Hawaii

Aloha! Here in Hawaii at last and just relaxing now.  Has been pretty full on.  Got here yesterday arv, and by the time we picked up the car and got to the hotel, we'd had it.  Tried to have a bit of a rest for a while, but was overtired, so went down to a bar and had a couple of cocktails. Watched the sunset over the water - aaahhhh.

Had a few hours on the beach this morning and then played 18 holes at the Ko Olina Golf Course, which is the area we're staying in.  Beautiful course, and everyone's so friendly.  When we came in, 2 guys met us with the carts and wiped all the clubs down and gave us cold towels to refresh with.  Where do you get that in Australia?  Going back to play again tomorrow!

Barby for dinner tonight - this resort is great - so big, 3 towers 3 swimming pools and private lagoon, barbeques. So relaxing. Probably won't blog too much more, as the above is what we pretty much plan on doing whilst we're here haha!

Aloha! Relaxing at the Resorts Lagoon

John and I at the Longboards Bar Ko Olina Resort

Ko Olina Golf Club with Resort in the background

John on Ko Olina Golf Course

Daryl, Luanne & John on the course.

 

It's been a fantastic holiday and we've had the time of our lives and memories we'll have forever.

Las Vegas

Got into Vegas about 6pm on Monday 1st October.  Virtually just dumped the bags and went down to the gaming!  The Flamingo Hotel where we stayed, was awesome.  Not one of the bigger, ritzier ones, but so central - it was great. Vegas is just amazing - and it really is hard to describe.  It's just a total 24/7 with peope, gambling, shows, shopping, lights, weirdos, traffic - awesome.

We had an early start on on wedding anniversary the next day, 2nd, as we flew over the grand canyon in a helicopter and had to be picked up at 8am.  President Obama and Romney were in town, and because of that, there was a 30 mile radius of 'no go flying' so, we had to be shuttled to another airport.  Same happened on the way back, and because of this, we were really starting to panic that we'd not 'make it to the church on time' ha! It was 2.30 when we got back, quite flustered and exhausted and were getting picked up at 3.30pm!  We made it of course, and you can check out the photos on Gracelandchapel.com. click on 'view/order photos' and type in JDOTO. It was a blast, we had so much fun and you can see how dressed up Daryl and Mick got for the occassion!  We then got dropped back to the Flamingo and grabbed a cab into Freemont St, which is the old strip.  The light show there was fantastic, people dancing in the streets, and the casinos are just as glitsy!  We had our 'wedding breakfast' at a fantastic seafood restaurant at the Golden Nugget, had a win on the slots, so all in all, it was a fantastic, special day, and one we were glad to be able to share with good friends.

Yesterday - Wed - thankfully we had a bit of a later start, and had to hit the shopping outlets.  The guys went to golf shops and a place called Outdoor World - which they said was just out of this world.  Over 6 acres under cover, with everything sporty/outdoorsy you could imagine.  Guns for sale, boats, golf etc. etc.  They were like kids in a cand shop!

I'm so over shopping - never thought I'd ever ever say that!  Caught a cab back to Flamingo then we checked out some of the other casinos.  They all have themes and are just amazing.  Very hard to describe.  We saw a show at Planet Hollywood, which was great - all about the progression of Vegas, from the mafia, through the rat pack years, Elvis etc.  Feathered show girls and all!  Was great!  Starting to lag a bit, so had a great meal and caught some more of the sights on the strip then crashed into bed.  Early start to get to the airport by 6.30am! 9am fight to Hawaii.   Said our farewells to Mick and Anne - won't be quite the same without them.  

Sitting at Vegas airport now, nearly had to pay excess luggage on the bags under our eyes!  John's gone missing, but I'm guessing he's putting $20 in the slot machines that are everywhere here!  Only in Vegas!  Sorry about the following photos, was so tired and they're a little out of order, but you'll get the gist.

Our drive out in the desert to heli airportReady to go! Yeehaa!Heading to the Grand Canyon

The Canyon

More breathtaking views of the Canyon with the viewing platform right at the top if you take a bus tourAnd more!

Us having  bubbles in the Canyon
 John at the slot machines in the airportView from our room of Ceasars Palace

 

More great views of the canyon

Real flamingos at our Flamingo HotelArriving at Vegas Airport

I found another Johnny on the streets of Vegas!

Daryl was supposed to be pointing to the Eiffel Tower - say what????

Inside Ceasars Palace

Mick's own chocolate shop - in heaven!

Our hotel of a night

The water, music and light show at the Bellagio Casino

Inside the Bellagio Casino. They change the flowers 5 times a year - for each season and chinese new year. Amazing displays!

 

Hopefully we can have a bit of a rest on the next leg of our journey - fingers crossed!

More Seattle

Had a slower start to the day today, which was great. Went to the infamous Pike Street Markets where there is a fish market where when you buy a fish, the vendors throw it from the crowd to the guy at the scales and everyone cheers and yells! Quite entertaining.  The rest of the markets were great as well, and many interesting and unique stores. Was fun.
Then we went on a great tour of Underground Seattle where we were told the history of how Seattle was burnt down in the late 1800s and rebuilt slowly but surely at a higher level. So interesting going through the old streets and our guide was fantastic.

Luanne & Daryl shorefront of Seattle

Mick nearly got run over muking around with the steam coming out of a vent in the road!

Our grown ups at the market!

Us waitin for Anne - sorry!

Fish throwing at Pike St Markets

In my element at fish market - yummo!

Old streets of underground Seattle

Under the pavements looking up through the old original skylights

An original old "crapper" designed by Mr Crapper!

Other streets under the road in Seattle

 

We then all went our separate ways for a few hours and met up for predinner drinks before grabbing a cab and finding an Irish Bar.  We had a great, fun night and sensibly, us girls left early - don't know what time - but stupidly left the guys there!  They don't know what time they left, how they left and we seem to have acquired a bit of memorabillia!  Anyway, off to airport in a couple of hours and on to Vegas.  Hopeully into some warmer weather. Still sunny here in Seattle, but cool winds.  Having a great time with everyone, and sad to know that it'll be over for Anne and Mick in a few days.We've had a ball!