Hawaiian Beach (Casey's Beach)
Sunday was the beach and Monday was my flight back home. I spent the morning weeding and then the afternoon relaxing and finishing my packing. Emily went back to work at 4 while I waited for a ride to the station at 5. Mariko helped me get my stuff into the car and I was torn between sadness and excitement to come home, which makes a weird cocktail in your stomach. Emily came with to the station and I hugged them goodbye, hoping to see Mariko again in the future when I return to Japan (hopefully with my little brother in tow) and Emily hopefully as a travel buddy! For the last time I used the train ticket machines and went down to catch my train.
It was a two and a half hour ride to Kansai airport and at my transfer at Osaka, the train was in English and Japanese, that was a first. It was nice to read on the train and not worry about straining to hear in Japanese whether my stop was next, a nice British lady would say so over the loudspeaker. At the airport I had to eat something since my flight was at 10:35 pm, otherwise I would be dangerously cranky. I was still in Japanese mode when I ordered strawberry cheesecake frozen yogurt at an ice cream kiosk and I think I made the cashier laugh. He knew English well but it was hard to override two months of Japanese responses.
On the flight I sat next to a 15 year old girl who was moving to Hawaii for 5 years with her family and she was also surprised at my speaking abilities. She was cute. :) After the plane dinner I popped a sleeping assistant and groggily slept the next 8 hours to Hawaii. We landed 15 minutes early and I was pumped, it was 11:45 am and my next flight was at 5:15. I was going to spring out of that plane, through customs, and to the beach like a bullet. But actually, I had to get my luggage, transfer my luggage, check in for my flight and by that time I began to doubt I would be able to make it to the beach and back. However, luckily for me, the Honolulu airport had an exit by the check in where most folks get picked up or take a taxi elsewhere. I asked a lady working if that bus station over there went to Waikiki beach, and she responded, "Sure! Buses come every 10 minutes!" "Do I have enough time?" "I think so." "I'm THERE!" And took off for the station across the street. It cost me $3 since I didn't have change, but hey, better than the $25 dollar taxi.
I knew Waikiki was an mile and a half away, so I figured it wouldn't be that long on a bus, but as the clock ticked away, I realized there was no beach in sight. I borrowed the map from the gentleman next to me and realized oh no, we are very far away due to traffic. I panicked. And then on my right I noticed a beach! Was it private? No! Oh wait! We passed that stop! Pull for the next and book it! So I did.
I backtracked trying to find where the bus stop would be for the way back because that was more important than the beach just yet, and so was my growling tummy. I stopped into Petals and Beans to ask where the bus stop was--all this was in a line of hotels and fancy places I wasn't sure I could just walk into. But the Hawaiian man working said it was right outside at the stoplight so hooray! Then I noticed in the coffee/flower shop that behind the glass display case was a beautiful slice of New York Mocha cheesecake, so I had to eat it. It was the best ever, for lack of better words, accompanied by a handmade and one of a kind chai tea. After the cool down, it was time to beach-book-it. I raced across the street and the grass trying to find where I could change into my suit. Once that was accomplished, I put my stuff between two parties of two and was amazed how 1, this beach was gorgeous and 2, this was not crowded at all. Then, I burst into the ocean.
It was more than amazing, it was perfection at it's best. Warm but cool and refreshing water, bright blue water with that tinge of aquamarine and white sand. I couldn't believe I was walking on it! My time was short and I had to leave soon after plunging into the beautiful blue to catch a bus back to Honolulu Airport, but it was worth it. Hawaii, I hope to see you again. :)
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