#It's a Musubi Mood this morning

[laguzmage]

See Musubi is a great Tokyo 7th Sister cause she’s got like the cards where she’s endlessly cool

The cards where she’s breakin the 10 scale

And the cards where she’s trying to eat three (3) Yakisoba Breads at once

[onyourzeus]

it just is | pjh

ykcyj ➝ arskyh

title: it just is pairing: park jaehyung (jae of day6) & you genre: angst with a happy ending words: 4.2k

author’s note: this took a few days to write because i wanted to approach it with sensitivity, and some realism from personal experiences. as i get to know jae as an artist, a day6 member, and a person even more, i feel so grateful for his music and his vulnerability that oftentimes is met with differing opinions from other people. i wanted to express that in this fic, and i hope i did the genre justice. 

content warning: discussions of online hate, criticism, feelings of worthlessness, coping through them

any requests? check my pinned post if i’m accepting any at the moment, thanks!

You don’t get it— or maybe you do. You’ve been given criticism before; on a powerpoint presentation, college-level essays, exams with written solutions needed, even for work performances. It has its benefits, having other qualified people observe you through their own lenses. It makes you notice the errors in your answers, mispronunciations, and flaws in your work ethic you wouldn’t have been able to catch if you were tasked to evaluate yourself. 

There’s a difference however, in the ways that you’ve experienced being given criticism and the way Jae has. 

He gets criticized. Instead of firm and blunt observations that he needs to take into consideration, and adjust when necessary, he isn’t given a room for improvement. He just receives these words with a punch to the gut, a slap on his face, and it stings. A whole damn lot. 

You think about the unfair times you were given criticism for work or a task that you originally thought was executed decently enough, at least for your standards. But that’s the point of being handed blunt feedback, is to let you realize that you can reach higher than this, go beyond what you previously had shown to others or even to yourself. 

Criticism given to you over the years had always spared space for you to reflect, and grow with it. It was always supposed to be a weapon for you to take into your own hands, and wield it yourself. It was never meant to attack you full force, and leave you bleeding with no help in sight. 

So maybe you do get it, but also you never really will when it comes to Jae. 

Either way, you’d be lying if you said you wouldn’t pick up the phone at a time when everyone in the city should be fast, fast asleep. When people have already drifted off into a deep slumber that enables them to dream beautiful things. 

You’d be lying to yourself if you said you wouldn’t ride your bicycle so late at night which you absolutely abhor. The cold air hitting your face as you speed up against its current is rarely a welcomed feeling, but that was the least of your concerns as you turned the corner to his apartment. 

When it comes to Jae, your mind hums a low beep, static noise to blaring fire alarms and resounding thoughts in an instant. 

You don't think much of it, however. He's just another friend, one who is in need. 

You never truly believed he could be alright by himself, but you wanted to give him a chance. Now, hearing his voice crack through your phone followed by the connection breaking apart, you struggle to forgive yourself for letting him be. Even for just a little bit. 

There wasn’t a need to knock, but you’re worried Jae may have forgotten he even called you in hesitation in the first place. In order to avoid spooking him, you make your presence known more clearly in the darkness. 

“Jae, it’s me. I’m coming into your room.” 

The door squeaks lightly, but the view isn’t any different. It remains dark, and lifeless in here. Stepping inside, the air just got a little bit heavier, and Jae’s breathing sounds more difficult that you began feeling aware of your own heart rate speeding up.

Retracing your steps from the multiples times you’ve been here, you get to the small lamp he barely uses on his desk. You turn it on the lowest brightness setting, giving the room a bit more dimension. It gives you a better view of Jae laying down on his bed, eyes staring into the ceiling. His hands support the weight of his head, lifting it up from the sheets. 

He sniffles for a split second, and your heart thuds like a mic stand dropping on the floor at an empty stadium. 

“Hey,” you approach him, careful not to be too loud with your movements. 

The mattress dips from the weight of your body, and Jae slightly shuffles to the side to give you room. The side of your lips twitch in response as you make yourself comfortable laying down next to him.

For the next few minutes, no one talked. 

Not even a hello back from him, and that’s new. 

It’s… concerning, to say the least. Even in his most stressful days, you’d stop by his place knowing it’d annoy him but the sight of you and the smell of homemade spam musubi never fails to brighten up his mood. 

He doesn’t forget to tell you that, and it makes you feel needed. 

Taking in a deep breath, you look at him in the corner of your eye. He’s not asleep, although his eyes flutter back and forth from keeping it trained to the ceiling and drooping it ever so slightly. You squint further, noticing dried streaks of tears blurring onto his skin. 

Your voice shakes. "Tell me where it hurts, Jae.”

You will yourself to resist your own choked out sobs. You’re not even sure what the issue was today. It’s always different, as if they have a giant wheel reserved just for him that someone gets to spin for their own pleasure. 

Sometimes it lands on the same, debunked misunderstanding. Other times, you’ve become shell-shocked at how quick they fill in the blanks with made-up accusations for the sole purpose of hurting him even more.

None of it makes sense, and what angers you the most is the fact that Jae made you promise not to interfere. You hate that he used that word with you, promise me, please? because both of you know the importance behind them, especially when said between the two of you.

Did he change his mind tonight? Did it suddenly become too much to bear that breaking the very promise he asked of you was his last resort for help? 

“Tell me,” you repeat with more determination now than overwhelmed nerves. 

“You wouldn’t understand,” Jae answers, cold and empty. 

Any other day that you pester him with a makeshift therapy session, you’d take that as a challenge. But tonight, his words linger in the air and you can’t shake off the goosebumps on your skin. 

Maybe he’s right; at this point, shouldn’t you be more irritated than concerned? If he’s not willing to at least describe how inflicting the pain must be with every word online stabbed into him, why do you bother cleaning up the mess? 

“How do you know that?” 

“Because you’re not me. They say those things because it’s me. I’m the problem.”

“Jae—" 

You have the script memorized, the tirade of counterpoints to every blame shifted upon himself, but tonight you stop the words spilling from your mouth. 

You turn your body towards him, hands folded underneath your cheek, a lone tear falling from your right eye.

“Do you believe them?” You ask, and the pause in Jae’s staring doesn’t go unnoticed. 

He finally looks at you directly, ever since laying down beside him on his bed. With his body still laying flat, he turns his head to face you, his lips pressed together roughly. 

You elicit a tsk sound, ignoring the amount of time that has passed since your question. Your fingers meet the cracked skin on his lips as you gently pry them off of each other. It’s wet, and the bright ring of blood doesn’t surprise you. Instead, you wipe it away, pulling your hand back to smear it off your shirt. 

At some point, Jae mouths you a sorry but you don’t acknowledge him. Just as he’s obviously avoiding your own query.

“You’re not sleeping well,” it was more a fact than another question thrown at him. You reckon he’d be more cooperative with you if you say it how it is without him denying openly obvious things. 

“You’re only drinking dubious cups of coffee in a day with one meal in between, at the most.”

“I haven’t had an appetite recently.”

“But you’d cater to your growing caffeine addiction more so than bring your appetite back?” 

You don’t want to sound mean, but the stress lines forming on your forehead aren’t helping with your attempt to ease into the conversation more slowly. 

Jae sighs, and it’s one of his many signs that entails he wants to move on, talk about something that is less targeting his questionable behavior and more mundane shit that doesn’t fit into the mood of the room at all. 

“I didn’t think you’d come.”

Unexpectedly, you look back at him and answer with a hint of surprise, “You think so low of me.”

Jae laughs, and for a moment the room became brighter. Just a little bit. 

“Dude, do you know what time it is?” 

“Yes, do you?” It was a rhetorical question, but you’re sort of glad he’s not just staying silent anymore. “I don’t have class in the morning. Even if I did, I’d still be here. Just cursing you out more for making me bike in the cold.” 

“It’s because you don’t wear enough layers, dummy,” Jae points out, pointing at the lack of thick clothing covering your upper body. 

Your first instinct is to flick his forehead, nudge him by the shoulder, and call him a fool. How can you even think of yourself that way when you receive a call from someone whose voice was on the verge of tears? 

But you let it go for now, it’s not like he’ll believe you. It’s not like it matters. 

“I still haven’t gotten my From Friends merch, Jae,” you taunt him and he laughs once more. Slowly, you feel his mood change from dreary to a few degrees warmer as he sits up on the bed. 

You follow his lead, keeping your knees close, chin resting atop them. You’ll humor him for right now, it’s probably best that you don’t force his feelings out in the open as unwanted as they may be. He might not allow you in the future if you do.

“You can have one of mine. They gave me a ton from the first test batches,” he offers, leaning into you as if to convince you even more. 

“I’m seriously gonna hold you onto that. I’m not leaving your apartment tonight without a sweater or two,” you respond, darting your tongue out. Normally, Jae would reciprocate, and if he’s feeling even riskier, inch his face towards yours for shock value. 

Tonight, he’s definitely acting differently than normal. Especially with what he says right after is not something you’d expect from Jae. 

“Don’t leave tonight.” 

“I—” 

“Just for tonight?” Jae pleads, gaze fully on yours now. “I’m sorry for being selfish, but… I’m really, really glad you came. I wouldn’t know what… I’m just.. lost and I don’t know what else to think. I’m sorry.” 

“Don’t be. I’ll stay,” you reassure him, not entirely sure what this entails. 

This doesn’t feel like those nights you’d be here for sleepovers countless of times before. Those nights were planned, prepared, and eventually ends up with Jae sleeping on the couch and you hogging his bed, as per your request (yet he willingly lends you his blanket). 

Maybe two, three hours at best— this was the amount of time you believed you’d stay. You’ll listen to him vent, or just sink into the silence with him. Either way, you knew your presence can only soothe his pain temporarily, and he won’t say it out loud so you show yourself out the door voluntarily. 

He wouldn’t protest, just hug you goodbye and ask that you text him when you get home. 

You awkwardly stretch out your legs, placing your hands on your thighs. Swallowing a nervous breath, you let out, “So, um, do you want to talk about it, pal… or…” 

All of a sudden you can’t comprehend a single word you’re saying, while Jae just stares at you amusingly, his lips in a tight smile waiting to burst out in giggles. 

“I’m trying to comfort you here!” you whine, pouting at the way he’s making fun of you. “When you suddenly ask me to stay just like that, it makes it… weird!”

“I’m sorry,” Jae chuckles airily, carding a hand through his ruffled dark brown locks. “It’s fun for me when I’m not the butt of the joke,” he continues on, tone spiraling to that of seriousness again. 

“Is it something incredibly absurd again? What was it? What happened?” 

Jae shakes his head. “The words don’t matter.” 

You argue back, “Yes, they do. It’s what hurts the most.” 

You’ve seen the tweets, sometimes even the hashtags and you wish there was a way to mass report the whole app altogether, and throw it all away in the trash. But Jae reprimands you for overreacting, even if you catch him smiling at the suggestion. 

“Debatable,” he sighs outwardly, clasping his hands together and resting them in between the wall and the nape of his neck. “A lot of them are just empty words, sure, but the pain they inflict is something else entirely.” 

There’s something about the way Jae speaks about criticism thrown at him that makes you frustrated. 

It’s not a secret that there isn’t an ounce of defensive vein in you when you’re at the receiving end of people finding faults in your work, your character. You believe humans are overprotective of who they think they are, they’ve become, as much as they like to hide it. 

But with Jae, he sounds way too calm and composed for your liking. Ironically so, since he mentions pain. Perhaps this is his coping mechanism, take them as they are, unembellished and oftentimes hurtful. 

But it doesn’t have to be that way, because the more he speaks of them so nonchalantly, the less his eyes sparkle and show his true feelings. 

Your eyebrows crease even further, examining Jae’s facial features that remain still and unmoving, giving attention to anything else in his line of sight but you. 

“A lot of them are false accusations, you don’t have to accept what you think is false.”

“Are they, though? To an extent, I think it shows what others perceive of me on a daily basis.” 

“So you’re saying you do believe what they say about you?” 

“At this point,” Jae starts off, stretching his arms upwards before crossing them against his chest languidly. He looks tired. “What else do I believe in? You know when the negativity becomes so loud in your head, I can’t explain it, but the words that tell me to keep going get muddled and overpowered by everything that screams I’m not enough?” 

You’re not sure whether to respond. 

It doesn’t seem like anything you say can add value to his confession. You look down on your hands, not knowing what to do with them so you keep them intertwined. It’s sweaty, yet the buzzing of his air conditioner fills the air. For some reason, you can’t stop your heart from pounding heavily inside you either. 

In a way, it’s possibly because of the realization that all you can offer Jae is an ear to listen to. All you can offer him is your body warmth hopefully exuding onto him, having the presence of another person in his space just to ensure that someone is listening to what he has to say. When no one else seems to let him do so online.

But you want to be more, you have wanted to be so much more. You wish your hands can extend themselves to his, pull him closer so he can hear your heart beating desperately for him. If it had a morse code of its own, it would have confessed the love you feel for him all this time. 

It’s gone quiet again, so you slowly lift your head to sneak a peek at him. His eyes are closed, and you wonder if he’s fallen asleep with unwanted thoughts fogging his brain. 

Great, the guilt makes it way on your shoulders, weighing you down with it. He asks you to stay, you don’t believe his sincerity, and when he’s opened up so much in one night, you lack the response he needed to hear. 

“If it means anything, I don’t believe them. You have your share of dumb moments, sure, but who hasn’t? If they figured out how much stupid shit I have said or done in my lifetime, I don’t think I’ll have a career ever again,” you mutter, mostly to yourself now. 

Your mind wanders back to those times that you’ve made yourself look like a fool in front of Jae, and he still holds you against them to this day. 

“Remember when I said owls were the cutest animals ever? And then I saw a tumblr post of what their legs looked like underneath all of those feathers? I felt so betrayed,” you recall out loud, snickering at times the group chat you shared with Jae and your mutual friends consisted solely of those creepy baby owl pictures that have surfaced on the internet-- seemingly their only purpose was to torment you with the truth.

You had posted your intense distaste of the animal on your Twitter, rather proudly even. It was a good thing your account was private, but the shame you felt was too intense to keep it on your profile for too long so you ended up deleting it, anyway. 

But imagine if someone had somehow saved that tweet and called you out for being cruel towards unsuspecting birds? 

“Or the time I got so drunk, I basically roasted all of your solo songs, calling them the national anthem of a hopeless romantic who will never find the love they’ve been praying for?” This was before It Just Is with Seori, and it was a dare that Younghyun had given you as payback for making him act out a lovey-dovey manhwa scene with Dowoon. 

You think, if their supporters heard that out of context, you’re most likely toast. 

Understandably, these are all a stretch, and at the end of the day, you’re not as famous as Jae. And if anything, the “roast” you had blurted out was completely inaccurate of what you actually think of his solo projects. 

A projection, if you will, of your own feelings. If anyone in your circle of friends wears the title of a hopeless romantic, the crown has been glued to your head since meeting Jae. 

“I’m not making any sense,” you say, rubbing your cheeks for comfort while watching Jae just doze off into the night. You weren’t sure if he still needed you to stay, but you’d feel it would be amiss if you left. 

You begin to shuffle your way off the bed to give yourself more space to think about your next move until you feel Jae’s hand reach for yours, and squeeze it tight. 

“I didn’t say you can go,” he mumbles sleepily, eyes still fluttered close. Yet his lips are smiling, almost as if he’s dreaming lightly. If that were the case, you humor him, and let his hand fall into yours. You like it that way, too. 

“Did you hear what I just said two minutes ago?”

“No,” he lies. 

“Mhm,” you hum, slowly making your way on the bed again. This time, you sit next to him, his sweatpants clad thigh leaning against your leggings. Your hands still held together, albeit loosely, he lifts it up as if to examine it with droopy eyes. 

“Thanks, though. Oddly enough, that made me feel a little better,” he admits. “Except for that time you said hated my songs. I don’t think I’m letting that go easily.”

“I was apologetic, and it was a dare! I offered you food for a week,” you protest, shaking his hand off but he doesn’t budge. He keeps it in his palms, and you don’t know what to do with yourself. 

A blush escapes on your cheeks, pink and warm, and most definitely as a result of your nerves getting the best of you. 

“True,” he recalls, and tilts his head to the side inquisitively, “but it sounded like you really meant it…”

“Jae, you know that’s not true. I literally stream them on soundcloud almost every day,” you say a matter-of-factly, but regret it since it wasn’t something that he had no knowledge about before tonight. He pulls your hand closer to his chest, and excitedly beams at you. 

“No way?” He exclaims, and you have no choice but to confirm, a helpless pout on your face. “Yeah, I listened to it on the way here.” 

“My number one fan, huh,” he coos, tracing the lines on your palm. You gulp hard, knowing how much sweat your hands had accumulated since meeting his touch. You really don’t want him to notice, but the soothing caress of his fingers felt better than not anything else in the world. 

“Whatever floats your boat, dude,” you try to brush it off, and Jae nods animatedly. 

You try your best not to appear sleepy as a yawn finds its way out your lips. Jae notices this, and sadly lets go. Then, he taps on his shoulder, the one right next to you. 

“Sleep, my child.” 

“Never call me that. Ever again.”

“Don’t be dramatic, and just lean in,” he insists, cradling your head until you plop down on him. 

It feels awkward, angled a bit on the uncomfortable side. But he adjusts for you, and you feel your body giving in to the source of support for your weary mind. 

“I can sleep on the couch—”

“Shh, no more talking.” 

Silently, you roll your eyes and say nothing more. Your fingers fiddle with each other once again, remembering how much of Jae’s skin slid next to yours, and now your cheek is pressed down on his frame. 

Again, this isn’t the first time it’s happened, but the events leading up to this particular night is all new to you. You allow your body to get comfortable, used to this feeling, even if it’s just tonight. 

Your original plan was to be Jae’s shoulder to lean on, but the roles seem to have reversed. 

Softly, Jae calls your name. For a second, you’re too immersed in the synchronized breathing the two of you share. When he brings your hand into his, your senses perk up but you refuse to look into his eyes; afraid of what he might see in yours. 

“What? You said no more talking.” 

“I’m happy you’re here,” he tells you, even softer than before as your hands melt together, filling the spaces between. You don’t know whether to let this happen, not understanding the meaning behind his actions. 

It’s.. weird, unknown, foreign, but addicting. His touch is addictive, and you know you’re going to crave for more if you’re not careful with the dosage. 

Biting your lip, you struggle to reply. He might mean it in a friendly way, but the invitation to relax right onto his shoulder, lacing your fingers as if they’re meant to be locked in place that way, it’s all too much for your brain to process— and definitely your heart. 

Face hot, heart heavy with emotions, you say shakily, “I’m happy you asked me to.”

“Hm?”

“I.. want to be the person you call first when you’re feeling like shit. If possible, I want to be the only person.” There was no going back, no swallowing words you’ve let go in the open. 

As you speak, Jae’s fingers tighten its grasp around yours. You feel weak, but you appreciate him supporting you this way as you keep going. 

“I probably will never understand what it is you feel when certain words pierce through you too deep, like you said. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to. I want to know how you’re feeling, from good to bad. From the best and the worst of it all. I want to be there.”

“Who said you aren’t?” Jae’s low voice interrupts your stream of emotions, and it compels you to finally see his eyes. They’re shining, teary, and smiling at the same time. 

You feel your cheeks soaking wet, and a hiccup arises out of your lips. With your free hand, you hide half of your face in embarrassment. Two idiots, crying together, hands never letting go of each other. 

It didn’t seem long until you fell asleep on his bed. The only difference this time, from all the other times you’ve been here, Jae was sleeping beside you. 

Arms over your frame, his long fingers finding their permanent place within yours. The two of you have exhausted your emotions enough that night, and there was plenty of time in the day to talk it all through. 

You dream of what seems to be a possible future for you and Jae. Moments when he’d fuck up, when you’d say something out of pocket, but it was met with a healthy discussion between you. 

And even if there are days when people online couldn’t understand the growth happening in his life, you see it. You see him, and you don’t hesitate to forgive, and give him space to grow. As he does with you.

[lifewithoutmeds]

July 24, 2022

Sunday morning.

feeling pretty ok.  worked pretty hard throughout the week, then went fishing early on friday, and had a late lunch with my mom, and watched the first episode of some popular korean drama with her.

saturday woke up pretty late and then went to porto’s to pick up some treats before heading to lana’s for a bbq/pool party where some of her high school and college friends came out and i chatted with monique and cassie some, ate spam musubi, fried chicken, and some kalbi, which was all very tasty, before heading back home for a short breather before heading out to the west side to meet up with venice group where i stayed from about 6-10pm. i think i left my bike bag with wallet there but was too tired to go back and left it, and headed home and knocked out.

no real plans for today, except cleaning and catching up on some chores. have my usual list of things to do, and have already jogged my one mile and made my bed, and am on my second cup of coffee. 

i was feeling pretty good last week until sunday. i had walked coop twice on saturday and once on sunday, and then took the time to leave a note for j, bring her ghim and a new phone stand, and some cut up strawberries, and washed fuji apples and a ripe white peach. i left the fruit in her refrigerator with a little note and expectantly awaited her arrival and surprise and gratitude and ... thankfulness? love? acknowledgement? i see now the error of my ways.

i texted to check on where she was, had she left santa barbara yet? would she be driving? did she want company to chat with on her drive? i wanted to know the exact moment her eyes alighted on my gifts and feel her love and appreciation, but the hours came and went, and the dread and horror started to settle in and i started to lose it sunday afternoon. i imagined someone was there waiting for her at her place, that she rushed out for a date, that she was too busy to see any of it, that maybe she was on the phone with her new lover, or just with her new lover, and as the hours slipped away, my frenzy increased, and soon i was crying, i was drinking, i was texting whoever would text me back, and it seemed that whatever progress i had made in the prior months was all to naught. i was not ok. i was not better. i was regressing.

as it turned out, i was highly PMSing, started my period tuesday, and my mood has since improved. today’s coffee tastes and feels good, and i’m texting Lo pretty regularly. i even did my first good night and good morning text, albeit super casually of course. i feel glad and thankful that i have a day to rest, decompress, and put things in order before the workweek starts, although it’ll be a short one since i’m heading over to austin on thursday to visit alyson, which should be fun. on the calendar is early morning fly fishing, watching a UFC fight, and a night in a cabin by a lake! very excited.

i also was inspired and wrote a poem last week, my first in a while. i felt it sort of ... almost mounting in me. i saw phrases and images, i sounded out words, and i just put pen to paper and started to ... almost sculpt it, in a very visceral way. and out came this thing and it was pretty much what and how i envisioned it. i’m not saying it’s the best thing ever. but it felt pulled from me. and that was a really interesting experience.

hoping today is productive. feeling hopeful.

[jocy-diaries]

01.24.2022

Nearly had a heart attack when my computer wouldn’t turn on this morning. Sure I don’t want to work, but this is ridiculous lol. And it is funny that I can outline my contract here as just, steps of confusion. At first I was like: What am I supposed to do? Then I thought: Okay, alright, I got it. Then my manager went on leave and I was like: What the fuck am I supposed to do now? Then they told me and I thought: Okay, cool cool I got it. And now my manager is coming back early and it’s like: We’ll then what the fuck do y’all want me to do now??? I hate it here. It’s fine, but I would really rather not.

I was able to complain a bit to my friend and it was nice~ That rarely happens especially because I won’t let myself complain, but I’m trying to open up more and I think it’s nice. It’s not going to go anywhere of course, but I’m still glad for it. Also. I got these puffed rice cakes on Friday and I’m nearly done with the whole bag. It’s such a good treat to just chew on, but it’s addictive lol

Ugh I feel awful. Okay probably because I’ve had nothing but rice crackers and coffee but who can say. I also suck at work. Like. I know my coworker is looking for more partnership and me speaking but I just can’t, if there’s nothing to say then I won’t say it. I made three cups of rice today instead of the usual two because I am sick and tired of running out of rice whenever I want to eat something. This is rigged.

I’m not going to be able to get to the office in time if I stay to finish work and try to eat dinner… I don’t feel very good at present… I might just take the class at home rather than going to the office… I’m so tired…

Okay, I made some spam musubi and a ginger with mint and honey tea so I feel a lot better. It also helped that I spoke with my little sister~ She’s great and tolerates my tired moods lol Well, since I worked later than I wanted I definitely did not have the time to drive to the office since today’s class starts a lot earlier than my other two classes, so I’m having class at home. It’s not too bad honestly, especially since I have a Discord study group now. Honestly, that office was such a massive waste of money, such a bad decision.

A late night once again. …..fuck… I’m not going to know any piece until I finish this character for DnD. I technically have all the time in the world but I just CANT until she’s done and finalized!!

Anyways, class went well~ First day of taking Lexapro! Half tablet for three days, then full pills. I’m tired. Have a good night~ Hopefully I can wake up for my 9am meeting~~

[spekture]

All the signs were there… the family of four with their matching island print attire sitting in the next row, the flight attendant greeting me with a hearty “aloha”, and the mid-flight snack of pineapple slices and macadamia nuts. This plane was clearly on its way to Hawaii. [Ok, there were no pineapple or macadamia snacks, but think about it, United Airlines, you could use some good press and I’m trying to paint a mood here!]

“Hawaii is paradise.” That’s what they tell you.

Hawaii is where you can help your high school sweetheart save her grandpa’s hotel. Hawaii is where you can hit a cow, lose your memory, and fall in love 50 times. Hawaii is where you go to forget your ex-girlfriend and fall in love with the hostess at your resort. Ok, so everything I knew about Hawaii may or may not have come from television shows or movies. [Ok, for those of you playing along, that would be “Saved By The Bell: Hawaiian Style”, “50 First Dates” and last but not least, “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”.]

For ten days I lived the island vacation dream, eating and thrill-seeking my way across Oahu. I swam through the crystal clear waters of the Pacific Ocean, I rumbled through a valley where dinosaurs once roamed, and I ate an inordinate amount of pineapple. There’s a lot to love about Oahu, here are eight of my favourites (in no particular order).

1. The North Shore

I love the North Shore of Oahu. In fact, I could write this entire article about my love affair with the easy-going, beach-combing vibe of Oahu’s northern coast. Heading north is the perfect escape from the tourist-driven chaos of Honolulu and Waikiki Beach.

Imagine yourself in Hawaii; sitting on the beach, a coconut drink in your hand, toes buried in the sand. A sea breeze sweeps in off the shore, chilling the sweat beading across your newly bronzed shoulders. The sun disappearing on the horizon, saturating the sky in a breathtaking array of colours. Off in the distance, a few local surfers are navigating the crashing waves of the rising tide.

That’s what most people envision when they think about Hawaii. They’re thinking about the North Shore of Oahu.

From picturesque beaches to quaint surf towns like Haleiwa, the North Shore has a little bit of everything for your beach vacation. The next time I travel to Oahu, I am heading directly to the North Shore.

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Hawaii Travel Tip #1: If you’re headed to the North Shore from Honolulu, be sure to take the scenic route by driving up Highway 83 (Kamehameha Hwy) along the coast instead of Highway 99, which runs up the center of the island. The views driving along the northern Oahu coast are reminiscent of California’s famed Pacific Coast Highway and are more than worth the extra time on the road.

Take your time. You’re in Hawaii!

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2. Snorkeling at Hanauma Bay

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If you only have time to do one excursion while visiting the island of Oahu, you should go snorkeling at Hanauma Bay.

Snorkeling at Hanauma Bay was by far the most memorable and awe-inspiring experience I had while in Hawaii. Located 30 minutes east of Honolulu, Hanauma Bay provides the perfect combination of calm, crystal clear water and abundant sea life. Most of the bay is relatively shallow and is protected by a line of rocks so even the least experienced swimmers can feel safe jumping in and exploring the beautiful ecosystem below the waves.

We opted to book a shuttle package for our trip to Hanauma Bay since the package included roundtrip transportation from a Honolulu hotel of our choosing and all of the snorkeling gear we would need for $25 a person. Although you can drive yourself out to the bay and rent snorkeling gear on the beach, parking can be challenging due to the bay’s popularity. Fair warning, only 3000 visitors are allowed in to the park each day. Save yourself the disappointment of being turned away and book a shuttle!

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Hawaii Travel Tip #2: To get down to the beach, you have to walk down a fairly steep road from the visitor center atop the cliffs. There is a shuttle that you can pay to ride but I recommend bypassing the shuttle ride down and wait to ride the shuttle back up instead. There is a booth at the bottom of the road where you can pay for a one-way trip back up to the top.

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3. ATV Tour at Kualoa Ranch

There’s a reason why Kualoa Ranch and the Ka’a’awa Valley is known as Hollywood’s “Hawaii Backlot”. Scenes from Jurassic Park, Godzilla, 50 First Dates, Lost and many, many more have been filmed all over the valley’s lush landscape. The best way to see these landmarks of film and TV? From the seat of an ATV!

The ATV tour kicks off with a brief safety video and a short test course. Honestly, I’m not sure where the test course ended and the real course started because before I knew it we were speeding up the side of the mountain and down in to the valley! The views riding into the valley were amazing as rolling fields of emerald transitioned into rocky mountain faces that disappeared into the low hanging clouds.

The route back to base camp was ridiculously fun, with our guide purposely taking us on the wildest and muddiest trails he could find. We had an idea what was coming when our guide looked back and yelled, “You’re good with a bumpy ride, right?”.

We finished the tour covered in mud and completely satisfied!

4. CLIMB Works Zipline Tour at Keana Farms

Snorkeling may have been my most memorable experience in Oahu but flying down a half-mile long zipline going 50mph while surrounded by breathtaking views of the North Shore coastline was definitely the most exhilarating.

If you’re an adrenaline junkie or just looking for an unique way to explore a part of Oahu’s North Shore, the zipline tour hosted by CLIMB Works at Keana Farms is a can’t-miss excursion. You will be flying down 8 side-by-side heart pumping ziplines that vary in height, length and speed. Nothing compares to the brief moment of freefall before you feel the harness tighten under your body after stepping off a 5 story high platform. It’s a shot of adrenaline that you want over and over again!

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Hawaii Travel Tip #3: The road to turn in to Keana Farms is a small dirt road with an orange CLIMB Works sign beside it. It’s really easy to miss, so be on the lookout.  Travelling north, if you pass the high school, you’ve gone too far.

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5. The Food

Hawaii is paradise for a foodie. [Well, “foodie” is a strong word… I really consider myself more of a food enthusiast.]

I ate a lot, and I mean A LOT, of mouthwatering food while exploring Oahu but here are a few highlights that stood out.

Fresh Pineapple – Anywhere

Pineapple just tastes better in Hawaii.

It was sweeter. It was juicier. Maybe it was all in my head. Maybe I was swayed by the island vibes. All I know is that I like pineapple on the Mainland, but I LOVE pineapple in Hawaii.

LFC (Laotian Fried Chicken) – The Pig and the Lady

Twice fried and covered in a light citrus sauce, these chicken wings were BOMB. There’s a lot of deliciousness on the various Pig and the Lady menus but I would be perfectly happy with just getting these wings over and over again. Perfectly happy.

Chicken and Char Siu Pork Plate – Mike’s Huli Chicken

Like garlic shrimp plates, huli chicken plates seem to be a dime-a-dozen in Oahu, but what a pleasant surprise it was to find legit char siu pork at a food truck on the way to Kualua Ranch! The chicken was pretty good too, especially dipped in the sweet and spicy Mike’s sauce.

From kalua pork to spam musubi to loco moco, the melting pot of cultures in Hawaii provides for the perfect fusion of ridiculously delicious food.

6. Malasadas from Leonard’s Bakery

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Ah, Malasadas.

The hype is real people (I mean, I gave them their own section after all!).

They’re fried to order, filled with delicious “made-in-house” fillings (The custard filling is the best!) and dusted with sugar.

Go to Leonard’s Bakery. Order more than you think you can eat.

Thank me later.

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Hawaii Travel Tip #4: The bakery sells “hot” bags that can keep your malasadas hot. That means you can bring all that deliciousness back home with you!

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7. KCC Farmers Market

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In Honolulu, the place to be on a Saturday morning is the Kapi’olani Community College Farmers’ Market.

Wake up early (the market opens at 7:30am), skip breakfast (you’ll be eating plenty there), and immerse yourself in to the beautiful chaos of the KCC Farmer’s Market.

Start your visit off by grabbing a cup of coffee brewed from locally sourced beans at any of the several coffee stands and a cheese bread breakfast slider from the Eat Pao de Queijo stand. Take your breakfast with you as you peruse stand after stand of locally grown fruits and vegetables such as pineapples, dragon fruit, and longan. Make sure you pick up some locally made snacks like roasted macadamia nuts and freshly fried shrimp chips while you walk through the market. Finish off your visit with a lunch of fried green tomatoes from Two Hot Tomatoes, kim chi fried rice from Grandma G’s, and a bowl of Mama Le’s Pho Ga Tron from The Pig and The Lady.

It’s ok. Get it all. There are no calories while on vacation. [We’ve seen conflicting studies, check with your doctor before accepting this as medical advice!]

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Hawaii Travel Tip #5: If you can’t make it to the KCC Farmer’s Market on Saturday morning, the KCC also hosts a farmer’s market, albeit a much smaller one, Wednesday evenings from 4pm to 7pm. You can find out exactly which vendors will be at the market each day by checking the tip sheets at https://www.kapiolani.hawaii.edu/project/farmers-market/.

Another alternative is the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet. Located in the parking lots that circle Aloha Stadium, this outdoor market is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8am to 3pm and on Sundays from 6:30am to 3pm. If you are looking for cheap Hawaii souvenirs definitely shop here first before shopping at any of the pricier establishments off Waikiki Beach. Be ready to negotiate!

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8. Manoa Falls Hike

Hiking is a great way for me to justify all the food I will inevitably be stuffing in my face when trying to sample all of the local cuisine while travelling. If there is a waterfall at the end of the hike for me to photograph, even better!

The island of Oahu is full of hikes, ranging from easy to very difficult, that allow you to discover many of the island’s greatest natural wonders. Since I was traveling with inexperienced hikers that were determined to see a waterfall, we decided to hike the Manoa Falls Trail, a 1.5 mile well-maintained trail that ends at the 100ft Manoa Falls.

You only have to walk a few feet on to the trail before feeling like you’ve been transported to a completely different world. The rainforests that populate the mountainous areas of Oahu are a drastically different ecosystem from the beaches on the coast. It’s easy to forget you are still in Hawaii. As you continue up the trail, you will eventually cross in to a clearing that looks like a scene straight out of Jurassic Park. Once you make your way through the bamboo forest, the base of the waterfall is just ahead.

Manoa Falls is a great reward for making it all the way to end of the trail at the falls’ base. If you’re willing to overlook the warning signs and climb over a few boulders, you can even take a dip in the shallow pool beneath the falls. [Warning signs exist for your safety, we would never suggest you ignore them. I know, buzzkill.]

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Hawaii Travel Tip #6: This is more of a PSA than a tip. Wear proper shoes when hiking. I’ve seen too many instances of hikers struggling to maintain their footing because they are wearing flip flops on the trail. What’s worse, there are parents who have their kids on the trail in flip flops as well. I’m not suggesting that every hike requires hiking boots, but at least wear sneakers.

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Like any good vacation destination, Hawaii left me wanting more. Oahu, after all, is only one of the eight major islands that make up the Hawaiian Islands. Looks like I have seven very compelling reasons to start planning my next trip to Hawaii!

Have you visited any of the Hawaiian islands yet? What are your favorite aspects of each island?

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Military Demonstration team for Operation Homefront

Peter Brock arriving

Automotive legend Peter Brock

TIRES!

BRAKES!

MORE TIRES!

Cosplayer Sivene Delynn…image taken at Alamo City Comic Con

Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha) during a 2017 MotoGP race.

Planning a visit to Hawaii? You might want to check this out. '8 Things I Love About Oahu' by Tommy Tang. #Spekture #travel #vacation #hawaii #oahu #tips #top8 All the signs were there... the family of four with their matching island print attire sitting in the next row, the flight attendant greeting me with a hearty "aloha", and the mid-flight snack of pineapple slices and macadamia nuts.