Chil's Point of View….

Aloha!

Just came back from the Big Island in Hawaii. We were in Kona on the Kohala Coast.
It was a pretty cool relaxing holiday, and we planned to take it now as we anticipated that it might be a really-really-really-really long time before Nelly and I have another ‘just the two of us’ vacation. [ Why?  See this post  ].

See the pretty feet

We achieved what we wanted on this trip.
Some of the planned state while on the Island included –

• Switch of phone (we would catch up with any emergencies if at all when we got back)
• No checking email (even though Chilumba took the laptop)
• Have some “do nothing day”, and not worry about trying to see any touristic site on the Island
• Chill relax

Amazing – even though I took my laptop, I never pulled it out at all.
Although our phones have internet, we never used them to browse or check email. I used the Facebook application only to upload a few pictures we would on the phones. I also tried updating MSN + Facebook status using a feature we are building at work for the next phone [yeah; yeah; not really bringing work to vacation. Trying what I worked on during vacation ]. Only other time we used the internet was when we were looking up directions on getting towards South Kona, driving towards a landmark. Most of the times though, the phones remained in the safe. So we “can” unplug from technology (to some extent) while on vacation.

We also did not turn on the TV in our room – we stayed at the Fairmont Orchid Resort. This was torture for a news junkie like me since I read (on net)/watch (on TV)/listen (mostly podcasts) to news every morning. So I had no idea what was going on in the rest of the world.

Do nothing day included eating breakfast, lying on the beach, and floating on inner tubes into the ocean!!!!  [I already want to go back immediately after typing that statement ]. This was definitely part of the “Chill relax” plan.

We really liked the Fairmont Orchid Kona! (Highly recommended).
The staff was friendly (we think even more friendly than at the Hyatt on our Honeymoon in Maui). We also just liked how they let the guests be by themselves (yet available if needed). I liked the free-ness; non-pushy. The restaurants on the resort were a little pricey – we should aim for an all-inclusive spot next time.

The few pictures we look, when we lightened the technology restriction, are posted here .
The pictures from our phones are not included (as of 7/25/2010), but will be added in the share sometime next week.

Mahalo!