Hawaii, has been on the places to travel list for a while now.
It would only be a destination that you would visit for any reason you would get!
And what better than a wedding on the island?
A long journey to get to the island,
another few hours’ time difference from California and a total of 15 Hrs 30 min from India.
We just kept resetting our watches & Food Cycle and just when our sleep cycles were set in Hawaii, it was time to travel back.
The travel from India ( Mumbai to San Francisco) via Dubai, yes. We flew Emirates and the first surprise we received at the check-in counter, was an upgrade to Business class for the Mumbai- Dubai sector and what a journey.
The flat bed and the service were what made Emirates fly better and fly differently.
The Dubai airport was silent and quiet with no crowds at the airport, it took us less than 15 minutes to clear immigration, Security and reach the gates.
The United States after a decade felt so different yet nothing seemed to have changed.
The dollar exchange rate changed a lot, things definitely felt more expensive, fewer staff around at retail stores and in the hospitality sector,
The Waymo driverless experience was a highlight of the California stay.
Before we knew it, it was time to head to Aloha.
The week we were to go there. It was stormy and floods were forecast.
A couple of days, and there were no
Signs of Rain, only sunshine and sunset around until it poured one night and changed a few more plans.
Hawaii – The first reaction is like Thailand, Phuket, a little like the Maldives and a lot like Goa India. But cleaner, Bluer and less crowded with very good seafood & meat.
And while we walked and explored the place.
Aloha as a state is almost twice as expensive as New York & San Francisco.
A little history!
In 1810 Kamehameha became Hawaii’s first king. The islands continued to have royal rulers into the 1880s.
No wonder the Suite at Royal Hawaiian was named the Kamehameha, a spacious room
And a huge balcony to enjoy the sunrises and sunset and occasionally the local cultural show from the balcony itself.
The hospitality & the service in the States is something that they need to learn from India.
Did You Know?
Hawaii is an island that has 132 islands but only 7 have been inhabited
Hawaii the Names comes from the Hawai’i Loa, a legendary figure who is said to have first discovered the islands.
Many beaches are filled with white sand, but other Hawaiian shores are covered with green, red, pink, and even black sand.
Hawaii is the only U.S. state with two official languages: English and Hawaiian.
Barack Obama the 44th president of the United States was born in Honolulu Hawaii
Sugarcane, pineapples, coffee, macadamia nuts, and flowers are all important sources of income for the Aloha’s economy.
Hawaii’s nickname, the Aloha State, is no mystery: Aloha is a Hawaiian way to say hello and goodbye.
No Texting While Crossing Street
Looking at your cell phone while crossing a crosswalk is prohibited. If you commit a breach, you will be fined $ 15-99. In addition, crossing at other than the pedestrian crossing is prohibited and punishable by a fine of $ 130 for violations.
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