Saturday, December 30, 2006

Home sweet home

Hard to believe that about 24 hours ago, I was sitting on a beach drinking quite possibly the most ridiculous pineapple drink (I'm serious--it was IN A PINEAPPLE, and was smoking with dry ice below it) ever, listening to the waves crash....aaaahhhhhh.

Good news: Hawaii is freaking unbelievable and we had an AMAZING time.

Bad news: Matt and I have been passing back and forth some nasty intestinal thing since Wednesday. And of course, we don't have it at the same time. So one feels poopy, and one feels good. My last round was on the NINE HOUR PLANE RIDE THIS MORNING. Lemme tell ya how much fun THAT was. I got some REALLY strange looks.

BUT--

That did not stop us from having a blast! I am exhausted, but I slept from 3-9pm today. DUMB! Now I'm going to be up all night. Arg! I will try to sleep somehow to get back on EST....

Pics will come later...but for now we basically:

  • Got to visit our awesome friend Molly, stationed on Oahu
  • Ate breakfast at an awesome local spot on Oahu: Boots and Kimo's (mmmmm banana pancakes and macadamia syrup....)
  • Drove to North Shore of Oahu--and saw some of the biggest waves I've ever seen
  • Did some unbelievable day hikes
  • snorkeled at Hanauma Bay in Oahu and saw some HUGE and AMAZING fishies
  • spent lots of time on the beach--yay! I'm not pasty anymore! (For a week or so at least)
  • snorkeled LOTS and saw 7 BIG OL' SEA TURTLES! Matt got to swim with a few!
  • Got to see some humpback whales--so cool!
  • Took surfing lessons!
  • Snorkeled more
  • Surfed again on my own!
  • Did I mention I like surfing? (I didn't say I was GOOD.) I never could really grasp why some of my friends quit their jobs when we were right out of college to move West and become ski instructors--never really sounded that good to me--but I think if I was 22 again I'd head to somewhere to wait tables and surf all day in a heartbeat
  • Saw the sunrise at the top of Haleakala Mountain (an old volcano) and mountain biked down-I've never really felt like such a poser. Roadies were climbing UP and I was on the TOTAL tourist-y ride DOWN like a total choade. Still--fun, and got some good shots though!
  • laughed at the irony of hearing "Sleigh Ride" and "Let it Snow" on Christmas Day as we drove the Hana Highway in our Jeep Wrangler with the top down on a sunny, 85 degree day
  • Got to see my buddy Vicki from Oregon--just so happened we were in Maui at the same time! We met as the reps from our state in 2002 at Georgetown University in DC (of course I have to make friends with the people who live the farthest from me, right?!) since we are both James Madison Scholars---it was SOOOOOOOO good to see her!
  • Had an amazing nine days and a Christmas we'll always remember

Okay...now it's 11:05pm, I haven't been able to eat anything solid since, oh, right about when I got on the plane, and I'm TOTALLY NOT TIRED.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Pictures may come sooner than expected! :) For now, hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and is gearing up for the New Year!

I'm gonna go try and eat something now....wish me luck!

20 comments:

Robin said...

Sounds like a ton of fun, I am jealous for sure! What a way to spend Christmas vacation. I love it there, but have not been to Hawaii in a few years now, so you'll have to post pics for all of us here in the winter weather to drool over.

Jodi said...

I'm so glad that you had a great time! You deserved it.

Hanauma bay is magnificent. You brought back so many good memories. Thanks!

Hope you two feel better soon. Happy New Year!

Jodi

Runner Susan said...

dry ice? aw man, i need to go to hawaii.

Welcome home.

Laurie said...

Snorkeling in Hanauma Bay is awesome. I am so jealous.

I am glad you had a great time. I can't wait for pictures.

JenC said...

So glad you had a great time despite the intestinal issues! I'll be picking your brain for some good places to go, because Matt and I plan to go to Hawaii in late 2007! Welcome back and see you tomorrow!

Wes said...

That's really cool. I absolutely love to snorkel. I've never really tried surfing, as the waves in Florida just ain't that great.

Welcome home, Sarah! and Happy New Year!!

teacherwoman said...

Sounds like an awesome trip! I am so jealous!

Papa Louie said...

Welcome Home! Sounds like you had a great time even though the intestinal problems. Hope you and Matt are feeling better.

Scott said...

Happy New Years Sara.

With any luck, I will once again be a frequent visitor to your blog in the New Year.

Fe-lady said...

Glad you had such a great time! You did SO MUCH! (I was tired reading about your excursions!) But you are young...that's the difference...
Yes, I can't wait to see pictures!
Happy New Year and welcome back to OHIO!!! (At least you didn't come back to tons of snow!)

TriBoomer a.k.a. Brian said...

Welcome back home. I hope the stomach virus thing leaves you both soon.

Happy New Year, Sara!

Stay tuned...

Kurt said...

Awesome trip and glad you had a good time. Happy New Year and hope you are recovered soon!

Michele said...

Sounds like a great trip. Happy New Year and hope you and Matt are both feeling better.

Rae said...

Happy new Year and Welcome Home!! I can't wait to see the pics. Hawaii sounds amazing.

bbieberitz said...

I'm jealous....hawaii? Nice!

Run for Chocolate said...

Welcome back, can't wait to see the pics!

Eric said...

I remember snorkling at Hanauma Bay. Saw big sea turtles. Did you hike up Diamondhead? The views from up there are awesome.

Janet Edwards said...

Sounds like a totally awesome experience...minus the intestinal thing!

Mmmm, beaches and pineapple drinks, so jealous!

Pixie said...

I am so glad you had fun! Oahu is beautiful, we go in the summers and stay on the North Shore, we'll be there in June. Can't wait to see pictures!

Afternoon Tea With Oranges said...

That sounds like an amazing trip!! Hawaii is on my list of "very soon" trips to take!! I am IN on the surfing!