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I Need a Holiday From This Holiday.

And here I am at a 24hr laundromat, the beach may be beckoning but there's still the washing to do, turning your underwear inside out can only last for so many days (Ha! Totally joking ...) 

Taking on the world and country hoping for months at a time is a dream, an experience I wish could be more of an everyday lifestyle rather than just a long awaited holiday. But be warned it's not always sunshine and palm trees, travelling does have a dark side. It's not all problem free table service, at least not when you're on a budget and the bulk of your travelling is through the developing world. Get ready for a culture shock no matter how experienced a traveller, there's always new unforeseen situations coming at you left of field. Even in first world countries the cultural nuances can confuse and seem quite foreign. 

The realities of travelling begin before you even leave, with inoculation after arm numbing inoculation. 

So there's living out of a suitcase and constantly being on the move.

Do you really want to take it all out only to repack it all again in 48hrs?

Things getting lost and forgotten somewhere at the bottom of your rucksack, then when you need that one thing at the bottom of your rucksack.

When things get wet and there isn't enough time to dry them, you gave no other option than to pack it in damp.

When wrinkled clothes become part of your everyday look.

When the souvenirs start to account for 60% of your suitcase and having to play luggage tetris every time you buy a new plate. 

Lugging bags all over the place, especially when your hotel doesn't have an elevator. 

Being eaten alive by mosquitoes - And then realising you forgot to take your malaria pill that morning. 

How sand always finds it's way into your underwear. 

When the humidity of island paradise makes your hair go all Afro.

The layered feeling of sunscreen, bug spray and sweat.

Having listened to your playlist over 100 times. 

Having lost countless amounts of headphones and sunglasses.

Playing heads or tails over whether or not to risk it and brush your teeth in the not so filtered tap water, because you can't be bothered to get your bottle of water back in the tent. 

When the novelty and luxurious allure of flying becomes lost on you. 

Missing connecting flights, delays and running through airports because at boarding you realise you're at the wrong gate. But in my defence who has two flights to the exact same place, at the exact same time, by the exact same airline anyway?

If you're travelling alone empty airports with a lack of signage, confuse you and become akin to haunted houses. 

Not being able to simply leave your stuff behind where you were seated just to go to the toilet because it might get stolen or you get accused of terrorism.

Stiff necks and layovers that seem to last an eternity. 

Too many currency conversions. 

Too many time zone jumps. My iPad's time is still somewhere in Zimbabwe. 

It took me two months to get over my initial jet lag. 

Having to carry a roll of toilet paper because it's more likely there won't be any than there will be.

When you begin to enjoy going 'bush toilet' over public toilets, or any actual toilet in the country.

When a store accepts both Visa and MasterCard. 

ATM's that don't accept your card.

Street vendors continuously striking up conversation and trying to sell things to you. 

Adjusting to slower paces of life, including when ordering food, getting transport, or just getting anything done

When your adapter doesn't fit into the electrical socket properly. ...electrical adapters in general.

Whilst I love collecting my passport stamps, it also requires tediously long, unorganised border crossing posts.

When the menu is only in Spanish and that bout of food poisoning you get because being weary of everything you eat is down right annoying and stupid. 

Oh the irks of travelling, but what kind of traveller would you be without a few scars to accompany the tale.

In all honesty you have to work for it, the sights and magical moments. Walking, hiking and climbing in the sun, freezing cold and the rain. The dirt, the dust, the smells..... It takes waiting in lines, waking up at ridiculous hours of the morning and never feeling fully recharged. 

Playing by another's rules, being culturally sensitive, wearing layers of clothes even though you're not used to it in the blaring heat, tipping, sometimes bribing. It gets uncomfortable before it gets amazing. 

There's some things you can't avoid, but why do you want? This is life when travelling, a part of the experience, because that's a part of the reason why we travel to begin with, to experience the cultures and lives of those in other parts of the world.

'Aina & Kai

There is no hawaii without its beaches. Instead of reading my latest attempt to describe powdery white sand and clear blue water more poetically than the last, take a gander at the photos which probably do a more breathe taking job than I. 

So these are some of not only Hawaii's but some of the worlds most coveted beaches, those of Kailua and Lanikai, Oahu.  

Don't need much when there aren't any plans for the beach. 

Read sleep swim repeat.

Never has the bold palm tree, hibiscus and hula dancer print looked so good on bright red, blues and yellows, like on Obey's latest line. 

So while I was sitting on the beach reading, Landon a photographer came up to me and asked me if he could take a few photos of me on the beach. I was more than happy to oblige. 

He's a really sweet guy and really knows how to get a great photo, happy to of met Landon and spend part of my afternoon with him. So a shout out to him and his Instagram landonwiles where you can check out his photos and the ones he took of me that day.

Mahalo!

I only slipped once.

Looking inland to some of the mountain ridges on the island, I ventured off to get above sea level and get a birds eye view of the area. Hawaii has some great hikes. There's never one too far out of the way.

They usually end up at some hidden waterfall, scenic vantage point, a crater or your local neighbourhood active volvanoe. There's only one way to describe it, Hawaii's Hiker Heaven - alliteration intended!

Just showing some GoPro love.

One of Lanikai's hikes is a trail to the WWII war bunkers that were used as lookouts as a place to  scan for oncoming Japanese forces. Called the pillboxes they still stand as though ever watchful along the peaks of the mountain. It isn't a long trail, but it gets quite steep. From up here you get the rewarding sight of the bays and reefs below and out to the Mok's, the two small outlying islands right off the coast. 

#livealifeoutside 

Hang loose.

As long as I can remember coming to Hawaii has always been a dream for me.

As a kid I always saw this place as the perfect holiday destination. Since then my idea of idyllic havens to voyage to have changed and adapted with my growing knowledge of the world. But Hawaii still holds it's place in my mind as the island wonderland I've always adored. 

 It's the island life, the pacific polynesian flair, the world renowned beaches dotting it's shores and picturesque film location looming mountains standing in the background that sets this place up as my kind of playground. A place of adventure and all with the creature comforts of strong high speed WiFi, both MasterCard and Visa being commonly accepted and a place where toilet paper in public toilets is the norm. Conveniences not always experienced when travelling to such remote places of the world.

After a few days in ever popular Waikiki, I've made my way to the windward side of Oahu to the quieter locality of Kailua, to spend the rest of my days away from the tourist trap hustle and bustle. Who better to show me the meaning of aloha than the people who defined it.

As imagined the Hawaiian people and their lives differ slightly from their mainland counterparts. 

The people of the islands live like one with the ocean as it laps onto their doorsteps, beach culture is life here. Coming and going to the beach like the tide, their Jeeps and trucks roll the streets with surfboards hanging out the backside. 

Living with a raw honesty of what it means to live on the islands, amongst the elements of the Pacific Ocean, with the wind, sand, sun, critters and insects. There is a lack of pretension, Kailua is still only building it's very first Target. Here a four storey building is considered three storeys too high and the banging nightclub is the beachside BBQ that clocks out by ten 'cause the car park is closing.

Casual is chic here, brands like Hurley and Billabong earn more power than Chanel or Prada, where Hawaiian shirts are never out of style, and practical footwear is all part of the islands swagger. 

For the most part getting things done is by appointment or booking. Unless they need to be there, Hawaiians aren't going to be there and if it's a slow day lets knock off early. Working and playing go hand in hand here as a part of life. For Kailua a happy successful life is one where you pay the bills but have time to surf and enjoy your life as you want on your own watch, it's a true work life balance. 

There is something about the islands of Hawaii that the world finds enchanting. A breath taking, isolated land amidst the vastness of the ocean, that frees the mind and the soul. The spiritual connection with the ocean relaxes its people and all those who visit creating the worry free island life that relishes in the simple and pure. A life acknowledging the interconnectedness between people and nature.

Hawaiians have a great love for their land. As they should, you can't help but be inspired by the natural beauty found here. Every corner reveals a sight worthy of a postcard, I'm in awe of the Hawaiians ingrained cultural connection with the land, that their commercial growth is not at the expense of the environment, rather efforts are taken to keep things natural and untouched. Living with a raw honesty of what it means to live on the islands, amongst the elements of the ocean, with the wind, sand, sun, critters and insects, you will find a lack of pretension here. Kailua is still only building it's very first Target. Four storey buildings are considered three storeys too high and the banging parties are the beachside BBQ's that clock out by ten 'cause the car park is closing.

Stronger than their love for the land, is a love for each other. Despite the bodies of water separating the islands the ancient people saw each other as one, with a deep sense of community and family. Hawaiians continue to value this shared kinship between people, as Lilo has taught us, 

 we are all 'ohana'.

Even the stitches of the world. Hawaii is a now a home for a melting pot population full of the friendliest and welcoming people around. 

This place no longer feels like a place to holiday, it now feels more like a place to call home. Maybe it's the large amount of Filipinos here and the fact that the 7/11 sells Filipino dishes as takeaway. Maybe that I'm blending in quite easily amongst the Polynesian tanned Asian community. Tourists, even American tourists have been asking me for directions and advice, locals surprised by my Aussie accent. Maybe it's the mellow character and nature of Hawaii I feel comfortable in, maybe that I like to Shaka more than actually wave, maybe because the guys all seem ridiculously fit and cute here. Maybe that I can't think of a better way to spend my days than kicking back to the sounds of jack Johnson. 

There are a few things to adjust to around here though, the continuous presence of Japanese tourists, even in sleepy Kailua, the very strong smell of weed in the air and the scarily helpful and friendly community who smile and actually talk to each other that I'm not so used too. 

These being very small, minute worries I think I've already come to terms with seeing as I've picked out my beachside mansion along Lanikai beach and can't wait to make it mine. Although that wait may be a few decades long, as the starting price for the beachfront property is around the $4 million mark.

Take a page out of Hawaii life,

Live lightly, live aloha.