At the first place we visited, the Kona Tiki Hotel, it was right on the ocean, and seemed very hot. It seemed insufferable at night. Finally, at about 2 am, LoveHubbie said, "That's it! I can't take it!" He got up and left and said he was going to WalMart.
Our hotel was indeed very warm. I think it was about $69/night, very inexpensive for Hawaii. Hotels with air conditioning cost 3X that amount and more. So LoveHubbie went to WalMart and bought an air conditioner for $198. Only LoveHubbie could do this; I couldn't believe it, but he was serious. He ran the air conditioner inside the room (as opposed to in a window) and hooked up a trash can to it so that the water went into the trash can. We had to get up every 3-4 hours to empty it. We would stand in front of it and cool off, too.
We stayed in many hotels after that one. We lugged our WalMart air conditioner to every one, as none of them had a/c. We made sure to be very neat and tidy and to maintain the a/c very well. Each time we would change hotels, we'd throw it in the back of our SUV and take it to the next hotel. We never put it in the window, though, as they weren't made to accommodate them; each time we'd set it up inside and tend it like we now tend our fireplace in the winter.
At one hotel complex in Hilo, the neighboring guests were angry because we had a/c and they didn't. It ran all night and was very obvious. So the next day we were asked to leave. The hotel employees were angry because we used too much electricity. That did make sense, but LoveHubbie couldn't tolerate the heat. That hotel was overrun with misquitos, so we didn't mind.
On that trip, I had done all the planning and had taken pride in the fact that all of our hotels cost less than $100/night. We were staying for three weeks! Unfortunately, even several years ago in Hawaii, that meant that we were sort of camping with walls and private toilet facilities. Still, it was then that I first fell in love with Hawaii.
I dedicate this blog and story to Chani. It was inspired by her post yesterday.
18 comments:
teehee! i never would have thought to buy an a/c. but what a great idea! too funny.
the hubster and i had to postpone our honeymoon because of his business schedule last year when we got married, but we're planning to go this september and we'll be going to hawaii!! :-)
What a brilliant idea! I didn't even know an air conditioner could work without being in a window.
That is really funny... but totally understandable! :)
What a great story, Olivia.
I guess the big island has changed since I was there. Not surprising, since it was more than twenty years ago! There were no big-box stores, at least not that I saw, back in those days.
Definitely a bull-by-the-horns solution, that's for sure!
This is pretty funny, Rick, but we were cross-commenting on each other's blogs!! Loved your garden party! Love, O
Leah, I don't know where you're going, but I KNOW Maui and love Oahu and the Big Island, so ask me before you go anything you'd like...congratulations! Love, O
Chani,
Yes, it does work. You need to position the A/C so that it draws air in from somewhere. Ideally, near the window, so that it will be fresh air and not recycle. Then you have to sort of tilt it so that the water drips can go in a container. It must be only slightly tilted though. Then you have to watch it closely. And empty the container. When you're desperate, you'll find a solution!!
XXOO, O
maybe it's that very simplicity that you fell in love with. omg, when i think of the hotels and guest houses that i stayed in in india...ha! the less there was, the more i seemed to love them.
oh, travel...sweet travel.
:)
I do love simplicity, Jessie. Here in our American culture it's easy to let things get out of control and get caught up in materialism, at least for me.
I too, love to travel :)
Peace and joy and calm and love, O
xxoo
Olivia, your post cracked me up! Even though I grew up in Hawaii, I can't stand the heat and recall many a childhood vow to one day leave "the rock" and move to a milder climate.
So now I'm in Washington state and am in heaven! It rarely gets too cold in the winter or too hot in the summer. (And why am I telling you when you live here, too, huh?) However, on those rare days in which it gets higher than 75 degrees F, I turn on the portable A/C unit in my bedroom. You can get them anywhere; I got mine at Costco. It doesn't drip water anywhere. The exhaust tube is hooked up to a temporary plastic bar that you place in your window. The beauty of this is that, once summer is over, you can remove the plastic bar and tube and store the whole unit (which is smaller than a dishwasher) out of sight.
Yes, I am a heat wimp, just like Chani.
What an absolutely wonderful story!!!!!
A
xxx
I do not do well with heat, but I wonder if I would've been smart enough to come up with that solution. Brilliant!
My ex and I had part of our honeymoon in Brazil. There was no AC and there were plenty flies and mosquitos. Still, I look back at the adventure in a new country and I wouldn't trade it for anything.
Happy tuesday!
What a neat story. I wouldn't have thought it possible either but then read how you had to position it, etc. and now I feel prepared to go anywhere! I cannot sleep if it's hot. We have central air in our little tiny house but as a backup there is a window unit in our bedroom because I sometimes get a little 'flash' of heat. LOL And hubby understands so he put it in there willingly.
Even in winter, I turn our thermostat down to about 62 at night.
I LOVE looking at the 'Wordle' samples but for some reason my 'puter won't let me create. I downloaded the java thingy too and still nothing. Oh well....
Have a happy day! :)
Cool idea. Jenster!! BTW, where exactly are you...how close are we? I'm in Olympia. Enjoy the sun, O xxoo
Thanks, Annie, I'm glad you liked it. Peace and joy, O xxoo
Angela, You may be wrong---I think you're brilliant! Love, O
Jane,
We are thinking of going to Brazil for Christmas to visit our nephew who now lives there. I'm not a fan of bugs, though. Still, we'll see what happens. Peace and love, O
Mary, Now with Jenster's idea there are more options! We like it icey cold at night, too...if the window is open it's even better. I'm sorry the Wordle didn't work...Still, blessings to you, Love, O xxoo
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