1 post tagged “hawaii”

How convenient that I started throwing up about an hour into my six-hour flight from Portland to Honolulu. What a friggin brilliant idea that my body had to make sure I lost those two extra pounds on my belly and was prepped for the beach. Today was the first meal since the flight two days ago that I have been able to hold down. Well, it's been half an hour now since breakfast, so we'll see. The other meals came up a lot sooner, so I'm crossing my fingers that this horrible stomach virus has chilled out. Because not being able to drink water in this very hot and humid city is going to kill me. The humiliation of nearly-public vomiting could also kill me.

Anyway, other than the vomiting-all-the-time thing, it's been a sweet couple of days, and a couple more to go. I am at a hotel at Kaimana beach, which is very mellow and laid-back. If I crave noise, smellier water, and more interesting people-watching, Waikiki is just a few minutes of walking up the beach walk. I probably should not go there today in case the memory of throwing up for the twentieth time in two hours will make me throw up.

When I was leaving Portland, I remember there were exactly three nice days in the past four months that were not rainy and windy. Three. At the airport the thermostat read 44 as I was walking in, and it was, of course, it was rainy, cold, and windy. I left my puffy winter jacket in my boyfriend's car, packed a swimsuit, flops, and some light clothes in my carry-on, just in case my luggage got lost, and boarded the plane with crossed fingers that I was not hallucinating and the forecast for Honolulu was, in fact, mid-eighties and sunny.

Landing was euphoric. The view of Oahu was gorgeous from up high. The ocean! The ships at Pearl Harbor! The craters! The greeeeeeeeeeen greeeeeeeeen hills! Oh my.
Upon arrival in the built-on-acid airport (Wiki-Wiki bus, anybody??), another euphoria - this time of THE HEAT. It's HOT HERE. AND HUMID. AND THERE IS AN OCEAN. AND PALM TREES. OH MY GOD. And the sun is shining. This is all I need to remember what it's like to have happy weather. Sun and warmth.

After two days in paradise, I am ready to stay.

Well, some may say Honolulu is not really Hawaii, especially not the Waikiki area. Tis true. But on my first ever visit to the islands, on this very nice expenses-paid work trip, I do not need to discover the real Hawaii. All I need is to re-center, remember that the work I have comes with great perks like this, get an envy-inducing tan at the lovely beach, and hang out with some sea turtles at the reef.

Over and out, I'll be near that palm tree in my bikini eating a papaya if you need me.