Aloha!

So I've been on the Big Island for a few days now, and it is entirely a different experience!

Taking you back to Wed when I was still on O'ahu, the french kids invasion took a turn for the worst when a Bastille Day party was on the cards, so Ashleigh and I decided heading out was the only real plan. We ended up eating Tepinyaki which was awesome. Most the tourists here are from Japan so this seems to be the culinary choice in town. Back at the hostel the party was in full swing and the four of us in my dorm moaned like Grandma's at the noise.

The next day I flew to Hilo on the big island, a 40 min flight that felt like you started landing as soon as you took off. Think I'm starting to get ok at this flying thing! The hostel here is very very different to the one at Waikiki, but this is not a bad thing. It's very sociable as you have to walk through the main lounge area to get anywhere so there are always people to chat to, especially after a few of Kona's finest brews.

This time i'm in a dorm of 8, and drew a short straw in getting a top bunk, but so far it's been manageable all be it my lack of grace of clambering out of it. As soon as I arrived a girl from my dorm asked if I wanted to go to the beach, so I chucked my bags down and headed out with her and an Austrian guy from the hostel who has a car. The area around here is very different to what I had seen previously, it has much more a rain forrest wet and lush surroundings than beaches.

The beach itself was black sand from the lava and was crazy as it was like nothing I had ever seen before! Before long it started raining, something that happens A LOT in Hilo I've come to learn. Back at the hostel I discovered the local supermarket (it's SO expensive here, a loaf of bread is 7 dollars) which is when Huishan and I decided it was cheaper to eat out and had a mexican. When we got back there we got involved in some stupid games with a few beers and I headed to bed as I knew an early night was needed before VOLCANO DAY!

I decided to book myself on a tour so I could really learn and see as much as I could, and Harry my 79 year old tour guide picked me up bright and early. The rest of my group was a family of 4 and two couples in their 60's so wasn't really the crowd I have got used to, but everyone got along none the less.

The tour started at Rainbow Falls in Hilo, a waterfall where a rainbow forms when the water hits the bottom (naturally i took photos) and then un knowingly to me before hand we had a few other stops along the way including the macademia nut factory and an Orchid farm. After a lunch stop (at 11am I might add) we finally entered the volcano national park. I was properly in my geek element here, and was glad to have Harry to tell us about everything. The whole place was simply breathtaking and I would recommend to anyone to go! (fyi expect 100 pictures of lava coming soon).

That evening I went out with some guys from the hostel to the local bar where it was open mic night. This proved very interesting, when a hawaiian man started playing modest mouse on a ukalele it all got a bit surreal!

The next day Huishan and I decided to rent a car and explore a bit more of the Island, as public transport is pretty non exsitent here. So my 'economy compact' turned out to be a giant champagne coloured chevy. Of course! We drove along the north coast stopping at many scenic locations on the way. We stopped for lunch in a little town that had about 6 shops in it for lunch and had my first experience of real Hawiian food. This included two scoops of rice, a scoop of slaw and pork and squash. This and a bottle of water for 5 bucks! result! The food was awesome too.

Back on the road and our naviagtional skills took a turn for the worst and we ended up heading a lot further south the west coast then we intended, but still was all part of the adventure! The climate change was crazy, we literally drove from the jungle to the desert in a matter of minutes was really insane. We arrived in Kona which is proper tourist centre, so stopped at the kona brewery and had ice cream, naturally.

Back in the car again we headed up the coast to a beach that is meant to be one of the best in the world and it didn't disapoint! The sand was really fine and the water was so so clear, even when I was shoulder deep it was completely transparent, again I had never experienced anything like that before! Defintely made a change from Cornwall and all the seaweed!!

Back in the car and we decided to head home, and getting towards the east side of the Island I started driving through a storm, we likened it to Jurassic park as you are literally driving through the jungle without being able to see!

Today I was meant to be having a surfing lesson but because of the storm last night the instructor told us the conditions were too bad to go out. BOO! Instead Huishan and I went to a yoga class, was pretty intense but enjoyable, and visited the local farmers market and a museum before I dropped her off at the airport and dropped the car off.

And now I'm up to date! Sorry for the essay! hope everyone is well, miss you all!! xx