The End

For our last day away we headed to Koko Marina Centre where Brandan went for a wakeboard, squeezing one more ride in before we go home to autumn and winter.

Sonia got some ok pics with her zoom lens. We thought they were going to take pictures from on the boat so we didn't pay the bit extra to ride along. Turns out they weren't taking photos so we should have gone along too.







Was a very relaxing way to spend our last day.

When we got back we headed over to Ala Moana for some last minute shopping, which included a new suitcase. Had an early dinner there and came back to pack our bags and prepare for the flight home.

Waikiki must have known it was our last night because they put on a massive fireworks display on the beach right outside our 18th floor room, we had the best seat in the house!






They actually do the fireworks every Friday night.



So as Waikiki beach dims its lights and settles for the evening we are going to bed with many fond memories of our last four weeks together.

We have been to some great places, met some wonderful people, and had an awesome time together. It has been fun sharing our holiday with everyone, thank you for reading our blog, posting messages, and shouting.

And most of all thanks to my beautiful Tour Co-Ordinator (DW Sonia) for organising this holiday of a lifetime (bookings, passports, money, etc, etc, etc).

Looking forward to seeing you all next week, and for those in the scrapbooking forums I suspect Sonia will be back in full swing by mid Monday (Melbourne time).

For the last time, Tour Captain out.

Hangin' Loose At Hanauma Bay

Headed to Hanauma Bay today for some snorkeling, we are such experts now after snorkeling in Mexico.

Hanauma Bay is a very pretty spot, Sonia and I visited the bay 20 years ago and it doesn't seem to have changed that much. If anything they are now a little more protective of the reserve and its preservation - which is a good thing.

Underwater camera has been getting a good work out while we have been away, see various pics below







Think this is a "kikakapu" ...



... not sure about the next few ...







Especially like this last photo. Samantha caught what I think are 3 "manini's" in the one shot, looks like they are moving in a convoy. Go Sammy!



Got back to the hotel mid afternoon and decided to just sit in the bar and watch the world go by. While we were there Sonia bought Samantha a fresh lei from a lady who was selling them along the beachfront. Made from fresh frangipani's (I think), had a beautiful fragrance.



Finally, and especially for Mary, a picture of Sonia's new jill-e camera bag. Have included a link for all of Sonia's scrapbooking friends to check out, I know you love your camera's and accessories too.



Once this bag is full that's it, no more camera's and accessories (I wish! *LOL*).

Finished the day with dinner at Planet Hollywood and a walk around the shops.

Change of plans for tomorrow, not hiring a car (can drive around at home). Have booked Brandan in for a wakeboard at the Koko Marina Centre. We passed this area on the way to Hanauma Bay and it looked like a nice place, lots of nice homes backing on to the water. Brandan can wakeboard and Sonia and I can check out the real estate (in our dreams).

After this we will need to start packing and preparing ourselves for our Saturday morning flight home, which gets in late Sunday around midnight (we go to Sydney and then connect to Melbourne).

However we will have to go out and celebrate our last night away as a family - it really has been a treat to spend so much quality time together in some far way places without the distractions we all have at home. Have loved every minute of it.

But for now all the Tour Captain has to say is "shaka brah" (hang loose) and keep tuning in.

Surfin' USA

Didn't post yesterday because we were all exhausted after spending the day, and I mean the whole day, at Ala Moana shopping centre, it has over 290 shops!

We had a Macca's breakfast before hitting the shops and topping up on T Shirts, board shorts, Brandan got his "bling" watch and Sonia got a a new camera bag. She loves it because it is big enough to store all of her bits and pieces and it is a nice looking bag, could double as a handbag.

We had dinner at the centre at Romano's Macaroni Grill then headed to Wal-Mart for a walk around. Kat, Brandan finally found some Pop Tarts - Frosted Chocolate Fudge, Chocolate Chip and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. Hasn't had any yet, I think he plans on bringing them home.

Today we hit the beach and the kids had a surfing lesson, see pics below






Shot of kids and I just soaking it up after their big surf



Tonight we went to Germaine's Luau, where we had a feast on the beach including pork roasted in pit underground using traditional methods. Pics below of the pork being taken from the pit (check out the pec's on the guy on the left!), and us waiting patiently for our call up to the buffet




Meal was actually average but we didn't expect it to be too great given they are catering for a few hundred. Next few pics show some of the entertainment, including a Samoan Fireknife Dance which was impressive





Sonia took lots of photos but the light and movement made it difficult to get good shots.

Our bus ride there and back was fun, we had a great host who got people on the bus talking and laughing - he memorised every persons name!

All in all a good fun night, don't think you can come to Hawaii and not go to a Luau.

Plan for tomorrow is to go snorkelling in the morning at Hanauma Bay, and then to hire a car to drive around island on Friday (if we get brave enough to hit the roads here).

Our trip is nearing the finish line and we have had so much fun everywhere we have been. Lots of experiences and memories to bring home, saviour and share.

But don't go away just yet, will keep posting till the very end. Need to get the little counter down the bottom of this blog up to 1,000!

Tour Captain out (and soon to return to his day job)

Harvy's Hit Honolulu

Well we made it to Honolulu with no incident, although we did almost lose our hammock's in the luggage at Dallas (our stopover betwen Cancun and Honolulu). American Airlines (who are not the greatest) handled them as oversized luggage, but forgot to tell us, and they came out a different chute to the one we were waiting at. Anyway we sorted it out and got to Honolulu in good spirits.

Was a long days travel, up at 4.00am for 7.30am flight, approx 3 hours from Cancun to Dallas, and then 8 hours from Dallas to Honolulu. So we were pretty tired last night and crashed to bed pretty early.

But we did still head out for a walk down the main stretch of Honolulu, caught some rastafarian buskers, pity Sam didn't have her rasta dread hat with her!



We're staying at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, a 22 acre beachfront "city". It has 4-5 towers, 5-6 restaurants, its own shopping villages, a wedding chapel, and numerous animals (eg. penguins, flamingo's, massive gold fish, etc). We are still struggling to navigate our way around the place.



Here's some pics from our balcony on the 18th floor ...





... and one from the beach looking back at our tower.



We headed off to Denny's for brekky this morning, did some shopping for couple hours and then decided we would spend the afternoon chillin on the beach. Here's a pic of Samantha auditioning for "Baywatch"



We hired an inflatable with an anchor which we set up about 50 metres out



Sonia kept a close watch from shore, toes make another guest appearance



Had dinner at a nearby Indian Restaurant tonight, Bombay, which was nice. Was actually just round the corner from the place Sonia and I stayed in 20 years ago when we were here on our honeymoon.

Rough plan for the week is:

Tuesday - shopping at nearby Ala Moana shopping centre
Wednesday - surfing lessons during day, luau (traditional hawaiian feast on the beach) at night
Thursday - hire car and drive round the island
Friday - go snorkeling at Hanauma Bay, chill on beach

And finally an update on my cap, Brandan returned it, I think he was concerned I was going to do something to his pet monkey "Geppetto" *LOL*

Mahalo (thank you) Brandan

Stay tuned for more exciting updates

Tour Captain out

Adios Mexico, Aloha Hawaii

Well we didn't hit the beach today, was a bit windy so we had one final stroll around Playa checking out the shops and stopping along the way for a coffee or a cerveza.

Sonia and Sam bought some more Mac make up. While they were doing this Brando and I thought we would check out the watches. We spotted a nice Tag Heuer and I thought it might be time for a new watch. But I struggle to buy a new pair of jeans so we wandered out to grab a drink and think about it through the day. Then we realised we had left a bit of paper with the watch details on it back in the shop so Sonia said, wait there I'll go and get it (the bit of paper). Ten minutes later she came back with the watch! I love it and I love Sonia for her ability to shop, every time I look at my watch back in the rat race I will think of our beautiful holiday in Mexico, its perfect.

For our last night in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico we went to Makkeroni Italian Restaurant Pizzeria Bar. See pic below



This place is few doors back from Manne's Biergarten (where we went last night). Pic now included



We had a great meal as we have virtually everywhere we have been in Mexico.

We strolled home through the shops where Sam and Brandan sampled some "sombrero's", these really would propose a packing difficulty.




Now for a bit of brief entertainment I would like to share with everyone that the kids have kidnapped my favourite Yahoo baseball cap (shown below) and hidden it somewhere. They know how much I hate losing things and they are having lots of fun baiting me about it (where's your hat dad?). I am trying not to bite in the hope they will return it safely to me. Stay tuned for updates.



I have told Brandan (the leader of the kidnapping) that his pet monkey, "Geppetto", which he bought at Xcarat may be in danger if I don't see my cap again *LOL*



Brandan and I are doing an "all nighter" tonight since our airport pick up is at 4.00am (in two and a half hours).

Will close tonight by saying that Mexico is a long way away from our home but it is a beautiful place that we hope to visit again some day. Sonia commented tonight while we were walking around just how safe and comfortable we have felt in Mexico. The people are extremely generous and friendly and I will remember many of their faces from simple interactions like a taxi ride, ordering a drink (from Madrid, Isaac or Carlos), buying a soccer shirt, booking a tour (from Brenda), etc, etc.

Adiós Mexico, esperanza para verle otra vez pronto (Farewell Mexico, hope to see you again soon)

Blogger Scott - just checked footy scores and noticed the Blues won again beating the Demons with Juddster best on ground - go Blues!!!

Tour Captain off to pack and repack his luggage (and maybe have one final plate of nachos with Brando to keep us from falling asleep)

"Vie Gehts" From Mexico

No big plans today, we just got up and went for a walk around the back streets of Playa Del Carmen, 3 to 4 blocks back from Fifth Avenue (shown below).



Was interesting, shop owners are a bit more relaxed and you can just browse around. We were looking for a fake "gangster pimp bling" watch for Brando. Didn't have much luck, but came back with a few different goodies.

We chilled out for a little while back at the unit, took some pics from the balcony using Sonia's new wide angle lense



Local surf life savers started up a beach volleyball game to finish their day



Then we headed off to Manne's Biergarten for dinner. In my brief research before leaving home I found this German restaurant via the web, it had good reviews and sounded like it would be a good place to go. It is a small restaurant/bar a few blocks back from Fifth Avenue with lots of character, and Manne (the owner) is very friendly.

Here are some pics of us at dinner ...





... and a shot of the Gulasch mit Spätzle und Rotkohl (Gulasch with german noodles and red cabbage) that both Sonia and I had with a side serve of potatoe salad.



It was absolutely beautiful, kids had Cordon Bleu with Spätzle and a side serve of potatoe salad. Brandan (like always) had a desert, Crepes with Nutella.

After our meal, while we were just sitting and having a drink, a couple of buskers wandered past and stopped to sing a few songs for those in the open bar/restaurant.



All of this and a couple of rounds of drinks came to $61, great value for money. Manne even bought Sonia and I a complimentary Tequila shot with the bill. We left a generous tip and walked off into the Playa streets content that we had enjoyed some great German food in Mexico. If we ever go to Germany we will have to try the Mexican!

Tomorrow will be our last day in Playa and we plan to spend it on the beach out the front of our unit, just lounging around all day, finishing Playa like we started it.

We have a transfer pick up at 4.00am Sunday morning to depart Cancun Airport 7.30am, at which point it will be "Adiós México" and "Aloha Hawaii".

Tour Captain out.