Saturday, August 29, 2009

4:00 PM

After spending 5 nites at Maui, we took a very small commuter plane to fly over to Big Island. The plane could only seat 9 persons and it was so scary when it hit turbulence! Was so nervous throughout the flight lor...

The second day at the island was really fruitful, went to see a couple of waterfalls, Waipio Valley, Green sand and another black sand beach. Most unforgettable was the journey to the green sand beach...We din know that it was SOOOO far by foot!!! As the beach was located in a very secluded area where no normal 4-wheel car could reach, we had to walk ard 2.5 miles (around 4km) along the rough, sandy road!! My gosh..We were really tired after walking ard one mile under the heat, and the strong winds kept blowing the sand in my face, making the walk very tedious... LUCKILY, we hitched a ride with a lorry, and although the bum hurts a lot from the bumpy ride, we realised how much further we had to walk in on the way there. By the time we reached, will be sunset liao lor... So we gave the driver 20 bucks and asked him to drive us back as well... Good things never come easy. The green sand beach was really gorgeous lor. So unique!!! I was so amazed to see olive colored sand shimmering in the sun. It was formed by olivine crystal from the volcanoes, the same mineral that is used to make my green color birth stone!! wahaha...we wasted no time in taking loads of pics and tried out lots of poses with the unusual green sand. The water currents was really rough, but its bright blue hue complements the green sand so perfectly and makes the scenery really breathtaking. Haiz...but sun sets really soon, and we had to climb up the small cliff to reach the lorry again...Lucky the driver waited for us...

Next highlight was the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. This was also the main attraction that had drawn us to Hawaii in the first place; we wanted to see real and active volcanoes with red lava erupting continuously!!! Haiz...but the most we can see is red lava flowing into the ocean, which is continuously creating a larger Hawaii Island before our eyes, but we didn't really see any lava flowing around the volcano, although we can also see red lava glow in the crater at night la...The ranger said we were 50 years too late!!! At that time, lava flowed continuously for several years, and ppl could see the lava explosions from the eruption and can view how lava slowly cooled on the ground...

But it's still very interesting and fun to see how previous volcanoes ruined the entire area, with evidence of solidified lava everywhere lar...though not red in color, it's bronze-like and black lava forms also look impressive... Fun to also know that this volcano is one of the most active in the world, with real hot lava still churning in the crater today, and producing lots of sulphuric gases at the same time...

We also especially looked forward to the farmer's market near our hotel, cuz got many more local delicacies we can buy at a cheaper price... We bought lots of fruits, rice roll, bentos and their tapioca dessert... so shiok leh! I realized Hawaiian food very "asian" like, more like chai beng...but still not as good as singapore food...But I do enjoy these food more than the regular American fast food lor..

We did a lot of beaching again on the last day. I esp love the Hapuna Beach where we took our umbrella shots. Each beach chair and umbrella cost USD 10 leh!!! Cost us 30 bucks just to take that set of photos...WAHHHHHH...but never regret lar, cuz so damn hot that day...and I already very dark from previous tanning liao...sadz...nvm, can look slimmer also...

A great once-in-a-lifetime trip! Though I would very much like to go again =D

But it is really tiring to be stucked in the plane for so long before reaching Hawaii~

3:45 PM

Back on wed!!! Sobz, good times always fly so fast...this trip is special and unique in many ways. Of cuz first, it's my bday that makes it so special, hehe..and also, this trip is much more relaxed than the other trips Cha has planned, cuz Hawaii is a place to relax and go beaching around!! =D

After taking 12 hours of flight, plus 8 hours of overnite at the airport, we finally reached Maui, a little bit exhausted, but very excited!! Cha also decided to rent a Chrysler convertible with an extra $20 per day, so that we can celebrate my bday in grandeur..hehe, not only this lar, but Cha also very gian to drive a performance-oriented convertible. Somemore this is Hawaii!! So must open up the roof and enjoy their sea breeze leh...and hor in spore i think it's extremely costly to drive a Chrysler car, so might as well seize this upgrade offer =D

Maui is a must-go island out of the Hawaiian island chains, because it is much more tourist oriented, with more snorkelling, dinner at the cruise, parasailing, and aerial tour packages...and there are so many gorgeous beaches around... I think a beach lover can just spend the entire vacation beach-hopping on the island...And I super like our accommodation, because it is newly renovated, spacious and most importantly, very clean...Two thumbs up although it is not even a 4 star hotel..

We visited the Lao Valley and did the Road to Hana which consists of various stopover points such as waterfalls and breathtaking beaches along the 60 mile road. But this famous route fell a bit short of our expectation cuz their waterfalls were so small~ The only place which was worth our time (and fuel) is the Black Sands Beach. The sand there is all pure black!! Have never even heard of it, so we find it very interesting to know that they formed as a result of volcanic activities. So used to seeing white sands at the normal beaches, that it feels almost strange to see black shore lining the waters... But the color contrast is really stunning and nice...

We also got visit the Haleakala National park to see the multi-colored volcano craters...We have to drive up to the top and walked to the summit to see the overall view of the various craters. The color combinations of the craters are very nice, and Cha really likes it a lot, so he kept on snapping pictures of the craters. But soon after that I feel really unwell due to low air pressure on higher elevation, so we went back to hotel to start off our first beaching activity!! But at the Wailea Beach, I was constantly swept away and rolled around by the strong currents near the shoreline lor... haiz, so un-glam -_-

On my birthday, we also went beach hopping to see how the various popular beaches look like. Out of these beaches, Napili Bay has the best waters, it was so clear and blue and the beach was relatively quiet, making it very exclusive, as compared to the rest. Finally it's my bday dinner!! But we still cannot decide where to go while I changed into nicer clothes and put on light make up...in the end, we settled for Hawaiian local food at Aloha Mixed Plate (aka Singapore style chai beng), which is cheaper and also has a great ambience...Although there was no complete bday cake, but still I enjoyed this dinner a lot and was completely happy with my chocolate mousse cake with no candle (cuz restaurant ran out of candle liao)...I think this is the happiest bday I've ever had so far, not to mention that this trip is the best bday present I've ever received as well...=D Thanks Cha!!!

Next day was the most fun part of our trip, we did snorkelling at Turtle Island where giant sea turtles could be seen and Molokini which is renowned for its perfect snorkelling location... the water there is so, so nice that it is almost bright blue in color! Water is so crystal clear that when we snorkel from the top, we can actually see everything at the bottom of the ocean with the corals and fishes, so amazing...wahaha, I love snorkelling trips, even though I need lots of flotation devices to help me float =D A pity Cha was sea sick ALL THE WAY and had to stay at the rear to puke, so we were not able to take lots of pics together and snorkel for a longer time at Molokini...And the sad part was...he only recovered on our way back to the harbour and was not able to ingest any BBQ lunch that the tour package offered...haiz...a bit wasted...

The dinner that day was also the highlight of Hawaii! Old Lahaina Laua, is another very expensive package which includes hula performance, buffet local food and free flow of alcoholic drinks, SHIOK! Each tix costs us USD 95 somemore, expensive sia..But one VERY SUAY thing just happened to us 45 min before the feast started. Our CHRYSLER CONVERTIBLE broke down!!!! How unlucky can we get!! So we went thru a lot of trouble trying to call the rental company, made towing arrangements, and given how slow ang mohs work, this thing ding donged for an hr...bo bian we had to take a cab down to the dinner place..Lucky we were not late!

Our mood took for a change when we saw the set up of the dinner feast... Very Hawaiian style, with huts serving drinks, and wooden tables set up around the center stage. The people there welcomed us with leis (flower rings) over our heads and mai tai. The entire set up was placed just next to the oceanside, so that we can enjoy the sunset while waiting for the feast to begin. There were also various demonstrations, such as showing the audience the process of collecting the Kalua pork which was roasted in an underground oven for the entire day (our main dinner course as well)...As we had our dinner, we also got to enjoy the traditional polynesian dances put up by the hula girls and boys at the same time... As I wanted to make our $$ worth, I had around 3 cups of cocktails and one more sangria in our hotel room, in the end had diarrhoea the following day, when we had to catch our flight to Hawaii Island -_-" haiz...next time must remember not to be so gian beng~

I love Hawaii as a whole as I feel that the Hawaiian ppl are really passionate and sincere in their services. Taxi drivers and chambermaids here dun really expect guests to give them any tips, even when we leave $$ in the room for them, they never take!! Totally diff from mainland USA lor...

3:30 PM

Friday, August 14, 2009

Aloha Hawaii!!!! Yaay!! The long awaited trip is finally here~ Sometimes the anticipation to a trip is the most exciting part, because when this trip ends, means Cha and my classes are starting...WAIL~ We have been too indulged in nuaing during the long summer holidays liao...waahaha~

But I believe this will be a very fun and unforgettable trip, with all the beach hunks and babes...hehe...hopefully the weather will be sunny thruout, although the weather forecast dun look too good -_-... but choy!

Although the flight is tomolo morning, but because the public buses and metro dun start so early, so we gonna camp at the airport tonight!!! sian...will be taking 10 hours flight, with one stop over...hopefully I wun have jet lag when I got there!! I think Hawaii is 6 hrs slower than Maryland, which puts an 18-hour difference between hawaii and spore!! keke...most of all, looking forward to my bday man...Cha said has planned for snorkelling, but I dunno how to tread water lor! Cha say I must go down with floats, but... sounds so kuku and ruin my image ^o^

Meanwhile, just made some brownies, looks and smells good, will be bringing to airport for our supper and tomolo's breakfast on the plane, cuz dun think meals are provided lor...

1:27 PM

Monday, August 03, 2009

8:05 PM

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Friday, August 14, 2009

Monday, August 03, 2009

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