Day0

Notes from author: Please do not try to read it all in one go. It is seven days of vacation and we invite you to read it one day at a time to transport you to see the view, smell the beach and feel the breeze.

Day0:
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The plan was perfect. Leave by 4:30 arrive at 7:30 to catch the 8:00 bus with enough time to check in and catch the 10 o clock flight. What was not taken into consideration was that the waking up hours was insane by many standards and underestimated the laziness factor. And added to the mix was the Chicago traffic factor. As we were inching towards the airport the traffic grew thicker and like a hourglass the time was slipping though. I saw a opening in the fast lane and switched to it causing grief to people behind and angered looks that could slash a tire. The moment the car shifted completely to the other lane, lo and behold brakes lights are on for the car in the front and the lane we switched from started to move faster. I could almost hear the satisfied smile of people passing us.

The race was on and the fuel meter did not co-operate either. There was no time in the morning to fill up and now there was a chance we could be stranded because we were out of gas. And we had not stopped since the start and the bladder pressure was building in the background. Finally we reached the place where we were supposed to park the car and catch the ride to airport.

There was a interviewee who was late and did not have a ride there were people going to mexico who were trying to catch a flight and there was barely enough room for all of us and the luggage. The rickety van looked like a old war horse with stories to tell and so tired that if you stopped it may never start again. The check-in line could dishearten even the seasoned traveler. Internet check-in was a god gift (even though man gets credit for it). There was hardly a queue for the online check in. The security line was no trouble at all and now I appreciated every little thing that came our way.

The flight was fully booked and crying babies loud enough to turn one away from having kids (at least think about it) The in flight entertainment was actually the different variety of people boarding the plane. Few meeting their fiancées, getting married, returning islanders, people intending to become islanders and of course tourists.

This was the first time woman landed in California. Well even if it was for a couple of hours at the airport I guess that counts. The lunch at mexican was a fairly palatable chicken filled quesadilla which was toasted rather well.

The flight to Honolulu was uneventful except for the completion of reading the book Deception Point. We had to fill out a form about any food items brought along to the island. Like diligent and teacher fearing parent obeying law-abiding people we declared that we brought some potatoes and onions (yeah I know).

Only to see that the locks of our baggage were broken into for inspection. I failed to see the point of the declaration form.

It took a while to find the right spot to wait for the rental car shuttle and the feeling of being in Hawaii was sinking in with each lei we say and the floral prints and shorter shorts. After a bit more u-turning we finally got to the hotel and checked in. Opening the window showed some promise and we freshened up quickly and search for a cure of the growling stomach.

After a brief walk around a couple of blocks we found there was plenty of Japanese influence in cuisine and population as well. We settled on a chinese restaurant hoping for some good sea food in a style that would satisfy the fresh sea food deficiency we had suffered since the singapore trip. The food was a ok. We made it back to the hotel to catch up on some badly needed zzz’s.