It's gorgeous

I don’t want to do lots of sight seeing in Hawaii. I’ve done enough sight seeing for a while, and I‘m happy just to drink in the scenery and spend my last precious few days on the beach. Ang plays the perfect host and takes me to nice look out points and beaches.

One day we go to the North Shore and watch some guys surf that Bonsai Pipeline, one of the most famous surfing spots in the world. It’s amazing to watch this in person. It’s highly dangerous in that area and only for extremely skilled surfers. The massive waves make such a perfect “c” shape as they roll over, that the surfers actually get caught in the way. Sometimes they are able to shoot out the side before the wave closes, and other times it envelopes them in the salty, ferocious water. It’s amazing watch and we do for hours.

Fun to watch real surfers

Surfing is a cool sport to watch because you want to root for everyone. You want everyone to catch the waves.

Speaking of surfing, I give my new found skills a shot and fail dismally. It’s not an easy sport! My confidence waned with my first attempt. I don’t have a lot of control over the board yet and I get dangerously close to some lady who yells at me. I apologize profusely and do feel terrible, but she’s not forgiving. It dampens my enthusiasm. Kon and Ang assure me after watching her that she’s just a beginner and not a very good one, so she really had no right to ream me out.

Kon patiently tries to help me, and I give it an attempt, but the waves seem much choppier than I was used to in the Philippines. I’m facing the vast ocean, paddling out to be able to get a wave and one catches me perfectly. The only thing is that I’m not in position- I’m backwards on my belly. The wave whooshes me backwards, propelling me backwards towards the shore. It’s kind of fun until I realize that I’ve come within inches of plowing into another surfer. He’s a little more cool than the last lady but it doesn‘t help my confidence.

Factoring in the conditions, the amount of people I’m clobbering into and my extreme amateur status, I decide to call it a day. Surfing is incredibly difficult and at least I can say I gave it a shot in Hawaii. Ang tells me that I need to come back in summer when the conditions are better.

CHILLIN’

Ang and Kon are within walking distance of the famous Waikiki area, so I peruse that on my own one afternoon like a bona fide tourist. We do various other things such as peruse a market and inhale more stunning scenery. Of course we hang out at the beach, too.

Kon is into spear fishing and makes a remarkable catch one day. We go to the local Chinese restauarant where they steam it for us. It’s amazing and fresh and cooked to  perfection. Kon and I partake in tradition and each eat an eyeball for good luck. The actual eyeball is slimy but flavorful, but the white thing behind it is tasteless and chewy, sort of like eating Styrofoam. It’s not something I’m jonesin’ for again anytime soon.

The restaurant cooks Kon's massive catch...deeelicious!

The days pass by quickly. It’s a relaxing few days and I enjoy myself thoroughly, knowing that in a short time I’ll be chained to my office desk, neck deep in marketing projects and pulling out my hair dealing with things like US bank accounts and North Carolina driver’s licenses. But right now, I’m loving being here.