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6/27 Circle Island Tour
So I woke up bright n early on Saturday. As part of orientation the school had offered us a tour around the island on Oahu for $3.50. Why not, that was do-able. Only problem is that we had to be leave by 8am!! The entire tours was like a crash course. We would drive somewhere for like 30min (island is small but the speed limit is 35mi!) and spend 15min at the location!!
First stop was a temple. The place was serene!! It is located in the valley, with hills all around. It is the type of place you want to come and meditate, come for like a week and just be one with nature. Inside it is this giant statue and before you enter the room you have to take of your shoes (By the way there is a lot of Japanese influence on the island, sings are in Japanese, tours are given in Japanese, just all sorts of things). Outside there are wild geese and fish and a little cute shop. I only got to see 10min!!
Next stop was Nuuanu Pali State Park. It is this high spot where you stand on top of a hill. It is supposed to be really windy. Like if you throw a penny down, it will come back up and fly backward. Our guides told us not to take hats!! Unfortunately, it was not as windy, I would have love to see a penny fly backwards!! (Historically, this is where King Kamameha's army finally conquered Oahu, cause the army had gone this far and they couldn't go any further, since you are basically trapped in) At the top, you pretty much see much of the island, it is really cool. You know the scene in Titanic where the girl is on top o the boat with her arms spread wide and wind just 'gushing' in her hair, like the you feel like you are flying, this is what it would feel like to be there. But that was 10min!!
Third stop was at a "Swap Meet." This is basically a giant market, outside a stadium and all around the stadium. There all sort of locals with their own little shops and you basically just bargain shop. I was looking at the coconut cups that you use as bikini top, the ones that 'hula' girls wear. We started at like $12, then $8, then $6, but I wasn't sure if I wanted them or not. I might have been able to go lower, only thing though, I wasn't sure they would be my size, there might not be coconuts large enough. LOL LOL so I just got some necklaces—8 for $5 (look at me!!)
Fourth stop was Pearl Harbor. I left feeling sad and more convinced that I had to somehow figure out how to use good old diplomacy, there just has to be a way to end the death of our fellow brothers and sisters!! You get there and you visit a little memorial and then when you come in you get a ticket number (the whole tour is free, and the place gets about 1.5 million visitors! I was actually in line with a couple from North Missouri, by Iowa) You watch a small video about the history of Pearl Harbor and the devastation the Japanese cause that day (militarily, it was brilliant, how does one travel 4000mi undetected, with massive ships and hundreds of airplanes and plans an attacks that wipes out a whole naval system within a couple of hours!!!) After this they take you out to the water to a memorial of the Arizona ship, which sank and some of the wreckage is still underwater. Inside the memorial, you are quite and there is a wall with the names of those who died that day. It made me think that sometimes I really don't comprehend the sacrifices that have been made for me to live and the lead the type of life that I do. I admit, I am more on the liberal side of the fence, and if I could cut the US budget I would start with the army, but you have to admire the work, the diligence, the discipline and certainly the courage of those young men and women who are out day and night fighting. I have been watching Army Wives (see Lifetimes Sunday night at 9 CT or go online and watch the episodes, they are commercial free) and I am learning about the sacrifices that military family make on my, our behalf! Anyway, this food for thought!! Consider them the next time you are able to walk down the streets, speak freely, work and get paid, worship your own God…basically all the things you do to lead the life that you do. It will make you feel grateful!!
Our last stop was at this little town, it was an artsy town. I went into this one shop and fell in love, they have all things reggae and all things Hawaii, like you would find a surfboard with Bob Marley's face. Then I went to this art gallery that I fell in love with. For some reasons, I am falling in love with art. Maybe it has to do with the fact that I have more artsy friends. (Lizzie, did this painting out of candles for STAND's human rights art exhibit and I want it so bad), but anyway, see the pictures that I have posted and you will understand why. The place invites the artists to come and watch as the paint. So I am definetly going, maybe I will even get an artist to come for our STAND's human rights art exhibit next year. That would be HOT!!
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