Just so you lot who follow me life on this blog do not think am running a constant advert for the Hilo Bay Hostel, I offer up this brilliant tune for your enjoyment.
Mind, this old geezer does think that Scott & Terry DO make most excellent innkeepers...
Saturday, March 12, 2011
TSUNAMI AFTERMATH
After a good night's sleep and one good ear no longer ringing from the blaring of the tsunami warning horn, this old geezer is in a better position to give a telling of the events of yesterday morn.
One never knows how folks are going to re-act to having spent the night huddled together in the cold. Some of the hostel guests tried to wile away the hours in hired vehicles and others were at the shelter. There were a few brave souls who kept watch on the road, to be witness to the wall of water that might appear.
With a kettle full of hot water for tea and a lovely pot of fresh brewed coffee, Scott and this old geezer, waited with bated breath to field the anger that might spew forth as guests returned.
Rather quickly, guests knew that it was safe to return and they climbed the stairs to resume their lives on holiday. Some were due to check out and to a person, not a one asked if there was to be a refund for the loss of sleep. Most were of the opinion that it was an adventure and it was good fortune that left one and all well and dry. Guests staying on were more thrilled to find that hot beverages and a hot shower were waiting for them. Taking the refreshing pause, they got quickly sorted out and headed out for aventure.
As always, there were some surprises...
One cheeky bugger had returned to the hostel before the 'all clear' and being ever so slim, was able to squeeze through the narrow opening provided by chain on gate and climb into bed. Bit of a shocker to find a chap 'sawing logs' in a room that was meant to be empty. When wakened, the cheeky bugger told that 'having paid $27.00 for a dorm bed, he bloody well was going to use it, tsunami or no.' He did and at the appointed hour, his departure was requested. Can you imagine?
Remember the fellow refugee in the 'motorhome'? It seems that the thought of being swept away was too much to bear. There has to be a medical word for 'fear of water', mind it seems odd that one would come to an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean if one were afraid of being swept away. I digress...
No sooner was the chap back at hostel, then the luggage was packed and a taxi engaged to get to airport. Seems that fingers were busy on mobile during the night and a ticket leaving Hilo to the eastern coast of the mainland was waiting. Can you imagine how dear it must be to purchase a ticket at the last moment?
The events of Thursday/Friday were an Act of God. This old geezer had no control over and while not wanting to depart so soon, if it was to be, there was not much that could have been done to prevent. I am reminded of a line from a Broadway play much loved; 'Life is a banquet and most poor SOB's are starving...'
I had an adventure. I also learned a wee bit more about human nature. Truth be told, it got me closer to the folks I have the good fortune to have surrounded self with. Life goes on...
To the many faithful readers who emailed this old geezer with concern for safety - 'I'd love to kiss ya, but I just washed me hair' - what little remains...
Friday, March 11, 2011
SWEPT AWAY IN HILO - NOT...
Shortly after 9pm on Thursday, Scott gave this old geezer the news that a massive earthquake had hit Japan and there were fears of a tsunami hitting Hilo. My dears, the folks of Hilo take the threat of tsunamis very seriously, they well remember 1946 and 1960. In short order, the Tsunami Warning was heard, and this warning would continue to be heard throughout the night.
With almost a full house at the hostel, Scott began alerting folks of what was to come in way of possible evacuation of the hostel. While the Hilo Bay Hostel is located in the old Burns Hotel Building, a building that has been standing in downtown Hilo since 1911, one can never be prepared enough for a possible deadly tsunami. Better safe than sorry is the motto...
Round midnight, Scott had been told that it was necessary to ask all of the guest to head to higher ground. The Tsunami Evacuation Area is just blocks up the road. All guest were told of the shelters opened and a steady stream of guests could be seen leaving the hostel in twos and threes. Some had all of belongings and were going to get in hired vehicle and wait out the tsunami on higher ground. This old geezer noted several headed to the Hilo Public Library, located not far from the hostel and on safe ground.
Scott, aided by Justin, went round to each room and checked to make sure that all guests had departed. A small placard was placed on door of each room to indicate that it was 'empty'. With nearly all guests departed, the last act of Scott was to place a massive chain round the gate to hotel, and to tell one guest that he, Scott, was not going to lock until all were safely from the hostel. A good captain does not leave his ship until last...
Scott invited this old geezer to spend the hours of the night waiting in his 'motorhome'...
Mind, that is if you call a rather small vehicle a motorhome. It did get us up the road and it was comfy, for a refugee camp. Light refreshments were not served and there was no 'onboard' film.
Scott is always good company and the time seemed to fly past. Attempts to get a little sleep did not go well, as the bloody tsunami warning system would blare oft. We two brave souls had to content selves with watching the growing crowd of police gathering to deal with the possible damage. There were massive numbers of folks out to make sure that folks were safe if the worst were to come. At one point, the coppers told us that we might want to get to even higher ground as the time approached from the tsunami to hit Hilo. That must have been round 3am. We did, and they did.
I can tell you true that Scott and I had but the clothes on our backs. OK, perhaps a torch or two and a few bits and bobs in a bag, but not much else. There was no food or beverage.
Round time we headed to higher point, we notice a fellow refugee from the hostel. Eric is a young guest, hearing impaired, who is staying in one of the suites downstairs. Even on his best days, Eric looks like a lost soul and late Thursday/early Friday morn, the poor bugger looked as if he was LOST...
Scott pulled over and another soul was made room for in the 'motorhome'. Eric wasted no time reminding us that he was hungry. How lovely, Scott and I were just beginning to wonder about a little light refreshment. Eric had a large packet of 'tic-tacs' which he made no effort to share. So much for passing round the goodies.
As luck would have it a chap showed up who had a large cup of coffee. 'Ask him where he got it'; Scott got me to do. Turns out there was a cash & carry further up the road. That was all needed to get us going. With a large cuppa and a 'small' biscuit in hand, we three denizens of the 'motorhome' were prepared to face the remains of the night.
Did I mention how small the vehicle was? Or the fact that between the blasting of the tsunami warning and the endless clicking away of the mobile keys by Eric, there was little hope of sleep.
Round daybreak, a local eatery opened for breakfast. Like so many others, we ate and listened to comments of the coppers as to when we might be able to return home. Latest word, that was going to be 8am.
Actually, it was more like 9am, before we were able to return to the hostel and get ready to welcome the returning guests. First order of business was to make sure that the kettle was on and there would be plenty of fresh coffee and tea.
All of the guests had spent the long night in different states of refuge and seemed more or less in the same state of 'lack of sleep' Scott and this old geezer found selves. It was an adventure.
This old geezer came away from the experience with two truths. Tsunamis are no joking matter and the officials of Hilo took it dead serious and could not have been more professional in dealing with the situation.
The main truth of the long night is that if this old geezer has to run for it in the future, Scott is a most excellent fellow traveller to be caught up with. The sort of chap you can imagine sang hymns and held hands on the deck of the Titanic...
With almost a full house at the hostel, Scott began alerting folks of what was to come in way of possible evacuation of the hostel. While the Hilo Bay Hostel is located in the old Burns Hotel Building, a building that has been standing in downtown Hilo since 1911, one can never be prepared enough for a possible deadly tsunami. Better safe than sorry is the motto...
Round midnight, Scott had been told that it was necessary to ask all of the guest to head to higher ground. The Tsunami Evacuation Area is just blocks up the road. All guest were told of the shelters opened and a steady stream of guests could be seen leaving the hostel in twos and threes. Some had all of belongings and were going to get in hired vehicle and wait out the tsunami on higher ground. This old geezer noted several headed to the Hilo Public Library, located not far from the hostel and on safe ground.
Scott, aided by Justin, went round to each room and checked to make sure that all guests had departed. A small placard was placed on door of each room to indicate that it was 'empty'. With nearly all guests departed, the last act of Scott was to place a massive chain round the gate to hotel, and to tell one guest that he, Scott, was not going to lock until all were safely from the hostel. A good captain does not leave his ship until last...
Scott invited this old geezer to spend the hours of the night waiting in his 'motorhome'...
Mind, that is if you call a rather small vehicle a motorhome. It did get us up the road and it was comfy, for a refugee camp. Light refreshments were not served and there was no 'onboard' film.
Scott is always good company and the time seemed to fly past. Attempts to get a little sleep did not go well, as the bloody tsunami warning system would blare oft. We two brave souls had to content selves with watching the growing crowd of police gathering to deal with the possible damage. There were massive numbers of folks out to make sure that folks were safe if the worst were to come. At one point, the coppers told us that we might want to get to even higher ground as the time approached from the tsunami to hit Hilo. That must have been round 3am. We did, and they did.
I can tell you true that Scott and I had but the clothes on our backs. OK, perhaps a torch or two and a few bits and bobs in a bag, but not much else. There was no food or beverage.
Round time we headed to higher point, we notice a fellow refugee from the hostel. Eric is a young guest, hearing impaired, who is staying in one of the suites downstairs. Even on his best days, Eric looks like a lost soul and late Thursday/early Friday morn, the poor bugger looked as if he was LOST...
Scott pulled over and another soul was made room for in the 'motorhome'. Eric wasted no time reminding us that he was hungry. How lovely, Scott and I were just beginning to wonder about a little light refreshment. Eric had a large packet of 'tic-tacs' which he made no effort to share. So much for passing round the goodies.
As luck would have it a chap showed up who had a large cup of coffee. 'Ask him where he got it'; Scott got me to do. Turns out there was a cash & carry further up the road. That was all needed to get us going. With a large cuppa and a 'small' biscuit in hand, we three denizens of the 'motorhome' were prepared to face the remains of the night.
Did I mention how small the vehicle was? Or the fact that between the blasting of the tsunami warning and the endless clicking away of the mobile keys by Eric, there was little hope of sleep.
Round daybreak, a local eatery opened for breakfast. Like so many others, we ate and listened to comments of the coppers as to when we might be able to return home. Latest word, that was going to be 8am.
Actually, it was more like 9am, before we were able to return to the hostel and get ready to welcome the returning guests. First order of business was to make sure that the kettle was on and there would be plenty of fresh coffee and tea.
All of the guests had spent the long night in different states of refuge and seemed more or less in the same state of 'lack of sleep' Scott and this old geezer found selves. It was an adventure.
This old geezer came away from the experience with two truths. Tsunamis are no joking matter and the officials of Hilo took it dead serious and could not have been more professional in dealing with the situation.
The main truth of the long night is that if this old geezer has to run for it in the future, Scott is a most excellent fellow traveller to be caught up with. The sort of chap you can imagine sang hymns and held hands on the deck of the Titanic...
Thursday, March 10, 2011
HILO BAY HOSTEL GUESTS SCORE ADVENTURE OF LIFETIME
Two lucky guests at the Hilo Bay Hostel had booked their holiday some 4 months ago and had scheduled a helicopter tour of the volcano. It is always a bloody brilliant experience to fly over the volcano area but imagine how bloody brilliant it is to find out that you have arrived just as the volcano is doing its best to splash out with a special show. Kilauea is very active and the show, while not readily available to walk to, is most available on a helicopter.
Imagine if you had seats on a tour that is sold out for days ahead, a tour with the doors open and flying over what has to be one of nature's most brilliant shows. Imagine how you will dine out on the telling of the experience in the months ahead. Talk about having a hot time in Hilo...
The young couple from Canada were over the moon at discovering their good fortune. The cheeky bugger that this old geezer be, asked the chap if he would sell his seats to anyone offering buckets of cash. 'Not bloody likely', the chap tole MOI. I rather think a most excellent adventure awaited the couple.
See what you missed by not being in Hilo?
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