Having successfully navigated the world of transportation and accommodation with regards to our upcoming adventure, I am turning myself to the next scheduling dilemma: how to spend our days.
Wait. Stop. Let’s back up for a minute.
Can we, for the duration of this project, agree, that you, my loyal reader, are sitting at your computer saying, “Oh, boo f*ing hoo. Give me a freakin’ break. Are you really going to complain about the fact that you can’t decide if the best use of your time is going kayaking on the Wailua River or having a lush brunch at the vanilla plantation? You’re kidding, right?”
And then I say, “Well. no, I’m not kidding. Actually, I am going to whine about that. Just a little. Sorry.” I hope you’ll continue to indulge me because you know I’m aware of my shocking good fortune.
Now. My lovely contact at the Hawaiian Activities and Attractions Association “warned” me that she’d released my information. She also assured me that she’d not give out my phone number so’s to protect me from excessive ho’okipa – or hospitality. Well, the phone isn’t ringing, but holy humuhumu, Batman! I don’t know where to begin.
There are a few things that I absolutely want to do, no question. I want to go snorkeling in Kaleakakua Bay. I want to visit some kind of agricultural site – coffee, pineapple, sugar – something integral to the local history and economy. I want to see some hot lava, go to a luau, roam around Chinatown in Honolulu.
Some of these are things I have to do, whether I want to or not. (See above, where we agreed on this point, okay?) I have to visit a volcano, I have to get on the water, I have to eat traditional Hawaiian food. I also have to find dozens of places to eat, stay, have coffee, get a cocktail, buy an Aloha shirt. I have to, when blowing through a smaller town on the way to a more popular destination, assess if that is a worthwhile stopping point for a snack. I have to wander in and out of hotel lobbies, talk to tour providers, create “best of” lists. I have to wear sunscreen, do a little laundry, pick up and return rental cars, jump on and off of little planes, and be seen in a swimsuit. I have to write every day. Mr. NEV has to download and backup all the photos, documentation, charge the camera and cell phone batteries, keep us on schedule, and generally keep an eye on things because, it may not surprise you to learn, I get kind of wrapped up in the experience of traveling. I also have to sleep sometime, though I suspect this is the least of my worries.
Here’s a typical day on my calendar now.
- Nov 14: Oahu/Maui
- Midmorning: Flight
- Small Maui Hotel
- Attraction@ 1130, Lunch w/ PR rep and tour
- Rental car details
Given that we leave Oahu that morning, we have to get up early, get to the airport, fly to Maui, pick up the car, drive to our destinations, make short work of that visit, find the hotel, talk with the hotel manager, find likely things to do from our hotel, take photos, take notes, take vitamins and maybe take speed. The whole thing feels really hectic to me.
It is impossible to be everywhere at once, it’s just not going to happen. I think that is the first thing I need to get my head around. I can’t do everything. I’d like to schedule one activity for each day, but I’m starting to wonder if even that might be too much. I might have to take it down to every other day. That leaves time for travel, wandering, observing, gathering on the non-scheduled days.
This is a big shift for me. Typically, I do a single event or a small destination. Last season I wrote a nice little piece on Mount Baker. I headed down there, chatted with the B&B folks and a rafting company, and went on an afternoon snowshoe hike. I drove home and wrote the whole thing up. It was lovely and small. I was busy, but I had time to write, a leisurely breakfast, and oh, I just loved the character that took me out on the snow. It was a treat. But it was small, there was time for conversation and nonsense, time for coffee and free wifi. This time around I just don’t know how it’s going to play out.
I’m exhausted just thinking about it. I need a vacation.
Okay, now I’m just being obnoxious.
Related
I had one of the meals of my life at a place called Indigo in Honolulu’s Chinatown. I have a cousin who lives there, and he took Tommy and me to all sorts of incredible places.
You are really freakin’ lucky, missus. You’ve earned it and all, but you’re still really freakin’ lucky. It makes me hate you just a little, but that’s just the jealousy talking.
There. I feel better.
Oh hush with the obnoxious.
When interviewing climbers, a K2 climber actually, he told me how he often has envious people saying ‘Oh you’re so lucky to just be able to go climb’.
But hold on there … he worked like a madman, in a job, saved all he earned for climbing, owned a couple of pair of trousers, climbing gear, necessities, biked everywhere and etc …
Sure he was lucky but like you, he worked bloody hard at being ‘lucky’.
I’m sure no one thinks you’re obnoxious.
I’m sure they’re thinking ‘Pam … obnoxious? Impossible!!’
There, brow soothed with truths, going back to my work.
Seems to me that you’re halfway there on writing a book on how to write a travel guide. 😉