We had a wonderful holiday. Here are some totally random thoughts about holidays and Hawaii.
1. American toilets flush differently to ours. I forget and it’s always a little startling remembering during the first visit. I’m always relieved when the water stops gushing upward. I worry it’s not gonna stop!
2. The ocean is such a pretty color - a clear turquoise blue - and it’s very clear. Warm to swim in too. Not like at home.
3. Jeez, I hate the American system of tipping. I’d rather be charged more so that employers can pay a better wage. I’ve travelled a lot so I know about tipping and it really cheeses me off when service staff calculate the tip for me because I don’t have an American accent. Even worse are the staff who don’t do a good job and still expect a tip. New Zealand is so much easier.
4. Without exception the staff on the NCL cruise were smiling and pleasant the entire time. Nothing was too much trouble. I don’t know how they kept up the smiling faces. I had no problem tipping them at all. When we’ve saved up enough for our next cruise we’ll be booking with NCL.
5. My favorite place was Kona on the Big Island. Lush and green and very pretty. I’d love to visit again one day.
6. Ice cream is good for you.
7. Ditto with Margueritas. Two margueritas are extra good 
8. I missed our wee dog.
9. Two weeks is not a long enough holiday. I want to win Lotto…
10. In New Zealand we’re used to hearing world news, reading it in our papers. I like to know what’s going on in the world but the news in US seems to consist of just local stuff. What’s up with that?
11. US Custom staff need to take a few chill pills. I understand security and the need for it but 99.9% of travellers are not criminals.
12. I love Borders bookstores and I know the location of just about every single one in Hawaii.
13. Coffee in Australia and New Zealand is far superior.
14. On this holiday we tried activities that we don’t have or can’t do in New Zealand. We went in a submarine and dived down 130 feet. Saw lots of fish, a turtle and eagle rays. We visited a sea horse farm. We went to a shooting range. We drove a Mustang. We also visited the volcanoes but we have those at home.
15. In New Zealand the price on the article to purchase is what you pay at the checkout. Tax is included and it’s much easier!
16. Each Hawaiian Island has a distinct character and they all have a wet side and a dry side.
17. State and National Parks are very well administered. The US has some great wilderness areas to visit. If you haven’t checked out the ones nearest to you, you’re missing out!!
18. A cruise ship has lots and lots of stairs. Good for exercising the butt.
19. The end of a holiday is the time to start planning the next vacation. Look out San Francisco 2008.
That’s all I can think of right now. I’m sure I’ll think of more once I sign off.
Here in Puerto Rico it used to be like that. You paid for the article and that was that. But in the last months the government decided to impose the whole sales tax thingy. Oh boy… what a pain in the arse!
Sounds like you enjoyed your Hawaiian vacations! But where are the pics? *wg*
by Tempest Knight September 17th, 2007 at 4:47 amCanada is similar to the US that way…only we have more tax. I do hate feeling obligated to tip if the person hasn’t earned it. In fact, I won’t if they haven’t done a good job.
Now I want to go to Hawaii!
by Christine d'Abo September 17th, 2007 at 8:02 amThe photos are coming, Tempest. I promise
We have tax but it’s part of the ticket price. I’ve been thinking about this and have decided the adding on at the checkout is probably because every State has a different tax. It would be a nightmare trying to ship goods from one state to another which might have a different amount of tax.
Does Canada have tipping, Christine? I can’t remember since it was a few years ago when I was last there.
by Shelley Munro September 17th, 2007 at 12:25 pmWow, glad you had a great time! I have never been west of well where I live and that’s pretty far east. I would love to see the Pacific and Haiwaii one day. Glad you’re back.
by Amy Ruttan September 17th, 2007 at 3:46 pmOh btw since you were gone I switched sites. http://www.amyruttan.com. Hee hee, me likey.
by Amy Ruttan September 17th, 2007 at 3:47 pmAmy,
I love the new website and blog. I’ve changed my link
by Shelley Munro September 18th, 2007 at 1:56 amTaxes are included in the prices in Germany. And tipping is voluntary - if the service sucks, you don’t need to tip, else the average is about 10% of the bill.
I want to win the lottery, too. I love ships and one of my dreams is the Norvegian posthisp cruise all the way up to the northern end.
I prefer the water cold, though, so Hawaii won’t be on my list.
by Gabriele September 18th, 2007 at 3:34 pmCold water, Gabriele???? Are you feeling okay?
You’d like the cruise through the Inside Passage from Alaska to Vancouver. The scenery was stunning and it was cold
by Shelley Munro September 18th, 2007 at 3:46 pmI’m a tough German grown up swimming in cold lakes, not some spoiled Roman used to hypocaust heating and warm baths.
by Gabriele September 18th, 2007 at 6:17 pmLOL Gabriele
by Shelley Munro September 21st, 2007 at 1:51 pmI think I’ll stick with the Romans.