JULY 7, 2008: $20, no tax....You Like???

Seems like today that is all we heard when we were shopping in International Marketplace. You walk along and even show interest or touch anything to look at it closer and someone runs over to ask you if you like and how much you want to pay. Courtney was a little overwhelmed with the wheeling and dealing as she never knew how low was too low to go. They wanted her to "tell me your price you want to pay, we make deal, you like?" She couldn't always understand their Asian slang, but she was pretty particular about what she wanted to spend her money on. Grandma helped her "make good deal" and she came away with some nice jewelry. Each of the kids had been given $50 by Grandma & Grandpa to spend however they wanted during the trip. Courtney picked out a really pretty silver flower necklace and matching bracelet.

Of course, all the guys wandered through pretty quickly. They were able to just not make eye contact and keep gliding along. They all bought some t-shirts and seemed happy they didn't have to dicker too much. Michelle bought a nice wood wall plaque with pretty bamboo palm trees on it and Grandma bought herself an ankle bracelet...although once we got back to the room and her and Court tried on their anklets they were really bracelets, so still on the hunt for cute anklets.

We took the trolley out to Hilo Hatties and shopped around there for a while too. That was fun as they always have fun island stuff. Ryan found a pair of maracas he couldn't live without so he used part of his gift money on that, although somehow Tom & Michelle know we will live to regret that purchase!

After a full day of shopping, we went to Chili's for dinner. It was good food, but way too noisy as there was a group of 51 seated on the open air level above us and they were really loud. The streets of Honolulu were a welcome sound coming out from there if that tells you anything!

Everyone was tired from their big day so we headed to our respective rooms to settle in for the night. The weather has been very hot here with not much in the way of tradewinds, so it is hard to stay cool for very long.