Japanese Surgeon's Daily Life

KCC (Kapi Olani Community College) Farmers' Market

　　There are some farmers' markets on Oahu island and we visited one of them, the most popular one among tourists. It was located in the parking lot of KCC (Kapi Olani Community College) and had been held once a week, on Saturday morning. I'd like to take pictures of unfamiliar fruits and plants there, but I gave up as I ate an oily hamburger and my hands got greasy. The pictures below were given to me by my friend. I was really interested in fruits and raw food, but I refrained from eating them. If I have stomach troubles from them, I should have to give up joining the Honolulu marathon. Being on the safe side, I ate heated food only.
　　We were going to climb up the Diamond Head next, but we had time by the appointed time and went back to Waikiki beach. I'll write about the appointed time of the Diamond Head in the next entry. Anyway, just simply walking around the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel was a lot of fun. People around the hotel pool were full of smiles and cheerfulness. At the entrance hall of the hotel, we saw a statue of three sea turtles and a sand statue of Santa Claus.
　　Sea turtles are called "Honu" in Hawaiian. They are considered to be very holy and are believed to bring good fortune. The airliner, A380, of ANA which connects between Narita and Honolulu is nicknamed "Honu" and three types of Honu are printed on its fuselage. A sand statue of Santa Claus was also displayed. He wore a short-sleeved jacket with a surfboard. That was really what you would have expected in Hawaii in this season.

(Vocabulary)
fuselage （飛行機の）胴体, 機体

　オアフ島で最も有名で観光客を集めている産直市へやって来ました。油っぽいものを食べて手がベタベタであまり写真を撮れず友人が撮影した写真をもらってＵＰしています。気になる食べ物、飲み物がいろいろありましたが、慣れないものを食べて万一腹を壊したら、明日のホノルルマラソンに参加できなくなるので、大事を取って加熱したものだけを食べました。かなり広いのですが、写真が少なくてすみません。

　ダイヤモンドヘッド入山の予約時刻まで間があったのでいったんワイキキビーチへ戻り、シェラトンホテル周辺を散歩。ワイキキビーチはどこを見ても皆笑顔にあふれていて気持ちが良い。シェラトンホテルのエントランスにはウミガメとサンタクロースのオブジェがありました。

　ウミガメは、ハワイ語で「ホヌ」といいます。ハワイではとても神聖な生き物とされ、幸運を運んでくる「海の守り神」として親しまれています。そう言えば、ＡＮＡが成田ーホノルル間を飛ばしているＡ３８０のニックネームはホヌで機体にはウミガメの絵が描かれていますね。そばにはサーフィンを楽しむ砂のサンタクロースがいました。夏の薄着のサンタクロースはどうも違和感がありますね。（笑）

　さて、午後はいよいよダイヤモンドヘッドに登ります。

 

Kalakaua Merrie Mile Run

　　Some marathon-related events were held on the eve of the Honolulu marathon. The topic of "Kalakaua Merrie Mile Run" was one of them. When we left the condominium just after 5 o'clock, masses of people in running outfits were walking toward the Honolulu Zoo, in front of which the run would start.
　　Take a look at the first picture. Two men with an orange T-shirt were outstanding with their flashy garnishes. The garnishes on their heads and waists were surely from the outfits for Polynesian dances. I was eager to get them and asked them where they bought those garnishes. They were from the Netherlands and they were brought from their country. Tough! I'd like to run the marathon with them on. The distance of the Merrie Mile Run was only one mile and you can join it lightheartedly. Separated into several groups, lot of people started. Some famous Japanese comedian were among them.
　　We were wandering on the almost empty Waikiki beach. It was really comfortable walking. There were around 20 people on the jetty. Their purpose seemed to view the rising sun on Diamond Head. We also saw it and it was indescribably beautiful. After cheering the last group, we headed for KCC Farmers' market, which was well-known by tourists. We were going to have something local as brunch. I'll upload some pictures in the next entry.

(Vocabulary)
jetty 突堤, 防波堤; 桟橋(pier), 波止場.

　

　ホノルルマラソンの前の日、マラソンに関連した様々なイベントが行われるが、その一つ、メリーマイルランがある。コンドミニアムを出発したのは５時過ぎだったが、既にカラカウア通りには出発地点へ向かう人の波が出来ていた。

　最初の写真に写っているオレンジ色のシャツの男性二人が人目を引いていた。頭の飾りと腰に巻いているものは間違いなくポリネシアダンスの衣装をモチーフにしている。欲しくなってどこで買ったのか尋ねたところ、オランダから持って来たとのこと。残念。付けてマラソンを走りたかったのだが。メリーマイルランの走る距離は１マイルなので気楽に参加できる。何組にも分けて大勢の参加者がスタートした。日本の有名なタレントもいて盛り上がっていた。

　スタートまで少しの間、人のまばらなワイキキビーチを散策した。突堤の先に２０人くらいの人がいた。ダイヤモンドヘッドから昇ってくる朝日を見るためらしい。とても美しい日の出だった。メリーマイルランのスタート風景を見終わってから観光客にも有名な産直市を見に行った。

Jet Lag

　　Jet lag is widely accepted as a nuisance, but it wasn't on this trip. We saw a need to keep being suffered from jet lag for 2 days. The start time of the Honolulu Marathon was 5 a.m., so we had to get up before 3 a.m. on the day of the marathon. Luckily for us, the jet lag helped us get up at such an early hour. All of us went to bed around 9 p.m. last night and got up at about 3 a.m. It was because of the jet jag, and four of us, who would join the marathon, had to keep this condition. I would usually continue to stay in bed to recover from jet lag even if I couldn't sleep, but not on this trip.
　　After breakfast, we left for Waikiki beach to watch a fun run.

　時差ぼけは厄介な物というのが通説だが、今回は違う。我々は時差ぼけを２日間は維持する必要があった。ホノルルマラソンは５時スタートなので、３時頃には起床して準備が必要なのだ。なので、９時頃にはマラソン組は就寝し、９日土曜日も３時に起床した。何の苦労もなく自然に目が覚めた。今日も目一杯遊ぶ！腹ごしらえをして午前５時過ぎ、出発。

Fireworks and Dinner

　　The fireworks display started on time. This display had been offered by the Hilton once a week on Friday night. A porter told us that our room is one of the best places to view fireworks, so we were waiting for it. His words were correct and we enjoyed it so much. We could watch every rocket from the set-off to its disappearance. The fireworks display is very popular and is an seasonal occurrence in Japan. However, it's rare to watch its ignition. We had a valuable experience. Every time a rocket was shot, a cheer arose on the ground. It would be hot and muggy in the crowd, but we were able to enjoy fireworks in a comfortable air-conditioned room and we were really happy. You can see the situation from the following pictures. Enjoy them.
　　We had a simple meal tonight with pizza and salad. The uncommonly big beef - at least in Japan - was prepared for tomorrow's dinner in advance. We were lucky to be with a good chef. Looking out after a while, the fireworks' viewing boats disappeared and a quiet ocean was there.
　　Viewing this peaceful scenery, I couldn't believe the incident which had occurred on Niihau island in Hawaii today 82 years ago. It was a simple property crime originally, but eventually developed into a serious murder case. Anyway, I'd like to honor a young man who had fought for Japan. He was from the same prefecture as ours.

(Vocabulary)
rocket [C] 打ち上げ花火
Someone set off a rocket. だれかが花火を打ち上げた．
property crime 窃盗事件

 

　ヒルトンの花火が始まった。ポーターがこの部屋は花火を見るには最高の場所だと言っていたが、まったくその通りだった。花火が打ち上がる瞬間から、消えるまで目で追うことが出来た。こんな経験はあまり出来ないだろう。打ち上がるたびに下の方から歓声が聞こけてくる。おそらく下は蒸し暑いだろうが、我々は涼しいところで花火を楽しめた。
　夕食はテイクアウトのピザなどで簡単に済ませた。日本で見ることのあまりないサイズの牛肉は明日に備えて下準備。食後、外を見ると沖合にいた花火鑑賞のための船はいなくなり、静寂な海が拡がっていた。
　この平和な景色を見ていると８２年前の今日、ここで起こったことが信じられなくなってくる。真珠湾攻撃に続いて起こったニイハウ島事件。住民による単純な窃盗事件だったのだが大きな問題になった。それに立ち向かったわが郷土出身のひとりの若者を讃えたい。

Relaxing Evening

　　We finished today's plan of getting food for a few days and the check-in of the Honolulu Marathon. We were so tired and had jet lag, but some started washing clothes in the washing machine and some started learning how to use kitchen utensils. The scene of four women gathering in front of the oven was humorous and I took a snapshot of them.
The following pictures are taken from the 34th floor of our room. How wonderful they were. The sinking sun and the night view were great. The 4th and 5th was the indoor pool for guests only. I'll show you the pictures of fireworks which are called the Hilton institution in the next entry.

(Vocabulary)
institution 〈話〉〔ある地域内の〕よく知られた人［もの］、名物

　食材の買い出しを済ませ、マラソンのチェックインも済ませ、今日の予定は終了。時差ぼけ中でさすがに疲れているが、洗濯機を使って洗濯を始めたり、キッチンの装備の使い方の研究が始まった。オーブンの前で４人の女性が並んでいる姿が少しユーモラスで笑えた。
　窓からのスナップを少し紹介する。この美しさはどうだ。太平洋に沈む夕陽に周辺の夜景。４枚目と５枚目の写真はアイランダー内にある、宿泊者専用のプール。雨の日には重宝する。次の投稿ではヒルトン名物となった花火を紹介する。多くの写真の中でどれを選ぶか一苦労しそうだ。

Waikiki

　　We went out shopping for food. The 1st floor of the condominium was the trolley terminal and it was very handy. We got on a trolley to the Royal Hawaiian Center and walked along Kalakaua street. I'll show you some snaps taken on the way.
　　I saw a big Christmas tree in the center. It didn't sit well with me in such hot temperatures. People around wore light clothes like a T-shirt, shorts, beach sandals, and so on. No one wore a long coat or snow boots. Anyway, such curious sensations were also a fun part of the trips. We walked through the International Market Place and reached Waikiki Market, which had opened early this year. This market, I thought, would be very convenient for visitors who stayed around Waikiki beach. With prices soaring, daily visits to restaurants cost a lot and take-out supper is also a high price. The room equipped with a kitchen was a blessing.
　　The last picture shows a famous hand gesture called "SHAKA". FYI, "SHAKA" isn't Hawaiian. Anyway, it has a sad story and I'd like to let my friends know the story, but in vain. There stands a statue of a man who had been the origin of the "SHAKA" gesture at the entrance of the Polynesian Culture Center in Kahuku, northeast of Oahu island. Kahuku was his original place. The description of the monument is a little different from the common explanation on the net, but the description on his monument was much more acceptable for me. I was going to take my friends there, but time was short.

(Vocabulary)
wear light clothes [clothing] 薄着する
hand gesture/signal ハンドサイン

　全員で買い物に出た。コンドミニアムの１階がトロリーのターミナルとなっているので実に便利。ロイヤルハワイアンセンターまでトロリーを利用し、後はカラカウア通りをブラブラと散歩。道中のスナップを呈示します。
　こんなに暑い中でのクリスマスツリーにはやはり違和感あり。カラカウア通りからインターナショナルマーケットプレイスを抜けてワイキキマーケット到着。今年初頭にオープンした話題のマーケットなので来てみた。ワイキキビーチ近くのコンドミニアム滞在者には便利な店だろうなと思う。物価が高いのでそうそうレストランは利用できないし、テイクアウトも高いから部屋にキッチンがあるのは助かる。
　最後の写真はシャカSHAKA（実はハワイ語ではありません）、ハワイでの挨拶のハンドサイン。実は悲しい歴史があるのだが、同行の仲間達に伝えることを忘れた。カフクにあるポリネシアンカルチャーセンターの入口にこのサインを生んだ人物の銅像と悲しい歴史が書かれていてそれを見てもらいたかったが時間が足らずに寄れなかった。ネット上の説明と少し異なっていてここに書かれている説明の方が僕には受け入れやすかったので。

Penthouse

　　We stayed in the penthouse on the 34th floor of the Hilton Grand Islander. This is one of the best rooms in the Hilton Hawaiian Village and was very wide. As one of the benefits, we were able to have breakfast and an evening meal, hors d'oeuvre, or pupu in Hawaiian including wine and beer for free in its lounge located on the same floor.
　　Eight of us used this room, so we got 8 key cards and 8 towel cards. The towel cards can be exchanged for towels at the towel stand near the beach or pools. When coming back to the room, you can receive it in exchange for the used towels. This system is very handy.
　　After enjoying the scene from the balcony, we went shopping for food. Shopping for food is one of the daily activities, but it's great fun in unfamiliar places.

(Vocabulary)
hors d'oeuvre〈フランス語〉pupu <ハワイ語＞　オードブル

　アイランダーの３４階にあるペントハウスへ入室した。最上級の部屋だけあってさすがに広い。同じ階にあるラウンジでは朝食と夕食（軽めのオードブル＋ワイン、ビール）が無料でサービスされる。
　８人で利用するので８人分のカードキーとタオルカードを受け取った。タオルカードはビーチに数カ所あるタオルスタンドでタオルに交換してくれる。使ったタオルと交換で返してくれるので何度もビーチへ行ってもその都度新しいタオルを貸してくれる便利なシステムだ。眺めをしばらく楽しんだ後、夕食の食材の買い出しに出かけた。
　買物は日常的な行動だが、見知らぬ土地での買物はそれ自体が非日常で楽しい。

Arrival

　　We left Japan in the evening on the 8th, but arrived in Honolulu in the morning on the same day as we strode across the dateline. I usually try to get over jetlag as soon as possible, but this was not the case on this trip. I'll write about the reason in the following entries.
　　Anyway, a brilliant blue sky of Honolulu welcomed us. All the procedures at the airport were perfectly done in a minimum time thanks to the face authentication system. We would stay at the Groud Islander in Hilton Hawaiian Village. I firstly visit Hawaii in this season. The Christmas tree displayed at the airport was a little curious to me.
　　After depositing our suitcases at the condominium some who would join the Honolulu marathon headed for the convention center to check-in the marathon and others started to walk around the village. Then we got some food at the Waikiki Market which was opened in early 2023.
　　I'll show you some pictures shot in the airport, the village and the convention center. The two medals are for the winners and they seemed to be made from 100% gold.

(Vocabulary)
a face [facial] authentication system 顔認証システム

8日の夜に日本を出発したが、日付変更線を跨ぐために到着は同日の朝。眠気はピークだが今回の目的であるホノルルマラソンに合わせるために敢えて時差を解消せず、維持する考え。
ホノルルは快晴で何のトラブルも無く入国審査完了。顔認証システムのお陰で実にスムースに入国できた。この時期にハワイを訪れたのは初めてで、真夏のクリスマスツリーに違和感大！
まずはホノルルマラソンにチェックイン。コンドミニアム近くのコンベンションセンターで受付を済ませ、コンドミニアム周囲やワイキキを散策。今年開業したホノルルマーケットで食材を買い込む。
この投稿ではリゾート内の風景とマラソン受付会場、そこに展示されていた優勝者用の純金のメダルを呈示します。

Flight to Hawaii

　　Some airlines like JAL, ANA, Hawaiian, etc fly various types of airliners from several airports in Japan to Honolulu. Japan's Capital, Tokyo, has two international airports, Narita and Haneda. My local airport has direct flights to Haneda, so the flights leaving Haneda are very handy in respect of the connection to overseas flights. However, we chose ANA Airbus A380 among them which starts from Narita International Airport. This is the world's largest passenger airliner and the only full-length double-deck jet airliner. I've experienced it once, but my friends never.
　　This trip is what you call an anniversary trip as I wrote in the previous entry, so we took premium economy seats. I'll show you the seat and our first in-flight meals.

日本からホノルルへは数社が飛行機を飛ばしている。東京には二つの国際空港があり、地元の空港と繋がっている羽田空港が便利だが、今回は先に書いたように記念旅行であり、日本からはこの路線しか飛んでいないA380に乗るために成田空港を利用した。シートは二階席のプレミアムエコノミー。搭乗待合室や最初に運ばれてきた機内食をＵＰします。

United Club

　　We left our local airport and made a connection at Haneda International Airport with an inter-airport connecting bus. It was about noon when we got to Narita International Airport. We checked in at ANA counter and passed through the departure formalities. Then we headed for the lounge offered from United Airlines, United Club for lunch. The three of us were gold members of the Star Alliance and utilized the benefit. The lounge was open and larger than I expected. Its atmosphere was gorgeous. I had lunch and some beer. I'd like to have taken snapshots to record the scene inside, but I couldn't avoid other customers coming in the pictures and gave up taking pictures.
　　I'll upload the pictures which my friend took. Our next destination was ANA's lounge! We had a short and small party there over dishes and alcohol offered from ANA for free. The lounge-hopping was new to me.

(Vocabulary)
come in the pictures 写真に写り込む

 


地元の空港から飛行機と空港間連絡を乗り継いで成田空港へ到着したのがお昼頃。ＡＮＡのカウンターでチェックインを済ませ、出国し、ランチはユナイテッド航空のラウンジで無料の料理やアルコールをいただいた。メンバーのうち３名がスターアライアンスのゴールドホルダーだったので特典を生かして全員で。ユナイテッド航空のラウンジは豪華で広く開放的でくつろげた。写真を撮ろうとしたがどうしても人が映り込んでしまうので迷惑を掛けてもいけないので写真は諦めた。
代わりに同行の友人が撮った写真をＵＰする。ほろ酔い気分でラウンジを出て今度はＡＮＡのラウンジに立ち寄り、まったり。ラウンジのハシゴは初めての経験。

Honolulu Marathon 2023

　　I found a flyer of the Hawaiian tours in my home which was designed by JAL, Japan's flagship airline company. My wife spotted it at a nearby supermarket and brought it back. The tours were for people who would join the Honolulu marathon which would be held on Dec. 10th. Lots of Japanese would join it after three years of the restraint on overseas tourism, including me and my friends!
　　The tour was elaborately tied-up with upscale hotels and restaurants along with the convenient flights. I've run the Honolulu Half Marathon several years ago. A few hundred top runners were serious at that time, but most runners were running with fun or sightseeing on the public road on which people weren't usually allowed to walk or run. The Honolulu Marathon would be the same. I'd like to enjoy the marathon in December, ignoring the finishing time.

HIWASA CHELONIAN MUSEUM CARETTA

　　A beach which is well-known for the deposit of carettas has been attracting my interest for a long time. I dropped in at the beach and Hiwasa Chelonian Museum Caretta along the beach. The museum also serves as a facility for carettas' preservation and animal specialists are tackling various environmental issues.
　　Coming down to the carettas, I remember HAWAII! All Nippon Airways connects Narita and Honolulu with three A380s. The body of the A380s are painted with adorable carettas and those A380s are dubbed Honu, which means caretta in Hawaiian. Carettas are venerated in Hawaii. Recalling wonderful memories in Hawaii, I took a walk along the beach. I haven't visited Hawaii for almost three years due to the coronavirus pandemic, but I'm going to visit it next year and join the Honolulu Marathon.

(Vocabulary)
deposit of carettas　ウミガメが卵を産み付けること
chelonian 亀、亀の
caretta アカウミガメ=loggerhead turtle
deposit (安全な場所に)〈貴重品など〉を預ける;〈鳥･魚･昆虫などが〉〈卵など〉を産み付ける.

English and My Car

　　I don't have so many difficulties in reading English newspaper articles, but I'm not good at speaking. Suitable words even in my vocabulary don't promptly come up into my mind in every situation. Anyway, it would be inconceivable to you that my poorness in talking is connected to the fact that I own a Tesla car now. 　　When I visited Honolulu in Hawaii in 2018, I noticed a Tesla dealer shop along Kalakaua Avenue. I'd never entered a car shop abroad and something like valor began to rise up within me at that time. It urged me to get into the shop and try to speak to a salesperson, and I did it following the voice of someone in my mind.
　　Just after entering the shop full of my courage, I suddenly felt deflated, because the salesperson who attended me was a Japanese guy. He offered an opportunity to test-drive a Model-X during my stay in Honolulu and I drove a Model-X in Honolulu. The result? Its performance was superb and I became unable to get it off my mind. The price of the Model-X was too expensive for me, but I started to save money for the down payment for the car.
　　The more than one-hour test-drive was like a sightseeing tour. Some Japanese celebrities own their home in Honolulu, and the salesperson showed me those during the test-drive. His parting words were "See you again next year and I'll take you to another area in Honolulu!"
　　I revisited the dealer in 2019 and I saw a Model 3 at that time. I didn't know about this car. The same salesperson advised me to take a test-drive and I was amazed at its functions and price, which was narrowly within my reach. In addition, the sales of it would start in Japan two months later. I promptly ordered a Model 3. The company offers three types of Model 3 and I opted for the longest range type.
　　It's been two and half years since my last visit to Hawaii. I've never been to a gas station in these two years. Arriving at my house from my work, I insert the charging plug into my car. By the next morning, the charging has finished. The charging is done in the night and I don't mind how long it takes. It's very convenient and I love this car.

(Vocabulary)
deflated がっくりした, 自信をなくした;〈風船・タイヤなどが〉 空気の抜けた, しぼんだ

Wall Connector

　　I have stayed in Honolulu for a week every year recently. While staying last year, I happened to see and enter the Tesla shop in the International Marketplace on Kalakaua Avenue without any special reason. Tesla Model S and X were exhibited. A salesman suggested I drive one. I had driven a left-side steering car about 20 years ago, but hadn't driven one since then. Though I had a little anxiety, he encouraged me to drive their car and test-drove a model X. The car was out of this world. It was my first time to drive an electric car. No engine meant no noise. Its power was beyond my expectation. The salesman was a nice guy and told me lots of interesting stories about Hawaii just like a tour conductor. The drive with him was fun. I wanted to have a Tesla car, but its price was also beyond my purchasing power.
　　By the way, this year. I visited Hawaii in June and dropped in at the shop. I found a model 3 which they had started to offer into Japan's market on June 1st. I test-drove it and was captivated by its overall function. On top of that, I was barely able to afford to do it, but I decided to buy a Tesla model 3. It became the most expensive souvenir to me in my life.
　　Today, I got its charging equipment, Wall Connector. I can't wait for the delivery of my model 3.

Suitcase Damaged

　　I found that the wheels of my suitcase were broken when receiving it at Honolulu airport. It was the second time. The first time was in the airport of Munich or Firenze. The handling of the luggage overseas, I feel, is rougher than in Japan. Anyway, I had time at night and sent an e-mail along with some pictures of the suitcase to ask my insurance agent if the damage would be covered by my insurance. The prompt reply told me that the damage was under the coverage. I had just only to pay the transport fee from my house to the repair center of GLOBE-TROTTER near Tokyo. 6 years have passed since I bought this suitcase, but it looks like brand-new and works well. Wonderful!

スーツケースのタイヤが破損した。日本の空港だと何も起こらないのに、海外での扱いは乱暴なのだろうか？夜ちょっと時間ができたので写真を撮って保険を請求してみた。 そしたらなんと全額保証された。自宅から、GLOBE-TROTTERのリペアセンターまでの往復の費用は負担しなければならないが、タイヤを新品に交換してくれるという。良かった。記録を見るとこのスーツケースを購入して６年になるが、いまだに新品同様。ありがたい。

Kauai and Niihau Islands

　　Soon after taking off, Kauai island came into my sight and I was able to roughly understand the whole terrain of Kauai island. On the other hand, Niihau island is off limits to the public and I barely saw the faint outlines of the island from Kauai island, so I wanted to look down on the island from the sky, but the island was just below my plane. I wasn't able to see the island. It was some time later that I recalled that the A380 had a camera for looking downward. I'm going to use this camera on the next flight to Oahu.
　　Arriving at Narita Airport, it was raining. As I spent a week in the scorching heat of the tropical island, I felt the rain somehow fresh. I found an emerald-green A380, one of three Flying Honus, sitting on the hardstand. I heard it would start flying a few weeks later. Eventually, three Flying Honus will be in service between Narita and Honolulu. The flight was really comfortable this time and I was already looking forward to flying into Hawaii with a Flying Honu next year.
　　Lastly I'll show you pictures of Tokyo Skytree and Mt. Fuji taken from there on the next day. Mt. Fuji was shot so clearly, and it was apparently rare. We were lucky.

離陸後すぐにカウアイ島が見えてきた。ワイメア渓谷州立公園の全体像が見えた。が、見たかったニイハウ島は飛行機の真下になり見えず。ただ、しばらくして気がついた。この飛行機には真下を見るカメラが付いていていつでも下の景色を見ることができたことを。これもまた次回の楽しみにしておこう。
成田へ到着すると雨。南国の強い日差しの中で過ごした後だけに、ただの雨だが新鮮に感じた。ハワイ滞在中には雨は全く降らなかった。駐機場にはエメラルドグリーンのFlying Honu２号機が駐まっていた。来年もＡ３８０で行きたいな。

Return Flight

　　The last day: We moved to the airport by the usual taxi. Our return flight was an A380 dubbed Flying Honu which meant turtle in Hawaiian. When having left Japan, I saw it, but it was already dark. Taking a close look in the daylight, its face was really cute. I thought that this series of three planes would attract lots of passengers. Currently, the fight to gain customers on the Japan-Hawaii line between the two biggest companies of Japan Airline(JAL) and All Nippon Airways(ANA) broke out. The eye-catchers of ANA were the Flying Honu and the newly-built lounge in Honolulu Airport. This lounge offered lots of dishes and beverages for their passengers and was equipped with facilities for kids and quiet areas for sleepers and those who wanted to spend time silently. Additionally, the washroom would be the cleanest on Oahu island. You can see the taking-off and landing planes from the lounge. This place would be paradise for plane nerds like me. Honolulu Airport is located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and is the hub airport of the Ocean. I was able to see various planes from all over the world. Then ANA's competitor of JAL just arrived in Honolulu and appeared abruptly in front of me. Its fuselage was decorated with the faces of the Japanese music group, "Arashi". It was also gorgeous, but looked small against the backdrop of the enormous A380.

帰国の日 

いつものドライバーに迎えに来てもらい空港へ。帰りももちろん空飛ぶウミガメ号で。明るいところで間近に見ると、実に可愛いイラストが描かれている。これは人気が出るだろうなあと思う。実は今日本では、日本を代表する航空会社２社でハワイ路線の乗客の獲得合戦が始まっている。ＡＮＡの目玉がこのＡ３８０と新設されたラウンジ。このラウンジ、料理や飲み物が充実していることは当たり前として、子供専用スペースや、一人静かにくつろぐ場所などがある。トイレはおそらく、オアフ島で一番清潔できれいだと思う。また離着陸する飛行機がよく見える。飛行機好きにはたまらない。太平洋に浮かぶハブ空港。いろいろな国の飛行機がやって来ている。と、その時、対抗するＪＡＬの嵐ジェット登場。人気グループ嵐を機体に描いた機材。ライバルのＡＮＡラウンジの目の前に付けるところ、たいしたものだと思うが、並べると機体の大きさの差は歴然。

Vacation Life in Hawaii

　　This vacation was a little bit different from previous vacations. We've usually stayed in a resort alone, but this time, my friends visited us one day, and we joined a Kauai island tour with my friends on another day. We
had to adjust our schedule according to their plan, but we had a lot of fun.

　　By the way, our usual way of living in Hawaii is like this:

　　Basically, we had no plan. We got food and drinks for a week at a supermarket on the 1st day, and then did nothing in particular. We went to bed when we got sleepy, and got up when eyes were open. I enjoyed reading books in the air-conditioned living room over a cup of Kona coffee or tropical fruits juice, which I prepared for myself from various fresh fruits and vegetables using the blender. Sometimes we enjoyed cooking as a hobby with lots of unfamiliar ingredients using unfamiliar cooking utensils. I've once mistakenly used the oven for steaming a small chicken. The figures shown on the panel were calibrated in degrees Fahrenheit. Waiting, waiting, and waiting, but the chicken wasn't heated. I instantly assumed that the oven didn't work, but it was my fault. Anyway, staying in unusual circumstances was always fun. Just staying in the resort was a really refreshing experience. During the daytime, I went jogging or walking, and I often soaked in the sea water or in the pools when it got hot. A feast for the eyes was often walking around me.(grin) If I felt like it, I went to a bar in Hilton Village and listened to the conversations of the next tables, but those conversations were hard to understand for me. I reflected that those conversations might have various slang, dialects or unfamiliar accents for me. Anyway, they were great lessons for me. One thing, I made it a rule to stay in the Village from 2200 to 500 hours for security.
　　By the way, I got accustomed to spending vacations on Oahu island and I'm thinking of renting a car and viewing the sunrise at the easternmost point of Oahu on the next vacation, though we have to start out before 5 o'clock. Then I'd like to see the sun setting from the westernmost point, but I heard that the west coast of the island wasn't secure, and a taxi driver, who transports us between the airport and the Village every time we visit Oahu, advised us to keep away from the west coast after sunset, so we'll follow his words for now.
　　The following pictures show my favorite route for walking. You'd know what I wrote above. I always wear clothes with which I can move into the sea or pool anytime. My digital camera is water-proof, and I brought a pair of new shoes called "marine shoes" this time, which were really handy in the resort. I rushed into the lagoon on the way also today, succumbing to the heat.

(Vocabulary)
feast for the eye 目の保養

今回は友人の訪問があったり、友人と一緒のツアーに参加したりと、事前にスケジュールの調整が必要だったが、いつもの休暇中は何もしない、計画を立てないというのが基本。初日に一週間分の食料を買い込み、後は部屋でゴロゴロする。眠くなったら眠り、目が覚めたら起きる。コナコーヒーやトロピカルフルーツジュース（備え付けのミキサーで自分で作る）を片手に読書を楽しみ、時々「趣味としての」料理を楽しみ、日中はジョギングや散歩、暑くなれば海へ浸かり、プールへ浸かり、時に目の保養をして、気が向いたらヴィレッジ内のバーへ飲みに出かける。隣のテーブルの会話に聞き耳を立てリスニングを試みるも、飲み屋の会話はスラングが多いためだと思うが、相当に難しい。そして、２２時以降と午前５時前にはヴィレッジから出ないことにしている。これは身の安全のため。しかし、そろそろ慣れてきたので、次回はレンタカーでも借りてみようかと、オアフ島の最東端で日の出を眺めてみようかと考えている。日の入りがみえるところは、かなり治安が悪いので当面は見送る。(小錦の地元)

写真はお気に入りの散歩コース。いつでも海やプールに浸かることの出来る格好で散歩している気持ちがわかってもらえるかな。今回マリンシューズと呼ばれる、水陸両用の靴を初めて使ったが、とても便利だった。この日も暑さに負けて、散歩途中にラグーンに、、、(^o^)

Udon

　　You might think that I didn't need to eat Japanese food of udon even in Hawaii, but I was a man of curiosity. "What is udon like in Hawaii?" I visited the Waikiki branch of Japanese noted udon-chain, Marukame Udon. In case you're wondering, udon is Japanese traditional noodle. I live in Ehime prefecture in Japan, and the adjacent prefecture, Kagawa, is famous for its character of inhabitants who love udon. Kagawa prefecture is often called Udon prefecture. "Marukame" came from Marukame city in Kagawa prefecture. Every time I saw the restaurant, it was crowded, but it was not so when we visited. Its taste was just the same as that of restaurants in Japan, but the menu and notices on the wall were written in English and they were interesting for an English-learner. When we went out, the waiting line was being formed. We were lucky not to wait for even a minute.

ハワイに来てまでうどんはないだろうと思うが、ハワイのうどんはどんなだろうかという興味があり、ホノルルの丸亀製麺に寄ってみた。いつも混んでいるのだが、たまたま空いていた。うどんは日本料理のひとつで、僕が住んでいる愛媛県の隣、香川県はうどん好きな県民性で日本全国に名が知られ、うどん県というニックネームまで付いている。味は日本と同じだったが、表示されている英語が面白かった。なるほど英語ではこう表現するのかと。店を出たときには列ができはじめていた。たまたま空いていてラッキー。

Hilton Grounds

　　Hilton Village where we stayed has a long history from more than half a century ago. It was built in the dawn of Waikiki as one of the principal global resorts. Its location in Waikiki, I think, would be the best. The vast grounds include natural lagoons and beaches. As I walked on the roundabout way home from the yacht harbor, the sun rose up and it was getting hot! You'd know or feel the elevation of the sun from the following pictures.
　　An early-morning yoga class, which was regularly held in the shade of the condominium complex on the grass court, had just finished. The participants were mostly women and I wanted to join them since before, but I was too shy to enter into this group, and moreover my body is so stiff to do it.
　　Then I tried to walk in the shade for some time, but I changed my mind after remembering that I was in Hawaii. I dared to walk under the tropical sun and perspired a lot. As soon as I got home, I made a beeline to the shower, then the fridge to grab a beer.

このヒルトンヴィレッジはかなり古くからある施設でワイキキでも一番良い場所にあるような気がする。そしていくつもの建物があり、また広い。ヨットハーバーからの帰りに少し遠回りをして帰宅したが、太陽がどんどん高くなり、かなり汗をかいた。写真からも太陽の高さがわかると思う。日陰になっている広場ではちょうど無料のヨガ教室が終わったところだったようだった。ほとんど女性。ヨガに興味はあるが、この中に混ざるのはちょっと気恥ずかしい。身体は恐ろしく硬いし。なるべく日陰を歩こうとしたのだが、考えて見れば、ハワイに来て太陽を避けるなど言語道断。あえて日差しを浴びて帰宅、シャワールームに駆け込み、、、、ビール！