Salubrious North Shore - March 2014
Having ticked off most of the ‘’musts’’ of Honolulu, it was time to brave the north shore and get familiar with the surfy and more salubrious side of life… As soon as I walked through the Plantation Village to the shack that was to be my ‘’home’’ for the next week, I knew I had arrived. I felt a tingle in my spine and butterflies in my tummy and I just knew this was where I was suppose to be. The hostel was inhabited by traveling surfers who for a few hours of work a day were staying there for free, living cheaply and just chasing the best waves on a daily basis. This was it, time to learn how to surf, girl! And oh my, did I surf! I promptly booked myself a lesson with the North Shore Surf Girls and after 30mins in the water I had cleared the first 7 waves without even wetting my hair! I was ecstatic. Even when a few waves caught me off guard - bound to happen when you’re at it - I had an amazing few hours actually SURFING. Most of the credit does honourably go to the amazing NSSG instructors who literally choose the wave and push you onto it. Then it’s just up to you to stand up and stay upright, which I of course managed without much of a hiccup. http://backpackershawaii.com/ Highlights from the North Shore week:
- Above mentioned 2h surf lesson with North Shore Surf Girls at Pua’ena Point on Oahu's North Shore and even getting mistaken for a surf instructor! http://www.northshoresurfgirls.com/
- Snorkeling with Hawaiian Green Turtles at Pua’ena Point Beach, following the said surf lesson. Check out some of my pictures on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/91668028@N07/sets/72157643685180213/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/91668028@N07/sets/72157644221817214/ http://www.to-hawaii.com/oahu/beaches/puaenapointbeachpark.php
- Snorkeling at Shark’s Cove, despite the occasional waves pummelling over us in what can only be described as slightly scary ocean moments! - Hanging out with amazing aussie surfer Mark and feeling so at ease with the ocean and it’s lovers. Sharing Pad Thais from the van in the corner opposite Shark’s Cove! - Filming some stoking surfing at legendary Pipeline. Check out my film on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaCucwH2Gaw - Hanging out with a gorgeous French-Canadian fitness instructor, mum-of-one Melanie who has become such an inspiration. We did yoga, attempted hard board surfing, played beach babes, snorkelled, road-tripped around Haleiwa, flirted with Haleiwa locals, shared beers and life stories. - Morning yoga lesson at Noelani’s Yoga Studio and Shop. http://www.noelanistudios.com/
- Amazing vegan breakfast after yoga at Beet Box Cafe in Haleiwa. http://www.thebeetboxcafe.com/#! http://www.yelp.co.uk/biz/beet-box-cafe-haleiwa - Spending hours and hours on the beach photographing and filming waves and sunsets on Three Tables Beach. Scroll down on this blog for some of my posts for pictures…or check them out via these links: http://instagram.com/p/mZaUZ5HCxJ/?modal=true http://instagram.com/p/mevUsfHCze/?modal=true - Night out at Turtle Bay’s famous Surfer club and blagging my way in without paying entrance, and receiving a beer by the Haleiwa Surf Shop owners whose vest I was wearing. Karma account deductions galore… http://www.turtlebayresort.com/resort/restaurants/surfer_thebar/ http://websta.me/location/6231859 - Deciding to stay for an extra two nights so I could spend more time with Mark - best decision ever. We spent the few extra days chilling out, chasing waves, eating well, exploring North Shore, and cuddling - of course. Thank you Mark & Co. for sharing the magic of North Shore with me.
