Hawaii 2018 - Day 1

Day1: Flew in early due to huge tail winds & got stung an extra days car rent for being 45 mins early picking up our Jeep (note: @budget not friendly service sadly - in any way - tried to sting me for extra insurance + 3rd party liability + GPS hire too!). Anyway not a bad flight on the new 787 dreamliner although it felt longer than it should have at just over 9 hours. Was quiet & more comfortable up front on the head & sinuses loved it. Staff were lovely too I must say. In-flight service & entertainment was generally good (although I wasn’t offered water once & the touch screen was dodgy). The Shape of Water was an amazing film & definitely a highlight! Loved it! Economy seats looked just as great & I look forward to trying it out on the way home (mum upgraded me on this leg thank you so much @dihartley!!!). The @jetstar business class MEL-HNL however, was virtually no different from economy except for slightly wider seats, better meals & a pre-flight champers. The seats didn’t recline properly or footrests work. Not a lay-flat bed in sight here folks! Adults & children still coughed constantly without medicating in any way, but the @bose noise cancelling quiet comfort 35 headphones really are worth every cent! After walking for what seemed an eternity to the car rental place 😂 we finally got our Jeep SUV & yep sorry I’m spoiled but yeah, it’s “ok”. Drives well if lacking any top end power, but it’s so boofy & unnecessarily high & clunky inside at best. Fuel economy appears great though so that’s awesome! It would want to be at $3.48 a gallon! It’s also a bit scary to back as it has blind spots galore & I wish it had a screen or backing camera at least.  GPS & screens as standard would be nice but yes Australia, we are very spoilt with our car choices! So after a thorough check & get to know you with the car we headed off to find free parking (which the Budget lady said was “not available in Waikiki - wrong!!!) I had researched it before we left like everything else & we parked (6 hours free) on the foreshore in front of @hiltonhawaiiwaikikivillage easily! A yummy breakfast including fresh beer from @waikikibrewingco went down well with eggs & delicious non-fatty home made hash browns! Great staff too! After a walk around the massive Hilton “village” it was time for the big 70km Drive to the north shore via Diamond Head & the Kalanianaole Highway then back toward Pearl City before heading north for Waialua via Hanalei. Not being able to check into @airbnb places til 3pm is a pain after 24 hours travel & a 5am arrival but it was ready by 2pm & we arrived armed with groceries & dug in (like Alabama ticks) for the night, showering & PJs  early, taking a nap & finishing with a @bombaysappgire gincolada & a cheese platter for dinner! Yum! It’s a fabulous place right on the water & we couldn’t be happier. So glad to spend time with my precious mummy & even watch the feel good @mammamiafilm tonight - a tough one for me as musical movies are a challenge at best! But I let myself go & it was a bit of fun actually. I miss my hubby & dogs already but after ringing dean I’m more at peace with my decision to come here. I know they are confused at my absence & miss me too but are well loved & cared for! Night all time for some shut eye! We just adore our little bungalow by the sea with its crashing waves & stunning, manicured tropical garden. We have horses next door at the polo club & paragliders everywhere. Can’t wait to explore the region more! 

Word/expression of the day: Aloha - hello, goodbye, love, spirit & many more.