Aloha from Kaua'i

Well we have made it across the international time zone and our plane did not disappear. Hooray for us.

We got a little nervous driving to the airport as the traffic around Fairfield was crawling and then there had been a car rolled over on the Tullamarine. However the normal Sanchez phobia had kicked in at leaving time so we still made it with plenty of time.

The plane was not completely full, but understandably extra room was made for parents of small children. Many of those small children joined together to create a 'progressive screech chorale'. Quite entertaining whilst trying to read, eat or sleep. Actually i am merely whining for effect. There was a bit of crying but overall the flight was fine and we managed some sleep. Marjan in fact managed a few hours all up. We woke to a very impressive sunrise but i did not want to wake others, given the thechildren were all asleep, so I have no photos.

Arrived safely in Honolulu flying over some impressive naval hardware. The airport was interesting. It had obviously been designed in more innocent times. With the advent of all the security stuff it was a little awkward, with lines cross and people going out one door to come back in another. All Ok, just a little confusing for the slightly jet-lagged. A coffee at Starbucks gave us a bit of a kick along and we hopped on to the flight to Lihue in Kuau'i. Flew over a submarine on the way. Only a twenty minute hop over a blue sea dotted with white caps and dozens of small boats and of course one submarine.

Arrived at Lihue a little ahead of schedule. Slightly overcast and humid conditions. We picked the car up, a little Chevy Spark (Sparky of course) after fighting off the various, friendly, upgrade attempts at the Alamo car rental place. Drove right over to an AT&T shop to find that the replacement phone I Bought in Europe, after the old one was stolen, does not work in the US of A. So I now have one phone per visited continent. The young lad at the shop was lovely though and so we now have a working phone (# emailed to progeny).

So we headed out to Poipu in the new car. Driving was fairly straight forward. None of the dramas of Europe, apart from the road signs being somewhat lacking. Lunch of various seafoody things was had a Brenneker's overlooking Poipu Beach Park. We felt refreshed enough to change and have a swim. The park like much of this island seems to be well populated with free range chooks (Sparrows and Indian Mynahs as well). We had a nice swim each, spotted a couple of Green turtles in the shallows and a Hawaiian Monk Seal basking. Nice way to collect our thought before driving on towards our accommodation. 

We drove through lots of flowering plants (frangipani, bougainville of various colours, something that looks like a flame tree etc etc)past a coffee plantation and have booked it in for a morning tasting. We also drove past somewhere that had pupu specials (perish the thought). We stopped at the Waimea supermarket and did a small stock up on fruits and brekky things. Five minutes later we were at our accommodation in  Kekeha. Rustic is one words that leaps to mind. It is a shack in someones front/back yard. Seems comfortable enough and it is certainly away from the touristy stuff. Having some afternoon tea of fresh fruit which is lovely.

If we do not collapse in a heap we may go off and walk around another beach.

In the meantime Aloha from Marjan.

An update. Rather than fall asleep a four in the afternoon, we decided to head out and find more beaches. I got dumped by a wave at McCarthur Park beach and then we both had a very pleasant swim at the Salt Pond Beach. So now it is 6:30 and if we manage to stay awake whilst i cook some tuna and a slop together a salad we will have been going for well over a day. I think we can be forgiven for collapsing in bed.

Leaving Honolulu

Arriving Lihue

Lunch

Turtles and watchers

Seal