Hawaii travel log Part II

On the Monday, I started my AOW diver course. I took a bus to Ala Moana harbor to meet up with Liv, my instructor for the day. Oh well, I didn't answer the question at the back of each chapter.. shame me.. And another shame for me is throughout the whole diving course, I did not have any underwater photo. Firstly, I do not have a casing for my camera... its water proof can only endure snorkelling but not diving. Secondly, Gabe actually told me that he can take some pics for me, but too bad, he wasn't the one who dove with me :(

On bus 57. Thanks to Timothy's monthly bus pass :D

Ala Moana Harbor

Ala Moana Beach Park

The first dive suppose to be a refresher dive. I am suppose to do some simple skills underwater. However, halfway down, I wasn't able to equalize my ear on 1 side. So I hung myself to the rope and waited for the crew to dive around. The wave was damn strong and I felt so sick. Interval time, I vomitted. Rested for around an hour, and continue to do the second dive. The second trip was good but my buoyancy suck big time. I am suppose to do hand stand but somehow I don't know how. I felt quite embarrassed actually. After finished the second dive, I vomitted so much on the boat. I thought it may due to the cheesecake I had in the morning. I always felt super bloated with the food during and after diving.

So after finished our dives, Jessica, my dive buddy sent me to the dive shop to wrap up our day, and very kind of her, sending me back to darling's condo. It was a very tired day. I wasn't able to make myself to move outside anymore. Not until when darling comes back and go for dinner, I have actually forgotten what we ate on that night ohh nooo~

The next day is a diving day as well, I got to meet Drew at the dive shop at 645am and he got to pick up another 2 people from Waikiki. This time we went to West shore to dive. It was a long drive... more than an hour I think. But the view was scenic. Especially when we reach our destination, Waianae Harbor. From the harbor, the mountains look so magnificent.

Getting ready

We are supposed to do 2 deep dive, and wreck dive. However, my first dive was disastrous. I had palpitation when I got deeper. I had anxiety and I can't control but keep telling myself it's deep. So, Drew took me to a higher level and make sure that I am all well. I really respect his professionalism. He really know what he was doing and showed all the professionalism. Throughout the dive, he keep me with him and make sure I am ok. I can't do my deep diving skills though.. On the second dive, we went to a wreck and I tried to perform what he told me to but he didn't really want to check on the wreck dive skills. Anyway, the second dive was much better. Maybe because I told myself that was the last dive trip for the week :P
I thought I like diving. But at that point of time, I am so scared of it and hope it pass quickly.

So Drew sent me back and since it is still early, I took a walk around the downtown.

St Andrew Cathedral. I didn't go in because there were a couple taking their wedding photo at the church.

Iolani Palace, which I visited in the second week

The coat of arm at the gate of Iolani Palace

King Kamehameha Statue. The building behind is the Jurisdiction court. Downstairs open for visitors, upstairs are real courthouse.

It says King Kamehameha fights enemy

Caption Cook invitation to King Kamehameha to his ship

The peaceful Hawaii under King Kamehameha 

King Kamehameha oversees his troop of warriors

Aloha Tower

Star of Honolulu dinner cruise

I am very impress of myself. Because from darling's condo, I walked to King Kamehameha's statue, then continue to Aloha tower, and followed by Ross, near darling's house. Thanks to his GPS haha! When darling was off from work, he fetch me from Ross and head to dinner at Lobster king, together with Frank, his housemate. Frank was very kind to give us a treat, for welcoming me Yeah! The lobster was only 9.90USD with other dishes ordered. Superlicious, but we forgotten to take any pics of them.

Wednesday, rest day for me. I went to send postcards, visit the courthouse, and to Ross! Yes, again, because I did not manage to buy anything the day before. Call me a shopaholic and I happily agree. I do watch over my pocket though...Darling came to find me for lunch, but apparently the shop that we wanted to go is close during the time. So, darling headed back to his office and left me to had my own lunch at Nijiya Market. Yes, I was smart enough to find bento food so that I do not need to give any tips to the waiter/waitress. Then I proceed to Ala Moana shopping mall.

My lunch. sumptuous isn't it?

I did not buy a lot at Ala Moana, which I really regretted so much. Coz after the labor day holiday and I went back again, all the sales were gone! No more sales! I was in Ala Moana until 7pm when darling called me to fetch me. Very impressed on myself again on how much I can walk. I had a bad ankle, having accessory navicular bone. But I still can endure the pain and walk for more than 8 hours! We went back to the restaurant that we were supposed to had our lunch earlier. It was a great choice.

The interior of the restaurant

Japanese porridge. I deeply fell in love with this porridge and basically all porridge. I have been cooking porridge since I got back from Hawaii and I love them!

My beloved darling in action!

The next day, we were off to Hilo for our 5d4n trip. Stay tune for my next post ^^

Hawaii travel log Part I

Seriously, I don't know how many parts this will take. I will try to keep it short and concise. So let's talk from the start...

Firstly, thanks to Jenny and Edwin for fetching me to the airport and treating me an expensive but so so dinner in KLIA. Not saying they treat me so so dinner, my point is KLIA food so so only. We do not have enough time to eat before that.

Fast forward >>>>

I took Korean Air for this trip and it's fair to say their service and food are good. However, at some point, I do not really satisfy with their service. They got no menu to provide. Anyway, they fed me well. 

At Incheon Airport

Chicken Bulgogi burger set that costs me 14RM. The taste? Not very good...I did not finish the whole set

So after grabbed some food, I join the transit tour namely Seoul City tour which costs me USD40. This is because I have a 12hours transit time! Good for me since I have not been in Seoul yet, and this only costs 40bucks. The trip covers 1 palace, 1 temple, a famous stream and Insadong street - for shopping. The trip is actually quite short for me which ended around 230pm. Well, coz my next flight is 7pm. 

The famous dono-what-stream 

Some palace

Actually, I don't think the trip is interesting. Palace and temples looks the same. The lunch also so-so... This might be due to the fact that I am still full with the KFC bulgogi burger though. Insadong street is much more interesting for me. 

So, once we were back to the airport, I took a chance to take a shower at the airport and shopped around. I like Incheon airport for the cultural centre and the activities that we can do there. There are cultural shows which makes our time at the airport much interesting, rather than shopping at the duty free stores. Well, for me the duty free stores are attractive as well :D

The cultural demonstration

I did say the duty free stores are attracting to me isn't it :)

In fact, I spent so much time walking around and shopping around, testing the seaweed and thinking which one to buy, I only spent like 10 - 15mins for the free wifi while waiting for boarding. 

Another 9 hours flight brought me to Hawaii woohoo~

To my surprise, Korean air served Bibimbap as one of their meals. Quite nice I would say, of course without the stone bowl! Surprise, surprise. Then in the morning before reaching Hawaii, they served porridge. Green tea porridge! It was my first time to eat something like that but it tasted superb. Too bad I didn't have chance for breakfast on the way back :(

Bibimbap

The flight was actually delayed for around 40mins. I was fast asleep when boarded the plane but when I woke up, the plane was still in the run way waiting for its turn to fly. So I arrived at Hawaii around 10am+ After spent some time get through the immigration, location my luggages and get myself out at the arrival gate. It was still Friday morning in Hawaii. Darling was already waiting for me there ^^ presented me the lei and sent me back to his house.

darling's condo @ Honolulu park place

And so, I went to sleep coz I am so damn tired! I didn't manage to get a good sleep from both flight to Hawaii. I slept until around 6pm when darling called me again to get me for dinner. Oh, I forgot that I didn't bring camera out for dinner... too bad. Oh, we went to Walmart after dinner too. Didn't bring camera though, but there's nothing much to take photo about Walmart la...Darling also introduced his favourite Jamba juice for me. JAMBA juice, not JAMBAN ok... it's fruit smoothies. We manage to get to Ross for a while and wow, I was astonished by the price of their shoes. So cheap! Those were branded shoes at a very cheap price! 

On Saturday, darling brought me to eat dim sum near his place around chinatown and we went around chinatown for a walk. 

Somewhere along Nuuanu Avenue

Very sunny

was surprised that Sun Yat Sen spent his early life in Hawaii. Me at Sun Yat Sen Mall

After that, we went to Kaimana Divers, where I am supposed to meet Gabe to discuss about my diving course. Yes, I took the Advance Open Water Diving course in Hawaii, which costs me around 366 USD. There are a total of 6 dives and I only managed to enjoy 3 due to my personal performance problem -.-

So after the talk at Kaimana Divers, darling brought me to Ross nearby. All the clothes, shoes, bags are so cheap over there. I spent a little too much time there heehee... bought a pair of Levi's jeans at only 13bucks, a blouse for my mum and a dress for myself. Then we head to fetch darling's colleague to get their groceries at Costco. 

After shopping and fetching his colleagues back, we went to Waikiki beach to take a stroll and supposedly to take dinner there. We stopped by many shops, bought a pair of Nine west shoe for 20bucks, ate yogurt at Yogurtland, and finally, reached our destination at The Cheesecake Factory. We waited around 35mins to get the tag, and another 35mins to wait for a table. That is how famous they are. 

Me @ Waikiki Beach

Yogurt from Yogurtland - similar like Tutti Fruitti here but it's cheaper. Well, in the sense that if you are earning USD.

Our burger set at The Cheesecake Factory. We shared 1 set and was already full like mad

So since we were damn full already, we tapau our cheese cakes back home. Not able to eat that too until the next morning. And cannot even finish 2 piece of cheese cakes coz it was really filling! Darling commented that after eating the cake from cheesecake factory, he felt secret recipe was keeping their ingredients short, which I agree too.

Carrot cheesecake

30 Anniversary chocolate cheesecake

Sunday was a shopping day at outlet mall. We spent so much time there until we left little time for boogie boarding :p However, we still squeeze some time to do that at Waikiki.

Oh, how I love darling's tummy :P

And we went to Aloha Tower's Hooters to dine. We had numerous chicken wing that night. Why? Because it was a chicken wing buffet night. I realized that I had the symptoms of UTI and quickly ordered cranberries juice to ease the symptoms. Drinking lots of water, cranberries juice, and dried cranberries after dinner. That WORKS.

It has been a long post isn't it? I shall stop here and draft for the second one. HAHA

In the search of my motivation

Oh, I have deserted my blog once again. Was lazy to update coz facebook is everything for updates now. No I shan't do that. Some of the things can't be shared thru facebook, which I can do it here.

So well, I am back from my 17days Hawaii trip. Got my AOW diver license and spend a lot of money. But I had a great time with darling. That's the important point.

Today team lead told me boss wanna say something to me about transfer issue, then I go straight to boss. Boss said no, it's regarding my work performance.. saying that physically I am there but my heart is not there anymore. I did not deny this point, I just say got work then I do. Working as usual. However, personally I agree with what they said. This happened since I can't get E for my last year performance. Subconsciously affected me, and I already do not care about all these KPI, since bosses are not doing 1 to 1 at all, and do not share information with us.

Anyway, I just need to endure for another week!

Sharing of my pics in hawaii

 Me at National Volcanoes Park, Hilo, Hawaii