Microblog

After a two-hour walk around the base of Diamond Head, and a shared mahi mahi sandwich and IPAs (not shared) at the beach bar at the Royal Hawaiian, we took this picture with Diamond Head in the background in roughly the same position as a photo with Dwight’s mom over 20 years ago. We then stopped at a Japanese konbini to pick up a creamy dessert for later.

As we walked along the oceanfront, a wedding was winding down. On our return, not a single petal remained, as if the tide had swept away all traces of celebration.

Japan is on sale: the Yen is 30% off its February 2021 dollar price. I kept that thought in mind today when I paid in Yen for an all-Japan rail pass. The price jumped 70% last October, the first increase since it was introduced in the 1980’s. Japan’s hotels continue to be a bargain.

Honolulu gets busy with all the tourists (us included). But there are still plenty of quiet spots to hide away, like the halls of the 1927 Royal Hawaiian Hotel. Its quiet corners are perfect for a slow morning coffee or sunset pupus.

Gave my HOLO transit card a workout, 4 buses, 2 trains, expertly guided by Google Maps. Rode the first phase of the Skyline LRT which opened last year.

Wandering the halls, I searched for remnants of the hotel’s old identity, now meticulously erased by last week’s rebranding, not even a shadow remaining. The hotel’s management had paid off a former US president so they could remove his name and brand from the building.

While Dwight nursed a cold, I walked out to fill my backpack. At Safeway I gazed in awe at the display of Spam. In the checkout line, the cashier broached the topic of Queen Camilla, prompting the ladies behind me to make disapproving noises. We all agreed we would prefer Queen Meghan for better giggles, but it might cause a rebellion.

View from our Honolulu apartment after a smooth flight from Minneapolis.

This evening we’ll be in Honolulu. The one-stop journey via Los Angeles saved a bundle of Delta SkyMiles compared to the non-stop. We’ll have lunch at LAX during a two-hour layover.

Packed bags, checked-in flights for tomorrow, and corralled plants await our departure. Dwight has consolidated the houseplants and hooked them up to the watering system. While he insists on manual control, albeit remotely via the Internet, cameras offer visual and auditory (pumps whirring) assurance of their well-being.

Packed 15 laundry detergent sheets, all of 2 ounces, for the upcoming 50-day trip. They’ve been working well at home, and these 15 sheets will suffice for 15 large loads or 30 small loads. Since Japanese hotel washing machines often dispense detergent automatically, I may bring some sheets back home.

During my walk through the University of Minnesota’s East Bank Campus, I decided the stairs looked safe to climb. After all, it has been an unseasonably warm winter; no ice or snow impeded my ascent; my mind wandered to past climbs to Buddhist temples. At the top, of course there was no temple, just a pleasant plaza lined with picnic tables waiting for winter to end.

Today I made a one-minute video to introduce my first Strandbeest, Beest Één, an 8-legged walker built with LEGO Technic. I was inspired by the massive Strandbeests of Dutch kinetic artist, Theo Jansen. This particular model is largely based on a design by DIY Walkers. Click through to watch the movie.

To prepare for my next haircut in Japan, Emily, our hairdresser of over 35 years, took photos from three sides. This will help reduce the risk of any misunderstandings with the Japanese stylist.

It felt like classic April weather when I arrived for English Language Learning classes this morning. Since I’ll be in Hawaii then Japan for most of the next two months, it won’t be until mid-April that I walk through these doors again.

I always enjoy walking across two University of Minnesota campuses on my way home from oncology appointments. Today, stopped at an exhibit about the global impact of local activism in Minnesota, especially in areas of torture, racism, and domestic violence.