We have been very spoiled by being able to continue one vacation over Christmas with another one in the new year. After a two year break, we managed to get back to Oahu (Hawaii).
The travel was interesting. We opted for a low cost - no thrill airline. The prices were cheap the experience new. They really managed to separate a trip into its components and sell everything from luggage allowance, drinks, food to entertainment separately. On the good side, we managed to purchase exactly what we wanted.
The first leg of the trip brought us back to Sydney. We decided to spend some of the ten hours wait time by going into the city. There we strolled around in the rain and filled up on food for the long plane ride to Hawaii.
The flight to Hawaii was largely uneventful. Sydney slept for a long time and once awake was excited to realize that we had rented her an entertainment iPad. Arriving in the US proved to be interesting. In that Thomas was held up until the INS could true up their internal computer systems. (Thomas had returned his Green Card a while back and carried proof thereof. Unfortunately this was not what the INS office saw in his computer system. So Thomas ended up in secondary inspection.)
Once in Hawaii we had to kill a few hours before being able to get to our apartment. We spent some time in Hawaii and did some of the basic grocery shopping we knew we had to do. Then at 3pm we finally could get back into our beloved apartment. It was the same one we had in 2009; the Haleiwa Surf Apt, 11 steps to the beach.
The ten days we had went by like a whirlwind. David, Christy's dad come for a visit. We ate mostly at home, where we could use the char coal grill to create magic dinners. Throughout the day we also enjoyed icees (shaved ice) from Matsumoto, or Chocolate Haupia pie from Ted's Bakery. Needless to say we also had to visit the various beaches we used to go to in 2009.
Our favorite one, Shark's Cove Beach was not very good for snorkeling. The waves at the North Shore just proved to be too high.
Together we spent some time to snorkel for the turtles in the water right in front of our place. In the evenings then, Sydney showed David where the turtles would come up to the beach to sleep through the night.
Sydney loved the vacation and being together with all of us. She also made some friends who she played with a lot whenever at our place.
Also noteworthy, our friends from Arizona, the Smiths came and spent a few days with us. Catching up after two long years of sporadic contact was fantastic. We enjoyed every minute.
Additional highlights, each of which has a separate entry with pictures:
- our religious ceremony
- scuba diving