Life on an Island... And Getting There

[Big Wallaby]

Just got back from Kona yesterday morning. I would have posted from there, but the internet connection was really frustrating. I wrote out the whole approx. 12,000 character post, broke it down, went to post it and lost the entire thing. I didn't touch SGT or anything important until now.

Had a couple SGT's on the way, best was at Gate 40 in the United Terminal. We were sitting at 42, waiting for our plane to leave, when the plane at Gate 40 left. A man with family in tow came up to the door after it was closed.

Now, when I am at an airport and see a closed door, I assume I am not to pass through it unless either escorted and/or given direct permission from a gate agent or airport official, unless it is an escape in a fire... but then, I've never been in a fire at an airport.

I would also have assumed that after the gate agent shuts the door to the jetway, it locks.

So for those two reasons alone, I was surprised when I saw the man open the door. Even as the alarms were going off, he was beckoning his wife and son to follow, and only closed the door when they called him an idiot. Otherwise, I am sure he would have walked down the jetway as the plane was being pushed back.

When called, he and his family walked down the terminal. I later saw them return... to Gate 41.

If you've ever flown to Hawaii, you've seen how after the security checkpoint, at the entrance to gates for flights to the Mainland, you have to go through another X-Ray, this time for Agriculture. Above the machine is a sign, "YES. You do have to do it again." I wonder what question they get all the time.

We flew United, and I have to say I am not really impressed with the crews we had from Orlando through LAX and SFO. SFO to Kona, the crew was fairly cheerful. The others, I felt like I was on an inner city bus. Oh, and if you don't pay for the upgrade, the seat ahead of you is literally up against your knees. There is no slouching allowed. Adding five inches of legroom for Economy Plus brings the seats back to the distance between them when I was a kid. You would think in this advanced age, flying would be more comfortable. The trip from MCO to LAX was a little taste of hell. Only redeeming feature was Channel 9, which allows you to listen to the radio traffic that the pilots hear and interact with. A very cool system. Now, I do have to say on the Kona-LAX leg returning, we had an awesome crew, and that was after they flew over, had about a two-hour layover, didn't leave the plane, and were our attendants on the return trip. I don't envy their job.

[Big Wallaby]

But Hawaii was beautiful. We stayed north of Kona, at a little place called Waikoloa, a timeshare my parents own that is managed by Hilton.

At the Hilton, I found out it is impossible to escape everything that Disney has had their hand in. They have a tram and boat system that were both designed by WDI, according to the person I talked to... and he should know... he is the manager of the tram and boat. They can even run two trams, complete with a switching system. Tram runs on 500 VDC at a top speed of 8 miles an hour. The control system says it is a "MonoRail". Sorry, I didn't get a picture of the tram or boats, the link is not my website or anything. Actually, if you back out one stop, the page describes that property pretty well. They have a really neat dolphin pool, and it was very relaxing to just go watch the dolphins.

One morning, about a week into the trip, I woke up unable to move my left leg. I hobbled around for a day, then decided to go see a doctor. Found out I'm not insured while in Hawaii. So, I went to Urgent Care, had a doctor do some "crude testing" (his words) and tell me that it's probably a torn or frayed meniscus and will soon need orthoscopic surgery. However, he decided since I was insured back home, I should go and get an MRI, but it would do me little or no good to get that all done while on the island. The clinic and doctor were great. As soon as I had the paperwork done, they took me to the exam room, the nurse confirmed that I was, in fact, still alive, and then the doctor came in 30 seconds after she was done. Most laid-back person I've ever met. While he seemed very knowledgable, my wife and I figure that the way he got into medicine was when a bunch of people he surfs with decided they need a doctor, so they all sent him to medical school. He described pain as hell and used some very non-doctorly terms. Again, I do not say this as an insult; I wish more doctors had half his bedside manner and you felt as much with them like they realized they were talking to a human being. It felt like he spent good quality time with us, but didn't waste it. He also seemed like he would probably go catch a wave after work... or out for beers... which brings me to one of the coolest establishments on the Big Island: The Kona Brewing Company.

Now first off, I am not a beer drinker. Give me a good wine, not too terribly dry, or a nice stiff cocktail. But I don't generally like beer. However, if I lived in Kona I might change my mind. Turns out, as long as the IBU is low enough, there's a good chance I'll enjoy it. Because the founders of the brewery are from none other than Portland, OR (and all bottled Kona beer comes from Portland) we went on a tour of the brewery. I never get bored of the smell. Attached to the brewery is a pub. For the bread, they used the spent grain, and it makes the best pizza dough ever.

Even with my knee in pain, I had to catch waves. Many days were not good, as the surf was too high... at least, that's what my dad and wife said. So I didn't go try out the 20-foot waves... though I wanted to.

[Big Wallaby]

We didn't get in to see Hobie, as airfare to Maui was prohibitive. I mean, really, $300 to go 100 miles round trip? Fine. Geez, I wish I had my private certificate. As I look tonight, Hawaiian has a few flights for $69 each way. Where were those when I was there? We will most certainly visit next time.

I could go into the daily detail of our trip, but to be honest, it was delightfully boring. We didn't really do anything. No need to go experience everything under the sun...we just relaxed. Now, yes, we did go see the lava, though we approached from the wrong side of Highway 130, so we didn't even get close... but we did walk on lava and I got a great picture of a "Road Closed Ahead" sign from that (to be posted soon). We walked through a lava tube, which is one of the most amazing natural wonders there is. I've done it in two places now, and both were completely unique experiences. If you ever get a chance to visit the Ape Caves at Mount Saint Helens, do it. Also see the one on Hawaii.

The return trip was mostly uneventful, though the last leg was interesting. It was my first time ever riding aboard an Airbus, and we were in row 1 on a Ted plane... Think Southwest, but a bit less nice, no leather seating, and more expensive. This was an Airbus 320, and it seemed like the crew was perfectly trained... in Boeing aircraft. They didn't know how to work the intercom, they didn't realize until I asked that the entertainment system was turned off (AAARGH! I COULDN'T LISTEN TO CHANNEL 9 ON TAKEOFF!), and there were several other indications. They were not a bad crew, they were very friendly, but they didn't know the plane they were on.

The plane took off at 2:00 pm Hawaii time the other day, and we landed yesterday morning at 10:00 in the morning. First thing I did? Visit the Magic Kingdom... Reminded myself why I don't want to move to Hawaii. Were I in the same position I was in two years ago, at a job I liked with a company I hated... Were I not at Disney World... I think I would now be writing this from some place on the Big Island, in a new home.

But I love being, playing and working at Walt Disney World. It's good to be home playing with Monorails.

Wow, this is a very disjointed trip report, but then that's kinda how I feel right now. Late night, jet lag, getting back to work, knee, bee sting... it all adds together into a bit of a jumble.

Pictures to come eventually. Not of the bee sting.

[mechurchlady]

Hobie should have come over to visit you and this is a typical SGT ADD trip report, lol.
Hgus and missed you

[joanna71985]

Hawaii sounds beautiful. I would love to get out there someday.

[Whazzup]

Welcome home, Wallaby! Too bad you couldn't hook up with Hobie and also dash over to Oahu and check out the Ko-Olina site.

Your adventures sound like fun, except for the flying part. I hate flying. Actually, I love flying, I hate the sitting squished in a tiny seat and being massaged by strangers' elbows part of flying. :mad:

We hope to make a trip to Hawaii in 2011 or 2012. Hopefully Hobie will still be around by then and the new Disney resort will be open.

So, how's the planning coming for your trip to DL in September? Still need those DVC points? Since you haven't caught up on your sleep yet I'll give you a few more days to think about it. ;) Lemme know, 'k?

Glad you're back!

[hobie16]

We didn't get in to see Hobie, as airfare to Maui was prohibitive. I mean, really, $300 to go 100 miles round trip?

Welcome to Hawaii! Leave your wallet at the door.

The sailing would have been a challenge as the Kona winds were pretty brutal. We would have had to recruit some rail meat and use the 80% head sail.

Too bad you couldn't hook up with Hobie and also dash over to Oahu and check out the Ko-Olina site. It'll take quite a while to just get the drainage systems installed.

We hope to make a trip to Hawaii in 2011 or 2012. Hopefully Hobie will still be around by then and the new Disney resort will be open.

Ko Olina is probably still a dirt field.

Still around? Do you know something I don't know?

[Zazu]

Still around? Do you know something I don't know?

He's probably just working from the assumption that everyone will move to either Anaheim or Orlando as soon as they can figure out how. Nothing ominous.

[Big Wallaby]

Oh, I forgot the best SGT I experienced. I almost sent an old man to jail.

The reason we were able to go on this trip is that it's a gift from my dad, Big Wallaby Sr. He paid our way, a Christmas gift if you will, just like my interview trip two years ago here at Disney World.

We were waiting for our bags in Kona, Big Wallaby Sr. and I were next to the conveyor belt, when this old guy comes up between my dad and me, pushes me out of the way, yelling, "Move, GOD DAMMIT!"

Now, in my surprise, I let him push me, to the point I almost fell onto the luggage belt. But then, after he put his bag on his cart, I turned and replied, "'Excuse me' works very well with me, sir." He mumbled something, then I turned to my dad and said, "Can you believe bastards like this?" (pointing at him) My dad got in on the act, and you could then see this guy shrinking away from us. My dad and I are both large, and together we would be a force to be reckoned with, especially if you're a little bitty bully a head shorter than me and half my weight. I continued with epithets about him, talking about how I respect my elders, and most of them deserve my respect. Some JERKS (looking his way) are just idiots that only know how to take from those around them and push them aside.

Had I had my brain in the right place, I would have then turned to him, got kissing distance away, and said, "If you touch me again, your vacation is going to be extended quite a bit, at least a month. I hope you like bars." But alas, the Wallaby Wit was 10-7 at the moment, and I didn't say that. Had I, just by looking at him, I have to imagine jail time would have so broken him that he would have been dead within a month. But my dad and I did take one more piece of revenge, neither of us knowing the other was going to do it. Once we got our luggage and the guy was waiting for his, I gently body checked him (not enough to knock him over or anything, but it certainly should have been intimidating) and my dad hit his cart full of luggage with my bag. It almost tipped, and it was enough to turn the cart around. I know, we're not getting any jewels in heaven over that, but it felt so good, and maybe he thought twice before the next time he shoved someone aside. If so, then I am happy with my bad conduct.

The fact he was so willing to shove me aside with no regard for my safety or anyone I might hit, just for his own minimal gain, he has had it coming a very, very long time.

So I guess now I am Sumo Wallaby.

[Zazu]

So I guess now I am Sumo Wallaby.

That reminds me, I never updated the Wallaby smiley to include purple monorail pants. This now corrected:

:wallaby:

And just for completeness' sake, here's a smiley for Sumo Wallaby:

:sumowall: