I figured that I would post something about one of our favorite vacations so far... Hawaii. This is the first trip (over 500 miles) that we had gone on with another couple (Andrea (Hilary's sister) and her husband Chris).
We left just before New Years 2007 and stayed for a week in Maui. The funny thing is that this was our (Hilary & I) first time in Hawaii and we still talk, to this day, about how we would love to move there. We have never said that about any other vacation we have gone on. There is something about Hawaii... If you have been there before, you know what I am talking about, if not, I highly encourage you to make at least one trip there in your lifetime.
Here are some pictures and a few short stories to go along with them.
Hilary & I at Hard Rock Maui
Ok, this is a good story... Above is a picture of Big Beach in Maui. Behind me, is Little Beach. Now keeping in mind that Hilary was around five months pregnant at this time, Chris & I made her and Andrea climb these rocks so we could get over to Little Beach. It had a little more privacy and everything but as we started walking down the trail, Chris came running back laughing. As I rounded the corner, I seen a guy on all fours, building a sand castle... NAKED!!!! Little Beach is a nude beach!!! As I looked around, I noticed that these people have never heard of an iron before because I seen more wrinkles than I ever wanted too!! We quickly headed back to Big Beach and spent the day there.
I like McDonalds food and did you know that depending on where in the world you are, McDonalds serve different items by region. Well in Hawaii, they have something called Saimin. I asked the kid what is was and he said it was like "cup of noodles". Well, lets just say it smelled like rotten fish. Below is the picture of what is in that nasty cup.
We decided to go out for a nice dinner one night to a place that Chris has always wanted to go... it is called Ruth Chris Steakhouse. I really like this picture because you can see that both couples have their plastic on the table to pay for this meal. Lets see my steak was $46 and Hilary's was $43 and yes... that was just the steak. Mashed potatoes were another $9 (I think) and all the other stuff. Was it good? Yes. Was it $128 good? hmmm I don't think so. But, its something we can all laugh about now.
Even if you aren't a history buff, you can probable figure out what this is (remember we are in Hawaii and that sure looks like an oil slick). This was one thing that I have always wanted to do and I must say, it was very touching being there and seeing it. This is the oil that is still coming up from the USS Arizona (remember Pearl Harbor?). This ship was sank during the attack on December 7, 1941 and it is still bleeding oil. About 10 quarts a day bleed out. It was very eerie standing above that much history.
No pot of gold... we checked (we had to pay for that steak dinner somehow)
Black Sand Beach... you should take a 4x4 down here... I drove our Grand Prix down
No this isn't our hotel pool... instead this was the pool that I took my resort scuba course at. If you are not PADI certified, you can take a resort course and go scuba diving. I have gone several times and just love it so I spend a day by myself doing this. You go through a classroom portion and then swim around in the pool for awhile. Once you "pass" you get to go on an open water dive in the ocean (see below)
This is my friend... Diver Dan... or wait maybe its Scuba Steve... or maybe its me.
When we went into the open water portion, we seen TONS of sea turtles. They are amazing. This one almost bite me though and if you harass any sea turtle its something like a $10,000 fine plus jail time.
Just swimming with the turtles dude (Crush is one of my favorites from Finding Nemo)
Our dive master "found", this octopus. Eventually it pulled off his mask and see below for what else he did
Yep, they really do shoot out "ink"
