JC - Technology and Stuff

Tuesday March 3rd

Honolulu, in particular Waikiki, is not at all like Florida. Actually it is a mix of Mexico, Brazil and Florida all wrapped into something that is unique. Now this of course is just my opinion. Others may believe differently. I have been to all the places I mention and that is why I state it like I do. Waikiki has the tropical sea and vacation atmosphere of Florida, but the intensity and building density of Mexico and Brazil. Actually it has some of the cultural differences that the two other countries provide as well, but those cultural influences are more from Japan than anywhere in South America.

I’ve only actually been here in Hawaii, on O’Ahu, for just over 24 hours now and so I can’t claim to be all knowing about this island paradise. I have traveled to many countries however and so I am using a little liberty to compare it using knowledge gained from other places.

The weather this week is expected to remain overcast and a little windy. The daytime temperatures have ventured up to 80 degrees and it’s only dropped down to 68 in the evenings, but with the wind it’s felt a little cool on occasions. Heck, I shouldn’t even complain. Back in Seattle I wouldn’t be wearing my shorts, as I am now!

I’ve never been to Hawaii before and I came here with a number of expectations I have to admit. I have visited the Caribbean a few times over the years and so I always imagined Hawaii as an expensive version of that. To a certain extent that is true. Hawaii is definitely a little more expensive than the US mainland, and the terrain is a little like the Caribbean, but here the similarities stop. Hawaii is far more American than the Caribbean. The buildings, the stores, the cars, the ambiance. It is also far less laid back than my experience of the Caribbean. Sure, it’s a vacation destination so it has a certain ‘slowness’ to its pace of life. But very dissimilar to the Caribbean, in my opinion.

Do I like it here? That ultimately is the bottom line. So far, so good, as the saying goes. It’s taking a little while to get used to the place and how it operates. I need to step out and see the ‘real’ Hawaii, away from the tourist places. Still, this is really just ‘day one’ and there are five or six more to go. By the end of the week I’ll know a lot more about America’s tropical paradise; the Aloha State.

Friday March 6th

So, the end of the vacation is in sight. The weather has not been the kindest to us so far, but you cannot choose your weather when you leave on vacation. I expect I am the only white person here this week with half a suntan though! Most people would not be at all affected by the little sun we have had here, but for me it was like a blisteringly hot experience. I actually have a little sunburn on my legs! Crazy. But it doesn’t take much sun to make me happy!

We haven’t wandered too far this week; we’ve been content to explore the local haunts and walk our way backwards and forwards along Waikiki beach. To that extent, we have succeeded. The prize find was a little old pub called the Harbor Pub, somewhere that’s been open for nearly 30 years and looks like it too. I wouldn’t recommend it as the prize eatery of the year, but if you’re looking for a little local dive, then this is definitely the pub for you. We ate there the other day and had a few cocktails and home cooked pizza and were very impressed with the ambiance and the cost.

On other fronts, Waikiki is just like many other tourist destinations around the world. It has its quirks and oddities that set it apart from other vacation spots of course, but fundamentally it is a vacation destination. I read on the Internet that the island of O’Ahu is the most densely populated area in the USA (if it was treated like a state). It’s only because the rest of Hawaii is not so densely populated that saves it from being the winner overall. That said, of course it is still a little piece of paradise. Sitting in a local bar, facing the sea, with some Hawaiian music playing and a cocktail in your hand will make you forget almost everything!

Culturally Hawaii is very different than the rest of the USA. The island people have their own way of life and their own looks too. You can tell you’re not in New York, Texas, or Florida, just by looking at the people and what they are doing. It’s little things that make the difference to a place. Take breakfast at McDonalds for instance. With every breakfast meal you get a portion of pineapple! Crazy, yes but Hawaiian nonetheless! In fact I have to say, pineapple seems to be served with almost everything. And there’s fresh fish, plenty of it. Nice and raw too, if you like it that way.

Overall, Hawaii has been a great experience. I’ll be counting the days ‘til the next visit, where I hope to see more of the islands and a little more of the culture. Until then, aloha to you all.

(Pictures to follow soon…)

This entry was posted on Saturday, March 7th, 2009 at 9:41 am and is filed under Home, Stuff, Thoughts. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.