Day 1 Part 2: The flight halfway across the world. AKA: Must be in the front row. OK, almost.
So we arrive at the airport bleary eyed but still excited that the adventure is about to begin. Taking the shuttle meant we were at the airport over two hours before the 6:30 flight. What fun. Checked our bags curbside and security was a breeze. Checked three bags (the dive bags and DD’s suitcase) and carried on my bag, two smaller camera bags and larger bag with the underwater housing and external flash. There was a Dunkin’ Donuts near the gate. Pooh opted for a donut and I had one of their breakfast sandwiches.
So after waiting forever, we finally boarded. First leg was Miami to Dallas. DD and I were pretty far forward in plane, both with aisle seats across from one another. Not bad.
All was happy after we took off. The person on the window seat in her aisle was a chatty catty. DD hates to talk to others on planes (goes a long way back when she flew solo to visit me in NY) and leaned over to say she was glad she had a buffer. Pumped with excitement, we could barely contain ourselves.
That was until about three seconds after leaving Miami
Sleep didn’t last long. Well, for about two hours and 30 minutes before we started our approach to Dallas. The other kid had an interesting sleeping posture.
The flight was bumpy as we were flying through a front. Didn’t seem to bother the Pirate Princess very much. But the turbulence did almost spill the Bloody Mary I was enjoying. Landed and for another two hours availed ourselves to the hospitality of the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport.
Before we boarded, the Agent warned everyone that coach will not be served a meal and it was an 8 hour flight. I opted for a BBQ sandwich, Crash decided she didn’t need anything. That was despite my asking her a number of times if she wanted anything.
Were called to board and was very pleased to see where our seats were. First row after First Class. And we only had two seats in our row. Yippee!
Not bad, not bad at all
The seats next to us. We boarded as soon as we could and these were eventually filled.
Needless to say after her long nap the Kid could not fall asleep again. Or not.
She woke up a few times but was mostly out. I love this picture. She often sleeps with her eyes partially open. Must be a spy or something. Has to be ready to awake with Ninja like reflexes.
After a couple of hours the Captain informed us we left the coast and were flying over the Pacific. Ooh, pretty blue water. While she slept, I spent the time between reading books downloaded on my I-pad or listening to podcasts on my I-pod.
She did wake up long enough to say she was hungry. Duh! Then why didn’t you get something at the airport like I suggested? Or when the Flight Attendant first came by asking if you wanted anything. I would have given her part of my pulled pork sandwich but 1. It was gone and 2. She is a vegetarian.
Suggested that she go to see if anything was left. They did have one chicken caesar salad left that did not have any chicken. That would work. The Flight Attendant gave it to her for free and later came up to apologize for the lack of food items. No harm, no foul. DD was satisfied and it dind’t cost me anything.
After what seemed like an eternity, the Pilot announced that we were making our approach into Honolulu. Hallelujah, the 8+ hour flight was coming to an end.
Land ho
Bags arrived and hoof it down to the Hawaii Airlines’ gate which was a ways away from American. Now only two more hours until the HA flight to Kona. The flights from Miami were changed to take off and arrive earlier than originally booked and after I reserved the Kona flight. Tried to get an earlier flight at the ticket counter but it was only an hour earlier and would have cost a fair chunk of change. So we decided to sit it out.
First stop after getting through security was food. Well, and drinks. Her first Pina Colada. Sans alcohol of course.
Where? A Tiki bar of course.
Forgot what we had but we ended up fat and happy.
At the gate, we saw some of the local wildlife enjoying the air conditioning
Very exotic creature
Finally the flight was called and we boarded. Was surprised (not for the first time) how brown the landscape was.
DD was interested in this plane, an Air Force transport. Her boy “friend” enlisted in the Air Force after graduation.
Bye, Bye Honolulu. We will see you in a few days.
Half an hour later, it was Aloha Kona. We will be diving these waters in a couple of days.
Landed, got the car (a Ford Focus) and we were soon off to the resort.
The day started with a sunrise in Miami and now ended with a sunset in Hawaii.
DD took these blurry pictures on the way. Did I say how brown everything is?
Of course we made a wrong turn, thanks to the navigator (she was sitting next to me). We could go right or left on the highway. We went left when we were supposed to take... you guessed it, a right. Each Hawaiian Island has about two or three highways on the entire Island. We were on the right road, just going the wrong way. We would have eventually made it to the resort but it would take a while. After going back and forth a couple of times trying to decide which way to go, we were finally headed in the right direction.
As instructed at the Enterprise office, we took a right turn that was five lights from the airport and found the Royal Kona Resort. By now it was dark and I was exhausted. The person at the check in counter was extremely nice and went through the ABC’s of the resort. Parking fee $10 a day, deposit required, blah blah blah. Since I booked the extra day on my own, she had to tie the two reservations together. The only way to do that was to check out tomorrow and then check back in. Same room though. It was nearly 3 am Miami time and I maybe had an hour of sleep total on the plane. If she would have said that the room rate was changed to a billion dollars a night, I would have nodded my head and agreed. We get the keys and a general direction to the room.
The lounge was right off the lobby so we decided to have a nightcap and a bite to eat. Again forgot what we had but I guess I enjoyed it. Entered the room. Even with eyes half opened, the room looked nice and I did go out on the balcony. That also looked nice. Saw the Pacific and heard the sounds of the waves beating on the shore.
We left the door slightly opened so we could keep hearing the waves while we slept. Think I changed clothes before I went to sleep but not sure that happened. Or even if I got under the covers. Eyes closed and I was OUT!
Recap: Today was tough but not as tough as I thought it would be. The Dallas to Hawaii flight was long but with great seats, it really wasn’t bad. Sitting right behind First Class, it did make me hungry when they were served dinner. The food smelled really appealing. As I was waiting at the terminal for the flight to Kona I was thinking that it was a bad idea not to get a room at Honolulu that night. I could have gone to bed long before we arrived at Kona. I was hopeful it was all worth it to wake up there tomorrow morning instead of getting on another early hour flight.
Up next: First day in Hawaii and a trip to the volcanos. AKA: Stinking weather.
) watch her grow from a beautiful young teen to a beautiful young lady. 
Now that would make a great picture.
