Super cool surf park!
Good morning 5:45am.
North shore tiny knee high.
South shore chest with some shoulder high sets at Ala Moana. Cloudy and rainy now but becoming sunny.
Winds at 20mph from the East.
Surf 3 rounds today.
Have a wonderful day!

ok, i get up early, go surfing, the waves were perfect! the weather was perfect! sunshine and rainbows and long rides. it was just a beautiful morning! after that dream session, i decide to take my boat out for a dive/surf session. i was out in the middle of the sea when the craziest storm i’ve ever been in hit.

the thick black clouds came in, the wind switched, the current was ripping, the waves were building, and it was raining so hard that i couldn’t see anything ahead. there were chest high wind swells coming from the shore straight at my boat, the current was turning it one way, the wind turning it another. then when the waves started breaking in my boat, i started to worry. for the past 25 years since i had a boat, this was the first time something like this happened. i was almost going to jump on my surfboard and paddle to the beach. the only thing that prevented me from doing that was i couldn’t see the beach. i couldn’t see anything! 1 hour later, the sun came out, the weather cleared up, and it was paradise again. what a weird day! lucky to survive that crazy storm!

on our last day in taiwan, Kimura-san and i stopped by for a quick lunch on the way to the train station. i ordered the mountain boar noodle soup.

it was so good! and only cost $2.

and the gyoza was the best i’ve ever had before. i swear i’d fly back there just to eat at this place. it was that good!

and yeah, the shinkansen system in taiwan is much easier to use than the japanese system. just one train going north to south. cheap and easy!

ok, check out this photo my friend in the philippines sent me today. this was today! OMG! if the swell lasts until this weekend, i’m there! i love waves like this!!!! i’m jumping on flight leaving thursday and like usual, still didn’t pack, and still don’t know where i’m going. it all depends on the waves! and if the waves are like this, there’s no doubt in my mind where i’m going. see you there!

i picked up the recent Best Dining in Hawaii magazine. i flipped through a few pages and put it down. if you’re a company with a big advertising budget, you will get nominated for the best restaurant in hawaii. i’m not interested in magazines like that. for me, it’s not advertising budgets, it’s about good food. if you want to make a magazine and claim the best of hawaii, please be honest and put the real best. i call these tourist traps!

genki sushi in hawaii always has a long line out the door. i went there once and will never go back there again. not the best quality and not the best prices. if you want good sushi, go to Imanas, Gaku, or Mitch’s. you will pay more, but you will eat the best sushi in hawaii. and no, these companies don’t spend money advertising because they don’t have to.

i also went to Miyako at the New Otani Restaurant before. not the best quality, and not the best prices. another place i will never go again. want the best shabu shabu, go to Imanas. nothing else even comes close.
here’s my advise for japanese tourists coming to hawaii to experience the great food. don’t look into these tourist trap magazines. the best places in hawaii don’t need to advertise to become successful. this island is very small and word of mouth is pretty fast. if you see big advertisements in big magazines, that’s a sign to stay away.

as for me, i always go exploring and the other day, i found a great plate lunch place. it’s right near my house and i haven’t been there for a long time. walked in and found out they have a new menu of filipino food! i love filipino food!

i ordered the chicharrones, which is roast pork. and i ordered the dinuguan, which is pork in pork blood.

my combo plate at $7.95, this was the best plate lunch i’ve eaten in a long time. it’s a once a week mandatory choice for me.
so once again, if you don’t go, you won’t know. gosh, i’m getting hungry now!