Wrapping Up

As Mira and I wrap up with our school, I realize how soon the trip will be over. In less than two weeks, we will have been on the road for a whole year. We have visited 19 countries, and over 60 cities, not even counting the ones we only went to for the day or the small villages/campsites we have spent the night in. How many 15 year olds get to say they have visited 19 countries? Let alone that many in just one year. It's been amazing. We have had so many adventures. From giant railway station rats, to zip lining into tree houses, to swimming with sea lions. Before we left, I couldn't imagine traveling for a whole year, but now, I can't imagine going back to normal life. RIP Alaroni Big Trip. Maybe we shall do it again one day.

Maya

Back in the US of A

We are now back in USA, on the mainland, and I'm suffering from culture shock.  USA is so, so different from where we have been traveling for the past 11 months.

Being in USA means that we now have access to anything and everything we could want, from organic gluten-free snacks to shoes of every size and width to 50 different types of corn flakes.  It also means that we are bombarded with marketing and advertising.  Buy!  Buy!  Buy!  New!  Improved!  Latest model!  No need to repair that old one!

Being in USA means that we have access to some of the most advanced healthcare in the world (as well as tons of junk food and fast food restaurants!).  It also means that drugs are promoted for every ailment (instead of lifestyle changes), a large majority of the population are unhealthy and on medicine of some kind, and medical care facilities are on every other street corner.

Being in USA means that the standard of living and average income are both relatively high.  It also means that money is the center of the universe and people are judged by how much money they earn, how big their house is, and what kind of car they drive.

It's a different kind of place, in good ways and bad ways.  Either way, it's weird to be in USA after a year of exploring other cultures.

Nadia

Beautiful Hawaii

 It's been another wonderful week in Hawaii. We're diving almost everyday on wrecks, seawalls and through sea caves. The view below from below the waves is truly spectacular. Actually, the view of the volcanos, palm trees and knife edged mountains isn't half bad either.
Earlier this week we visited Pearl Harbor and toured both the USS Missouri (Mighty Mo) with her nine 16'' guns and 880ft hull. Wow, what a huge ship. We also explored the inside of USS Bowfin submarine, which was quite interesting. A few days ago we went on a muddy hike to a beautiful waterfall and went surfing again at Waikiki Beach.
Our good friends Matt and Sheila have been terrific hosts and great company over the past couple of weeks. I wish we had a few more weeks that we could stay here.
Tomorrow we're going diving again and on Sunday I'm going deep sea fishing with Sheila while Nadia and the girls go diving. Life is good.
Matt let me use his underwater camera when we've been diving so I've included a few pictures below.

Cheers, Rob

Eagle rays gliding through the blue

Cushion starfish 

Spotted moray eel 

Green sea turtle 

Maya diving through giant sea cave 

Along the rocky coast, southeast Oahu 

Maya and Nadia checking out the scenery 

Maya and Mira hiking through the forest to a waterfall 

People hanging out a waterfall in the mountains 

USS Bowfin 

Memorial over the USS Arizona, sunk during the raid on Pearl Harbor in 1941 

Mira in front of the USS Missouri's giant guns 

Matt and Maya getting ready to dive

Hawaii

WE LOVE HAWAII!!!!! The surfing, the diving, the waterfalls, and my mom brought back henna and i have been going crazy with that!

- Mira

Fish

So far, I am loving Hawaii. Everything has been great. Yesterday we went on a hike to a waterfall, which was super fun. And a couple of days before that we went diving, both dives were on wrecks. We took the SeaFox out one evening for sunset, and Papa caught a delicious fish. We also went surfing one day at Waikiki beach, it was wonderful. So yeah, the stuff we have done so far has been pretty great. But I have to say, one of my favourite parts has been the food. Almost every night we eat fresh fish. Wherever we go to eat has fresh fish. Now normally, I don't eat meat, except for fresh fish, which I still don't eat often. Since we have arrived in Hawaii, I have eaten at least one meal a day that includes fish, a lot of the time it is two meals a day. It is absolutely wonderful. I just don't know how people do it all the time, I guess my body must not be used to it. After almost every dinner, I leave feeling completely full, food coma enducing full. I guess my body must not be used to all the protein, or I'm just not making good judgement calls about when to stop eating.

Maya

Aloha Hawaii

We recently left Mexico after two fun weeks with my sister Jane in Punta de Mita. Maya and Mira loved spending time and laughing with Auntie Jane who was a great host and sister (thanks for wonderful hospitality Jane). 

We're now in Hawaii with good friends Matt and Sheila, who have traveled to many places to see Nadia and I including Zimbabwe, Jordan, the UAE, and Cambodia where we spent Christmas together. It's now nice to spend time with them where they live, near Coco Head on Oahu. Matt owns several dive shops on the island and took Maya, Mira and I wreck diving a couple of days ago, while also taking all of us with Sheila for a sunset cruise on one of his boats. The highlight of the boat ride was hooking and landing a nice fish which we later ate for dinner (delicious). The kids have also surfed at Waikiki Beach and tomorrow we plan to hike to a waterfall where the kids can also cliff jump into the water. 

Last night we also had a barbecue at Matt and Sheila's house where I was able to see my old Rhode Island friend Steve and my cousin Paul. It was great to catch up and hopefully we'll get to see them again before leaving Hawaii.

Cheers, Rob

 Girls diving on a wreck at 90ft.

 Sunset boated off of Cocohead

 Maya captaining our friend Matt's dive boat

 Blue jack caught just before sunset

 Dinner with Steve Pazienza, my cousin Paul, and friends Sheila and Matt

 Interesting crab seen on dive

 With my sister Jane at her art studio

 Ocean swim with Matt on his boat

 Boards for sent on Waikiki 

Waikiki 

America

I love America  The junk food is so delicious - cheezits, Doritos, Sour patch, Nerds, War heads, etc. In the airport, there was a bowl of candy, you were only supposed to take one.  Well, I had a different idea...

- Mira

PS. MINE!