Maui

My sister Leslee told me that Maui was way cooler than Oahu, so I decided to split up my Hawaii trip by doing five days on each island.  I caught a flight on Island Air for $93 and was there in under 45 minutes, I definitely recommend them, the pilot even acted as a tour guide.  Upon arriving I was reintroduced to American cabs and the tipping process again. $25 for a three mile cab ride.  It's criminal.  I happened to arrive on the first Friday of the month, so there was a mini festival set up on the main drag of the city I stayed in.  Steak and salmon tacos, open faced pork belly buns... Most restaurants have nothing on a good night market. 

The hostel I picked was by far the most expensive of my trip at $40/night, but they did offer free tours, which helped ease the pain.  I arrived just in time for the longest hike that they offer, a 12 trek through an extinct volcano called Haleakala.  The hike ends with a drive to the top of a mountain (10,000 feet) to watch the sun setting above the clouds.  It was pretty easy since 2/3 of it was flat or downhill, with only the final third requiring us to walk at an incline.  I can definitely see why people come to Hawaii from the mainland and never return.  This place is paradise.  

You are young darling.  For now, but not for long....

This place doesn't even seem like Earth, it's like walking around Mars.

I wanna kiss you and knock em down like we used to, you're the marigold.  You're an angel in the pit with her hands in the air and you rock on baby, rock on, you rock on.  You're a summertime hottie with her socks in the air.  You're screaming I don't care, baby I don't care, no!!!

You wonder, oh how do I inspire?  Got the world spinning round inside my palm.  Don't hate me, you know they got you wired.  You better short circuit, be your own program.  Cus we all wanna dance, just wanna dance, dance, we wanna dance.  With me y'all wanna dance.

I have the IQ of a caveman and the voice of Gollum, so this seemed like an ideal spot for me

I will reign from these clouds, for the world is my playground and you are all my minions.  Bwahahaha, puny humans.

The capacity is limited for each day's tour, so by the time we got back, all the spots for Sunday were full.  Thus I ended up having a lazy day, which began with a failed attempt to run a mile, which in all fairness is 64,560 inches.  No human being can run that far.  However, after walking the better part of 50,000 of those inches and spending three hours recovering from the exertion, I found the motivation to hike up to a local waterfall with a French Canadian girl, Josie.  Afterwards we hit up the grocery store so we could make some dinner and then spent the night drinking with the rest of our hostel mates.  There were no bars nearby, so we were confined to getting beer from the closest convenient store and drinking on the patio.  

My next day was even more lazy as I skipped the tour to make sure I could sign up for Tuesday's tour, "The Road to Hana", which is supposedly one of the most beautiful drives in the entire world.  It's pretty awesome to be devoid of any potential, as I can waste away and no one judges me.  When Tuesday finally arrived, I was joined on the tour by my roommates: Francisco from Chile, Tony from Washington D.C., and Sergei from Ukraine.  The road is only 42 miles long, but it contains 54 bridges and over 600 turns.  In other words, though the distance is short, the drive takes a really long time.  Luckily for us, the landscape of Maui is gorgeous, so there were plenty of places to stop along the way.

All by myself, all by myself.  I can lift a car up all by myself.  All by myself, all by myself.  I can lift a car up all by myself!!! Did ya, did ya, did you know that I can lift a car up all by myself?  Well no misunderstanding, I'm not saying that you can't... I can lift a car up all by myself!

I'm so excited I haven't spoke yet.  And she's so pretty and she's so sure, but maybe I'm more clever than a girl like her.  Summer's all in bloom, Summer's ending soon...

The drive is also famous for it's food stops, namely the banana bread stands (There's always money in the banana stand).  However, I must admit that I wasn't impressed.  I mean, where were the walnuts, I don't want plain banana bread.  If I want bland food, I'll go to England...or my mom's house.  Ooooo, that's what's known as a Lowe blow.  IN YOUR FACE MOM! #facepalm.  Whilst the food was average, the scenery was incredible. Maui even has Rainbow Eucalyptus trees, whose bark is quite literally the colors of the rainbow.  Seriously, google it.  Fascinating.  

Our first stop was a cave with an annex that could only be reached by going underwater and squeezing through some rocks....in the dark.  It sounds more extreme than it was, but if you're afraid of the dark (Canadians) or claustrophobic, it's probably not for you.  A French girl kept holding onto me while we were waiting for our guide to help everyone get through the passage.  Of course I think we all know it wasn't because it was dark or because she couldn't stay afloat on her own, I think we all know it's because she wanted me.  I mean have you seen the way I look in a dark cave?  You get all the benefits of my body, without the horror of seeing my face.  I'm not sure if it's my perfectly sculpted latissimus dorsi, my deformed ankles, or the scent of my belly button fungus, but the ladies can't resist me.  Well, I mean once she saw me in daylight she ran off screaming, but let's not focus on that...  

After the cave we ventured out to a few beaches and waterfalls before making our way to a place called the Venus pools to do some cliff jumping! The final adrenaline pumping activity of this trip, it was perfect.  Our last destination was a red sand beach in Hana, marking the end of the road!  I actually don't recall going a red beach before this one...Even after a year of travelling, there's always more to see :).

Now that I'm back in the states  I've been thinking about different businesses to create.  So far my best idea is the Brokini.  I will be the founder, CEO, and runway model.    You haven't lived until you've seen me in a two piece.... or a onesie

You got a fast car, I want a ticket to anywhere.  Maybe we can make a deal, maybe together we can get somewhere.

I've searched for many mystical creatures on this journey, but the smoke monster has proven one of the most elusive... Regardless, I've got this island on Locke down...No idea what I'm talking about?  Then you don't know Jack. You should get LOST.

The next morning, I finally had to say goodbye to the backpacker life, as I made my way back to the mainland.  I decided to spend a few weeks in Los Angeles with my brothers before making the journey back to Kansas City.  And so my adventure comes to an end...for now :).

If you've taken away nothing else from my blog,  I hope you've come away feeling more educated and/or have discovered a new found respect for women.  Those are the two things that this blog has been trying to promote.

I have no idea what the future holds, but to be honest, I don't care.  I don't even know what continent(s) I'll be on next year!  I guess when I figure that out... Well that will be a story for another blog...


Random GoPros

One year of no responsibility, one year without having to be smart or relied upon.  It's pretty selfish, but I loved that about this year... I was free

My hair looks atrocious in this photo, but at least no one is comparing me to Bieber or the dudes from One Direction anymore.  It's not my fault I'm so damn pretty.

When I was seven, Bryn and I completed our first science experiment.  Our hypothesis?  If big bro farted into one end of a hollow tube, with the other end of the tube pressed against my bum, the fart would be sent into my body.  Did it work?  OF COURSE IT WORKED!!!  Can you smell that?  That's what victory smells like.

Swimming with the locals...I might have peed in the pool... I always pee in the pool

You're still thinking about that fart experiment aren't you?  Weirdo.

I tried to get a badass photo of a wave crashing around me, but instead it looks like I'm receiving an enema

I look like an anorexic version of Inspector Gadget....#ScrawnySeanie :'(

There's no better way to enter the ocean than jumping from a cliff

To anyone who is unhappy with their life and is constantly wishing for something better: Go for it.  Maybe you don't need to travel for a year like I did, but you deserve to be happy.  So roll the dice or take a chance on yourself.  Because for all the money you can make, you'll never be able to create more time.  Make the most of it, for time is the coin of the realm and you'll never know if your tollbooth is up ahead

Oahu

Before entering the U.S. I feared passing through Immigrations
But they simply said, "Welcome back to the greatest of nations!
All the others you visited were just poor imitations."
Perhaps they should work on their foreign relations...
Oh to be home, into your arms I have flown

The land of instant streaming via Netflix, Prime, and Hulu
Why should I even bother seeing the coast of Honolulu?
To get to my hostel I needed to take a late night shuttle
Past all the resorts and into the slums where the cockroaches scuttle
Oh to be home, how far we had grown

Locked out, hiding in an alley, I was fearing the likes of Jack the Ripper
However the only sound I heard was the lowering of a zipper
For instead of being gutted and hung from a galley
I was forced to listen to a hooker giving head in said alley
America, a sketchier place I've never been shown

Because of time differences I experienced July 27th for 46 hours
Oh to be in control of Father Time's powers!
All the streets lined with ATMs, Subways and Starbucks
We're so much better than those dirty Canucks...Haha Canada sucks!!!!
America, in greatness, we stand alone

You could be free, you could run away with me ;)

Who needs Hello Kitty? In America we have Hello Titty

We all knew I was going to make fun of Canada sooner or later
So let it slide and follow my journey to Diamond Head Crater
Reviews claim the hike will push you to your limits
I barely broke a sweat and finished in thirty minutes
Americans, how they love to piss and moan!

The world is never more beautiful than when seen from the top
The rolling hills and ocean is enough to make thine heart stop
And as I stood their admiring my country's great beauty
I recited the Pledge of Allegiance, my own sacred duty!
Americans, our pride is well known

Quick wits and I'm curious, I'm all caught in what you say.  Help me grab the time, before it slips away....

It's depressing that my scrotum's so zitty, but at least I have a tremendous view of the city!

TV Guide magazine said I was going to be the next David Hasselhoff, but then that damn Alligator bit my hand off!

Nighttime involved drinking with Aussie T, a Turk, Germans, and dudes from the Navy
Will I ever heed the pleas of my liver or just keep it sauced up like gravy? 
(Perhaps I just need a pretty lady to save me... :p)
We went to beach instead of the bar, for though everyone here can own a gun
You can't drink until you've reached the age of twenty-one!!!
Oh to be home, where laws cut to the bone!

No trip would be complete without taking a bus to the North Shore
Finally a place where I would be surrounded by tourists no more!!!!
For on the beach with my newfound friends did I rest
While my mind churned over different foods to ingest
Oh to be home, where I shall gain two stone!

Who can't love a land where your meal is served on a gigantic platter
Work out all you want, in America you'll only get fatter
We are the country that created the s'more
The land that your eyes and stomach adore!
America, the sins of your dieting I shall never atone

I showed Aussie Theresa the greatness that is WalMart
How could one ever want to depart, the prices soothe thy heart!
Our bus back to the hostel was delayed because of a shooting
Why is there always destruction, mayhem, and looting?
America, you are too violence-prone

If you like pina coladas and getting caught in the rain.  If you're not into yoga, if you have half a brain.  If you like making love at midnight in the dunes of a cape, then I'm the love that you've looked for, write to me and escape

Yes I like pina coladas and getting caught in the rain.  I'm not much into health food, I'm into champagne.  I've got to meet you by tomorrow noon and cut through all this red tape - at a bar called O'Malley's, where we'll plan our escape

To ride the bus to Waimea Bay, in sexual favors did I pay!!

My last day was spent writing and relaxing
For life in Hawaii was proving far too taxing
That evening I went out to hear the sound of glasses clink
And said my goodbyes with one final drink
Americans, wield your booze to get past the friend zone

My next stop was Maui for a little island hopping
A final hurrah for a trip that soon will be stopping
I can't believe there's going to be an end to this journey
Hopefully I'll go out in style and not on a gurney
Americans, I forget - is it me or the time that has flown?

After a year of hard work and toil, I needed to kiss me some American soil

On my hands I attempted to stand, for an epic way to kiss my homeland

I don't know the future, but I'll jump into the fog
Who knows what will happen in my next blog....



Random GoPros

My GoPro has seen it's final big city, why does the prospect of a normal life sound so shitty?

Who says I can't be free from all of the things that I used to be?  Rewrite my history, who says I can't be free?

If you want to rule this turf, you must become the King of Surf

I'm such a creep, pray you don't see this face in your sleep

Stop to pretend, stop pretending... It seems this game is simply never ending....

Well it's a big, big island and it's always the same.  Can never be too pretty, tell me your name.  Is it out of line, if I was to be bold and say would you be mine?

Honolulu, the city with a view

It's been a long night in Kansas City, it's been a long night in Honolulu.  I don't remember you looking any better, but then again I don't remember you...

All these beaches and the vodka fizz, this is not my life...or maybe it is

All I want right now is the time where we slept on the floor.  You said right here, right now is all we are living for.  

Taveuni

I was so excited to finally be making my way to Taveuni, but my enthusiasm was quickly turned to dread as I prepared to leave.  The nosy people at the hostel (Bamboo) kept asking me where I was going and I kept telling them Taveuni, to which they continuously responded, "The boat doesn't leave on Tuesdays, you have to wait until Friday", and of course they were simultaneously trying to sell me other tours to keep me occupied until said Friday.  I told them that the boat definitely left on Tuesdays, which was overheard by a crazy Chinese girl, let's call her Wei.  She decided to hijack my journey and come with me, but first we had to wait ten minutes while the people at Bamboo called to verify that the boat did in fact leave on Tuesday.  Wei then told me I must wait another twenty minutes so she could call various places to cancel reservations, since she was initially planning on doing tours and going to Taveuni on Friday.

Once she was finally sorted, we met up with Fabian at his hostel and then cabbed it to the bus station.  We arrived at 10:58 and the bus was slated to leave at 11:00, but Wei decided she needed to go get food, so we had to load her bags on the bus and then track her down as the bus was getting ready to leave without her.  She then proceeded to complain because the food she had just purchased, wasn't allowed to be consumed on the bus.  Seriously, stab my face.  You have my permission.  

It was a 4.5 hour bus ride back to Suva, from which we had to catch a boat to Taveuni.  The bus station is in town, with the docks about a 15 minute walk away.  Fabian and I presumed to walk to the boat to drop our bags, but Wei decided she could not walk for 15 minutes and we had to get a Taxi.  Knowing better than to argue with a crazy person, we conceded and cabbed it to the boat.  We then proceeded to buy tickets from the office and started to take our bags up to the passenger deck, but Wei started yelling at us, telling us to leave our bags in the cargo area like she was doing.  We asked her why it mattered if we left our bags downstairs or took them with us, but she seemed to think we were complete morons.  After we dropped our bags, we decided to go into town to get an early dinner and some snacks for the 20 hour boat ride, but when Wei spotted us, she asked us to pay for her boat ticket because she didn't have money...The bus stop was literally across the street from three ATMs.  At this point we were just like, we're heading into town, just go into town and get cash from the ATM.  The craziest part of this scenario, she had been to Taveuni earlier in the year, so she should have known all of this in advance.  Fuck. My. Life.

The boat was delayed about 2.5 hours, which is standard for Fiji, and in the meantime had become filled by a group of 30 Chinese people.  They proceeded to chew audibly, talk even louder, and generally block the TV and be inherently rude.  As someone that is half Chinese, I started to think maybe I should be more thankful of my British DNA since it provided me the ability to have manners and common courtesy.  Then I realized my British DNA was why I was complaining and constantly perceiving the world to be a miserable place...  It's not easy being a mudblood.  When we finally took off, the crew hooked us up with a free upgrade to beds, saving us from sleeping on the couches.  After about 16 hours, we ended up on the second largest island in Fiji, in a town called Savu Savu.  We were allowed to hop off the boat while it was docked, so we went for a brief wander.  

Savu Savu

It gets lonely at sea....

Naturally we were delayed in leaving Savu Savu and arrived into Taveuni late, our 20 hour journey having grown into a 24 hour adventure.  The Chinese group departed the boat in Savu Savu, so the boat was pretty empty during the final leg.  When we docked in Taveuni, we sorted out sharing a cab to our hostel with a Fijian woman who wanted to be dropped along the way, but out of nowhere Wei appeared and decided she was riding with us as well.  She didn't come to our hostel, however, opting to be dropped off in town instead.  She didn't even offer to pay part of the cab fair, she just hopped out and grabbed her stuff.  At that point I was just glad to be free of her, so I didn't even care.  Thank God Tatiana Maslany is not Chinese.

As soon as we arrived to our hostel, we saw some familiar faces from Beach House, including our Finish friend Lotta, and were invited to join a snorkeling trip the following morning to Rainbow Reef.  It'd been way too long since I'd been on a proper snorkeling trip, so I was pretty pumped for the opportunity.  In typical "Fiji Time" fashion, we left two hours later than projected and were also facing a shortage of equipment, so one of the locals had to give me his fins and goggles.  I was surprised to find the waters were clear of plastic bottles and other forms of rubbish.  The water had amazing visibility and the corals were awesome, but the fish life was pretty average.  However, based on other people's impressions I think I've just been spoiled by my time in Australia and Indonesia.  

Taveuni is what I expected Fiji to be like, desolate and beautiful

Practicing my cowabunga pose for the new TMNT movie! So nostalgiac!!!

A few days later Fabian and I visited the Tavoro waterfalls in Bouma National Heritage Park with a French dude named Tomas.  Surprisingly, the trip started ahead of schedule!  We bypassed the first and second waterfalls, to go to the third one first, which is more secluded and boasts a little area where you can jump off the waterfall into the pool below.  We weren't allowed to swim in the second waterfall, but once we got down to the first, we were allowed to go into a little cavernous area behind the waterfall and jump in for a final swim.  Upon leaving, we found out someone from a different group had left their camera at the third waterfall, which was an hour hike uphill, so she had to climb all the way back up to get it... Brutal.  

The following evening, the guys at the hostel randomly decided to have a bonfire, so we all headed to the beach for a late night fire and some drinks.  They made us leave at 1 AM, so we headed back to the hostel for a final shot and then turned in for the evening.  Quite a few people left the next morning, including Fabian, but I decided to stay for a few extra days to chill out and catch up on my reading.  I'm not ashamed to say I became engrossed in J.K. Rowling's newest novel, The Silkworm, and devoured it in two days.

The day you were born, you were born free.  That is your privilege.

Give you heart and soul to me, and life will always be La Vie En Rose (Cristin Milioti)

Somewhere along the way people have probably told you that you can't do something or made you feel like you weren't good enough... Fuck em, become who you want to become

Back down the bullies to the back of the bus, cus it's time for them to be scared of us!!!

I took the boat back to Suva with a couple of Swiss guys, Alexander and Gabor, as well as a pair of Germans...I'm always with Germans.  Going back was way faster, taking a mere 18 hours.  I decided to immediately head back to Nadi, since it is by far the cheapest place to stay in Fiji, while the others stayed in Suva for the evening.  I was relatively sure I was going to be murdered by my mini-bus crew, because the three of them took off towards Nadi with me as their sole passenger.  Luckily after thirty minutes, they finally started picking up some locals, so I felt a little safer.  When we passed by the Beach House, we randomly picked up a Welsh guy I had met in Suva named Gareth, who was catching a ride to the closest bottle shop to pick up some beer.  It's truly amazing how often people's paths cross.

When I finally got to Nadi, I decided to switch up my hostel and stayed at the Wailoaloa Beach Resort, which for $8/night included breakfast and free wifi.  It was pretty much the greatest financial decision I made whilst in Fiji.  Fabian ended up joining me there since he was flying out of Nadi a few days after me.  Our days pretty much revolved around eating, since neither of us had money left to pay for tours and I wanted to avoid taking out money because of ATM fees. 

Everything that you can't control, sometimes you gotta just let go. Lay back and you will hold, and you will survive

Well that's my year spent exile, second guessed and dressed up in tatters.  My both feet didn't take this path, and I'm still looking for a life that matters...

It's called a bathroom, but I'm not seeing a whole lot of room...

Now this bird has flown, like I've always known it would.  Maybe someday soon, you'll be flying too....

Overall I wasn't that impressed with Fiji.  I think the women are really nice and genuine, but the dudes are extremely fake.  It's so annoying to constantly have people come up to you pretending to be friendly, only to explain why you have to do a $300 tour thirty seconds later.  That's not to say there aren't genuinely nice people, they're just not as prevalent as the swindlers.  Fiji had it's moments, but overall I found it to be overpriced and very average in terms of scenery.

The next leg of my journey would also be my last before going home - Hawaii.  One final diversion during my year abroad.  Ten more days to procrastinate before making adult-level decisions about my future, but that's a story for another blog...

Random GoPros

I reckon I've spent 20-30% of the past year on boats, buses, plains, and other forms of transportation

The water is so clear, the reef thriving.  Amazing, the ocean is simply amazing...

When I first started travelling I took a million pictures...Now I just enjoy the moment and snap a few

Probably the most enthusiastic tour guide I've ever had the pleasure of meeting

Mini-Cliff Jumping at Waterfall 3

Crossing rocks at Waterfall 2

Swimming in Waterfall 1

Taking up an entire row so no one can invade my personal bubble 

Look how adorable these cats are, how can you not love animals?

My dorm room was backed against the Nadi Airport... Every 15 mins I heard the sound barrier breaking

I got a haircut!!!  Isn't I pretty????