The inaugural.

The definition of the word hunger has two basic meanings.  First, the obvious one that revolves around the appetite.  Second, the one that involves desire.  It's a very broad definition compared to other words.  Perhaps it's because to be hungry can mean so many things.  For me, I'm hungry for food, adventure and travel.

At an early age I was drawn to all things in transportation.  Busses, boats, trains, cars and airplanes in all their forms were fascinating.  I was a cheap kid my Parents say.  It was exciting to take a $.25 bus ride with my Dad around Honolulu.  Riding the sugar cane train in Lahaina proved to be the highlight of a family trip to Maui when I was about 6.  It was airplanes that I became most excited about however.  Driving down the highway by the airport my face would be plastered against the window gawking at the planes.  We'd park on Lagoon Drive and watch planes take off and land.  As I got older, I'd take myself to the airport and spend the whole day there.  Sure, I played sports like a normal kid.  Only, much to my coaches dismay, I was the kid watching the planes instead of watching for the pop flies!  I always wondered where the planes were going.  What would that place look like when the plane arrived?  Who was at the other end of the journey?  I think it was very early on when I was bitten by the travel bug.  What better way to deal with that affliction than parlay that into becoming a professional pilot?  Planes, traveling, adventure... what more could a kid want?  I had my mind set on a career probably before I could even spell the word!  I'll have to admit, I still get giddy like a school boy when I see a train coming!

Growing up in Hawaii had many benefits.  One of which was getting to eat incredible food.  I learned to eat with an open mind and grew up eating foods of all types.  From my Caucasian and Native Hawaiian roots to the delights of the cuisines from Asia and the "local kine grinds" created by the melting pot of cultures in Hawaii, I ate it all.  Well, most of it anyhow.  I still whined when liver was on the menu at home though.  Hey... I gave it a fair shot and to this day it's not something I will voluntarily eat.  I remember my Dad once said to me, "son, if you're going to love to eat, you better learn how to cook."  And being the obedient child that I was, I followed his advice.  Remember the cheap kid concept?  Well, I was the kid that checked cookbooks out from the library.  I cooked with my parents as I grew up and was therefore able to feed myself quite well as I became an adult.  I learned from the best.  My Grandmas, Mom, Dad, Aunties and Uncles.  Not to mention TV cooking shows that were found only on PBS, before the genius that would become the Food Network!

So far, in my thirty-three years of occupation on this earth I have traveled five continents, hundreds of thousands of miles and many countries.  I've seen, smelled, heard and tasted some amazing things.  I attempt to learn at least a few words from each place I visit.  There's something so gratifying when I see the look on the face of a person of whom I've greeted in THEIR language.  Saying hello is easy.  Saying it in their language is so much more fun.  When I got to see the Pyramids in Egypt I realized how lucky I am.  Most people only see them in photos or on TV.  Here I was, staring at them!  This same thought proved true for other experiences such as seeing the Taj Mahal, the Eiffel Tower and even famous art I studied in high school when viewing them in the worlds most famous museums such as the Prado, Louvre and Orsay.  There really is no substitute for the real thing.  It's become a passion of mine to see as much of the world as possible.  So much to see, so little time, but in the end we all have so much more in common than we realize.

Yes, there is a point to this diatribe.  Being the inaugural entry, it needed to provide some background.  I love to travel.  I love to eat.  I love to write.  It only makes sense to combine them all and share my experiences right?  I've always done so through stories and photos and have always been told to keep a journal, or blog or write a travel book.  I've finally taken the plunge and will attempt to share my adventures and my hunger for what the world has to offer via my blog... The Hungry Pilot.  My next trip is scheduled for February when I'm planning on a South East Asia tour.  Stay tuned for more and if you've made it this far, thanks for reading!