So here is the grand recap of an adventure filled and tiring day, along with a few pictures in this post and the next to show some of what happened. I am going to take more pictures of the UofH campus over the next few mornings as I go exercising, but its proving to be an interesting trip so far.
After settling into my dorm room last night around 11, I got to sleep around midnight and stayed that way until about 3 am. Then it was a restless period until 5:30 am, when the birds decide to open up with a cacophony of aural assault. It was loud, and with the window open and fan going, it was comfortable, but the birds do make an awful racket quite early in the morning. I am sure that tomorrow morning will not be much better. I got up and went exercising with Lisa around 6:45, including locating the local Safeway supermarket. She didn't sleep very well either, so we decide to explore and get to know the neighborhood. We walked through the supermarket (we didn't really buy groceries) and then walked a bit more before getting some breakfast at a place recommended by Dr. Patterson called Andy's Smoothies. Its a whole in the wall, but we got an early breakfast of pancakes (banana mine, Lisa wheat blueberry) and then more walking after an obligatory stop at a Starbucks. Some people can't move without a light iced mocha latte to finish off breakfast.
We walked more, this time back down the hill from the Manoa valley to south of the freeway and campus, then turning around and walking across campus. About two and half hours later (and 3.5 miles or so) we returned back to the residence. We went to our rooms, got showers, then headed out around 10:45 for Waikiki. We took the bus (and later bought bus passes for the month) and walked from the zoo, to the far end of the main strip, then towards the US Army Museum (which despite my guide book, is closed on Sundays and Mondays) and then back down the strip on a parallel road. A mile one way, a mile the other, then a half mile back again to eat a late lunch at Cheesecake Factory. Then a walk back half a mile to the Honolulu Zoo, which involved much silliness including attack giraffes and man-eating meerkats. We were both exhausted, having walked about 7-8 miles. We took the bus back to the residence around 5, and decided to take a well deserved break.
Around 7:30, we decided to try and head out to get groceries, but the ran was coming in and down the mountains, and we turned back around as it began to rain, after walking half way to Safeway. That adds another mile or so to the walk. Tired and exhausted, I settled into my room and turned on the tv, while deciding it was perfect time to write a blog entry after earlier uploading pictures to my laptop.
Tomorrow, it is bright and early off to the 1st day of the workshop, then a break after lunch. If we haven't gotten shopping down early in the morning, we are going to do that and then Lisa wants to go to the Punchbowl (National Pacific War Cemetery) to look at graves. Her last two books were on images and memories of the dead, so that works. She is not adjusting so well to the spartan conditions of the dorm life, but its not that bad and the Oxford experience more than prepared me for what we are facing. It's honestly not that bad, and the only bad thing is the lack of cooking facilities of any kind. That means the traditional going shopping every other day, mostly eating cold cuts to save money, and maybe cereal for breakfast. Out to dinner once or twice a week as we can afford it, and lunch a similar amount, generally when sightseeing.
We are going to try and head into downtown and see the royal palace on Tuesday. Wednesday, Lisa wants to try and get some sun (and I got a little bit too much of it today by the color of my neck)and I might try the Army museum and then meet up later in the afternoon. It's been fun so far, but tiring and my legs are sore. But that is a good thing I think.
Anyway, that is enough for now. Today could best be called a survey day. We found out how efficient the bus system is, found a few potential souvenirs to shop for, and places we want to go back to see more of. The zoo was a once time visit, and the King Shopping Center was a disappointment despite that comments that it was a bit of 19th century Victoriana here in Honolulu. Tomorrow it will be sunscreen before going out in the afternoon and more water, which I am already drinking a lot of. Hopefully my sleep will be straightened out before too long.
More updates tomorrow.
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