You can’t really know where you are going until you know where you have been. - Maya Angelou

 

Do you know that feeling when you lose track of time? Not just the time of day, but the day of the week? It's been like this for us since the beginning of the week, and I think it's the best sign of relaxation, isn't it?

Today is Saturday, and I need to catch up a bit. I just can't manage to sit down at my laptop in the evening and start writing because I'm way too tired, so I fall into bed instead. It's crazy, because at home I can barely get into bed in the evenings and I stay up way too late. 🙈

Well, let's start a little review.

On Thursday, I spent more or less the whole day writing on my blog, and we didn't do anything. Taking a rest day is perfectly fine. That's what vacation is for, isn't it? Apart from that, I can hear my mother in my ear the whole time, urging me at every opportunity to really rest. That's how moms are! ❤

We had various ideas for Friday and ended up combining different things. It's nice to have the luxury of being able to organize your time however you like. So we went to the Byodo-In Temple in Kane'ohe at the foot of the Ko'olau Mountains. Of course, that's nothing new, since we were there last year. Nevertheless, we were both drawn back there again. To get there, you drive through the "Valley of the Temples." There are several cemeteries in this valley, although I find the word "cemetery" inappropriate, as it doesn't quite describe this place. They are resting places found in an indescribable setting. Interestingly, a variety of religions are represented here—just as is the case in Hawai'i. It's a very special place, and my respect for this culture doesn't allow me to point my camera at it and send the pictures out into the world. To get to the temple, you drive completely through this valley, as it's located in the farthest reaches. It's a well-visited place, and one would certainly wish for fewer people there so that one could find more inner contemplation. But hey, that's the way it is with popular tourist destinations. 🤷‍♀️

link to the Byodo-In Temple

    

On the way back to our vacation rental, we made a detour to the Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden. It's also nothing new, but we're always impressed by the huge variety of trees, shrubs, and all kinds of plants. If you ever visit this park, I highly recommend opening the windows or even taking a walk through it, because this vast diversity of nature is not only a feast for the eyes, but also for the nose. The scents are just as impressive! 🥰

link to the Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden

I'm looking outside and see the rain approaching over the bay. Rain showers are standard in Hawaii. They usually pass as quickly as they came, and a few minutes later, almost everything has dried out again. Unlike at home, a shower like this doesn't cools the air down quite as much here. It's really easy to live with, even if the humidity is even higher afterward. Another aspect, of course, is that without rain, there are no rainbows, right? 😉

Okay, so that was Friday, and today, Saturday, we got up early and headed to Honolulu before 8 a.m. because we wanted to go to the Swap Meet Market at Aloha Stadium. Textiles, jewelry, local fruits and vegetables, leis, shaved ice, baseball caps, and all sorts of other things can be found there. We'll definitely be stocking up on souvenirs here. Today we only bought two avocados and a coconut (for the coconut water). I can't get enough of coconuts, and I also love avocados. It will be difficult for me if I can no longer buy these delicacies on every corner.

Look at these! 😋

If you go to this market, you should set off early, before it gets really hot, and make sure you have adequate shade. The market is huge, and after a certain time, the only shade you'll find is under the tents of the stalls. Bringing water is also a good idea. The market is open three days a week, so you don't have to see everything at once.

At the end of our stroll, we took a look at Aloha Stadium. This stadium closed two years ago after almost 50 years and has a lot of significance for the island. Incidentally, the stadium was also a Hawaii Five-0 filming location. There's now a new Aloha Stadium, which is a bit more centrally located. We'll see if we can get by there again.

link to the Aloha Stadium

Well, that's it for now. The first full week is over, and we both feel like we've been here longer than just seven days. We've settled back into the Hawaiian routine very quickly, which helps us feel settled and truly unwind. We don't have any plans for tomorrow yet, so we'll see what I have to report in a few days.

Aloha! 🤙🏼