A cottage in Lanakai

One week ago, I was really itching for some travel. And I bought a plane ticket to one of the most beautiful places on earth. And then I remembered that I had to ask my bosses for time off =) I have never been so glad for such a lovely vacation, full of new experiences and leaving me with a desire to do so much more the next time around.

Packing for this trip was insane. I packed literally a week and a half worth of clothing for 4 and a half days in Hawaii. It's just that I didn't know who I would be meeting up with, what we would be doing, etc. I had 4 swimsuits, 2 dresses I had bought in North Shore last time I was here with Joyce, and a huge assortment of other things! And then my bottle of sunblock which is surprisingly almost empty - yippee!

I've discovered that there are few things more wonderful than laying in a hammock under a grove of palm trees in Lanakai. This holds true no matter what time of day it might be. Mornings are the coolest, the cold, hard, but brief rainshowers do me little bother, and nights looking at the planets, stars and moon - these things take on new meaning when swaying gently in a clean rope hammock on a balmy night. Often with a stellar find - sweet tea! - and a cigarette!

The bungalow was perfect. A little 600 square foot retreat set apart on the side of someone's house. Even a little air conditioning in the bedroom for when it gets too muggy. And if you cross the street and go down the alley, you come to.. well, the ocean. And it looks just like this.

I've been to Hawaii a number of times. Mostly through timeshares - Waikiki, Ko Olina, etc. I've visited the Japanese temples in the mountain, I've seen North Shore. But this time just trumphed it all. For many reasons, this trip will always remain very special to me.

Lanakai strikes me as one of the posher places in Oahu - everyone I saw was white or asian. Lots of SUVs and people waving hi to each other. The beach is pristine with ash-like pale beige sand. The water is a light aquamarine getting slightly darker in the distance and there are two pointy little islands in the near distance, making it unlike any other tropical beach I've ever seen in my life.

That evening after getting off the plane, while walking to the beach - a crew competition was taking place! Residents of Lanikai, young and old were powering through the waves and literally flying across the water! To see all these healthy and fit people from their teens into their 60s was an awe-inspiring thing. And I looked down at my pudgy belly and shook my head...

What a treat it was to come back to Hawaii. While walking around I passed a million shirtless young men with their tanned, muscular bodies - barefoot and relaxed. I was in heaven, and kept wishing Joyce was with me. I think we could have caused a little trouble together! Ah, next time! =)