Honeymoon Diary #1

Monday 20th July

I couldn’t sleep. I’d been awake since 4am. I’d been running our fantastic wedding through my head and was starting to dwell on the little niggly bits that weren’t quite so perfect so I picked up a magazine. Eventually the 6am alarm went and we could get up and get on with things. Breakfast in our Paddington hotel was good and we made it on to Heathrow without any drama. After a little bit of shopping (8-hour cream for her, stupidly expensive sunglasses for him). We walked to our gate. We sat and waited and then the announcement came: “We are looking for three people who are prepared to divert to Los Angeles in return for an upgrade to Business Class.” It took no more than a nod from me and Darren was already at the service desk. As long as there was a connection to Honolulu, we would take it. After 15 nervy minutes all the paperwork was sorted and we were being led to the gate for the L.A. flight.

Business Class was an emotional experience! The first thing we were offered was champagne (it would be rude not to). The seats adjusted to almost flat and we were also furnished with blankets, pillows and toiletries. And the food! Tablecloths, real cutlery, china plates. Starter was asparagus and salad, scarily similar to our wedding starter. Main course was a filet mignon that you couldn’t complain about if you’d had it in a top restaurant. Desert was a passion fruit mousse cake that tasted exactly like a Solero! And the wine simply kept coming. After dinner we were left to rest, watch movies on our personal screens and we both tried to get as much sleep as possible. An hour before landing was afternoon tea - a selection of sandwiches followed by scone, jam and clotted cream. Travelling back in Economy is going to be VERY hard after that experience!!!

Indeed flying on to Honolulu in economy wasn’t easy! Our luggage made it as well despite the detour and we actually landed an hour earlier than we were originally scheduled to at 7.20pm. We got a taxi to our hotel, the Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach and checked in. We were offered a room upgrade for $200 a night but that was far to much – I think we’d rather save our money for a flight upgrade! We didn’t need to anyway – our Ocean View room is as close to the beach as possible and on the 10th floor so we have a pretty amazing view already.

After a little unpacking, a freshen up and change out of the clothes we had been wearing for the last 24 hours we went to Duke’s Bar in the hotel for a bite to eat. I had to return to my room for ID – they don’t serve anyone who looks under 30 here (so at 31 I guess I should feel flattered!). On the recommendation of Scott, our wedding photographer, Darren had the Mahi Mahi burger, a fish burger that he said was superb, and I went for the mango BBQ and bacon cheeseburger which was also excellent. When we returned to or room we found the hotel had left us a celebratory bottle of Champagne. After one glass we allowed ourselves to go to bed at 10pm, 36 hours after our day had started!


Tuesday 21st July

Darren was up and out on the balcony at 5.30am hoping to see a sunrise, but despite our window being almost east-facing there are far too many other tall buildings to see anything.. Still it was nice to enjoy another glass of champagne on the balcony while it got progressively lighter and Darren opened his birthday cards. At about 7am we chose the Hula Grilll for breakfast. Two courses no less! To start I had some amazing fresh pineapple and Darren had a very warm nutty muffin. Then Darren had and omelette and I had chocolate chip pancakes. Darren’s omelette with fried potatoes was impressive enough. However my pancakes – well I expected a few of those little discs you get at home. The Americans really don’t do food by halves – they were the size of dinner plates, three of them, covered in melting choc chips and foamed milk. Suffice to say I couldn’t finish it!!!

Our plan for the day was to do some investigation. After finishing our unpacking we took a stroll all the way along Waikiki beach. We made it just past the Natatorium and decided to head back along the main strip, Kalakaua Avenue. Firstly we stopped in the park and enjoyed the breeze as we admired the Diamond Head, a huge mass of volcanic rock that we plan to climb at some point! On the way back to the hotel we grabbed some leaflets for trips, then at the hotel started to make plans. We’re not really a “laze on the beach” couple. Besides, there’s far too much to do and see and who knows if we’ll ever make it back here!

We booked two trips over the phone from our room and also reserved our table for Darren’s birthday meal at Sansei, a highly recommended Japanese restaurant in the Marriott hotel. Then it was time to hit the beach. Well we had to do it at some point! It was very crowded – it’s not very big and is very popular – but we found a small spot right in front of our hotel (our’s is one of the few that actually sits on the beach). After smearing on sun cream (and sand!) I lay for a few minutes reading and then decided to cool off in the water. It’s not Jacuzzi hot but it was perfect for cooling down. And the current, even in these relatively safe waters is surprisingly strong – you have to keep aware of where you are. It was nice to dry off in the sun and it was Darren’s turn for a dip.

After another hour’s sun-worshipping we returned to the room to shower and change for the evening. We went down to Duke’s for a drink and in hope of seeing Hawaii’s view of the solar eclipse, but the sun was still too high and too strong to look at and see the small chunk cut out of it. At the table even Darren needed ID for a drink! Now that IS a great 39th birthday present! Almost as good was the free drink they gave him . Darren had two drinks but I was already feeling quite tired so I opted for water as my second drink. Then it was on to Sansei.

We had heard about Sansei’s Omakase Tasting Menu and it sounded like just our kind of thing. We also chose a sampler or “flight” of three white wines to accompany the meal. First dish was a very good bowl of miso soup. The next three dishes were served together. Edamame beans – Japanese peas served in their pods. A spicy crab sushi roll served with sweet chili sauce. And a Japanese salad with octopus and salmon and tuna sashimi. The sashimi was very good but the rest was simply OK – we certainly weren’t blown away by the food at this point. This all changed with the next three courses though. Shrimp fish cakes in crispy noodles in a ginger, lime and chilli butter sauce and coriander pesto. The most amazing and soft calamari fried with a sweet and spicy sauce, served in a giant wonton. And most breath-taking of all, tuna sashimi wrapped in spinach leaves and panko crumbs, then flash fried and served in a subtle soy wasabi butter sauce. So crunchy on the outside but so soft on the inside.

There were two more courses to follow: Japanese butterfish (I’m guessing so called because it simply melts in the mouth) in sake and sweet miso and lobster, crab and shrimp ravioli in a truffle butter sauce that was divine. I felt full but these two courses managed to be both rich and light enough to finish. At this point I think jetlag kicked in. I had to prop my eyes open with matchsticks to stay awake long enough for the bill to arrive. When we got to our room we both crashed out completely!