"Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride"

We're on the other side of the Big Island and had to take a tender through the calm, clear waters into the charming port of Kailua Kona, Hawaii. It's known for its sunny weather (only 18 inches of rain per year), beautiful beaches, and a wide range of water activities such as snorkeling and whale watching. In other words, it's almost the exact opposite of what we experience in Hilo, characterized by lush rainforests, waterfalls, and a more laid-back atmosphere. In fact, Hilo receives about 130 inches of rain annually, making it one of the wettest cities in the U.S.

Jeff and I, with our interest in cooking, have watched in numerous episodes of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. Upon discovering that Guy Fieri featured a restaurant here in Kona on his show, we made the decision to stroll there for lunch. After disembarking, we savored some renowned Kona coffee and a bagel at a venue with a view of the ocean. It was the ideal beginning to a splendid day, with a gentle ocean breeze and magnificent vistas of our beautiful ship in the distance.

We took a leisurely walk past a marketplace and a historic palace:

We also came upon a small shop where we scored on an addition to our bottle collection:

• Peanut butter whiskey called Screwball
• Black spiced rum called Krachen
• another rum called Sailor Joe
• Old Palley Road, a whiskey, and
• An assortment from the Hawaiian rum company, called Koloa

Here's what it looked like before we left home. We've since found new bottles in Argentina, Grenada, Peru, Mexico and now Hawaii to add to the collection that Jeff's dad started years ago. May have to build another shelf when we return!

Without a fixed timetable, we were excitedly looking forward to indulging in the genuine, fresh flavors, local ingredients, and expertly prepared dishes at Foster's Kitchen, the restaurant showcased in the show. It is renowned for its traditional food with an island flair and Southern charm, and it lived up to its reputation. We tried a Mai Tai, which is not our usual choice, but we decided to embrace the local custom, and we also savored one of the restaurant's signature appetizers, the Seafood Pesto Puff Pastry. For our main courses, I opted for the blackened ono on a Brioche bun (the catch of the day), and Jeff chose the grilled version. Loved every bite as well as the atmosphere!

We had a fabulous view, great service, and appreciated the fact that we were walking back to the ship so we could expend some of our caloric intake.

The highlight of the show this evening was Aaron Bonk, an international champion and two-time Guinness World Record-setting Whip Artist. His performance was a real delight, leaving the audience thoroughly entertained with his twisted humor and heart-stopping acts. Watching him balance two machetes on his head while juggling three sabers, all on a moving ship, was truly impressive. I think Jeff may be inspired to not only take up falconry, but also to learn the art of whip cracking - he has lots of time to learn once he buys a whip in Australia I personally loved the song that Arron Bonk wrote for those of use on the world cruise. I think you'll see why when you read the lyrics: