Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Welcome to Paradise
My boyfriend’s dream vacation since childhood has always been Hawaii. And this year, we made that childhood dream come true.
After my horrendous trip to Beijing, I desperately needed some rest and relaxation. I don’t know if I’ve ever mentioned this before, but I’m rather high strung and especially when it involves work. As an overachiever and inheriting the worrywart gene from my mother, I have this constant, massive knot in my right shoulder blade. It’s been there for so long, it’s even got a name, “Bumpy”. Bumpy and I go waaaay back. It took two days in Hawaii to get rid of Bumpy. Unfortunately, he’s reappeared, but man, those Bumpy free days were glorious.
We began our journey to paradise with the lovely island of Oahu. The Sheraton Moana Surfrider on Waikiki was our home while on Oahu. Although a tad crowded and rather touristy, we enjoyed the hustle and bustle environment quite a bit. We rented a car and decided to take a road trip up the East coast [Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay] to the famed surfing paradise of North shore. It’s one of the most beautiful views I’ve ever seen in my life. Now, I’m only 28, so I am hoping it will not be the most beautiful thing I will see in my entire life…but if it is, I can live with that.
We visited a few high traffic tourist sights such as Pearl Harbor, Punchbowl Crater and Nuuanu Pali Lookout. The wait for the ferry to the Arizona memorial was horrendous so we opted to take photos from afar and peruse the Bowfin Museum next door. I got up close and personal with a Kaiten - one man Japanese suicide torpedo!
Punchbowl Crater, known by early Hawaiians as Puowaina or "Hill of Sacrifice", is the burial ground for 35,000 victims of three wars - World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Many of the unmarked graves are dated Dec. 7, 1941. To see so many grave markers, all of fallen soldier, was awe inspiring.
The Nuuanu Pali is a rocky, near-vertical cliff covered by thick vegetation that rises about 2,000 feet from the level ground on the windward side of the island of Oahu. We visited on a windy day and all I can say is I am amazed I was not blown off the cliff. Despite the cold, bone-chilling wind, the view hold you in awe and we could not help but stand and stare at the majestic beauty of nature before us.
Our next stop involved a short plane ride from Oahu to the Garden Island - Kauai. 
While Oahu possessed the rugged cliffs, seemingly untamed mountain ranges and enough greenery to make you believe you were in a lost world, the creature comforts of a modern metropolis was still available. Kauai - not so much. We purchased a travel book at the airport and was rewarded with the location of the only Wal-Mart on the island. This was where we stocked up on bottled water, snacks, bug repellent [very important], snorkeling gear and various other knick knacks. Once you leave Lihue, there is nothing! And nothing seems to cost three times as much as usual.
Instead of heading straight to our hotel on Poipu Beach, we opted to check out Wailua Falls. Waterfalls impress me to no end and I have no idea why. 
We even attempted to hike to the bottom of the falls, but didn't quite make it. I personally blame the mesquitos who decided that I would make a perfect lunch. The couple coming back up also informed us that it was nearly impossible to cross the other side of the stream to walk to the waterfall pool. Kauai contains the wettest spot on earth - Wai'ale'ale mountain. It's been an especially rainy winter so all the water ways were flowing full force!
Although Hawaiian culture is evident around Oahu, it was much more pervasive on Kauai. We took in a Luau and witnesses a spectacular show exhibiting the traditional dances of the Pacific Islanders - including the breath taking Samoan Fire Dance. 
We definately could have used more time on Kauai. There is so much to do and see with so little time. Again, we rented a car and decided to roam about the island beginning with the sights on the south shore near Poipu and head east up the coast. The next time around, we will be sure to take the helicopter tours and perhaps a guided canoe trip along the Napali coast.
This was, by far, the best vacation of my life...next up either the Greek Isles or the Amalfi Coast. What can I say, I work to live and live to play.
I would like to start out with NEVER EVER AND I MEAN NEVER fly Air China! In case you didn’t understand how strongly I felt about that, I really mean N – E – V – E – R!!
So, I was minding my own business at work as always and trying to stay out of trouble when a Beijing Project landed on my desk. Now oddly, most people jump at these types of opportunity (or so my boss tries to convince me), but I was less than thrilled. This only meant that I had to travel to Beijing sooner or later. And knowing my luck, my Beijing trip would most likely be scheduled to coincide with my Hawaiian vacation.
Well, weeks go by and all is quiet on the Eastern front. There is rumbling here and there about going to Beijing, but nothing is ever confirmed. Then my boss tells me that I will not be taking the first trip since she will go instead. RELIEF! More rumbling here and there and the next thing I know, I am on a 13-hour flight headed to Beijing. My luck never ceases to amaze me. The absolute best part was that I would now be leaving for my Hawaiian vacation straight from Beijing. The only consolation was that I didn’t have to fly from Beijing to Dallas and double back another 8 hours to reach Hawaii. [Shudder]
Needless to say, my boyfriend was completely against the idea of me traveling so close to our vacation. We had spent months, not to mention a considerable amount of money, planning this trip. But I assured him that NOTHING would go wrong. I mean c’mon, how hard is it…I had a ticket from Beijing to Osaka straight to Honolulu…it was a done deal.
My trip started out fabulously. I was delayed for six hours at Chicago O’Hare airport. Now, you would think that a non-stop flight to Beijing would be predominantly filled with Asian passengers and that some, if not most, of those Asian passengers may not be able to communicate fluently in English. Now, if I were a company, who knew, hours in advance, that a flight would be delayed for an extended period of time, I would send someone who could speak Mandarin to facilitate communication and answer client questions and concerns such as, “How the hell am I going to catch my connecting flight, when I am delayed 6 fucking hours.” Of course, I possess logic and am not going bankrupt so I guess that explains their lack in judgment.
Since I can speak Mandarin, I became a troop leader of sorts for those individuals who could not speak English. I marched me and my minions to the service counter and got us all squared away with meal and accommodation vouchers as well as connecting flight information. Again, you think with a name such as Customer Service Counter, you could very well expect some customer service – yeah, what was I thinking? They give nothing away without you asking for it. Greedy, capitalistic bastards.
Anyway, finally get to Beijing. Business goes well but unfortunately I worked Beijing office hours as well as US office hours since I was also the lead on a project going full force in the US. Let me tell you, roaming charges are a bitch in China. My week trip landed me a $560 cell phone bill and I made no personal calls.
I had never been to Beijing before and here’s what I learned on my trip:
- Sandstorms are pretty cool but rather dirty
- Squat toilets require strong leg muscles as well as the ability to hold your breath for an extended amount of time
- Beijing cab drivers are either the dumbest samples of our species I’ve ever encountered or I’ve seriously been scammed.
- Beijing discos are fun – especially if you have been up for 30 hours straight
All of this results in me arriving at the check-in counter with 35 minutes before take off. Air China informs me it’s their policy to close the gates 45 minutes before take off and there is absolutely no way to check me in. At this point, I freak out. I run to the management counter and tell them there must be a way to get on that plane – no, no and um….no. I tell the Air China lady, “Fine, I can’t get on that flight, tell me when the next flight is because I have to get back to the US today.” I was promptly informed I would have to wait until tomorrow. And all of this was surmised without ever looking up any flight information. I implore again and Air China lady tells me, it doesn’t matter what I want or don’t want, I was not going anywhere until tomorrow. At that point, she simply walks away. The freaking out quadruples at this point.
Anyway, I ended up calling Expedia and was told there was another flight leaving in four hours – with Fucking Air China of course – and a connecting flight in LAX to Hawaii [FUCK ME! 5 hours doubling back in the Pacific!] Expedia asked if I still had my paper tickets because I could fly stand by on the next flight. OH MY FUCKING LORD! Stupid ass Air China Lady never gave me my tickets back. I return to the management counter and she’s nowhere to be seen. I ask another agent about my tickets and I get this stupid stare [that seems to be prevalent in Beijing] and a shrug. So, all this costs me another $1,400 and 10 hours wasted of vacation time. Of course I have not been refunded for my unused ticked yet because Expedia and United have decided that it's the other party's responsibity to either credit or refund me. No one knows anything. United Customer Service tells me I needed to go to the airport ticket counter to fill out a lost ticket form. When I arrive at the airport, the ticket counter has no clue what I am talking about. I call customer service again and was told to be a good little dog and continue to chase my own tail until I drop dead of exhaustion.
So, anyone thinks me and my luck should let it all ride on red in Vegas?
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Long Time No BlogMan, it’s been a while since I’ve written! But I have a good excuse. I have logged more than 20,000 miles since January…for work and for pleasure. So I guess I’ll be sharing all the ups and downs of life of the frequent flier.