Week 2 (for lack of a more creative heading)

Hello all from Cafe G located on Kalakaua Avenue.

Last weekend I managed to walk the entire 2 mile length of the Waikiki beaches. I walked down one stretch of beach called Queen's beach and noticed something amiss. Come to find out later in the guidebook, Waikiki is home to one of the more sophisticated gay cultures in the country.

On the return back, walked through the myriad shopping centers that plague Kalakaua Avenue. Judging from things it seems that fashion must be important here (at least the names on the stores sound fancy....funny for a place reknowned for Aloha print and flip-flops). Anyone want some Macamadamia nuts on my Thanksgiving/Christmas return?

Also, saturday made a trek up to Kailua to check out the house that the boss is renting. On the way stopped at Pali lookout. Cool view.....will go back when its not pouring rain.

Weather here is interesting. Earlier this week there was a haze over the island. Kinda reminded me of LA smog, or the haze that hovers over the Northwest on a really hot stagnant day. Mostly the haze was due to lack of wind and near 100% relative humidity. I heard some people call it fog........laughing.

Some names for things here kick *ss. Public transportation is called The Bus (according to the book one voted one of the best public transportations in the nation). The major taxi company in the city is called The Cab. I ate lunch earlier in the week at a place called "This is It." Makes me want to take a Hawai'ian language class at the University and see if it is a carry over.

Am adjusting to the temperatures here. I felt cool this morning, the radio announcer claimed it was the mid-80's.........I'm in BIG trouble when I get back to what I hear the weather has been back in Portland.

I went to a bar inside the mall for pub night this week (yes there's a bar in the mall....see above for mall......and according to the guidebook, its the largest open air mall in the nation, and has the most sophisticated food court). Best description of the place is a college bar (in a mall). I did learn one thing though; I stick must stick out like a sore thumb....almost got attacked for not apparent reason (other than what must be my apparent haole-ness). Anyhow, never fear; the exploration of this place must go on.

This weekend I'm planning on checking out the USS Arizona memorial and seeing Waimea Bay (and maybe even Pipeline) before the surf gets huge/the crowds gather for the "winter."

Now off down the street to see what the true tourists are up to this Friday evening......