HI part 1 (Everything is great now...with the internet ON)

Yes...I made it here.

This is day #4 in HI, and so far, so good. It keeps getting better each day. :)

Day 1 was miserable. I had gotten off a 6 hr flight. I dragged my ten thousand lbs heavy suit case with me and got on the Alamo bus for the car rental. It was sort of a weird contrast between me (the lone person) and the happy bunch of travelers everywhere (the airport, the plane, at Alamo, on the streets). I picked a RED Chevy Cobalt that looks lovely, and I've always wanted a red car on an island. It just seems suiting. and i went on my way, driving in a foreign place with no real map in hand.

And may i just add, driving here is CRAZY. It's sort of a cross between LA and Taipei. The street signs are sometims no where to be seen, and even if there is one, they dont light up at night. The streets are windey and confusing (due to the geography here) and LOTS of one-way streets and special lane division to confuse the heck out of you. I can never make a left turn where i need to make one and no where to make a U-turn to get back on the street i needed to be on. So LOTS of getting lost, lots of dangerous driving. From day 1-2 i was constantly getting lost. couldn't even find my own apartment or my friend's hotel which is about 10 min away. the parking situation at my apt sucks. I practically have to park ON the curb. I had never been so frstrated. but over the 4 day period, i'm starting to make some progress. I'm recognizing most streets and freeways and getting used to the horrible parking, so that's a good sign.

And so far i think i've been pretty lucky. I was lucky to have found this apartment which is shared between a couple students from Univ of Hawaii. The rent is reasonable, and the girls are super nice. I actually chat with them a little everyday, and today we spent the whole day just running errands and getting food together. I was introduced to a great local hangout (Glazer coffee) and a cheap local eat (some ramen place) and where everything is located relative to our apt (K mart, grocery stores, japanese marketd, post office). I am just all around happy and feel fortunate.

On top of that, a friend from pharmacy school is here on a trip with her high school friends. We decided to meet up and we've been hanging out for the past 2 days. So far we've visited Diamond Head for a hike, the famous shrimp truck on the North Shore, the Dole Plantation, Koa pancake house, Laie lookout, the polynesian cultural center, and the waikiki shopping area. I have so much fun at these places because her friends have been extremely hospitable to me, and we joke around a lot. They didn't mind that i just sort of crashed their vacation. at the end of the day they even took me to Wal-Mart so i could get the necessities i need here *tears*. a short description for each of these places:

Diamond Head: pretty intense for a beginner. I was out of the breath most of the time. but a cool place to check out the volcano crater.

Shrimp truck: located SOMEWHERE on highway 83...so we drove around for the longest time. the place we ended up picking was actually run by a taiwanese owner! the shrimp plate was so good. i had the garlic, but i also enjoyed my friend's Lava shrimp and salt and pepper (my favorite).

Dole Plantation: been there before. but still fun (and the pineapple ice cream is still yummy).

Koa Pancake house: EXTREMELY close to my work place. has some cheap breakfast, although not as good as SD. but very regional and i very much like it.

Laie lookout: a hidden gem next to polynesian cultural center. picture will follow.

Polynesian Cultural Center: been there before. But still fun and i still enjoyed the pagent of the islands as well as the buffet. i liked EVERYTHING on the buffet table and the rainbow ice. the performance was super too. LOVED the fireknife competition.

And the fact that my internet got working today is just awesome. I'm liking it here more and more every day. let's hope it stays like that. ;)