The Extended Eve

Well, its New Year's Eve, and I'm sitting here alone. Local time 8pm. Still have some time before the real New Years. Going out to a family friend party, not especially... special, but it'll do. Its just another couple hours on any other day.

I was listening to Something Corporate – I Want to Save You. [Oh no!] I feel so weak and emo. Wish I could capture the moment.

But what am I doing… pointless, nothing to do. The air is starting to smell like fire and brimstone. Mm sulphorous hell. The sound of the fireworks make Rammstein – Feuer Hrei! very appropriate.

Had more to say, more to show, but I must be off-

The Special Mundane

I'm loving this whole quadrilingual thing they have going on here in Hawaii.

At the ticket window, they spelled Beethoven, "Beethovin." Heh, went to hear his Symphony Number 9. That's classic, in more ways than one.

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On a much less than cheerful note, I just learned that Shigeki Miyake passed away. I am honestly disappointed that I'll never be able to meet or talk to him.

So... I Finally Got Leid

The last bit has been sort of a blur for me. The things I can remember:

I found that I like plumeria:

found a place that makes me feel like I'm in Japan:

All the beautiful people, but sort of diluted. Hope Japan doesn't becode like this in the near future.

ate at a small, nice, genuinely Japanese Ramen place:

briefly strolled along the famous Waikiki strip and beach:

This is a real rich place. I've seen more of the common side so far, being a resident. It was quite a site/sight. There were places there that were so aesthetic and romantic it hurts.

got leid: (shield your eyes!)

and saw a boba place: (sorry pic didn't come out).

A picture post. That is all for now.

The Next Hawaii Day

...whenever this was. A bit behind schedule. I believe that I'm officially writing about Christmas and the day after.

The day of, I recall going to a family friend's house. She lives right on some bay, and the view from her back yard is gorgeous:

I took one of her kayaks and went out into the sea on my own. That was very nice, drifting over the coral, sliding through the water.

The next day I took part in some mochi making. My hand is still cramped from swinging the mallet. Here's a video [Right-click and say 'Save Target As'] of some other people taking their turns.

Nothing else profoundly exciting these days. Might make it to this on New Year's Eve.

Side note, still like some 90s music. I wonder if it was its own era? Listen to the musical build up and bit around and after 3:00 of Third Eye Blind - Jumper.

The mosquitoes are eating me alive!

The End of Another Chapter

I just found out that my estranged grandfather in Japan is on his last legs. If you've ever talked to me about my family, you'll know that his passing will be a very significant event. This is definately going down in the books.

Hawaii: Howling

So there's a Hawaiian term here, "Howlie," which is about equivalent to 外人 [gaijin, meaning foreigner]. Its cool that this island nation, although once trounced by the U.S., still has a sense of self.

Ran some errands after arriving at the airport, feels like home, not running straight off to a luxury hotel or tourist traps.

Had some tangerines fresh off a tree laden with them. [Mmm, delicious.] In our yard we also have a starfruit tree, mango tree, coconut tree... and probably others that I don't know about. This truly is a tropical place.

Looks like something off a postcard: just a snapshot.

I got to spend a good bit of the day in Honolulu. Saw both sides of the city. Can be clean and nice, can be seedy and depressing.

Reminds me of Seattle. Also reminds me of a dirtier and more crass version of Japan.

Later, visited Hanauma Bay. This is a touristy place I guess, and it was free to Hawaii Residents. [My dad got in free, but I couldn't prove residency, grr.]

View of the bay before the walk down.

Nice place, besides the crowds of people. [I liked hearing the myriad of languages being spoken.] We went out into the reef, saw all sorts of fish and coral swimming and growing right at arms length. The ocean is very picturesque.

X-Mas

X seems to be equivalent... Thinking X-men, who else could have supernatural healing and self-resurrection powers?

This will officially be the warmest [in temperature], most detached Christmas ever.

Have a lunch/dinner appointment tonight with someone I think.

Have a merry one of you go for that kind of thing.