First real day at Kauai this time. Chie and I went to Poipu Beach. Most of the day we spent reading, relaxing, and swimming. Chie also made some snorkeling while I swam beside her. It was fun time.

In the afternoon a Hawaiian Monk Seal came to visit. The life guards quickly put up some rope to fence the area so that the seal could have some quality time by himself at the beach. Later he got company by one of his friends. This, the life guard said, is not so common since they are mostly by them selfs. It is quite fascinating to watch them. So quite… And lazy. A little bit like Chie and me.

   

   

Before returning home we visited the Marriot hotel bar to have a Mai Tai for Chie and a Mango Smoothie for me. Tasted great under the palm trees. Much better than being at the office I would say, even though some of my work colleagues tried to convince me I was better of staying at home.

On our way back to the Poipu Plantation Resort we saw a sea turtle in the water. We stopped the car and went out to watch. It was not one turtle. It was at least three of them. Swimming around and eating sea grass or whatever they eat. The most amazing thing with the sea turtles is that they seem so clumsy on land but are so gracious in the water. And they are eating among the rocks while quite big waves come crashing in. And with full control of where they and where the rocks are.

Later we had oven baked salmon on a bed of vegetables. I had to go to the grocery store twice to get all the ingredients. That is the price you pay when you are “baka’ (stupid).

First thing in the morning was to go directly back to the airport. To pick up Chie. She arrived 9:20 am with a Northwest (soon to be Delta) flight from Narita. The again the shuttle bus to the hotel where we got ready for serious shopping. But first a stop at a Korean restaurant for lunch. We needed some energy to have strength to shop.

After lunch we took the bus to Ala Mona shopping center. Chie wanted to check Nieman Marcus, Nordstrom, and the Apple Store. I wanted to check the Apple Store. Chie was quite lucky because Nieman Marcus had an April drive giving $200 gift certificate for each $500 purchase. So Chie got a summer dress for only $25. At the Duty Free Store they also had a drive. That resulted in another $60 gift certificate. Free cosmetics for Chie.

The only thing I bought was running shorts and two t-shirts from Lululemon Athletics. The sports clothing was really nice and I never seen it in Sweden so I think I will be the only one wearing it at the gym.

By 5 pm we were at Duke’s for dinner. A little bit early but we had decided to have an early dinner and then get back to the hotel. Chie wanted to see if her favorite American Idol, Jason Castro, could make it or not. It was elimination time at 8 pm. He made it!

Today I flew to Honolulu, Hawaii. Started out from my home in Stockholm at 6:30 am, which would be 6:30 pm 21th in Honolulu. I had a direct flight to Newark where I changed to a direct flight bound for Honolulu. First more than 10 hours over the Atlantic Ocean. Then more than 10 hours over the USA and the Pacific Ocean. Arriving 6:20 pm in Honolulu. Exhausted.

Took a shuttle bus to the Waikiki Sand Villa. Left directly to make a reservation at Duke’s for tomorrow night. Then bought dinner at Food Pantry before returning back to the hotel where I had my dinner. Took a hot bath. And slept like a dog.