The 17th of May is Norway’s version of Independence Day, or the Norwegian Constitution Day (according to Wikipedia). In 1814 we became an independent nation, and next year marks our 200 year anniversary. This is the first time I have celebrated the day abroad, and the day was just amazing. Sun, BBQ, singing and loads of beautiful Norwegians. Love it. Yes to more Hawaii-Norwegian holidays!
Vacation has finally arrived in Hawaii, and luckily I negotiated a week of free time in Hawaii before going back to Norway for the summer. The sun has been in constant attendance the last couple of days, Rikke is visiting from Sidney and I am officially lobster red. Mission accomplished.
I have been playing tour guide – and I’m very good at it – the last 3 days, one of which was spent along everyone’s favorite north shore. Macademia nut coffee in Hale’iwa, shave ice (anywhere but Matsumoto where the line is always waay to long), chilling at some deserted beach (right outside Turtle Bay resort this time) and dinner at Banzai sushi. Can’t honestly get much better than this. Mahalo!
3 days left.
The other day I went golfing with the boys in Kaneohe. The dress-code was golf, or funky shirt (if you didn’t have the appropriate attire) and we made quite the spectacle, especially our host Anton. It was an exceptionally beautiful day in the sun and I am starting to realize why people spend so much time on this “sport”.
Golf is kind of weird though. I mean, how come we call it a sport. Yeah, you’re pretty awesome if you have the talent and skill to place a hole-in-one, to hit that little ball with precision enough to be able to pinpoint it to that small hole in the grass that is 200 meters (or more, or less) away. But a sport? Then we might as well call chess a sport. Yes, being healthy and working out might help you (sharp body, sharp mind), but you don’t have to be a top-trained athlete to excel in chess, nor in golf.
I still like the “sport” though. Or maybe we should call it game? It’s on my list of things I need to become good at, right after tennis. Tennis first.
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Song: Bruno Mars – Count On Me
Hurray for me!
In Norway it’s my birthday, in Hawaii I have still got 40 minutes left. 40 minutes till I’m 24. Tomorrow will be a day of good drinks, great friends, delicious cupcakes and a perfect dose of wild and crazy dancing. It’s my birthday and I can definitely dance on the table if I want to.
Spending all day inside in AC-rooms forces me to dress like I’m in Norway. Kind of. This sweater is one of my personal favorites, mostly because it’s really warm, but also because of the fact that it has got cut outs on the back.Total sucker for cut-outs at the moment.
In other news my birthday is coming up. This year I am not sure what I feel about it. Usually I would throw a big party, invite all my friends and drink till dawn. This year I keep forgetting when it is, how old I am and all I feel like doing is spend it wrapped in a thick blanket watching TV. Am I getting old? Or boring? Or even worse: both? Old, boring woman sounds like a death sentence.
My mission and birthday wish this year: get my shaka back. This Thursday I am going out. Whether I want to or not. I can sleep when I am dead!
SWEATER leith PANTS nastygal BAG marc by marc jacobs BOOTS mani
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Yesterday I took some time off from Spring Break shenanigans to go hiking on the south-east side of the island. Starting at the parking lot at Makapu’u Lighthouse, we climbed the hillside on the other side of the road and made our way along the ridge line towards Mariner’s Ridge. Right before the ridge hits the end of Mariner’s, you take a right down to Waimanalo. This trail is called the TomTom trail after the guys who made it, Tom McGuire and Tom Cadle. You can read more about the hike from my favorite guide to all things hiking-related: UnrealHawaii.
Climbing to the top of the first peak we took a 5 minute break to capture the view of the south shore.
More specifically this view. Makapu’u Beach Park. Gorgeous, right?
Looking down at the highway passing a couple 100 feet by below us.
Stopped by Sports Authority yesterday and invested in a camelback. It’s the new love of my life. Water is quite essential when hiking in Hawaii, and I was growing sick of all the water bottles.
While climbing the hillside, we looked back to see the view of the Makapu’u Lighthouse. On the next sunny day we’re going out there to swim in the tide pools.
Hiking essentials for an easy trail like this: running shoes, camelback filled with 3 liters of water, sunscreen and dried fruit.
The trail kept us balancing on a ridge line roughly 400 meters above the ground.
The hike lead us climbing up peaks and scrambling down on the other side for most of the trip.
Pink ribbons are your best friend when you’re out hiking. They mark the trails.
You’ll see a lot of these signs. Usually they honestly don’t matter.
The pink ribbons even show you legit ways to get around fences and gates.
Climbing the stairs inside the fences.
The view.
The view of Waimanalo, Olomana and Lanikai.
After the peak, the trail lead us through this jungle. Glad we still had the pink ribbons.
On the other side awaits more amazing views.
Like this.
… and this.
After a final stop to admire the view and remember that it’s beautiful – we tend to get spoiled and used to it – before we started on the trek down to Waimanalo.
Nothing tastes as good as chocolate milk after a hike. Quenches the thirst and the hunger. And the cravings for chocolate.
I love this view.
Taken from the top of Stairways to Heaven.
Libratone Zipp
My music collection has gotten a new life after Libratone entered my life. Got this for Christmas from my mum and dad, but it took me over a month before I actually got around to order it. It plays music wirelessly via AirPlay, Apple’s nifty little program that comes with all of your Apple products. And the sound is … amazing. The only problem with it is that my youtube-rip offs sound horrible next to the quality of my other songs. But that’s the price you’ve got to pay when you don’t buy the song obviously. Did I mention that you can change the outside cover (zip it off, basically), which means that the speaker can match whatever color scheme you want in your living room/bedroom. Hah. I’m in love.
