Today was the day for shopping. Certain items, particularly shoes and clothing are definitely cheaper in the U.S., so figuring that we could spare a morning away from the cocktails and pools we headed off for the Ala Moana shopping centre. Surely it would not take more than 3 hours? How wrong we were?
With so many shops and seemingly way too many clothes for Amelia to try on the day wore on … and on … and on.
Having arrived at the shopping centre at 9:40am, and with only a brief break for some Gelato (we are forever spoiled by the amazing Gelato in Florence), it wasn’t until around 2:30pm that we came up for air … and some lunch.
Unsure where to go, we found ourselves at Bubba Gump Shrimp. For fans of the movie Forrest Gump the theme of the restaurant will need no explanation. Anthony managed to drive everyone crazy with terrible imitations of Forrest and Jenny. Oleg, our server, spoke with a thick Eastern European accent which meant that we only understood about every 7th word, although it seems that it all that is needed because we managed to get everything we ordered and got an appreciative nod based on our tip.
Back to more shopping, including an amazing offer of $10 for a pair of Adidas shoes for Hamish. He could not believe his luck – two pairs of shoes for well less than one pair back home.
The last part of the day was spent in Barnes and Noble (with a convenient and well needed coffee shop). The bookshop was massive and our purchases were only limited by the weight of the books we had to bring home.
Leaving the shopping centre we found the sun already low on the horizon. We had been shopping for more than 8 hours! Absolutely crazy – and not something any of us are keen to repeat.
A light dinner of Sushi in our room tonight (after such a late lunch), followed by blogging, reading and a lengthy Facetime chat between Amelia and one of her best friends from school, Tilly, during which Amelia found out that she has been selected for an ensemble role in this years school production – Aladdin.
During the conversation, which Amelia was having outside on the balcony, we heard a loud bang followed by Amelia yelling, “Holy Cow! That scared the crap out of me. I did not need that …”. This heralded an unexpected Fireworks display which we and seemingly every other resort tower occupant enjoyed enough to clap at the end … and all this before it is even the 4th of July.
Tomorrow is 4th of July – Independence Day here in the U.S. In the morning we are going on a submarine ride and the evening will see us on the beach for what we are assured will be a massive fireworks display.