but drink. And he offers to take me on a pub crawl. To which I say a polite no.

We land and he's chatting again. Asking where I'm staying. When I say, "A hotel." he leaves me alone, thankfully.

(I like the look of this plane,for some reason) (maybe it's cos I'm off it now)

Now for a 12km hike to baggage claim - that may be an exaggeration. 

Get the bag and then purchase a significant item...

This is significant in that it is the last transaction I HAVE to make. The shuttle that will take me to my hotel and, more importantly, it will return me to the airport on Saturday. That's the last of the organising done and it's a nice feeling. The anxious feeling of "how will I get there. Is it all booked." is over!

Onto the shuttle and the benefit of being a party of one is I have always managed to get the front seat next to the driver.

The shuttle drops off a few people and then my hotel.

Check in takes a while cos they want money up front. This is okay but as all the others want it on check out, I hadn't transferred any yet, so that took a bit longer. But now that's done and out of the way too, which is good.

Up to the ninth floor and check out my view!

I think I'll be okay here for a few days...!

I went for a bit of a stroll downstairs - not too far cos I'll do that more thoroughly tomorrow.

Stopped for dinner at one of the cafes here. Then came upstairs and actually had a nap. So the plan of Hawaii being the rest after the touring is starting well! 

Anaheim - The Happiest Place on Earth

It's really grey and overcast this morning as I head over to the office to try and retrieve my Disney ticket this morning. I realised too late that I had sent it to the wrong address! So the whole purpose of pre-purchasing the ticket is gone because I now have to line up with my confirmation form, ID and credit card anyway.

Across to Denny's for a veggie omelette - we used to have Denny's. wonder what happened to them. The omelette was good - lots of veggies.

It's literally across the road to Disneyland and straight up to the ticket booth (cos it's only 7:40 and it doesn't open till 9:00). I figure I'll get the ticket then go back and come across closer to 9. But after I get my ticket (which was not a problem - worried for nothing), I noticed people were lining up already and going in. So I figure I'll go down and do the same.

There's music playing all through the park - all Disney songs. First I heard was It's a Small World.

They are letting in people who are staying at the resorts in first but the lady lets me in cos I want the restroom and I'm just one person, I suppose. I walk in and up all the way to the back - no Main Street, no Teacup ride, nothing that looks familiar. So now I'm thinking either I've had it wrong in my head all this time or I'm in the wrong place. So I go back to the entrance and it IS the wrong place - it's California Adventure. I explain my mistake and they give me the pass out so I can go over and queue for Disneyland Park. This looks more like it.

I had sort of forgotten that there might be a lot of children here...

Anyway, in through the gates and here I am in Disneyland! How exciting.

But now it's only 8:30 and they just let you into Main Street. All the 'lands' are roped off. I'm thinking I'll head to Splash Mountain first so head to the rope for Frontierland that will lead to Critter Country. Having a good chat to the guy guarding the rope. There's a couple next to me who are going to the Haunted House first and the guard guy suggests I do the same, cos I also sort of want to do that, and then go to Splash Mountain as that has a Single Rider ticket - you can skip the queue a bit cos you can fill single spots.

So it's straight to the Haunted House and I'm in the second group to go in. 

It's so very cool, all the lights go out and the floor drops down. There's narration and scary images played above. The door opens and you walk through and into a car. This then travels along through the tunnels, spinning all around backwards and forwards, there's skeletons and pumpkins and it's fabulous.

These are pumpkins and skulls.

By the time I got out, the queue had grown to this...

So I mentally thanked the couple and the guy at the rope! 

Next up, Splash Mountain. Don't know why this is on my must-do, but it is. Probably cos it's so quintessential Disney. Around I go, and there's no one in the queue! So I don't need the Single Rider. I ask why it's empty and they say it's always like that in the morning.

It's not until I'm in the ride and we're taking off that I realise this is potentially a scary ride. But there's nothing I can do now. It's very gentle at first. You glide along through the waterways with Brer Rabbit animations all the way through. We come to a large opening with lots of characters and it's just so fabulous and I'm very happy right now!

We go down a little slope and it splashes. Then you get to the big one. There's a pause and I'm thinking I want to get off. Then it goes up, teeters on the top and then down you go and it's fabulous!

Nice gentle ride back and then for the really scary part - the photo of you going over the edge...

I'm gripping on for dear life.

I have a wander around the New Orleans section and then go across to Tom Sawyer Island on the raft. This is a cute adventure area, like a huge playground with pirates treasures, tree houses and caves.

Next, I'm debating whether to dare the Indiana Jones ride when I see two little kids go in with their mum, so I figure I should be okay. There's not a bad line here either and we're soon hopping into the jeeps and strapping in.

The ride is so much fun - zooming around up and down, jerking around corners, snakes and arrows attacking you, and then the boulder comes at you and the jeep ducks just in time. It's great too. No photos inside this one cos the camera would have gone within seconds.

Then the Jungle RIver, which has a bit of a line but it moves well. I get put onto a good seat along the water and then they have another family and the girl tells me to move to the middle - where I really don't want to sit. But I don't have a choice, unfortunately and she knew I wasn't happy about it. 

The ride was good, though. They are all well done. Lots of interesting things to look at and good, fun narration.

Now I need a coffee and Mickey Mouse chocolate cheesecakey thing. I also need the sit down. I don't actually need the cheesecakey thing...

 

Next in to Tomorrowland and into the queue for Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage. The queue line says 30 minutes. Thankfully there was the Star Wars place next to the line. They were teaching little kids how to light sabre fight and then Darth Vader comes out and fights them all. So cute.

Into the submarine and away we go. As the movie was set on the Great Barrier Reef, the narration was an Aussie, so it sounded right to me. We go underwater and there's all the Nemo characters. At one point the sharks attack, the submarine shakes and the lights go out. And the little kids start screaming. They are calmed by the parents except for one little girl who keeps calling out, "I hate this, Daddy."

But she has to wait. Thankfully the sharks don't last long and the jellyfish and turtles appear and she's okay.

I have a wander through Fantasyland, see Rapunzal and her prince and some cute rides. Including the famous flying Dumbo. But Small Workd is closed!!!

I've been here a long time and I feel the need to get away for a breather. Especially considering it's like this...

On the way out, the Fire Brigade band is playing. Cruella de Vil comes to dance with him. Then 

Chip and Dale.

Then I simply have to cross the road. Pop into the Ihop for lunch - where there are more screaming kids - and then back up to my room to sit in peace for a while.

After a breaks I'm ready to go back over. And I'm actually smiling as I walk through the gates! It's good to see it's quieted down a bit...

I have decided I don't care that I'm by myself, I'm going to do the other must-do, which is the Mad Hatters Tea Cup .. So off I go. Line up, into the purple tea cup and we're off. There's a family in the cup next to me who are eating ice creams and fairy floss - good luck with that as you're about to go spinning. 

My first plan was to hold the cup still but I ended up spinning it round back and forth. Such fun.

Next up is a wander through Toon Town - loved this place.

Past the castle again to line up to ensure a good seat for the parade.

There's a group of us here waiting - the Spanish and the Mediterranian and me, we were joined by the young couple. The girl comes here all the time.

The parade starts and they all march throught. It's fabulous - great characters, all dancing down the street.

After the parade, I'm heading back to Fantasyland to the Peter Pan ride and I don't notice a step, down I go, it's amazing how your mind slows down. I had time to think "I'm falling down and it's going to hurt." A lady helped me up and I limped off. It hurt and it's going to be purple in a number of spots tomorrow. I get this shot though.

I'm queuing now for the Peter Pan ride. It's a long queue - 40 minutes but again, it moves well. 

There's the carriage, shaped like the pirate ship.

Finally up to the end here and I load into the carriage which raises up like it's flying and into the Darling children's bedroom. This ride is really magical. It 'flies' out the window and over the top of London followed by the arrival at Neverland. Hook and Smee and Tinkerbell are all here. It's great! And I want to do it again but another 40 minute wait - no.

Next it's off to Pirates of the Caribbean but after standing in the queue for a short time, they close it off. So I wander up to think about getting a spot for the fireworks, but there's still time so I go back to Pirates and they just open it up so it's straight down and in.

I'm sitting in a puddle and my feet are in water. The ride starts, goes down a section and stops for quite a while, it eventually starts up and goes along. It's okay, not fantastic. The animatronics are incredible and make it worthwhile just to see them.

Now it's back to Main Street. I ask a helper guy what time it is and will they start on time. He says they may be canceled because of high winds (up high, not down where we are). So when the announcement came that they were indeed cancelled, it wasn't such a shock. And very annoying - I only have one day. Thank goodness I had a good look yesterday.

So down to the River of the Americas to get a spot for the Fantastism show. Chatted to another lady with a very little baby and a 6-year-old.

The show begins and it's fabulous. It's a version of Fantasia and uses the water and lights and the riverboats.

I took a final look in Fantasyland. It's nearly 11:00 and the place is still packed. Went over the top of the inside ifmSleeping Beauty's castle. They have the story of how her story was created.

And here's Main Street as I'm on the way out...

Great, great day!