MSF Interview

Was googling to see if I could find the blog and came across this interview on an MSF website. My French is better than I ever knew...

 

Tokyo First Impressions

I've heard and read about Tokyo, but these are the first impressions.  Arriving at Narita and picking up our backpacks, I'm struck by the fact that nobody steps beyond the red line that rings the luggage carrousel.  Everybody waits patiently behind the line that merely reads "No carts beyond."  The cityscape is a fantastic sea of concrete and glass frames of every imaginable shape, as far as your gaze can pan.  Not as crowded as I had anticipated, but we haven't been in rush hour yet.  Hardly anyone jaywalks and people are exceedingly polite and courteous.

The toilets are a wonder and can just about do everything... They will automatically lift or put down the cover and seat, flush various volumes of water, and even spray and dry if you wish. This certainly will not be the case in future destinations...

With Keith, Vicky, and the kids, we explored the city.  From Roppongi Hills we walked around the big intersection of Shibuya, along with the interesting throngs of people wandering the Harajuku.  As the day grew later, the crowds appeared.  Out came the Harajuku girls --babydolls, maids, rockers, and Marilyn Manson Goths, a brilliant statement of individuality on display for themselves, eachother, and the world.  It was the Western tourists now snapping pictures.  The humidity was oppressive, so we set down for lunch at Maisen, which may serve the best tonkatsu I've had.

We ventured to Shinjuku and the Kabukicho.  Shinjuku is glitzy and crowded with endless shops and amazing department stores.  Each has a tempting food court displaying pastries, chocolates, snacks, and an array of food that could pass for art.  The only problem is that they are strictly take-away only (take home).  There is no place to sit and eat and it is impolite to eat while walking.  An ice cream cone purchased at a convenience store had to be consumed in the small seating area in the premises.  It is normal to cram into the small premises to consume purchased food rather than go outside and eat.  As night falls, Kabukicho becomes alive.  Neon abounds, restaurants open, bars and clubs advertise their wares. 

Oahu

Nearing another glorious week on the island.  We're staying with Shanon, who's a friend from our training days at Stanford.  Her Honolulu 45th floor apartment has a commanding west-facing view of the mountain and ocean.  We've been hanging out nearly nightly with her friends from work and it's a blast.  To quote another: "Things may be expensive on the island, but you can always count on alcohol to be cheap -- 2 lychee martinis and a draft beer for $13..."  Other cultural highlights were the Greek Festival, watching Tropic Thunder (surprisingly funny), Mai-tai's, and Uncle Bo's.

The days have been in pursuit of suitable waves for bodyboarding.  I spent many hours at Makapu'u beach on the windward side.  The rollers and shorebreak are challenging, but consistent and awesome.  I'm too freaked out by Sandy Beach -- the shorebreaks are heavy neck-crushing.  Despite the warning signs, the unsuspecting or unaware get pummeled and it is supposedly the site of many spinal cord injuries.

Waikiki is a bit maligned due to the congestion of traffic and tourists, but it's a great place that justifiable popular.It's convenient, the water is beckoning, and the crimson and orange sunsets are unreal.  Next to the usual Japanese travelers, you now see a profusion of Europeans, courtesy of the low standing of the mighty dollar.

Worthwhile places to spend the day are Hale'iwa, a charming surf town on the North Shore, along with Waimea Bay, another great beach with waters calm enough to swim in the summer.

Diamond Head Grill and Kaka'aka Kitchen have "ono grinds." 

I could definitely stay here longer, but tomorrow we fly off to Tokyo.  

Maui

We landed in Kahului midmorning and rented a snazzy white Chevy Cobalt to cruise around the island for the next four days.  One of the first stops was Costco to pick up a new cheapy bodyboard.  I had to leave mine home to avoid the ridiculous $145 surcharge the airline now charges... I've been to the Hawaiian islands a half a dozen times and Steph at least a full dozen, but it never ceases to amaze how wondrous and beautiful it is here.  Looking out from shore, the uninterrupted distant horizon, where the sky meets the Earth, is almost a perfectly straight deep blue line.  The Waimea coast is lined with the usual ritzy resorts -- perfect to cruise by and admire the landscaping while enjoying the same public beachfront.  At the Southeastern end of the island lies "Big Beach, " a rough bodyboarding spot which is separated by volcanic cinder cone from "Little Beach," a better boarding venue, but an unfortunate nude beach.  A buck-naked man on a board is a disconcerting sight... 

One of the great thrills is the drive to Hana, an all day journey of windy passages, hairpin turns, and narrow bridges with lush green forest, ferns, and bamboo on one side and brilliant ocean on the other.  Along the way, there are numerous waterfalls, vista points, hikes, beaches, as well as roadside food stands. As nearly every stand advertised banana bread, we stopped at one apparently voted best in Hana.  If that was the best, I would not want to taste the rest... Hana is a sleepy little town, so it's about the journey, not the destination.  Koki Beach near the end was a great spot for bodyboarding.  

Sunrise over Haleakala is said to be spectacular.  Hawaiian for "House of the Sun," the extinct volcano towers over the island. We rose from a short slumber at 2:15 AM for the 2 hour drive to the crater summit at 10,000 feet.  We knew it would be cold, so we had dressed appropriately.  We waited for first light and within 5 minutes, from out of thin air conditions changed.  On that morning, Haleakala was the house of numbing cold, driving wind, and a shroud of wet rain and clouds.  Spectacular in its own way...

Honolua, Kapalua, Napili, Waimea, Makena -- all beautiful bays with golden sand crescents and aquamarine waters.  Good snorkeling right off the beach with dolphins and tortoises nearby.

Shanon's father owns Tasty Crust in Wailuku.  They serve excellent banana pancakes. Definitely the best around. 

And We're Off...

The packing, moving, storing, planning, and all the last minute arrangements behind us, we finally departed from San Francisco on Tuesday August 19th.  First destination Hawaii.  What better place to start this long journey?   So, here's the first feeble attempt at keeping in touch.  Hope it proves a great means to share our impressions of places, people, and experiences -- to convey the exciting, the extraordinary, the mundane, and the ordinary...