Busy Day

Wow! Things have really picked up since arriving. I was so tired last night that I could not write. It was a good tired because we did a lot.

Sunday started early for us. We were picked up at the hotel by a tour bus.

We spent the day on a tour bus. Now, don't roll your eyes.This tour took nine hours and we saw and learned about the Island of Oahu and its origins, legends and stuff to see.

So after being picked up at our hotel, we joined the main tour bus and began our journey around the island.

At the Halona Blowhole, visitors can see sea water shoot up through a hole in teh rock where thgere is a lava cave tube below that builds up enough pressure to cause a sea water geyser. Off to the right of the blowhole is Halona Beach Cove where the love scene between Burt Lancaster and Doborah Ker was filmed for "From Here to Eternity."

At  Hanauma  Bay, we watched as snorkelers made their way around the shallow rocks and even from the rest area by the highway, you can tell just how clear the water is.

OK so maybe i was hungry because I had skipped breakfast but we made a stop at a mall in one town and I could not resist buying a bag of banana chips and a pina colada without the colada. Good stuff. And it did taste really good. I need to have one on the mainland.

One of the coolest stops was at the Byodo-In temple. The temple was built in June 1968 to commemorate the first Japanese immigarnts to Hawaii. The temple, although Buddhist is non demoninational and is a replica of a temple in Japan.

Inside there is a large Buddah with incense that are constantly burning and those visiting must remove their shoes out of respect. It is gorgeous and a must see. Made out of wood, there are no nails holding it together.

Outside there is a koi pond and meditation gardens all with the backdrop of tall green mountains. A great place to be alone with ones thoughts.

On teh way into the temple there is a bell house which houses a five foot high, three ton brass bell, called bon-sho (sacred bell).The bell is rung before the temple is entered and is a five foot high, three ton brass bell.

Another stop included the Kualoa Ranch Legends and Legacy tour which featured the tour of a 4,000 acre ranch where some TV shows have been filmed but is also a working cattle ranch and produces other stuff as well.

As we exited the bus, we all received shell leis and the following the ranch tour, there was a buffet that was really good.

The ranch had some spectacular views that would make anyone oooh and awe and we took in the beauty from high above.

Before long we moved on to a macadamia nut ranch and then to Sunset beach and finally to teh Dloe Pineapple Plantation where we got some pineapple and something called pineapple whip, a type of ice cream made without milk. Good stuff. Almost tasted like sherbert. Different texture though.

We even bought some cultured pearls right out of the shell.

But those were only a sample of the places we visited. Here is a list of where we went during the tour. It was great.

• Amelia Earhart Lookout on the slopes of Diamond Head
• Dole Plantation
• Drive through Kahala District
• Hanauma Bay (closed Tuesdays)
• Halona Blowhole
• Sandy Beach and Makapu`u Point
• Nu`uanu Pali Lookout
• Byodo-In temple (admission included)
• Kualoa Ranch Legends and Legacy tour
• View Chinaman's Hat, Kahana Bay, and North Shore beaches at Sunset and Waimea Bay
• See coffee and pineapple farms of Central Oahu

 And for those who think that I don't like having my picture taken during vacations....

Oh and the flowers were gorgeous. I couldn't resist taking some pictures. Some of these I have seen my mother grow in her yard.