Baby Military Travels

how to make 100 new friends during a week in the tropics

First, finagle your way into another military-sponsored trip to a base in Hawaii.
Second, take an 8-month-old.
Third, pray said 8-month-old refrains from screaming during the 19 hours spent on airplanes.  Simple!

We left on Sunday, a few hours before the Atlanta Snowpocalypse 2011 (leaving my mother in charge of three children who were out of school all week.  Screw you, Grandma!).  Miraculously, baby Lola did not scream or cry the 10+hours we flew over, despite spending very little time napping.

Monday, I was supposed to be at work at 0730, but I arrived to an empty building.  The flight had been canceled, and no one told me.  So, we went to my favorite breakfast spot in the world:  Duke’s.  Mango juice, coffee, and a plate full of bacon, right by the ocean.  Wonderful.

Afterward, it was back to the hotel to football.  The only way a 3rd-generation Alabama graduate can watch an Auburn national championship game:

Tuesday began and ended early work-wise, but it, unfortunately, began several days of rain.

There was some shopping, some rather outstanding meals, massages for Pretty Bride and me, scenic drives, and visits to the Bishop Museum and ‘Iolani Palace.  Pictures are below the jump:

Our hotel had a shark pool.  I told Lola this is where the naughty babies learn to swim.

Between rain storms above Honolulu.

Given our country’s dearth of monarchs, this is your only shot at visiting a palace on U.S. soil.

Bishop Museum.

Sharks!

With LASERS!

My first flambe dessert experience.

After a few days at a quiet resort, we decided to change hotels, moving to Waikiki Beach instead.

Lagoon outside the first hotel in Ko Olina.

Where even the toilet covers are Heavenly!

From the balcony at our second hotel.

For our last few days on the island, I really wanted to give surfing another try, and I’ve heard the North Shore is the best place in the world to do it, so that’s where we headed.

Pretty Bride th0ught this not a great idea, given my limited (once) experience with getting up on a surfboard.  So, I asked the only person who comes close to an expert whom I know.  And his reply, via twitterEddie would go!    And so, I went.

I decided I probably should not push off into these waves, given a) their enormity and b) the red flags everywhere prohibiting as much.  This is just down from the famous Bonzai Pipeline.

Instead, I opted for a 3-hour lesson just down the beach a ways, but still on the North Shore.  Unfortunately, the water was a bit brown from all the rain the preceding few days.

Got up!

Got up again!  Learned to walk the board and turn with some semblance of control.

And the chicks on the beach were INTO IT.

We then explored the western side of the island, where my freshly invigorated sense of self-confidence inspired me to try to take our rental car through a mud trail.  After a few hundred yards, a raised Toyota pickup truck pulled up beside us.

Him:  You familiar with this trail?
Me:  No.  Do I need to be?
Him:  It gets worse…you’re probably going to end up slashing a tire or stuck in mud if you keep on.  Just letting you know, man.
MeEat a dick, asshole!  Um, okay…thanks.

View from the windshield of our Nissan Rogue.

What everyone else on the trail was driving.

The day of the flight home, I thought this a good hike to do carrying a 22# baby:  Koko Head Crater Trail.  I thought I would die.

It’s an inclined railway straight up a mountain.  It’s pretty much like Everest, but will less snow.

About 2/3 of the way up or so, I started out across this bridge with no  railings and stopped.  Pretty Bride had caught up to us and was not happy with my carrying her baby across this thing, so I came back.  I debated going the rest of the way alone, but I wanted to snorkel at Hanauma Bay for  a bit before going to the airport, so we walked back down.

Here’s the bay, with a view of the mountain we’d just tried to climb in the background.  I’m still not sure why I thought this was a good idea on our last day (especially with no water or backpack for baby).

The reason I mentioned 100 friends is that everywhere we went, whether it be surf shops, restaurants, sidewalks, bars, stores, or airports, people would stop to talk to Lola and ask about her.  They acted as if they’d never seen a baby before (I’ve since surmised that it’s because not many idiots would take an 8-month-old on a plane ride as long as the one we had to take and then carry her all over the island for a week, but since she’s nursing, we didn’t have much choice).  It made the inconvenience of her nap times/feeding times/occasional fussiness worth it, as she brought frequent joy to strangers everywhere we went.

Except for the plane ride home.  In the first hour, she let loose the most foul crap I’ve ever smelled and then spat up on my lap.  Then she screamed and cried for an hour before falling asleep.  Since the flight attendant refused to take the diaper (which we put in the vomit bag) and shut off the “stewardess light” 3 times without asking what help we needed, we left it there to emit its glorious odor for the 8.5 hours that followed, plus wherever the plane went after we got off.  You’re welcome.

I’m pretty sure I want this to be how I do my annual training every year (yes, I did work a few hours most every day, but it was usually from 0400 until just shy of lunchtime, leaving lots of free time).  Thanks, readers who pay taxes!

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21 Comments

  1. I once took a 6 month old to Hawaii and it was vastly superior to the next trip I took without a set of infant twins who had to be fedexed breastmilk from the hotel. They acted like I want to send anthrax. Fuckers.

  2. Sounds like a fabulous trip. Jerk. (No – I’m not jealous!)

  3. I can’t wait for my trip. Granted, it’s only a few days, but any time in Hawaii is well-spent!

    • @Dave2, I included the hyperlinks so that y’all can learn more about some of the places we went. I also highly recommend the snorkeling at Hanauma Bay–I’ve done that all 3 visits and enjoy it every time.

      • Been to Hanauma Bay on a past trip. Spectacular! If you end up in Maui again, I recommend a trip over to Molokini Crater for snorkeling or diving… equally spectacular!

        I have (of course) been to Duke’s, which is a great restaurant… but not the best value for a vegetarian who doesn’t eat a lot! Last time I was there I spent $20 (incl. tax & tip) for a small plate of breakfast and juice. The view on the beach was worth the cost (I guess), but it’s probably best for meat-eaters who can pack it away! If you can eat your weight in bacon, Duke’s is a bargain. 🙂

        My food recommendation for Waikiki is Puka Dog. Uniquely Hawaiian, and seriously one of the best hot dogs you’ll ever eat (for $7 it had better be!).

        On my past half-dozen trips to Honolulu, I never left the city except to snorkel at Hanauma and eat at a restaurant over there. This time I am very glad to be going out and seeing a bit more of Oahu. On your next trip, a drive up to Byodo-In Temple is worth your time!

        • @dave2, Would love to check out the temple and get a dog next trip! I didn’t realize you’d been to Oahu that many times.

          D and I like to do a bunch of hiking when we go normally, and now that I know how to surf, I like to try and do that. As you know, even when it rains, it’s just fun to drive around somewhere as beautiful as it is (or take in a museum)!

  4. I really want to get over to Hawaii sometime. And your wife looked gorgeous next to whoever that dork in the goofy shorts was.

  5. I am guessing the nature of the work you were doing was top secret, because I didn’t read anything about that in this post…or maybe you just made the “work” up, because you’re raking in the big bucks being a rapacious defense lawyer like Glenn Close on Damages. 😉 I’m guessing that’s what it was.

  6. Aww. Now I want a laser shark!

  7. I think this will make April 15th slightly less upsetting for me.

    OR, I’m going to print this post off, stick it in an envelope, and mail it to the IRS with a note that says “I DON’T FREAKING THINK SO!”

    But probably A.

  8. We’re taking our three sons to Maui for 10 days soon. Our 11YO son, Duke, can’t wait to eat at Duke’s. 🙂 We pay our taxes… all of them. Thank you for doing what YOU do. Glad you and your family had a great time.

  9. Hawaii is a very nice place to visit and I am glad you did that. When I was there for a month I was feeling great, I didn’t want to leave.

  10. Pingback: the rise and fall of lola the muskrat | The Muskrat

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