Big Island Trip - Part II

Saturday.

We left the camp early, geared up for an adventure like no other. I didn't bother having breakfast, knowing that I had some bread in the boot of Badass Black. At around 9am we reached the lava flows at Kīlauea, where I met up again with the MIX group and retrieved the aforementioned bread. Dressed in long pants, hiking shoes and garden gloves, we donned our fluoro vests and stocked up on oranges and muesli bars. After a quick briefing from my instructor, we crossed the safety rope and entered Pele's domain.

Hula

Aloha!


This morning in my Hawaiian Studies class we learned a little about hula kahiko - the traditional hula dance. It was first performed by men for religious purposes - each movement told a story, may have had a hidden meaning, and was often accompanied by chants. Later on, women started to participate in hula dances. Nowadays the stereotypical image of hula is of a woman wearing a lei, a coconut bra and a grass skirt, strumming her ukelele and dancing with flowing movements on the beach with a palm tree in the background.

I've never been good with maps...

Aloha!


I decided to study out on my lanai balcony this afternoon. A welcome change from my usual desk (and the occasional table at Starbucks), it was very much appropriate for me to wear my two days-old prescription sunnies.

Go you good thing!

...Said Jerry to the Aussie Dollar as it climbs into the pants of the US Dollar.

Aloha!


I got an email from UTS this arvo asking if I've taken any photos of T.K. since I've been on my trip. Short answer: yes. Long answer: nothing particularly exciting or creative at this stage. Although I will be spending the weekend in Kaua'i so I'll most definitely be taking T.K. along for a photo shoot. Here are some photos I've taken from my lanai:

Also, I have a new video update. This one's for Vanessa :)

A hui hou kakou!

Missing.

There are certain things from home that I'm starting to sorely miss. Here are four of them.

#4 - nutella. God, how I miss nutella. I came across a video on YouTube that made me quite depressed. It seems like only one or two stores on the island sell this chocolatey goodness, and both at ridiculous prices.






#3 - and I mentioned this in one of my earlier posts - Australian honey. The stuff they've got here is so not what I'm used to. I dunno, maybe every teaspoon of Hawaiian honey requires a tablespoon of sugar, but there's something not quite right about it. I particularly miss this right now because I'm feeling a little ill.

#2 - having a regular(ish) income. Not that I can't get a job here, but there's something weird about receiving a weekly allowance from myself. It's just not the same.

Last but not least...

I've been missing my dog a lot lately. I used to get annoyed whenever he barks at airplanes, strangers, and random stuff that only dogs can sense. But now, after only one month of being away, I've forgotten what his bark even sounds like. I got to see him when I Skyped my family a few weeks ago. Dad let him inside the house for a moment but he was reluctant to enter (usually he'd get scolded for it).

Well that's about it for now. I was mainly just here to take a break from my readings. I think I'll go have another pack of ramen before taking a couple more Panadol caplets and then resuming my study. It's been a quiet day so far and I haven't gone out at all, but maybe later I'll go for a walk to the store. And see if they've got nutella.

A hui hou kakou!

Apologies for my absence. Here, have a video.

Aloha!

Well, there really wasn't much to say about yesterday. I got up at 8.30am, went to ISS orientation, returned to the hostel at 12 for a 3-hour nap, ate my pop tarts, walked to 7-Eleven to purchase some ramen, returned to the hostel to eat the aforementioned ramen, discussed human trafficking with some of my new friends while munching on organic grapes, and that was about it.

Nothing of particular interest, really. Today, though...

*NEW MAP UNLOCKED!*

...I visited Ala Moana Center, which I guess is like one of the main shopping centers in the area. I didn't really explore much because I was there with a goal - I was searching for a local SIM card to use in my phone, but wasn't lucky. I want to get an O2 Wireless SIM card but it looks like I'll have to travel further to get one. Ala Moana Park is nice though. Quiet.

Ala Moana Park. Click to embiggen.

Oh, I also made another video (just a short one)

A mosquito just bit me. I need to go and find my itch cream.

Mahalo!

NEW VIDEO

How many Lost references can you spot? I know there are at least two (aside from the music, obviously).

Mahalo!

IT ALL STARTS SOMEWHERE...

...and the shockwave6653 story starts with this video. Although if you want to get technical, it started long before the video, but I won’t bore you with the details. “5 reasons why I should go to Hawaii” is, in summary, an advertisement for yours truly. I used it as part of my application for a semester-long student exchange in Hawai’i during the second half of 2010. In hindsight it was quite unnecessary, on at least two levels – making a video wasn’t a requirement of the application process; and the content regarding GPAs was, as I soon discovered, highly irrelevant. Nevertheless, my application was accepted by both my uni and the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, and I will be embarking on this journey in just over one week!

I have set up this blog as a means of communicating my experiences, thoughts, ideas and general ramblings not only to my family and friends back in Australia and all over the world, but to the new friends I will inevitably make along the way, as well as anyone who has the time and ability to read. If you’ve made it this far, you’re doing great.

In addition to this blog, I will try to make regular videos to post on my YouTube channel, so go ahead and subscribe for updates! I look forward to sharing the aforementioned experiences, etc., with you as much as I look forward to getting...

Mahalo!