Hawaii-Here I go again!

Tags

future, Hawaii, life, love, moving forward, Oahu, orchids, passion, school, sunset, United States, work

Leaving for Oahu, Hawaii next week to begin life anew. Work, school, love and passions keep me moving forward. However, it won’t stop the blog. There were many other countries and cities I visited during my trip around the world to blog about, but are just thousands-really-of photos to go through and prepare for posts. They will come! Soon!

Oahu orchids & palms

Diamond Head Hike, Oahu Hawaii

Tags

beautiful, Diamond Head, happiness, Hawaii, hiking, nature, Oahu, ocean, state parks, travel, trees, United States

Diamond Head is another “must do” hike in Honolulu and is even recommended by the locals. Many locals use it as their daily run. Really. The hike itself is pretty easy, and can even be done in flip flops. However, people often forget that there is still an ascent, which the body needs to acclimate to even if it’s only a few hundred feet instead of a few thousand.

Diamond Head State Park

The trail is relatively flat with some rocks and gravel, but mostly dry and has a guardrail around the edge. There are lots of switchbacks going up, but nothing too terrible. Until you get to the tunnel. Barely illuminated, it’s a short walk to the other side. Bring a little flashlight if you’re freaked out. On the other side is, yes, light! But before you go getting excited, there are 100 stairs, steep and narrow stairs, to hike your ass up. Yay, you made it to the top. Guess what?! You’re not done yet! There is another tunnel that leads to a spiral staircase this time! Up up up you go. Until you reach, uh…concrete?! Yep. You now have to crawl out and up! The view is worth it when you get out though. Hooray! 

Top row L-R: trail of switchbacks up the mountain, narrow dark tunnel, 100 stairs. Bottom row L-R: dark tunnel, spiral staircase, last set before the tippy top of DH.

 

View from under the concrete where you have to crouch to crawl out. See fellow hiker on the left of the photo snuggling under the edge.

 

The view after you crouch, crawl and get yourself back upright. Hell yeah!

Walking along the last of the trail, you notice others disappearing. Just when you thought it was over….dun dun dunnnn…. more stairs! Oh, come on! Ascend, and the view–even more worth it.

Moi at the tippy top of DH

The view behind me

Off to Honolulu, Oahu

Tags

beautiful, delicious, Food, good eats, Hawaii, hiking, Manoa Falls, music, nature, Pearl Harbor Memorial, rainforest, travel, trees, Waikiki

I was really sad to finally drop off my little beater car on Maui and take the last ride out to the airport to catch my quick flight over to Oahu for a short visit in Honolulu before flying out again to New Zealand.

Waikiki day & night

My first day out, I took the bus to Pearl Harbor Memorial. I really can’t get into what happened there, but let’s just say I was crying from the moment I stepped off the bus to the moment I left. I was just filled with a profound sadness and it was a really hard couple of hours. There was an awful “incident” that happened that put me over the edge. However, two wonderful women, who dubbed themselves my “guardian angels” Susan and Tara, helped me get through it and look out for me after it happened. If it wasn’t for them, I really would have been much worse off than I already was. I’m so grateful for their support. Hugs to you both! 

Pearl Harbor Memorial

Took a hike out to try and see Manoa Falls. Only I didn’t make it to the falls. I did, however, fall. As in fall down. On the edge of the mountain. What’s with all the damn cliffs?!  It is a rainforest, so it’s wet and muddy and I took a dive. Well, my feet did anyway, dangling off the side of the trail. I turned, sat and slid some of the way back down on my butt to where I could stand up again. No waterfall for me. Life much more important. Yes. Yes. Yes. 

Manoa Rainforest

Still the rainforest itself is completely lush with greenery; like a plush emerald carpet covering the trees, shrubs and ground. Freaking awesome. I’d take the hike again, waterfall or no.

moi

rocks and mud

Manoa trail greens

Went to Leonard’s Bakery for their famous cream filled doughnuts. I ate 4. In my defense, they were all different flavor fillings! I also chowed down at two of the most famous shops in Waikiki: Ono Seafood and Ono Hawaiian Foods courtesy of Calvin. Super cool dude from Cali. I ate more shave ice and drank local beer and went back for yes, another cream filled doughnut at Leonards! Also had one of the famous Dole Whip (pineapple) cones, which tastes like a cross between icecream/gelato/sorbet.

Popped in the Foster Botanical Gardens for some purity flowers. Passed briefly through the Kuan Yin Temple next door. Then off to the Honolulu Museum of Art. By far, one of the coolest pieces in the place was by Vik Muniz (Brazilian born in 1961, currently living and working in Brooklyn, NY), made these images out of Bosco chocolate syrup on Plexiglass, then photographed them. Super cool! Also, went out to a local joint called On Stage and saw a cool blues/jazz band with Kevin. (with whom I was supposed to couchsurf, but I had already found other accommodations pet sitting for Frances, so we hung out instead at the show!) The place was a perfect dive, small bar, pool tables, tiny stage and the bathrooms waaaaay in the back, also tiny. Overall, one of the best nights out in Oahu.

Tried to go to Iolani Palace, but it was closed. Meh. Tourist here, no closing allowed! Anyway, some fancy schmancy King Kalakaua and his sister Queen Liliuokalani lived there and is now a historic landmark. 

Shoutouts to Kevin, Frances (Kingston and Akira, too!), Calvin, Rachael and “the frisbee gang”.

More Oahu to come!

A Location Update: Australia-Singapore-Paris

Getting around! I’ve left New Zealand some time ago–missing it already–and have traveled through Melbourne and Sydney Australia, Singapore and now in Paris, France!

Plus tôt! More soon!

xo

I Rode the Road to Hana

Tags

beautiful, black sand, driving, Hawaii, Maui, national parks, nature, ocean, road to Hana, scenery, seven sacred pools, tours, travel, trees, United States, waterfalls

On the island of Maui in Hawai’i, the actual road to the town of Hana (pronounced Ha-nuh, –not HANN-ahh) is a wiggly one. And by wiggly, I mean there are a ton of switchbacks. And by a ton of switchbacks, I mean 617 of them. Really. They’re short twists and narrow and at times only one lane for both directions. It can get hairy driving over there on the east coast of Maui. This is what it shows on Google maps and it’s 100% true:

Google map of the wiggly road on the highway to Hana. And that’s only a small piece of it!

 

the better, paved part of the road, looking out the back of the tour van

Cliff driving in the rain. Also awesome –when you don’t have to do the driving. Lots of single lane bridges too, painted trees, and some with waterfalls. Yay! Lots more notable places we passed too, all while speeding along!

Waterfall

painted trees

one lane bridge

That’s only part of the drive, the town is further along, and it’s teeny tiny. There’s no stopping in town for day trip, it’s about the journey, not the destination. We continued on through Hana and past the southern most part of the island and back around towards Kula. The lowest part of the road isn’t paved. It’s just rock, gravel and dirt. Super bumpy. Super fun!

Scenes from the road to Hana

Most of what I took photos of was from the van out the back window. The only shots that came out clear are when we stopped at the lookout points. Still, just goes to show what a wild ride it is!

Black sand beach. Awesome. Even more awesome on my feets!

Black Sands Beach

Somewhere along the way, we stopped to see the freshwater Pools of Ohe’o Gulch aka Seven Sacred Pools. Which, I’m sure are quite sacred, but are muddy as hell. Still, a quick dip was, well, quick! In and out-done!

Seven Sacred Pools. Left is looking out towards the water. Right is looking in at the waterfall.

Moi in one of the seven sacred pools

Overall, it was a really nice day of sight seeing, but too quick as per usual even though it was the whole day!

Haleakala Sunrise

Tags

beautiful, bundle up, cars, chilly, cold, driving, government shutdown, Haleakala National Park, happiness, Hawaii, hiking, Maui, mother nature, spectacular, sunrise, tours, United States

Due to the stupid government shutdown right after I arrived in Maui, my hopes for seeing the spectacular Haleakala Sunrise were pretty much squashed. Thankfully, just before I was scheduled to fly over to Oahu, the shutdown was over, and the National Parks were back in business! Sunshine, here I come!

Now, at about 9,750 feet up (2,970 meters), it’s a little chilly up there at the summit averaging around 35-40 F (2-4 C). Since this is Hawai’i, not many folks take this into consideration, many folks show up in their t-shirts and flip flops. Some toting at least the blankets from the hotel, but quickly realize how ill prepared they are. Me? I know better. Layers, baby. Dad taught me how. Top to toe: headband, covered ears, scarf, tank top, t-shirt, long sleeve shirt, cotton jacket, fleece jacket, leggings, thick cotton yoga pants, liner socks, wool socks and hiking boots. The only things cold were my hands from double fisting cameras (see far below for proof) and my nose. Overall, way more comfortable than at least half the folks up there.

Now, standing around in the cold for no reason is one thing. Tolerating the cold for some vision of Mother Nature sparkling is something else entirely. After all the waiting, the collective gasp is absolutely audible when she finally makes her appearance. No words; just look.

Sunrise at Haleakala

Yeah.

Sun Shining

double fisting cameras, on for photo, the other rolling video

After she was up and at ’em, most people stayed behind to take additional photos before hustling back to the warmth of their cars or tours. My tour was rushed beyond belief. Lame. Bitched. Got a discount. All is well. Before we finally took off back down the mountain, we went further up! Over 10,023 feet up (3,055 meters), and yes, colder and less oxygen to breath, obv, we went to the observatory peak lookout. Super cool. Literally. Times two.

observer view

Assorted Maui, Hawai’i Bits

Tags

bakery, banyan tree, beaches, car, chocolate, delicious, driving, farms, fish, flowers, Food, good eats, Hawaii, highways, hiking, history, lavender, lookout points, Maui, nature, trees, United States, wine, winery, yum

I’ve had a lot of time to reflect on life in general while on the road. Thinking back on some amazing things in Maui, Hawai’i that I wanted to write several posts on, but no matter how may posts I write, none will really encompass all that I felt, did or learned on the road. Here are some more highlights that in their own way, had an impact on me.

The view driving in Kula

The drive to La Perouse Bay. Black beaches, the wind in my hair, windy roads, and pitstops alongside the edge of the road to hop out and take pictures without getting run over!

Maui Winery

The drive back through Kula from La Perouse Bay: Stopping by Maui Winery, the only winery in all of Maui. Yum! The little tourist shop across the street from the winery that felt like a little cowboy saloon mushed together with jewelry and home goods stores!

Aki’i Lavender Farm

Ali’i Kula Lavendar Farm: beautiful, expansive and so peaceful. Not to mention a damn tasty scone that was totally worth the gluten!

Clockwise, L-R fr top left: Komoda Bakery cream puff seriously as big as my hand, cream puff again with yummy filling, Obama Burger, Maui Dee-Lite’s shortbread cookies, Da Local Banana, Lavender scone w/butter and passionfruit jam

The cowboy town of Makawao that I always came back to just for a stroll up the main road even though it was tiny. The general store where I’d get my Da Local Banana fix. Choco covered frozen banana w/peanuts (or mac nuts, I prefer peanuts) Then further up the block to the famous Komoda Bakery for cream puffs the size of my fist! Aside from Melanie’s chocolates, those are the two sweetest treats I’d seek out most! Oftentimes, Da Local Banana was lunch; and a righteous one at that!

Plate lunch, of course, is the true Hawai’ian way to get good grinds midday (my preference being kalua pork), but did I mention that the cole slaw and mac salad were some of the best I’ve ever eaten in my life?! Yes, yes they were!

One afternoon of seeking said plate lunch, I stopped in Maui’s Dee-Lites in Wailuku, lured by the smell of cookies. There was plate lunch, but there were also the most amazing shortbread cookies that I’ve ever eaten. Venus, proprietor and baker of these delicious morsels took time from her day to chat with me about culinary school and chocolate after she set up a little stool for me to have my lunch on, and later take my cookies to go bliss out on.

Paia Fish Market: Obama Burger. Burger as in thick fish fillet. Not on the main menu, but by request now and totally worth the wait!

The face stuffing that went on after purchasing tako poke, chili chicken and musubi from the Pukalani Suprette. Lucky me, I got to live in Pukalani in a huge house with my own room with lovely roommates and awesome Andy for 2 and a half weeks!

A small piece of the world’s largest banyan tree in Lahaina

The worlds oldest and largest banyan tree in Lahaina. It’s so big you can’t even get half of it in one shot; even a panoramic shot. Huge. Awesome.

The coastline view from the highway at one of the few lookout points where it’s still safe to pull over

The monster drive out past Kaanaplani, Napili, and beyond totally missing my mark to go to Dragon’s Teeth for a short day hike! I drove hours beyond the turnoff point, not knowing where I was going or what was on the other side of the road….until, I got to the point of one lane for both directions along the cliff edge of Kahekili Hwy 340 where I had to do a K-Turn, inch by inch as to turn around and not drive off the edge. Eeek!

All of the above was going on while I was sporting the first tan I’ve had in decades! Whoot sunshine!

Finally, Karma Brings a Gift

Tags

beautiful, Christmas, Gratitude, holidays, Karma, kindness, Lake Wakatipu, lakes, mountains, nature, New Year, New Zealand, New Zealand Queenstown, Oceania, Queenstown, sunset, sunshine

This is my view for the next two weeks over my New Year’s Eve in Queenstown, New Zealand. I think Karma finally noticed I was overdue. This, is exactly how and why constant kindness counts, people. Eventually, you’ll be rewarded by the same kindness in return.

I can hardly believe that this is my view to help ring in the new year!

My daily view out the front window: Lake Wakatipu, Frankton, Queenstown, New Zealand

The gratitude in how I came to stay here is exorbitant. Biggest hugs to Toni Bird & Steve Strand for making my holiday outstanding! Cheers to you both!

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy new year celebration from way down in the southern hemisphere!

Wish you were all here! And I mean it!

Update: World Communications

Tags

cellphones, Christmas, communication, double rainbow, holiday, life, love, Mobile phone, New Zealand, peace, rainbow, world, xmas

Dah-lings!

Since I’m in New Zealand, I don’t have my regular cell phone number. I realize that I should have made this clearer much earlier upon my arrival here. For all those who probably sent out mass holiday texts, Happy Merry back!! From now on, you’re just gonna have to kick it old school and send me an email or comment on my blog to get my attention! :)

As a peace offering, here is the double rainbow I was gifted with on my xmas eve this year. xoxo

Double Rainbow, Dec 24, 2013 in Dunedin, New Zealand

HAPPY CHRISTMAS from NEW ZEALAND!

Tags

Christmas, Christmas tree, Empire State Building, festivals, gifts, holiday, lights, Macy's Department Store, nature, New York City, New Zealand, Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, SantaCon, seasons, Shopping, snow, summer, Union Square, winter

It’s weird not being in NY for xmas. No Empire State Building lit up in green & red lights, Union Square Holiday Market, garlands and lights all over the city, Macy’s Christmas Windows, SantaCon, snow and most importantly, no Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree!

New Zealand “Christmas Tree” Aka, pohutukawa trees

However, part of travel is discovering new countries and cultures holiday beauties. Here, in New Zealand, there are Christmas Trees. Also, called Pohutukawa (poh-tow-kow-ah) trees. Through their rich emerald leaves, they bloom a blaze of red in the summer season, which here in the southern hemisphere is December–just in time for xmas as a natural display of green and red decorating the streets and coastlines!

New Zealand Cristmas Tree red bloom

All my NZ xmas tree photos were taken all over parts of the north island, but I’m here in cozy Dunedin on the south island having my xmas eve/day. Cheers to a new bright holiday season!