Wednesday 7/21

Another early morning, but one in which I got more sleep than usual. I am heading to bed around 11 or so, and while I initially wake up around 4 am, I have been able to go back to sleep until about 6:45 the last few days. I am feeling better, but its still a bit of a restless sleep. It has also been a bit warm the last couple nights, which means that waking up in the morning is not as comfortable as it could be. The lack of A/C and the very mild trade winds means that its not as comfortable as it could be.

Monday afternoon was spent climbing to the top of Diamond Head. Lisa and I took the bus down to the zoo at Waikiki, got some lunch, then made the casual but long walk up to the Diamond Head itself. We walked into the extinct volcano, paid our $1 entrance fee, then began the climb up to the observation point on the rim of the crater. It was a bit rough, especially when more than 80% of the way up we get to a series of 99 steps at a 30% angle, then a long tunnel, and then even more circular stairs to the top. The top is a WWII observation bunker where a young volunteer was selling certificates to those who made the walk to the top. My knees were aching, my stomach cramped a bit as it was warm, and Lisa, who runs triathlons for fun, said it was tough. However, the views at the top were worth the walk, but honestly, that was a once in a lifetime climb to the top. We then walked back down, which took about 30 minutes, to the bus stop and then took a bus to Waikiki. We decided to then treat ourselves to a few drinks at our favorite beach hotel, the Moana Surfrider, then took the bus back to the dorms.

Yesterday was class, a meeting until 2:15, then off to the beach. However, I had to make some phone calls with people back home, while Lisa began the process of "browning" herself, or as she says, "cinnamoning" herself. After about 45 minutes, I joined her on the beach for about 35 minutes. The Waikiki beach is narrow, very crowded, the tide was coming in to make it even more narrow, and the sun was brutally hot. I was covered with sunscreen, took some pictures, and then after 35 minutes, went to the bar and out of the sun. Lisa and I then left the beach around 5 because we had to get to a Bollywood movie that was part of the course we are attending. I managed to find an island's traditional food source, Puka Dog for dinner.

Puka Dog is a chain of restaurants on Maui and the other islands, with only a single outlet in Honolulu on Waikiki. It's basically a polish sausage, odd sauces, jammed into a circular bun with a hole in the center. It's messy, it was good, but it was expensive, $8 with tax. While the restaurant was on Anthony Bourdain's tv show, No Reservations, and it was good, it was expensive for just an oversized hot dog. Then it was catching the bus, a quick (and I mean 5 minute) shower, before heading to the movie. The movie was called Delhi-6, about a NY raised Indian man who goes to Delhi with his dying grandmother and rediscovers his ethnic roots. It was much better than the movie we saw last week.

Today is another class, another meeting, and then a trip to the supermarket and laundry. A somewhat quiet day today. Tomorrow, Thursday, is a day with two classes, and then Friday is a class, a trip to the airport to pick up the rental car, and then an afternoon of traveling about the island.

I'll post the pictures from Monday and yesterday later today.