OH MY GOOLIES!

We fly to Sydney TOMORROW - Row & I have been singing the Qantas song all day... crazy but true. Wowzers. Looking forward to seeing our friends and fam - can't believe 1 year has passed since we left - all good though - many adventures ahead of us upon our return!

Turtles!!!

Well, it's all over red rover - we fly back to Honolulu later this afternoon. Maui was "cool" - not quite as "remote" as I thought, but looking back over the photos it sure is beautiful.

Row & I both agree that the BEST thing we did was go snorkeling with Turtles!!!I saw Catriona Rowntree go snorkeling with turtles on Getaway about 4 years ago and thought to myself - I'm going to do that! And so, yesterday I achieved one of my lifetime goals! Always a good feeling - definately made it worthwhile coming to Hawaii & Maui.

I don't have a pic from yesterday as we were in the water with them and our camera isn't waterproof but I can honestly say that we saw about 10 of them over the course of an hour or so and that we a couple of them surfaced within 1m (literally!) of Row & I!! They were SO beautiful and magestic - so old... truly amazing. In any case - I have found a pic on the web and attached him instead - as it is exactly how close we were to the turtles and they look exactly the same.

Ok - now that I've said that, I can get back to the start of the snorkeling trip! We started seeing whales within literally 3 minutes of pulling out of Ma'alaea Harbour - it was early in the morning and we were blown away by how many mamma whales and calves were hanging out in the bay - They were BEE YOU TEA FULL! Along the course of the day we probably saw around 25-30 whales, some where just surfacing to breath, others were doing tail and fin slaps, and some were just doing the "dolphin like" swimming (where you see there tops come in and out of the water as they swim along). The closest they came to us was probalby 50m or so. Again - truley awesome.

Our first snorkel spot was at Molokini Crater (see pic) - the crater itself was beautiful, the visibility amazing, reef colour was actually quite vibrant but the actual number and diversity of fish didn't really compare to the Barrier Reef or Bunaken Island (Sulawesi, Indo). But it was another thing we wanted to check off the list while we were here which was awesome.

Whoopsies - I'm babbling again... gotta go; gotta go.

Sunrise at Halaekala

We got up very very early on Tuesday to catch the sunrise at the top of Haleakala Volcano - it was beautiful, although super cold!! We have left all of our snow gear in Waikiki so only had my sarong to wrap around us!! Mmmm toasty. Anyway - was worth the effort - check out the pics!

Maui Pics

By the way - the photo of me on the bike was taken at a little cafe/hut in the middle of nowhere - we ordered an iced coffee (frappuccino style) but there is no electricity in the area so they have hooked the blender up to a bike so that when you start pedalling, the blender starts working! Not sure how it all worked (being the mechanical genious that I am) - but it worked!

Hawaii - MAUI

The island of Maui is larger than O'ahu (see pic!) but less developed. We are staying in a groovy little backpackers called the "Banana Bungalow Hostel" and I am looking out the window to "big mamma tropical plants/trees/flowers" (Botany never was my forte) swaying in the cool afternoon breeze - v. nice.

The hostel is sort of in the middle of nowhere, but we have hired a car so the fact that it is inbetween everything we want to see makes it a good place to be based. We are going to stay here the next two nights and may then move to the east coast after that.

No real set plans for our time here - but will probably drive the north coast tomorrow (meant to be bee-you-tee-full) and check out some nice waterfalls / coastline / rainforest etc. you know - the normal tropical island stuff!! Stay tuned for I shall be sure to post some pics!

Hawaii - O'AHU

We arrived in Honolulu on the 23rd - found an awesome little backpackers (Polynesian Hostel) just a block away from Waikiki Beach. As you would expect, Waikiki is pretty developed and kitchy - v. similar to Surfer's Paradise - still, it's a groovy little place to check out - if only for a day or two.

The hostel put on a "cocktail party" the first night we were there - for just $6 we could drink unlimited Mai Tai's - dangerous to say the least but we didn't go too crazy (I'm not that kind of girl...) & we knew we had a big day ahead of us so we didn't have a late one - needless to say, it made for some nice "mingling" & was a nice way to spend our first evening in the state of Hawaii.

We hired a car the following morning (yesterday) and drove around the island of O'ahu - saw beautiful stretches of coast line (incl. famous surfing spots Waimea Bay, Banzai Pipeline etc.) - being the hard core surfers that we are, Row & I kept to some of the smaller beaches for a few dips as we didn't want to show off in front of the locals and start a kafuffel.

We did the usual "drive-around-things" like stopping at the side of the road to buy fresh tropical fruit, stopped in at a Macadamia Nut Plantation along our way (a local had told us they give loads of samples - hooray for free samples!), stopped to take pics of bits & pieces (including the daggy "pretend I am as tall as an island" thing... & "pretend Rowan is a pharaoh and is looking out onto his land" thing...) & found a cool little cafe for lunch.

Personally, I think the best thing about taking the coastal road along the island is that to the other side lies dense rainforest - with gigantic steep cliffs spurting outwards and upwards - think Jurassic Park country and that's exactly what it is like - we even went past the area they filmed the movie!

Anyway - we had just two nights in Waikiki before boarding a plane for the island of Maui this morning which is where we are now!

We spent 4 beautiful sunny days in San Fran. We stayed at the Green Tortoise Hostel - awesome location + all the double/private rooms are a block and a half down from the main hostel building so it felt like we were living in a little apartment.

It is in our "apartment" we met Bec & Will - a groovy couple from Tassie who actually live right near us back home! Bec & Will are just starting out on their "Round the World" adventure and are heading to Canada to work so it was really cool to meet them - we are so excited for them - they are going to have the time of their lives!Row & I invited them to join us and head to the Mission one night for Mexican (YUMMMMM).

We popped into a bar afterwards for a drink where there was some swing dancing going on - it was really cool - so rad when you stumble upon little places like that! Some guy came up and asked me to dance - whilst it is very unlike me to accept such an offer (we all know how much I just haaate dancing...), I obliged - Oh my goodness. I have never done swing dancing before - it's so hard!! The dude was twirling me around, scooping me down etc. all over the place! Quite funny really - I did my best to keep up but it was quite tricky I must say!! All good fun though :D
Anyway... what else did we do in San Fran?? Well, Row & I hired bikes one day and rode 42km around the waterfront, over the bridge, stopped off for some fresh pesto at a little Italian cafe we found (Again - YUMMMMMM!) and then kept going and going - got a wee lost - but found our way through beautiful leafy suburbs and the shoreline and just made the ferry to take us back to Fisherman's Wharf (we soooo weren't going to ride all the way back!!).

We had coffee a couple of times at "Trieste Cafe" - the oldest Italian cafe in the west coast of the States - oh my goodness. Their lattes are soooo good! Not sure how they do it, but even I managed to sip on it slowly and just enjoy it (Res Cent girls: Bek & Mel would be very proud!!)We also met Mark Bewsher (Dennis' brother) for a coffee which was lovely.On our last night - we went out with Bec & Will again and found a lovely Italian restaurant (we were staying in North Beach - right on the cusp of Little Italy). Once again YUMMO!! Oh yeah - Pete & Ainse - we managed to crank the Cheesecake Factory twice! (That's 4 times now since we left & we haven't even been to Waikiki yet!).Anyway - San Fran was great - the weather, the people, the food, the whole "vibe" - oh yeah - & even our "local" grocery shop owner was awesome (pic attached) - loved it!

Las Vegas

Wow - I don't think we could have picked anywhere more different to go to in Nth America from Whistler to Vegas! It's a city of extravagence - a lot of it tacky, but because it's Vegas, you just take it and love it for what it is.

We were lucky enough to fly right over the Grand Canyon on our way in to Vegas which was awesome - no need to pay for an expensive day trip out that way - yeay!

We stayed in a 3 star hotel on the main strip - average hotel but awesome location so it didn't matter. The best thing about being located on the heart of the strip is that all the beautiful & extravagent 5 star hotels that one dreams about being rich enough to stay in are free to cruise around in and anyone can go in and play there, stroll the shops (Every top designer you can think of has shops there...), and eat at their restaurants / drink at their bars. We went to Bellagio one day (the hotel featured in Ocean's Eleven with the water fountains that move in simultation with music - SO beautfiul - and took photos of us pretending to be the noble King & Queen of Bellagio).

We didn't actually gamble a single cent when we were there - instead, we spent our money on good food & wine, catching some shows, & doing a wee bit of shopping.

We saw Cirque de Soleil the first night (Zumanity), "Fantasty" the second (a sort-of topless muscial - don't ask - we "won" the tickets through a dodgy time-share scam thing), and saw Phantom of the Opera on the 3rd night. Can I just say that Zumanity was absolutely amazing - truely ruely - unbelievable what some human beings can do. Fantasy was average - I think anyone with boobs gets a bit over seeing other boobs within a few minutes... I dare say Rowan would have a slightly different review of the evening... - Phantom was absolutely phenomenal - SO beautiful, absolutely exquisite - I was still crying 5 minutes after the show as we were strolling through the shops! Ahhh - getting a bit emotional in my old age.

All in all, Vegas was fun - worth seeing once - not sure if we will go back, but def glad we went & checked it out.

Goodbye Whistler...

Ahhhh - SO sad SO Sad SO sad - but it's true, Row & I have left the snow and our "family" in Whistler. We are really really missing it - doing the whole, "Well, we were blessed to be able to have so much time there / a lot of people never get to do that / we need to consider ourselves lucky etc." but to be honest, it still doesn't help us miss it any less. Ahh well, here are just a couple of pics of our last 7 days there.

Sushi, Bargains & Tabtinis - What more could a lady ask for!?

Row went to a mate's place to play poker last night and whilst he was busy winning $$$, I myself was at a Ladies' Night in the village, snapping up bargains, getting beautified 2005 & nibbling on nibblies!

The evening was a fundraiser to raise money for breast cancer and it was all about finding bargains, getting free hair & beauty treatments (for a donation), free sushi, pink cupcakes & free Tabtinis!!! (Tab energy drinks + vodie). It was awesome - and Bargaining Betty was out in full form!

I got a jacket (I had been eyeiing it off for the past 3 months!!) & 3 T's - all to the value of $400 - for the bargain price of $98!! Ok ok... so a denim jacket isn't the most practical of travelling items, but hey - sometimes a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do!

Anna, Ainse & I ended up going back to Erin's (girl who lives across the corridor) & danced the night away to girly tunes - all in all, another fun occassion! Ahhh.. we shall miss these times; we shall miss these times...

Going Away Partay

Ainse, Pete, Row & I had our going away party @ Tommy Africa's on Monday night (March 5th). Monday night is 80's night so naturally we obliged as I don't think any of us are afraid of dressing up... Radical Raspberries all around. Waiting on receiving some photos from friends - to update soon.

A Few Mountain Pics

Heli-Riding

Oh my goolies, we went heli-riding on Tuesday!! It was a very last minute decision (as in 15 mins before we had to be dressed & at the heli-skiing shop!), but I must say, it's probably the best thing the Ro-man has ever made me do.

We met at the "powder hut", and were divided into our groups... Unfortunately it was only once some of the groups had left and everything was organised that we realised we were both put in the Expert group!! I was quick to inform the guide that ah... I'm not exactly expert (I thought we were going into the Intermediate-Advanced group) - but after Row's supportive "She's done Spanky's - She'll be fine", fighting back the tears of (oh no... I don't want to be killed in an avalanche today), we jumped into the truck (avalanche trackers on), and set off for the heli-pad. I am going to put together a bit of footage and add it on as a link this weekend so stay tuned.