Poke Poke

NOTE TO THOSE WHO ARE BLOG-CHALLENGED
I have returned to my previous blog, because obviously, my Hawaii holiday is done and I'm back to reality. LOL

CLICK HERE FOR MY OLD BLOG

See you there =)

And I'm Home

I'm doing my best to stay awake right now, hahahaha. Super tired though.
To begin with, I'm not even at home. LOL
Anyway... to continue my last blog, I did wake up and eat very nice breakfast that Naomi-mommie cooked. Packed the last of my things, closed my suitcases, made the descent down the stairs, and we headed off the airport.
Reached the airport and I managed to get a good seat next to the window... then had Starbucks. Ok I didn't drink anything but the rest did. I had a sip of Priscilla's chocolate drink. Haha.
After that was the sad part; yes, saying goodbye at the customs. =_= BAWL. It was really really sad... but somehow I managed to control my tears. Although I spaced out during that time too. BOO. Anyway, gave last hugs and said bye... I already miss Naomi, Priscilla, and Maria so so so much.
Well, inside the area, I was looking around some shops and thinking of a way to spend my last $10, which, naturally, I ended up not spending and it's still in my purse. haha. But I did get to see some hula dancers though, with live music. They were pretty good. WHOEVER TOLD ME YOU NEVER SEE ALL THESE AT THE AIRPORT! LOL! I want to learn hula. Maybe one day, I will. haha.
Walked to my respective gate, which was super far off and even at one point, out in the open. For such a nice island, I feel they should upgrade their airport a bit. haha. Anyway, reached the gate... it was not time to go in yet... so I sat down... and cried and cried alone and felt quite sad... ='( Then this lady was staring at me nonstop. Well I don't blame her, I would have stared too.
Time to get in the plane, and what do you know, the lady who was staring at me was sitting next to me. And she was guzzling down 3 cans of beer and 2 cups of wine. X_X Well overall it was a good flight, but lots of babies. The baby in front of me had diarrhea and was crying the whole way, with his older sister waving her crocs in the air. So it wasn't really that peaceful, but I still slept. And watched Prince Caspian, which made me feel a little better. haha.
OH YES. So on the plane when I was still sniffing away, I looked out and I saw this grayish thing. I looked closer and assumed it was the shadow of the cloud. Then I looked again. It was a tail! Tail of whale or something, I don't know, but it was definitely a tail. It was pretty cool...
Reached Japan and they announced that it was great weather in Narita. Great weather??? It's storming outside now! LOL! So I came out, got my luggage (which took a long long while) and got through customs with no problemo. After that I took the bus to Yokohama... the bus was about 2 hours ride, and I didn't get one bit of sleep because the lady next to me was sleeping facing me, with her mouth kissy lip. LOL...
My mom picked me up and yep, it was good to see her. I missed my mommie!!!! She drove me back and I unpacked some gifts.. now I'm in Danny and Nozomi's house and I just had dinner. YEY! Thank you and it was very good. But my stomach is still in Hawaii mode, so I couldn't eat as much as I normally do during mealtimes. Oh well, after today maybe I will revert back to Japan time mode. haha.
Wow... I still can't believe I actually went to Hawaii. It was such a fantastic trip and I loved every moment of it, and I really believe God made this possible for me to go, and He blessed me so much. I really miss Hawaii and I SOOO hope I can go there again someday. =) And of course I miss Naomi, Priscilla, and Maria SO SO SO MUCH now... usually I don't really miss people, but somehow this time, I really miss them and saying goodbye at the airport was sad. But now I'm looking forward to winter vacation. haha. =) Thank you for making my trip so much fun!!!
Wow, this entry has no pics... I didn't really take any photos today, except for the view of Diamond Head from the plane and the hula dancers at the airport. Maybe I will upload them next time. Okie I feel like sleeping... zzzzz

Day 9

WHEENESS! I went to the Polynesian Culture Center! =) =) =)
For anyone who is a tourist (like me) it is a MUST place to go. A LOT of tourists but nevertheless the shows are good so it's fun. =) =) =)

In the morning Naomi dropped Priscilla, Maria, and me at Kaori's place and we met up with Kaori. Then we took the bus from the Hilton Hotel to PCC. The bus ride was about 1+ hour. 

Very dark and not much interesting scenery outside, but I just wanted a photo of me in the bus... the other ones with flash were terrifying. LOL

Our tour bus guide, Cousin Leon. LOL. He talked, nonstop, for the whole ride and kept us very entertained. He gave us two movie choices, Speed and Final Destination. LOL LOL LOL ok he was kidding.

Over the mountains... another beautiful side of Hawaii!

Chinaman's hat. I have a fascination for this island. LOL

WAHHHH BEAUTIFUL.......!!!!!

Arrived at the Polynesian Culture Center

Hale Aloha! The entrance gate, and can someone tell me what Hale means? LOL

Me and some tropical looking leaves behind. The park was EMPTY in the morning.

First show, the Samoan island. This guy made fire using two sticks. It was pretty impressive. This guy was talking the whole time in this weird hushed tone which I find it super hilarious somehow.

Another Samoan guy climbing a coconut tree and striking many poses for the audience. ROFL

Of course I had to take photos of the Easter Island stone figures. It's lying face up

We met Cousin Leon again. Why I keep calling him Cousin? Well, in the bus he kept saying that we are the happy good-looking people who are all family and therefore we are cousins. Haha. Anyway, we kept meeting him here and there in the park and he kept trying to offer us the tour package to us saying that without him we'll be hopelessly lost in the park. LOL! We had Priscilla as a guide, and she was a very good one too, and we didn't have to pay extra $20 for that.

Anyway, another thing. This guy is TALL. So naturally I got a photo. Haha. Another thing. He's wearing a skirt.

I got a tattoo

Our tribal paintings. LOL.

Hawaiian show. The hula girl was super nervous =\

The canoe pageant, with the royal people coming first.

Priscilla's favorite tribe from New Zealand

My favorite dance, the Tahitians. This sounds weird but they can really shake their hips super fast

The Tahitian show

Priscilla and me and huts. If you look closely you can see our tattoos. haha

Some statue. haha

The Tonga drums. This was cool too

Kahlua pig. Yes, there is a baked pig under the leaves, waiting to be eaten

We got leis at the luau. YEY!

LUAU!

This little boy who was super good at hula

Hula women

Hula men (by the way they danced to the song Jeff did to in Japan, that one that talks about Hawaii. It's been stuck in my head all night)

Bright and colorful

Maria and me after the luau

Priscilla and Kaori too

The Pacific Marketplace. I've just realized that I haven't taken a single photo of the sunset here =_= Ahhh T_T

Of course.

This is a terrible photo =_=

Anyway, we are waiting for the big show at night. And like the tourist I am, I'm doing the shaka sign because after all, I did eat one papaya... (LOL)

Priscilla and me! She's better at taking these self-photos. haha

(Like my bracelet??? I LOVE IT! Priscilla and Mrs. Stafford bought for me... YEY and thank you!! I will wear it a lot haha)

Priscilla and Kaori waiting for the show tool. That green thing at the side is Priscilla's fish, Geraldine

Opening of show. The song sounds like Lion King

Tribal dances

Fire dance

Fire dance (This was cool, they twirled it around and around... I have a 5 minute video of it haha)

The ending song, which is the same as the opening song

Caution! I can fight! haha

Well the PCC was SUPER FUN and I had a blast. I took a total of 400 pictures, and no way am I gonna upload that all here... Anyway, it was a great way to end my vacation I think, like Priscilla said, end it with a bang! I had a great time, not just at PCC but everyday, wherever I went... and thank you to Naomi and Priscilla, you took care of me so much and planned my schedule so well! And of course Maria was fun to be around and thanks to her for letting me raid her room and sing the Tahiti song. hahaha.

I really thank God for this trip...it was definitely one of the best in my life, and I have lots of good memories (as well as some really hilarious ones) from it. He blessed me so much with so much opportunities and great friends. =) =) =)!

I'm gonna miss Hawaii so much. It's my first time but I really love this island!!! Hopefully one day I can go again... =) =) =)

Naomi made breakfast, and it smells good. I'm going to follow my nose and eat. Off to the airport later.... see you all in Japan. =)

Day 8

Woke up earlier than usual today because of our Pearl Harbor tour. Ericson took Maria and me to Pearl Harbor today, which was something I was looking forward to a lot... I don't know why... I guess because it seems interesting, well at least to me. haha.

The front of the memorial. They were super strict about the whole bag thing, like you have to leave your bag in the car, etc. But at least they were ok with photo-taking =)

Two Pearl Harbor survivors

The white building is the memorial. Not sure about the gray ship. =_= We had to take a ferry to get to the memorial, because it lies over the ship that sunk

Maria and me on the ferry. Maria was feeling nauseous but she got better in the end. We have a funny ferry story. haha.

Our tour guide Uncle Ericson LOL

The memorial building. Looks very cool I thought

The top parts of the Arizona. The rest is all underwater

The names of people who died during the attack

Another view of that ship next to the memorial

It was a pretty interesting tour- we got to see a video of all the actual recordings of the attack, as well as other events that led up to it and was occuring during that time. I think my history upgraded a bit today. haha. I think aside from Maria and me there were only 3 other Japanese among thousands of people there... =\

After that we met up with Naomi at the famous Happy Days Chinese restaurant that I've heard so much about. LOL. It's a nice clean Chinese restaurant with round white tables and lots of Chinese decorations... haha. For some reason I imagined it to be a small white room. LOL. Anyway, we had lots of dim sung and it was really tasty. Uncle Ericson (LOL) even treated us to lunch.. O.O  so nice!!!

Yumness... =) =) =)

Then this came along. Naomi and Ericson had a really fun time watching Maria and me eat it.

What is it? It's chicken feet. =\

Naomi, Maria, me, finished meal and very happie full

After that Naomi went back and Ericson took Maria and me to Ala Moana mall. Today we looked more at the shops, especially those of interest... it was fun!!! For some weird reason, Ericson knows a LOT, and by a lot I mean a LOT, about shops, shopping, brand names, and where things are. LOL. I would say the name of the shop and he can take me there. haha. I got last minute shopping done today, yeyness. =) They had a lot of fun shops there too, brands you can never find in Japan... They even had Forever21!!! 

Ericson wanted to show this to us so much- it's strings of gold painted butterflies made out of artificial leaves. Got a cool shot. haha.

Maria and me and some interesting looking glass panels behind

Same place, except it's Ericson instead of Maria

Somewhere else in the mall. I likeeee Hawaii!!!

THEN Uncle Ericson treated us (again!) to any dessert we wanted from this shop... YEY AND MANY THANKS!! He bought for Naomi and Priscilla too, then we went back home. Jeff was there when we reached home and Ericson came in, so they, plus Naomi, Maria, and me, ate the food below.

YEY! Mine is the white coconut mountain. haha.

Jeffu-ojisan played with my camera. LOL

on a random note he has really good posture. haha

Our artwork. LOL...

Maria took a long nap while I packed (sad right...) and Priscilla came back from babysitting. We walked to the ramen shop and the ramen there was great! See what I mean about Hawaiian food being good?? Anyway, they were showing on TV those groups that go to Japan and experience different things there... it was just interesting watching a documentary about Japan from a foreign point of view. haha. And the weird thing is the host in that TV show suddenly popped out of the kitchen. Haha.

Came back and had really great cheesecake from yesterday while watching Van Helsing. It is directed by the same guy who made The Mummy... so.. yes, it had that entertaining silly mood. LOL. It was pretty interesting though, but sad. T_T

Ok off to sleep soon. =) =) nitez