Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Aloha folks!
So, where to start!!!! This is one crazy country! Some guy from LA introduced himself to me whilst I was waiting for the shuttle bus and talked at me for the entire duration of the journey. His name was 'red' and he was a typical American, I'll say no more! Anyway he gave me his number and said we should meet up for lunch but there is no chance of that happening!
For the first time ever, I decided I would wing it once I got to Hawaii, turn up at the street with a few hostels on and surely one of them would have a space for me!
But oh no, it seems there was a massive two day concert featuring Jack Johnson and therefore both my first and second choice of hostel (recommended in the good old lonely planet guidebook) was fully booked. They recommended I walk further down the road to the Pacific Ohana and thankfully they did have room. However, this was the most disgusting place I've ever stayed in and its no wonder they show you the room before you pay for the night.
There were drunk guys staggering about, people asking for money,guys gobbing in the street (totally unnecessary) but thankfully I was in another building a little further down the road. All of the other occupants of the room were asleep,the place was filthy and at this point, I was feeling quite emotionall!
I text Kate and Gareth as they were still in Hawaii and meanwhile another English backpacker came in called Vicki and we hit if off right away! She's in Hawaii for a similar time to myself and we both wanted to do Pearl Harbour and the North Shore so we decided to stick together. When our room mates did finally wake up (it seems all they do is sleep all day) I asked them what the deal was with the place and was told that a lot of people, live in the hostel on a permanent basis as the rent is so cheap. Her and the other girls were living there and it made Vicki and I feel really uncomfortable because it was as if were were intruding on their home.
Anyway, Kate text me back and her and Gareth were on their way to Kailua beach (about 2.5 hours away) but I thought sod it, and began my journey on the number 23! My god there are some dodgy characters on the buses but its only $2 for a trip and you get a free transfer which can be valid between 2 and 6 hours depending on how generous the bus driver is feeling!!
After an hour I was still on the bus. A local guy got chatting to me and he too gave me his number and said we should go out!! Very random and of course I'm not going to call him!! I then had to change to a 57 and then to the 70 and to my surprise Kate and Gareth were on the same bus!! It was great to see them both and their two friends Steve & Kelly were lovely too. We spent the day at the beach which was just stunning and Kate and I thought it only right that we should celebrate our unexpected reunion somehow by enjoying a bottle of Rose! Woohoo!!
The bus ride back was okay, it was when I got off the bus in Waikiki and it was now dark that I felt totally disorientated and everyone I asked for help had no idea where my hostel was. Some guy offered me a lift with him and his cousin and I obviously declined!! But then these two guys asked a taxi driver for me and walked with me in the right direction until they reached the supermarket. They too gave me their number!! Honestly I've never known anything like it....3 numbers in 1 day!!
I eventually made it back and Vicki and I went out for some grub. The next day we got up early and went on a mission to find cheap hotels and other hostel options but we didn't have much luck. So we decided to just see it out in the s***hole for another 2 nights before heading to the North Shore on Monday!
Whilst we've been in Waikiki we've done some shopping, sunbathing, watched the sunset from the beach which was beautiful and yesterday we went to Pearl Harbour and visited the USS Arizona Memorial. It was a very emotional experience, the memorial is the final resting place for many of the battleship's 1,177 crew members who lost their lives on December 7,1941 and you can still see some of the ship's remains.
In addition to staying in complete dump, it seems the mosquito bites on my foot and legs have become infected so I had to pay $160 to see a doctor and was prescribed antibiotics for a week!! After cleaning the bites he had to put plasters on all of them, and some of them were brightly coloured kiddie plasters as they were all out of regular ones!!! Nice!!
It turns out I was only actually a ten minute walk away from the hostel but my sense of direction has failed me dramatically these past few days and so I ended up walking for half an hour getting on a bus, getting off the bus back where I started, and then I finally realised I was two minutes away!! Dear oh dear!! And its been agony to walk on my bad foot so by this time I was close to tears AGAIN!!!
Vicki and I have checked out the hostel this morning (YAY!) and in half hour or so we're being picked up by shuttle bus and taken to North Shore. We can't wait!! Funny story, when we phoned the hostel there, the guy asked us where we were staying and I said I couldn't remember the name but it was a dump and he said oh right you're at the Pacific Ohana where all the crackheads are!!!
So it seems the place has a bit of a reputation across the island!! Nevermind, I'm just glad to be out of there! It hasn't been the best start to my 11 days in Hawaii, but things can only get better and Vicki and I are really looking forward to chilling out in the North Shore for a few days!
Until next time take care of yourself and each other xxxxx
- comments