Hawaii RECAP 2

Date: January 25, 2012 (Wednesday)
Time: 12:39 PM

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The fam took a group shot and tried to pressure me.  I don't drink straight, hard liquor so I refused.  Luckily I didn't.  Heard one of them got sick in the middle of the night.  Could have been me ;)

Recap of Saturday, January 21, 2012.
Woke up early to hike Diamond Head.  Fell asleep on the car ride there.  I didn't even know what city it was located in (Honolulu btw).  It was $5 per car or $1/person if walking in.  It'd be the same for us either way.  The start of the walk I was already tired, and it wasn't even anything challenging.  It was a paved walkway with a slight slope.  Getting to the hill (mountain? crater?) pavement turned to rock and that was basically it the whole way besides some stairs.   We stopped at almost all the check points on the way up.  At one point I gathered enough energy to run up some slopes.  Also ran a stairway.  It wasn't until after the first tunnel where we were like "Oh Sh..." when we noticed a tunneled staircase that led straight to the observatory.  Chose not to go that way and went around the other way.  Slightly sloped stairs and a better view.  At the top, it was incredible to see everything up there.  The water was surreal and all the greenery.  Took a bunch of pictures then headed back.  The walk back was so much easier and faster and funnier.  Had the fam ask me a bunch of times what the Japanese tourists were saying haha!  Went to grab breakfast.  The first choice had too mnay people.  The 2nd choice at Sweet E's was a tragic mistake.  Service took 30 min to get our food AFTER 20 min of sitting around for someone to tak our order.  Bad experience.  Went to Target and Au'lani resort.  Finally got to see the Disney Resort.  It's Huge!  And greatly detailed.  Even picked up a new Vinylmation only sold in the hotel of a menehune.  After a slight rest there and talk with the cousins, went back to the condo for a nap.  Soon enough it was dinner time and met up with some fam.  Ate at a Japanese restaurant.  Food was great.  Place was really nice, a little expensive, but good.  Even nice to see fam I haven't seen since 1993.  Got mistaken for my sister.  Probably because of how old I've gotten haah!

Recap of Sunday, January 22, 2012.  Woke up early, finished packing whatever was left, cleaned the condo and off we went to Aloha Stadium for the swap meet.  Picked up a bunch of stuff: new dress/top/skirt, warrior head, cellphone charms, nail art stuff, etc.  Sooo many goodies.  This place was incredibly huge! So many booths.  If we ever go back, gotta be a time to spend a whole day there. Ended up seeing the cousins, but had to go.  Went to get gas for the rental and off to the airport.  Not gonna bore with the airport details, but let's just say I got an Anna Sui eyelash curler for $8 and our flight was delayed.  At least no tantrum kids, but I ept needing to use the bathroom because of too much POG Juice.  That's pretty much it.  A great memorable vacation and a wedding in a gorgeous place.  Can't wait until the next trip.
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PICSPAM:

 (Aloha Stadium swap meet. SO MUCH STUFF!)

 (Top left: Bathroom sign at the airport, Top Right: view from the plane, Bottom: travel info)

Hawaii RECAP 1

Date: January 24, 2012 (Tuesday)
Time: 1:23 PM

And 2 days later after touchdown in SF.  Recap first so I don't forget.

Saturday after Diamond Head, ate at a restaurant called Sweet E's.  That sucked.  Slow service.  Food was OK.. not worth the wait.  Went to Target AGAIN so we can pick up some laundry detergent.  Took a long nap, got ready for dinner with some fam at a Japanese restaurant (Gyotaku), then met up with the cousins for dessert.  Only thing open was Zippys/Napoleon bakery, then chilled in the villa in Ko Olina.

The next day was the last day.  Went to the swap meet at Aloha Stadium then headed to the car rental place and then to the airport.

Now for a detailed report from Friday to SUnday.  Let's see if I remember everything.

Recap of Friday, January 20.
It's wedding day!  But that isn't until 4:30.  So that morning we decided to head to the Dole plantation with the other cousins since it was a nice sunny day and the bro didn't get a chance to go last time.  Looked around the shop and was stopped to open up the treasure box again.  Again, I opened up the box and pulled out a folded piece of paper.  This time my discount was 40% off.  I wanted a white pearl this time and the lady suggested one.  I picked it and sure enough it was a white pearl.  Unlike the other one, this pearl was humongous and heavy.  Thanks lady!  This lady tried to sell me a setting for $200+ for s "special" Queen's only setting.  The last girl tried to sell me a $35 plumeria setting.  I'd rather get a cheap one I can make myself haha.  Took a walk through the plantation and fed the Koi fish again.  They weren't as aggressive as the last time but this trip was funnier when Chloe dropped her hat in the water and watched it float away.  Finished off some Dole whip, bought snacks and then headed to Giovanni's.  Got the same thing as last time, the shrimp scampi.  Soooo good!  Not a lot of cats this time, but a rooster was wandering around.  Went straight to Matsumoto's.  This time everyone got a small.  I didn't get anything this time since I was full.  Went back to the condo and took a short nap and got ready for the wedding.

Got there before 4 since me and the BC had to do ushering.  The venue was so pretty.  It was a nice grassy "field" with tropical flowers and trees and the beach as a back drop.  It was really hot out and the sun was shining on us.  The parasols and fans really helped out.  When the ceremony was over, hor d'oeurves were sent out and cocktails.  Hor d'ouerves were good I assume.  Didn't get to try any, but there was mini gourmet corn dogs, stuffed wontons and one bite loco mocos.  We sat down in the dinner tent.  There were chandeliers in there which surprised me.  It was ridiculously nice.  Food was buffet style, hella good.  Lots of fresh foods, a lechon and prime rib.  They even had a malasada station for dessert.  Entertainment was cute.  The niece and cousin did a duet of "Lucky" on the Uke.  Dancing at the end.  Danced teh night away and took pics of everyone.
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PICSPAM:

  

(Chloe's hat floating away)

 (Diamond head sign, map and view from the top)

 (Breakfast from Sweet E's. Waffle with fresh fruits)

 

(Left: Au'lani pool, Right: Dinner at Gyotaku)

 

 

(Top Left: The parasol favor, Top Right: Close up of the sunset, Bottom Left: Dinner place setting, Bottom middle: Coffee to go with my Malasadas, Bottom Right: Flower arrangement)

Back Home!

Back home from Seattle (or yesterday I should say). 

Will recap my trip with my travel diary tomorrow.  I'm a little tired, and it's only 9pm...
plus i'm recovering from food poisoning last night. 

Day Two (part 2) - Shibuya Craziness!

Date: August 11, 2009 - Tuesday
Time:4:17 PM

I'm here at the Meiji Shrine. Just left Shibuya and embarked on a 1600 meter journey to Meiji Shrine from Aoyama.  yeah.. BIG mistake.

Meiji Shrine's in Shibuya.  So basically we walked an hour to go back to the same place.  So... we basically found the shrine in the city we were just in.  Funny thing is.. I wrote it down in my other notebook and forgot.

Time: 8:39 PM

Today, we went to Shibuya.  Our goal was to go to Harajuku after but decided to head back cuz I didn't know from where we were how to go tehre.  Decided to go to Aoyama instead (like I said XD) and headed to Meiji Shrine.  Well before i get to that, I'd like to say I hit dehydration today.  I was super thirsty.  Hunger never hit me (maybe a lil) and all I could do was drink up as much as possible.  I nearly fainted in Shibuya and I was getting cranky cuz I needed to sit and get a drink.  I ended drinking 2 cups of water, a glass of ice tea, ad bottle of Kirin Iced Tea and I U chugged a bottle of water.  And i only peed once today. That's.... bad LOL.

Anyways, back to Meiji Shrine.  The walk to the Shrine was really nice.  The trees and then you see different walkways and the shrine thingys LOL.

Sitting down for a bit and an Asian American asked me to take a picture for him.  I Think it's cuz we spoke English or I should say we were talking a lot in English.

We couldn't actually go into the Shrine cuz they were closing but we got a good look from outside.  We started leaving, but not before I tried the cleansing (wait, I did the cleansing first, then went to the Shrine).   Noticed Harajuku Station and decided to head tehre.  I wish I knew where we were cuz the Johnny's Shop was RIGHT THERE where we were and I had no idea >_< WHY?! Now i missed my chance.  I don't even know why i'm so upset when I'm not so into them now.. but still... lol.
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Picspam:

*top two pictures of Shibuya.  Lots of ads!
*bottom 3 pictures from Meiji Shrine
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Notes:

We saw a sign in Aoyama that said "Meji Shrine" with an arrow.. so we followed it.. and just kept walking and walking.. and ended up at like.. Setagaya station (i think?) and then saw the sport complex and just kept walking.  I realized we hit Harajuku at one intersection when I saw a police car that said "Harajuku" -_- great man that was a long ass walk, but it was nice to see everything.  All the small shops and buildings and nature along the way.

I felt really bad for Deanna because I lashed out at her a couple times before finally sitting down in a really cute dessert cafe.  After getting my drink I was super happy after that.  Then when I got my drink in Aoyama from the vending machine I was even more happy HAHA

BTW. The walk through Aoyama (park?).. some lady was brushing her dog and all its fur was shedding and blew right at us HAHA.  She was so cute though she was all smiling saying "aah, Sumimasen!" LOL

Yeah.. I dont even know why I had to include the last part.  I just made myself sound like a crazy fangirl HAHA

Tahoe Trip and March Madness

angelstar124 personal blog: Tahoe Trip and March Madness

Day Two (part 1) - Day One Recap!

Date: August 11, 2009 - Tuesday
Time: 6:08AM

Couldn't sleep.  Originally was gonna wake up at 7AM, but the jetlag got us and ended up waking up (HOT!! as well) at 4:30AM.

Around 5 something an EARTHQUAKE hit... didn't even react cuz we thought it was strong wind or the garbage trucks we saw outside haha.  The quakes here feel diff than at home.  It sways side to side while home is all over.

Anyways, since we're awake so early, we're going to TRY to get ready and head out.  Todays itinerary is Shibuya and Harajuku area.  Wonder how that's going to pan out.  There's rain, humid temps and the possible quake aftermath.  Hope things go well... no problems especially with the railways today.  Gotta find Mitsukoshi station.  Says it's a 5 minute walk from here, but let's see which direction!  Our internet doesn't work, or we weren't provided any.  We know there is tho.  The wireless says there's one on our floor... but how to log in.

Last night we had a problem at The FAMILYMART conbini.  The girl asked us something and we were like ..... what?  She said nevermind (in Japanese) and continued on haha.

Semi problem using the train station after we got off of the Narita Express.  Didn't know we could transfer and but didn't know how to get to the other side.  But looking how the trains work remind me of Bart and Muni so it wasn't too bad. It was only one stop with no problems after.

Finding the hotel was a problem though.  Even though the directions said to exit at #6, it never said which direction to go to for the hotel.  Looked at the street names and easily found it in one of the "alleys."

A man helped me with my luggage up the stairs at the exit since there's no elevators or escalators.  My limited Japanense was with a "iie, ii desu" he helped anyways and then i gave the simple "arigatou gozaimasu" Haha.  so SIMPLE! my skills suck... i wonder what the barrier will be like today.

I'm waiting to shower next.  The bathroom is hella small, but whatever.  Our room turned out to be bigger than I expected and paid for haha.  Not like the picture at least.  There's actually space to walk around!

Anyways.. gotta get ready to head out.  Shower and yeah... maybe I shoulda showered first since my hair is gonna take  the longest to dry.  Well i'm off for now.

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Picspam:

*our hotel room, the blue thing on the bed are yukata robes

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Notes:

The earthquake hit Shizuoka (if i remember) with a maginitude of 6.0+.  There was also a previous earthquake that had hit Japan the Sunday we left to head there.  Throughout the week we were there, all we saw on the news was coverage about the earthquake (and that Noriko Sakai scandal haha)

It seems that the person who gave us the hotel room switched our room with the people who were next door to us (HAHA Sorry Linah XD)