Hawaii

Sep 14 - 19 went to Hawaii with my co-workers for celebrating our company 50 years anniversary. Actually our company will go for travel together once a year in Japan domestic and once every 5 year to abroad. This year is more special as we are celebrating this anniversary.

From the schedule, it seems like we were going for 6 days, but actualy we only have 4 days in Hawaii. The rest is on flight. We had prepared this since 3 years ago by deduct our salary every month to accumulate the 35% of trip fee, but we spent it only in 4 DAYS!! Really not enough.....

So we were only visit Oahu Island, the most touristy island, I think. As here is where Honolulu International Airport located, many tourist will come this island for stay or just for pass by to transit to another island. I heard that there are many Japanese tourist in this island, but I didn't know that Japanese is verrrry common in every touristy place. Even when me and my taiwanese friend speak in Chinese or English, the shoptender still asking us in Japanese. I wonder if they assume all asians are japanese.... Now I understand why one of my co-worker is complaining when Oahu island is fixed as our destination, not Big Island. Oahu Island make you feel just like you are in Japan!!

Although this is a company trip, but regretly, we weren't meet each other too much in Hawaii. We were all have our own activities to join, somebody went to shopping, somebody went to parasailing, somebody went to ride horse, somebody went to scubadiving (me actually hehe) etc. I become wondering how is the company trip in another company. Are they same as us? Its kinda no meaning at all as a company trip, although I appreciate the fee had company spent for us for this trip hehehe

The weather in Hawaii is so unpredictable. When I woke up in the morning with a heavy rain, but in short time it start with shiny day but not later it raining again. Very strange. But I think thats why ppls said that why you can see rainbow everyday in some place in Hawaii. It must be because this unpredictable weather.

I got problem in Hawaii with my name!! Not a big problem though, but still it is a problem without the surname. I always the latest one in line while check-in on flight, while making the Duty Free Shop Shopping Card, while place my handphone as deposit when we rent the snorkling things in Hanauma Bay. I don't have surname, so what!! haha

The last problem is tax and the tipping things. As Indonesia n Japan, all price are quoted with tax included, but USA not. I always wrongly assume that the price is cheap enough, but I forgot to add the tax or the tipping things, which made the things become so expensive. You have to give tips 15%~20%, which I think it is too high! Well, can't blame it as this is the country custom.

Hmm 4 days is definitely not enough for Oahu Islands, as I only could visit half of Waikiki, diving one day in Hawaii Kai, half day in Hanauma Bay. Finish. Thats all. Not going to downtown, not going to North Shore, not going to blablabla.... Well despite of the problems, of course I had fun. The relaxing atmosphere in Hawaii, the gentle breeze, the blue sky, the beautiful beach. Will post more picture in here soon :)

Categories: english, hawaii, travel