Snorkelling in the Molokini Crater..and other cool places

5am and the alarm goes off.

It's dark, but Andrew, Emma and I are used to these wake ups (thanks Toby), but not so, the boys.

We are heading to Kihei to board our boat for a 1/2 day snorkel trip.  It was cool to watch the sunrise on the trip there.

Once we got there, our guides/boat drivers, Andy and Chase from "Redline Rafts", sized us up for our flaterring wetsuits, and with a total of about 15 people, we set off to Molokini Crater-a partially submerged volcanic crater.

They fed us a delicious breakfast of fresh fruit and cinnamon buns, fitted us with fins and masks, gave us some snorkelling instructions and then we were let loose!( way before the bigger boats arrived).

Sliding into the water from the side of the boat was a little daunting, but once we got in, it was like swimming in an aquarium!- Aqua water, white sandy bottoms, coral and fish galore.

After having a good look and snorkel, we were then taken to the other side, where the bigger boats can't get to- definitely a better experience as it's like something off "Finding Nemo" with the coral shelf and the drop off!" We even spotted a baby reef shark.
We rode "the elevator" a termed coined by Chase, when bobbing in a corner of the crater and the surge pushes you up a foot or so higher. Fun, but definitely not dangerous.

That's the amazing thing about Hawaii, there's nothing DANGEROUS, like good ole' Oz- no jellyfish, crocodiles, wild dogs, predators etc- the wildest things are the chickens and goats!!!

Anyway, we also were fortunate to boat beside Spinner dolphins, that were keen to give us a show and ride our waves, and then we were taken over to where the Green turtles reside- AMAZING- so many turtles- definitely another Nemo moment!!

We were given a lovely fresh lunch, then headed back to the port- It was an amazing experience, filled with amazing sights, interesting local facts of Hawaii eg. the Island formations, how the US airforce/army used one of the Islands for bombing practice for about 40 years- even parts of Molokini were pellted with gunfire for practice!

I think the day was even better as Sammy was really good by himself, even taking on Andrew, by diving under to have a closer look at the reef!(I'm not that brave).

Pre-dawn drive. 

Andrew in his wet suit-very slimming!

Molokini Crater where we snorkelled both sides
Pic thanks to the web.

Turtle- Pic thanks to Web as we didn't have a camera.

Aloha from Maui...and other words I've learnt

After a relatively uneventful plane trip to Honolulu (apart from the 5 mins of bad turbulance through thick cloud that had us a little concerned-since it looked like something from a movie-YIKES), we waited a few hours at the airport to transfer us to Maui.

The security wasn't as crazy strict as LA, but we still needed face scans, finger scans, bum scans...only joking.  I was just seeing if you were paying attention!

The vending machines at the airport were very interesting.  You could purchase fresh leis, frangipani shoots in plastic bags, and electrical goods.  I'm sure there were also food vending machines, but I wasn't paying attention to those.

We were much smarter this time, and found the Starbucks for a cup of coffee (remember, the bad coffee at Maccas?).  They even sold Oprah Winfrey teas- whatever that meant!

Since it was early morning, Hawaiian time, the place was fairly empty.  This left enough time to stretch our legs, and by this I mean that Emma and myself "lunged" around the seated area (Toby, our personal trainer would have been proud!)

We also studied the 1970's nostalgia pics of the airhostesses, as well as lying on the floor to stretch our bodies from the plane, not to mention trying to reduce my swollen feet that resembled slightly inflated balloons!

We eventually got to Maui, found our hire car, and braced ourselves to drive on the wrong side of the road!!!!.

Our hotel is lovely- ponds of Koi fish, pools, eating areas and the beach that you can snorkel straight off from and see the reef fish! How cool!

So far our knowledge of Hawaiian words extend to Aloha- hello, Mahalo- thank you ( I've created a song to the tune of Halo by Beyonce), Mahi Mahi (eek fish that made headlines after the Bali deaths), Lahania ( pronounced like Lihyna).  It's a township with shops, restaurants etc.

I will try to be more vigilant with the pics- I'm using a camera and iphone!

Where have all the shower caps gone?

I'm "shocked" that this has not made the news headlines and that the Current Affairs shows have not done a story on this.

I decided that I was going to be super organised and have everything packed into my toiletry bag, without those "last minute" throw ins that one places after the morning shower- including my shower cap.  I must admit that I frequently forget to pack it anyway.

But not this time!

Armed with my shopping list, I headed to the the grocery store.....nothing! The cap section was vacant.  

"Never mind" I thought, I'll get one from the chemist.....Wrong!

After looking in EVERY aisle, I asked the assistant, who assisted me..to find an empty space!

"What the!"

She helpfully suggested that I could go to the grocery store!

So out I trudged today, into another chemist, again scouring the likely areas..shampoo aisle-NO!

Plastic travel containers and travelly stuff.NO!

Again resorting to the assistance of the Assistant

"Yes we have them in the shampoo aisle"- "Uh- we must have moved them".  

It was then that I voiced my theory to her....

"I think that the terrorists have bought ALL the showercaps to use them for something terrible"

I also explained my painful recent escapades.

She laughed out loud and then asks another lady, "You'll find them over near the travel section" ( I so could get a job here with my similar powers of perception).

Well after fumbling around for a minute, she finds ONE!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!  My hair will thank you.

So I'm still left wondering, why there's a sudden shortage

Have you heard anything?...

I'm also thinking of reselling this precious plastic showercap on Gumtree!

What not to wear on the plane.

So, if you search "what to wear on a plane", there are a myriad of helpful blogs about layering,- singlet tops, teamed with a light button top. A shawl or cardigan for warmth and light pants complete with some comfy flats for easy removal at the many airport checkpoints.  They even come complete with pictures, just in case you need further explanation.  Some even have links to the branded clothing that they've referred to.

Strangely, they focus nearly all their attention on women's apparel, while the men are clearly left in the dark...or maybe men just don't care about what they wear as long as they have leg room on the plane and that they can sleep!

So I've put together some pictures (sans an actual human for identity protection-haha), of some outfits that possibly aren't good to wear on the plane to Hawaii.

A little obvious that you're not a hula native!

A little MORE obvious that you're not a Hawaiian native, but an Aussie Lowe's shopper.


So let me know if you have any more hot tips, either what to wear or what NOT to wear!

The countdown is on!

Hi All

Well, the countdown is on to our Hawaiian Holiday!

Since I'm car-less today, the boys have had friends over to play, while I've been a Domestic Goddess (AKA washing clothes).  I've also been stockpiling an assortment of clothes that MIGHT make it on holidays.

I'm also sorting and creating a list of things to purchase before we go. eg. 100 tablets of paracetamol, since they only really sell Aspirin, and I can't take it.I'm also going to buy some Gastrohealth, because no one wants to be sick while holidaying.

I have mentioned to the others that we're travelling light, so that we have plenty of space in our luggage to bring back goodies!

Last time, we overpacked (partially due to the fact that we had about 3 seasons in one holiday).

I have mentioned that I could wear my new coconut shell bra and hula skirt, to get into the spirit of things, but my family believes this might not be a great look- SHOCK!!

Oh well, I better get back to list writing and checking.......

Stockpiling!

3 in 1 toiletry bags-that will be culled