Travel – Page 4 – Dust Bunnies and Dog Toys

Our Hawaiian Adventures – Part 8

Published on March 6, 2016March 6, 2016 by JennaLeave a comment

Near the end of our trip I went on a garden tour at the Hale Koa and the view from the balcony that morning indicated it would be the perfect day for a bit of flower gazing in the shade.

Although the plumeria was out of season and the birds of paradise that were blooming weren’t well positioned for photos, we did see Hawaii’s calling card – the hibiscus. There were several varieties of them around the grounds. This one was called Hula Girl.

We also spotted bright red and yellow hibiscus in full bloom. There were also a dwarf variety of white hibiscus, which I never would have thought was related if it weren’t for the guide pointing it out. This one had a sign below the shrub describing it.

I had seen several ladies around the hotel wearing these spider lilies tucked behind their ear just like many do with the hibiscus, but the gardener warned that the stem should be washed before doing so because they put off a type of sticky fluid that can be toxic.

Another common flower around the hotel was ginger. While not the edible type of ginger there were several colors of it including these red and pink types.

I believe the gardener said that this was another variety of ginger.

I really loved the look of the coatan plants used in several of the pathway boarders but know full well they would never survive Alaska’s winters.

The guide also pointed out this banana tree that we had walked by countless times and never noticed.

There was a massive variegated Hala tree that has been named Harry the Hala and is almost as famous as Gus the banyan in the courtyard.

I don’t remember what these flowers were but they were a lovely shade of coral.

These lobster claw haliconias were extremely unique and positively tropical.

We also spotted flower varieties I was familiar with like these purple morning glories.

The hubs and I had spotted these trees on the big island and loved their large size and interesting branches. During the tour I learned they are called Monkeypod trees, which seems very fitting.

The gardener also pointed out this noni tree, which bears fruit that has been used for medicinal purposes by natives for centuries. While you don’t eat the fruit, which I thought looked a bit like a caterpillar it’s extracts are used to make tea. Today they also use the extracts to make pill supplements, which we purchased at local retailers to ease the hub’s arthritis.

I’m not sure which type of palm this base was from but I loved the strange formation of scales created along the stalk. It looked almost alien to me.

The final stop of the tour was the luau garden where we’d been earlier in the week. It was nice to get an unobstructed view of the area and the roasting pit which was already going for the luau scheduled that evening.

After the tour we headed out to do some shopping and stopped at a local chain restaurant called Fatboyz. We both enjoyed our menu choices and the Aloha brand drinks available. Another of our favorite local chains was Teddy’s Bigger Burger which had a plethora of burger options that all sounded delicious.

While out shopping we stopped by the joint base PX or military Exchange. It was massive – as in the size of a mid-sized mall, complete with a beautiful mural ceiling! They also had the best priced souvenirs, which meant we bought a bit more than we expected.

That evening we walked a few blocks from the hotel to the trendier area of Waikiki, where we found this crazy crosswalk. All of the traffic lights would turn red and the pedestrians would all cross at the same time in every direction! We think it was based on Japanese cities where there are large crowds.

Once we navigated the odd crosswalk intersection we located the Mexican restaurant we’d come in search of on the rooftop of one of the shopping plazas. It was a beautiful view of the city and had a great vibe. We heard that the corner we were sitting in had been used earlier in the day for a photo shoot for the chef, which I could totally envision.

On our last day in Hawaii we made plans to meet up with a friend for dinner and arrived a bit early. Luckily the restaurant was directly across from the Island Princess warehouse, where we sampled several items and I got to pose as a Hula girl.

After we bought several taste test approved treats for the flight home we enjoyed a final chance to catch up with our friend over sushi. Located in the industrial park near the airport, Mitch’s didn’t look like much from the outside, but we quickly learned why this was the local’s favorite sushi spot. Everything was super fresh because Mitch’s is also a fish market! It made perfect sense that they would expand into the sushi business since they have the best stock already. It was the perfect way to end our trip.

We said our final goodbyes and headed over to the airport to make it through customs and security. By the time our flight took off evening had arrived and Oahu gave us a glowing aloha.

I’ll share some tips for planning a trip to Hawaii in my next post so if I’ve inspired you to visit the Aloha state check back for the inside scoop before you make those reservations.

Our Hawaiian Adventure – Part 7

Published on March 4, 2016March 4, 2016 by JennaLeave a comment

We happened to be in Oahu during the Chinese New Year celebrations so we headed into China Town to check out the festivities and get some dim sum. Unfortunately the restaurants my friend recommended were closed because everyone had set up shop out in the street fair. So we wandered around taking it all in, including the dancing dragons in the main plaza.

There were two dragons in this performance, but the golden one came to my side of the crowd and worked his way around the crowd as he moved to the beat of the drums.

Many offered money to the hungry dragon. Some he accepted gingerly, while others he played with for a bit!

The cutest thing was seeing him duck down to little kid level to include them.

Here’s the view those chosen to give an offering saw. He looks a little fierce, yet friendly and cute all at the same time. 🙂

There were huge crowds for blocks as everyone wandered the street vendors finding fun little toys and different types of Asian food to sample. We’re not usually the type to enjoy being in a crowd, and the hubs wasn’t too keen on being in the midst of all this activity. I knew he was hungry so we made finding dinner the priority.

Luckily, we soon spotted this booth with a massive wok whipping up pancit. We got two orders along with some lumpia and found a curb to sit on to enjoy it. Although not the dim sum we had planned on, it was still yummy and satisfied our bellies so we were in a better mood to enjoy the scene.

As the sun faded we caught another pair of dragons dancing. This time it was a white and black dragon. I liked the white dragon, who turned out to be female!

We had heard that the swap meet at Aloha Stadium was a the best place to find good deals on Hawaiian attire so we headed out on a bright sunny morning to see what the merchants were offering. We didn’t realize just how big the event was and only made it about half way around the stadium before we were ready to call it lunch time. Along the way we found lots of Hawaiian shirts for the hubs, several maxi dresses for me, quite a few new pieces of jewelry and plenty of sauces, jams and other yummy specialties to take home.

While browsing the booths we got a little hot and decided to try out the fresh chilled coconuts. The guy cuts an opening right after you order and plops in a straw, so you’re good to continue browsing. It was a bit awkward to carry, but the novelty of it was just as refreshing as it’s contents. We ended up giving the empty coconut to a young boy who was waiting with his dad while his mom finished shopping. It was the perfect toy for him and he giggled as he continuously picked it up and dropped it on the pavement.

We also headed out toward the middle of the island to see the old ruins of the Royal Family’s summer retreat. The road to the trail looked like a tunnel carved through the jungle.

And the trail through the bamboo forest had a very similar feel.

After a short, easy hike we came through the trees to find this. There’s something that draws me to old things and the ruins were no different. While the hubs took a break in the shade I checked out the crumbling walls from several angles.

There were a variety of offerings left at the base of this sign. I’m not sure if they were given to gods or ancestors or both, but it’s obvious there are a fair amount of visitors to the location.

Inside the walls you could see how they had been smooth at one time. And I spotted a studly mainlander through the doorway as I turned back around.

We couldn’t tell if the large area of rocks in front of the structure were pieces that had fallen down over the years or if there had been some sort of wall or pathway here originally.

Hot and sticky from our hike we decided it was the perfect choice to head back to the car and over to the Dole Plantation for another Dole Whip. And we were right. It was the perfect way to wrap up the afternoon and start the next round of relaxing!

Next up I’ll share photos from the garden tour at the Hale Koa along with a few activities we did during our last days on the island so check back soon for that.

Our Hawaiian Adventure – Part 6

Published on March 2, 2016March 2, 2016 by JennaLeave a comment

Today I’m sharing our visit to Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial. This was my number one must do while on Oahu and the hubs was in total agreement. We tried to buy tickets in advance online but they were sold out for the date we wanted. Luckily, after some research the hubs learned that they give out free tickets each day to the first 1,000 people in line. The catch is that although they open the gates at 7:30 am, the line starts forming around 6 am. So we made plans to get up super early and ended up being numbers 4 and 5 in line. It was one of the few days we had to get up early during the entire trip and was completely worth it because it meant we were in the first group of the day to visit the memorial. I highly recommend doing the first tour because you get to enter the memorial while it’s empty rather than fighting the departing crowd of the group before yours who are trying to board the boat you just took across. Here’s the view of the memorial and the USS Missouri as we approached and docked at the memorial.

Once aboard the memorial you can see the remains of the ship just beneath the surface although some portions are above the water line. Oil spots are visible on the water all around as the vessel continues to seep these fluids, which they expect will continue for another 50 years.

At one end of the memorial there is an opening over the ship for viewing. This is the spot where divers add the ashes of former USS Arizona crew who choose to join their shipmates upon death. To date, not one of the eligible veterans has refused this opportunity. The day we visited someone offered a lei in honor of those entombed here.

Beyond the opening is a room where the names of the entire crew are displayed on a wall. It’s powerful to see just how many there were. Those who perished with the ship or during the attack are listed on the main wall divided by service – Navy or Marine, while those who rejoined their crew upon death are listed on the smaller walls in front.

As we prepared to leave the memorial I happened to look up and see the flag against a bright blue sky. It was a striking scene as I thought about the attack, the lives lost and the countless acts of heroism that day and in the months following.

There was also a beautiful view of the USS Missouri docked just a short distance away. It’s a fitting addition to the memorial park given it’s rise from the attack and return to service including being the vessel where Japan’s surrender was accepted. And it’s placement next to the USS Arizona is a quiet salute to the costly victory. Across the channel in the other direction is today’s active joint military base, where usual activities were in progress, including a ship heading out of the harbor.

Back across the water at the park we walked the trail of reflection, noting important landmarks along the way. This sign showed a great aerial view of the memorial which gives a better sense of it’s positioning over the vessel.

Along the walkway of viewpoints were signs with quotes from those present during the attacks, but the most moving was this poem Eleanor Roosevelt kept in her wallet during the war. It’s one we should all consider daily, especially these days as many forget the sacrifices military service men and women give to allow their countrymen to safely enjoy their rights back home and around the globe.

This map depicted the layout of the harbor the morning of the attack and next to it was a list of the vessels present, indicating which were destroyed or damaged.

We toured the various displays in the museum area which showcased stories of those present in a variety of ways. One of the most memorable for me was this one about the recovery efforts after the attacks.

Experiencing the memorial and exhibits was something I’ll always remember. While the environment is somber, it’s also a perfect showcase of America’s pride and ability to overcome. That evening we attended a much more lively “must do” activity – a traditional Hawaiian Luau. We decided to go to the luau at the Hale Koa where we were staying just because it was convenient, but I hear it’s one of the best around. After seeing the show I’d agree. The evening began with a welcome to the luau garden where musicians played traditional songs, guests enjoyed drinks and learned how to do Hawaiian activities like making lei’s, weaving palm fronds and swinging rhythmic balls.

As the other activities died down one of the cast members came out to show how natives climb coconut trees. This guy was a total hoot! Full of energy and quick wit he was certainly the star of the show all night. With a cloth tied around his feet for gripping he quickly hopped his way up one of the taller trees in the garden.

He went almost all the way to the top!

And he had jokes from way up there too! Noticing that we were all taking pictures he decided to give a variety of poses.

After the tree climbing there was a short fashion show on how long pieces of cloth were tied in different ways to create a variety of looks for both men and women. And next was the call to dinner, via traditional conch shells.

The men pulled the large roasted pig out of the underground oven and welcomed us into the seating area which was decorated with banana leaves and fresh pineapples – cut and ready to eat next to Hawaiian appetizers. The seating area was a large area with both covered and open air sections. Since the weather was nice we used the open air portion and had seats right up front next to the stage. Our table was in the second row on the left in the photo below. If you look closely you’ll see the hubs next to my empty chair.

The cast performed a variety of dances using gourd moroccos and sticks to accompany the beat of the musicians.

As we enjoyed the dancing showcasing each of the cultures around the Polynesian islands dinner was served. There was a good helping of the roast pig, local beef, rice, a fried banana and sweet potato all topped with a pretty orchid. We also tried Hawaiian poi which is a traditional local food. I can’t say I’m a huge fan, but I did try it.

The final act of the show was a champion fire dancer, who is only 17 years old! It was such an amazing scene I only got this one picture as he began.

Enjoying both of these activities on the same day was good planning and gave us quite the sense of living Hawaiian. In my next post I’ll share our visit to China Town for the Chinese New Year celebrations, shopping at the swap meet and hiking to the ruins!

Our Hawaiian Adventure – Part 5

Published on February 25, 2016February 26, 2016 by JennaLeave a comment

After our adventure filled couple of days on the big island we returned to Oahu just in time to catch the fireworks on the beach at the Hale Koa. It was definitely the thing to do on a Friday night since a large crowd gathered along the beach, but it was a fun and relaxed way to kick-off the next portion of our trip.

The next morning we headed out to Waialua to attend a painting class run by the wife of a Coastie the hubs used to fly with in Kodiak. Her shop, Simply Honeybee Art & Signs had a wonderfully relaxed vibe and plenty of Cece Caldwells paints in stock so we could customize our pre-chosen designs any way we liked. I had never used this brand of paint before but really liked it for several reasons. In fact, now that we’re home and back to working on projects I find myself wishing I had the stains we used on the signs we made so I might just have to order an inventory to have on hand, especially since we also picked up some other design stencils from her to create additional signs at home. We had a great time catching up with a fellow Coastie and talking about the idea of possibly opening a similar shop in Alaska one day. These fun new art pieces have since found a home in the Family Room gallery wall, which I’ll share in the near future.

Photo c/o Simply Honey Bee Art & Signs

After painting, we drove out to the North Shore to look for turtles at Laniakea Beach. It was pretty windy which made the surf pretty large. In fact they had closed the beach a few days prior because the waves were so intense they were cresting the small bluff and spraying across the nearby road. Luckily we arrived just before the tide started to rise so there was plenty of area to enjoy the beach as the waves pounded the rocks.

Although we didn’t see any turtles on the beach there were several cruising the waves. We’d occasionally see them come up for air and glimpse the edge of a flipper or top of their shell as they navigated the surf. I was a little bummed that they didn’t come up on the beach, but since this was a heavily trafficked area, it would have been a mad house if they did. There was a turtle guardian on watch who shared lots of information about turtles and the area since he didn’t have any turtles to monitor on the sand.

Next we drove further down the North Shore to see some sights and soon realized there was a surfing competition going on, which was apparently similar to spring break in Daytona Beach because we saw several interesting activities. One included this rig where a pool had been created in the back of a truck using a tarp and subsequently filled with several young men. Meanwhile a young woman decided to ‘ride’ the jet ski on the trailer behind them. We also spotted an interesting guy wearing nothing but a bright red banana hammock and winter ski boots on the side of the road. Although I did get a picture of that I’ll spare you the image being burned into your mind.

We headed back toward Honolulu and decided to stop off at the Dole Plantation along the way. We had heard that the Dole Whip was a must try so we browsed around a bit, picked up several sauces to bring home and ordered our Dole Whips. We enjoyed them out on the back patio as we watched the train come and go. It was a very simple treat, but definitely delicious. In fact, just looking at this picture makes my mouth water for more!

Finished with our snack we took a moment to snap a selfie with the giant pineapple on the grounds. Doesn’t the hubs look super excited to be posing with a pineapple? 😉 As we made our way back to the car I noticed these beautiful multi-colored trees. It was literally a piece of living art. I later confirmed they were rainbow eucalyptus, which obviously wouldn’t survive in Alaska.

The next day we decided to do a submarine tour we’d heard about from a co-worker since the dock was at the hotel next to ours. It was a little pricey, but it was a unique experience so we were willing to give it a shot. It was totally worth the cost to see the fish up close and experience the ocean floor without having to get wet. A boat takes you from the dock at the shore to the subs out in the open water, which provided time to spot cute trumpet fish next to the dock and enjoy the view of Waikiki from the stern as we headed out.

The sub surfaced as we approached their location and we docked along side it to onboard and offload passengers from the top of the sub. Once inside we spotted the pilot’s impressive cockpit, which has a full bubble view and found a seat toward the rear along one side of the sub. Here’s a video of the sub surfacing.

The company who runs the submarines has partnered with local research groups to set up structures in an effort to grow new reefs for sea life because the sand imported for the tourist beaches along Waikiki has killed off most of the natural reefs. The first we saw was this Japanese seaweed growing structure. Normally used to grow seaweed as a commercial product, here it’s too warm for seaweed to grow so it’s not as covered, but still provides a good place for fish to gather and hide. There were also a couple of planes that were purposely sunk to create artificial reefs.

This guy seemed pretty interested in the sub and swam along side of our window for quite a ways, checking us out. I’m pretty sure this is the fish that Dory in Finding Nemo was modeled after – and it did “just keep swimming…”

Next were some ships that had been sunken as reef starters. Like the planes it was odd to see this structure under the water, but still quite interesting to see how it had been transformed by its new environment.

At the bow of one of the ships three sea turtles were taking a little nap, while getting their shells cleaned by fish. Seeing them on the land and in the waves was one thing but being so near them underwater was totally cool – especially to see three of them in such a chill state.

There was also one turtle on another sunken ship, but he was harder to spot (the lump on the right of the picture). There had been two when we first went by but we had to wait until the sub turned around to go past again on the other side to see him and by then one had headed off to somewhere else.

That evening we met up with my friend who lives in Hawaii to create some portraits for his family at the new Ko’Olina Disney resort. I’ve shared those images on my photography website.

At the end of the session we all took a moment to savor the beautiful sunset before heading to their home where we were treated to a fantastic potluck with a variety of yummy dishes! It was a great way to end another day in paradise. I’ll share our visit to the Pearl Harbor memorial and Luau in my next post, so stay tuned for those!

Our Hawaiian Adventure – Part 4

Published on February 24, 2016February 29, 2016 by Jenna1 Comment

My absolute favorite part of our trip was swimming with the manta rays in Kona. It was the one must do thing on my list for our trip and the primary reason for our jaunt over to the big island since there isn’t a manta ray swim available from Oahu. My wonderful hubs made all the arrangements, so I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect but had a basic idea of how it would go having first seen the idea on an episode of Briget’s Sexiest Beaches a few years ago.

The guides put out a platform with lights that attract plankton, which the manta rays feed on. Their teeth are pin-sized, peg-shaped ridges just inside their mouth and are used only for gripping each other during mating so to eat they just swim along collecting plankton in their mouth with the help of two scoop-shaped fins located on their head. They swim in giant graceful backflips under the lights over and over again gathering plankton with each pass. And unlike their sting ray cousins, they have no barb on their tail so they pose no danger to humans.

The night we went the water was pretty choppy due to strong winds, so it took me a while to get comfortable and put my face in the water but even before I did I could see the rays under the light platform. You aren’t supposed to touch the rays because you could introduce harmful bacteria to them doing so, but sometimes they might touch you. Even if they don’t, they are still within inches of you with each pass.

We had several different rays visit our lights although I couldn’t easily tell them apart except for size differences. Each would circle a number of times and then rotate off to visit another light rig. This created a few breaks where there were no rays in sight but nearby fish came to take advantage of the food source and were entertaining to watch as well.

This was definitely something I’d do again if we went back. It was a truly magical experience to be right next to such beautiful and graceful creatures who are completely at peace in their natural habitat. We booked our manta swim with a company called Sunlight on the Water and would highly recommend them. Their crew was super friendly and made sure everyone in our group had fun, even one gal who got quite sea sick. They also got in the water with us to take photos from below which they share on their Facebook page and checked on how everyone was doing often. The images in this post are all screen shots from video the Hubs took with our GoPro while in the water. He did a good job, considering this was our first experience using the GoPro. Check the Facebook page later today to watch the video these images came from.

Our Hawaiian Adventure – Part 3

Published on February 23, 2016February 23, 2016 by JennaLeave a comment

Today’s recap includes our trip from the Hawaii Volcanos National Park back to Kona. Since we had driven across the middle of the island via Saddle Road on our way to the volcano we chose to take the route along the coast back, which provided numerous landscapes of coffee and macadamia nut farms with massive lava flows in between.

In Kona we checked in to the hotel and took a stroll on the water front, where I fell in love with these gorgeous bougainvillea cascading over a stone wall. A little further down the street was a MASSIVE tree that the town seemed to have grown around.

Back at the hotel we stopped by the beach which had a small lagoon and spotted several tropical fish swimming along the pier. I haven’t looked up what they all were but I love this angel variety because it’s the same kind of fish as the leader of the tank in Finding Nemo.

That evening we went on a guided swim with the rays which was an amazing experience. I’ll do a whole post just on that once I get the images off the Go Pro since the hubs ran that while we were in the water. The next morning we had a few hours before flying back to Oahu so we decided to head out the road a bit in search of Kiholo Bay where many said seeing turtles was a sure bet. The beach was very rocky, but still beautiful. It was the perfect place for a vacation selfie on the beach!

We walked further down the shore along a well defined trail and eventually found some freshwater pools that I believe used to be used as baths for the royals. We also spotted this crab defying the waves pounding the rocks and a few shore birds who seemed very uninterested in us.

But there were no signs of turtles, so we headed back to where we started and walked a bit in the opposite direction. This side of the beach had a few areas of sand, but was also very rocky. And every few yards we’d spot wild goats in the trees which would scurry away anytime they thought we got a little to close. Eventually we came to a large sandy beach in a cove, but still no turtles, so we enjoyed the view for a few minutes and then started to make our way back toward the car in order to make our flight.

As we were walking back I suddenly spotted a turtle laying on the beach up ahead! He must have come ashore after we had walked by, although he did blend in so well it’s possible we were looking at the goats in the trees as we went by and missed him on the way out. Thankfully I was prepared with my large zoom lens and was able to get several close shots from a distance so we didn’t disturb his nap too much. He did occasionally open his eyes to see what us strange white humans were up to but then settled right back into dozing, barely concerned with us being around.

His nose and big eyes reminded me a bit of Stoli’s expression, yet not as comical. After spending several minutes admiring him we finished our walk to the car with huge smiles on our faces. We had been blessed to see a Honu (turtle) and couldn’t think of a better way to end our time on the big island.

Our Hawaiian Adventure – Part 2

Published on February 22, 2016 by Jenna1 Comment

Today I’m sharing our experience at the Volcano National Park. We started the day by going out to the overlook we’d visited the night before which was located at the Jaggar Museum. It was amazing to see the view during the day, having first seen it in darkness under the glow of Kilauea.

In addition to interesting exhibits about volcano stats there were several artistic depictions of Pele and other Hawaiian gods at the museum. As someone interested in Greek and Roman mythology I found these very interesting. This one was so large I had to use the panoramic option on my phone to get it all in one shot, which distorted Pele’s face a bit. Hopefully she’s understanding and forgives me.

This was one of my favorite depictions of Pele interacting with the water goddess.

There were also depictions of the stories about Pele’s vengeful nature such as this.

I also found the statistics about the local volcanos interesting, especially when paired with other famous volcanos for reference.

There were several displays of various types of volcanic materials which showcased the diversity needed to study these evolving formations.

Although I hadn’t considered it before, this display showing how geologists can determine the temperatures of lava from its color made perfect sense.

There was an active seismic monitor for all of the local stations at the museum along side an area where you could jump or stomp to create your own “earthquake” on a separate monitor, which was fun to test. This legend of how different seismic activity are depicted was good info – especially for those of us who live on the ring of fire!

This damaged uniform was on display to showcase the dangers of working around volcanos – even for the professionals.

It was amazing to see historical photographs of how residents of the island have lived alongside the volcanoes as they change the landscape.

It’s easy to see why people would come to watch the eruptions, they are amazing and so little was known about the dangers that it wasn’t really considered. I thought this display should have been titled ignorance is bliss!

Even Mark Twain stuck around to watch the action and described it in his writings and drawings.

At one point while we were touring the museum several visitors, including myself started coughing occasionally. Just as I noticed that others were coughing consistently as well, the ranger on duty went around closing the windows and doors noting that the air quality had decreased on her monitors. Because the air quality was changing, we finished up inside and decided to head out to the other areas of the park. Outside the smell of sulpher was stronger than it had been when we arrived so I snapped this shot of a sign about the formation of the caldera and we headed to the car.

Next we visited the steam vents, where pressure from the lava turns rain and ground water to steam and it is released through cracks in the ground. There was a strong sulpher smell here as well.

We walked out a short trail to see the steaming bluff, where vents in the side of caldera release steam up the cliff.

The view across the caldera showed where the lava had pooled in times past and gave a different vantage point of the active portion of the crater.

There were dozens of these pretty orchids growing everywhere along the trails. I was surprised to see them growing like weeds, when we have to coddle them in Alaska to keep them alive. I later learned these are not native plants, but bamboo orchids brought in from Asia.

Next we walked the trail to the Sulpher Banks, where we saw more steam vents on either side of the path.

Eventually the trail opened to a meadow along a hillside where mineral deposits from the venting steam have colored the rock.

We also saw many of these flowering bushes, which apparently like the sulpheric conditions and are often the first plants seen on new lava flows.

We stopped for lunch at the Volcano House, where we enjoyed the view as we ate and it seemed appropriate to try the “volcano” drink while doing so.

After lunch we headed down the Chain of Craters Road to see the other sites in the park. Starting out it was a beautiful road through a lush rainforest, but soon we were crossing several ‘recent’ lava flows like this one from the 70’s. You get a whole new perspective on the massiveness of the flows when you’re standing among its formations and caves.

These forms in the lava are called tree molds and are created when the lava flows around a tree which eventually burns leaving a cavity in the cooling lava.

There were several areas where the road had been cut back into the landscape through a lava flow which sat as an impressive reminder on either side of the road. But the it also created uniquely beautiful landscapes along the way.

At the end of the road is a sea arch formation created by the pounding of the waves against lava deposits. I’ll share a video of this location on my Facebook page later today for you to enjoy. The view out the other side of the lookout was just as amazing.

Although the lava can be devastating to vegetation, it also becomes home to new life as it cools and solidifies, creating pockets where seeds gather and grow such as this interesting flowering bush. We later learned the legends surrounding this plant also involve Pele, you can read about them here. There were also some pretty yellow flowers that gave quite a pretty contrast to all the dark lava.

Looking back up the hill we had traveled down it was easy to see the course each lava flow had taken and imagine the sight it must have been as it coursed down over the ridge toward the sea.

When we stopped at one of the pull offs we realized that the road had previously been covered by a lava flow a few feet away. If you look carefully you can see patches of pavement that survived in the left side of this picture.

Our final stop was the lava tunnel, which you can walk through. You’d never even know it was here if they didn’t point it out as it’s at the bottom of a dense rainforest area. It was cool to see the roots from the plants above hanging down from the rock and considering the whole structure had been carved out by molten lava.

Upon exiting the tunnel we went up a small set of stairs and found ourselves on this beautiful trail where the birds were in a constant chatter of songs. At the end of the trail there was a sign about the many unique creatures that call this spot home and aren’t found anywhere else in the world – such as the happy face spider. I wouldn’t want to interact with him but he’s still cute.

We had a bit of time to kill before sunset so we decided to check out the Muana Loa lookout on the suggestion of someone we’d met the day before not knowing that the road became more primitive as you climb the mountain. We drove for several miles on this single lane road, spotting numerous wild chickens but not much else. When we finally made it to the top just before sunset we found a stone structure with a view of the caldera and signs describing an intense hike to an overnight cabin farther up the mountain.

We enjoyed a beautiful sunset from atop the mountain and then headed back down.

Which proved to be even more of an adventure than going up the mountain!

Once we’d found our way back to the main road, we decided to get some dinner and looked up a delicious Thai restaurant. The food was so good it didn’t last long enough to be photographed but I did get a shot of my passion fruit margarita, which was so fresh it had seeds – those little black dots you can see there.

We ended the evening back out at the overlook watching the glow in the caldera and listening to the rumble of the lava. This time I had the DSLR and got several good shots of the steam rising from the crater along with a few videos as well. I’ll share one of those on my Facebook page as well.

Next up will be our adventures in Kona where we saw a sea turtle and swam with the manta rays! Until then enjoy reading these other Hawaiian legends you should know about before visiting.

Our Hawaiian Adventure – Part 1

Published on February 17, 2016February 22, 2016 by Jenna1 Comment

I’m still sorting the massive stock of photos I took on our Hawaii trip to find the perfect ones to share but I’m finally ready to start with images from the first few days. I’ll also be sharing a few tips as we go along for those who might be planning a trip to the Aloha state themselves. So let’s get this trip going! Alaska gave us a beautiful but icy send off, which led into lovely views above the clouds as well.

We enjoyed flying first class, where the food was hot and oh-so yummy while watching movies on the media players they provide. And here’s Tip #1: Don’t rule out first class just because you think it’s expensive. The hubs got a better price on our non-refundable first class tickets than the refundable coach tickets he was searching, even with a small additional cost for trip insurance which made the tickets basically refundable if something were to come up. I’m so proud of how his bargain hunting skills have evolved, especially when it means an upgrade for me!

And the complimentary Mai Tai’s didn’t hurt either! I lost count of how many I had in total, but it was a long flight. 🙂

After several hours in the air we had our first glimpse of Oahu as we approached for landing. Right away I spotted Ko’Olina where we would be meeting with my friend Edgar and his family a few days later to create family portraits and reconnect.

We landed just in time to catch our first Hawaiian sunset. Even from the plane window it was amazing – especially for us Alaskans who are used to minimal sunlight this time of year.

Once off the plane we navigated the airport easily while enjoying some very Hawaiian signage.

A quick shuttle ride took us to the Hale Koa, where we would spend the night before heading back to the airport in the morning to fly to the big island for a few days. We caught a quick dinner at the hotel’s great buffet, where I enjoyed a blue Hawaiian while the hubs tried something else.

On the way back to our room we stopped by to see “Gus”, the massive banyan tree in the Hale Koa courtyard. With the blue lighting it looked like it had been taken straight out of Avatar.

Luckily, because we had arrived later in the evening we received an upgrade on our room and got an ocean view rather than a garden view. Tip #2: Late night check-in can earn you a free upgrade!

The next morning we flew to Kona on the big island, where we were surprised to find a completely open-air airport! You literally step off the plane and head ‘in’ to the gate, which is just a series of coverings that lead to a larger covering for baggage claim. Neither of us had seen anything like it before.

We got our rental car and headed out toward Hilo on Saddle Road. I’d been told that there was a variety of odd wildlife on the big island ranging from donkeys to kangaroos, but all we saw were goats.

The landscape here was vastly different than Oahu, with visible evidence of more recent lava flow activity dotted by scrub brush and an occasional cactus.

The road was pretty foggy as we headed into the mountains, but it soon cleared to an amazing blue sky over miles and miles of desert like landscape.

As we neared Hilo there were strange markings on the road. I thought they looked like fangs and were meant to entice you to slow down on the curves.

They eventually disappeared and we enjoyed the tree lined drive into Hilo.

After passing through Hilo we headed to the Volcano National Park where we would stay at the Kilauea Military Camp. I spotted this amazing stained glass art in the main building as we checked in. It was the first of many we’d see on the property.

We had a cute little one-bedroom bungalow on the edge of the camp. It was just the right size and had loads of charm.

The mini fridge and microwave came in handy for snacks when we stopped in to refresh between exploring different areas of the park over the next few days. The stained glass art continued inside the bungalow with these amazing sconces and lights.

Once settled in to our cabin, we headed out to explore the camp and find some dinner. All of the amenities are located in the center of camp, which was just a short walk down the path from our bungalow. We knew the restaurant was closed for another few hours so we stopped at the lounge where we found a few more large stained glass windows including one with a Nene, Hawaii’s state bird. I later learned that Nene are a variety of goose who long ago migrated to Hawaii and never left which caused them to evolve and become flightless.

Unfortunately, the lounge wasn’t serving either so we headed over to the bowling alley which had a little cantina and ordered a quick fare. We enjoyed our meal outside with the view of these pretty stone row houses. I investigated around them after eating and saw they also had more stained glass windows.

Nearby we spotted this cool ride and some pretty poinsettia plants which were growing like weeds along a building. The hubs had a hard time believing this was the same plant that we buy at a fraction of the size in the stores at Christmas!

We headed back to the cabin to get ready for “After Dark in the Park” at the Visitor’s Center, which we thought was a tour, but turned out to be an interesting presentation on the history of local volcanos as part of national volcano awareness month. Apparently we timed our visit just right!

After the presentation, we went across the street to the Volcano House where we ate tropical flavored ice cream in the dark while watching the Kilauea crater glow in the distance. That’s definitely something most people can’t claim to have done!

Not ready to call it a night, we ventured out to the last viewpoint on the park road to see the glow a little closer. The steam from the crater created vog – volcanic fog that made the flickering glow even more mysterious. We had left the DSLR at the cabin so all we had were our camera phones which just didn’t do the scene justice. So instead we snuggled and listened to Pele rumble in the distance. It was a uniquely romantic experience.

Next I’ll share our second day of adventures at the park, including lava tunnels, steam vents, sulfur beds and arches of volcanic rock along the sea cliff so check back for that soon!

Time Well Wasted

Published on July 25, 2015 by JennaLeave a comment

Although it’s been quiet here on the blog this week, it’s been an extremely busy and emotional week in the DB&DT household. Monday morning we lost my grandmother Mema, just a little more than a year after my grandfather, Pappa Vince passed away. It was also the day after the anniversary of my Aunt Diane’s passing.

The loss of so many loved ones in such a short time has been extremely difficult for our family, but life doesn’t pause for us to grieve. I had photography client sessions and meetings and the hubs had an overnight work trip out of town that still had to happen. As we made peace with the loss it made me realize just how fortunate we had been to enjoy some ordinary moments of life the weekend prior.

A walk with my photography group allowed me to see a fearless meadow vole who even let me pet him and meet a beautiful boreal owl who was missing a wing.

Photographing a wedding that afternoon brought a sighting of a young black bear.

That evening the hubs and I enjoyed a walk in this amazing field of wildflowers, a true treat during Alaska’s short summer season.

And I was blessed to capture this sweet shot of the dogs as they romped through the blooms.

I picked a little bouquet to take home as we wandered along the trail laughing at the dogs’ hijinks.

Despite a mile-long list of things to do around the house we drove to the Kenai peninsula the next day to visit some of the hub’s extended family who came up from Arizona to fish. Along the way we stopped at another filed of wildflowers surrounded by stunning mountains.

And spotted glaciers right from the road.

Down at the river we enjoyed watching the hub’s uncles and cousin fish along the riverbank. It’s a beloved tradition for them to come here each summer and spend quality time together creating memories.

It warmed my heart to watch them chat and share smiles as they cast their lines.

Then the memories started biting- one after another and they worked as a team to reel them in.

With each catch the smiles grew and I knew these were the moments they will look back on and smile in the years to come, especially when they return home and share the results with other family members as they recount tales from the river.

It wasn’t a hugely productive weekend, but it was filled with memories in the making and plenty of time well wasted as one of my favorite country songs describes. My little bouquet in the window is a lovely reminder of my love for those now gone and the importance of making the most of the time we are given because you never know when it might be your last opportunity to do so. Time well wasted is a precious gift – one I continue to give freely and I hope you all do the same.

Junkin’

Published on July 15, 2015July 30, 2015 by JennaLeave a comment

Today I’m sharing my amazing trip to the Funky Junk Sisters’ Great Junk Hunt in Puyallup, WA. I’ve followed the Sisters online for a while now and I adore their stuff, so I was super excited to find out we would be in the area during the show. I bought two tickets for the early buying event the night before the actual show so we’d have first dibs on the best stuff and I can say it was totally worth the price. I arrived early to pick up my tickets at will call and was directed into the building where the show was being held to see row upon row of this. I swear I heard heavenly music as I entered! Let’s just say I walked very slowly while trying to find the person who had the tickets. I did restrain myself to just looking from afar rather than actually shopping and bothering vendors as they were putting the finishing touches on their booths. Although I was drooling over all the possibilities, I wanted to be respectful of the vendors who didn’t expect shoppers for another hour. But I won’t lie – getting to look at everything without fighting crowds was absolutely wonderful.

The hubs joined me after parking the car and we wandered row to row pointing out things to each other. Eventually we did have to head outside and get in line for the doors to officially open, but thanks to our unexpected preview we had a game plan of which booths to hit first. And we had the perfect way to carry them thanks to the little red wagon we borrowed from my mother-in-law!

Once the doors opened, both the hubs and I bee-lined to different booths and scored the items we’d both liked then met at a third booth where the hubs had spotted a cool metal jug. With our top three finds purchased and in the wagon we started going booth to booth to look in detail. I was pleased to realize that although it was crowded, everyone was so respectful of each other. No one rushed the doors or tried to elbow out others. And I constantly heard, “Excuse me, I want to step past you to look at something.” But it really sank in when the sound of something falling and breaking caused the entire crowd to react in unison with a distressed “oooohhhh!” I also enjoyed spotting a few pieces I already had up for sale, like this yellow jug I spotted hiding under a chair. It’s twin lives in my kitchen cabinet top décor!

I won’t lie, I did have a few favorite booths. B’Aase Repurposed was one of them. They pulled me in with those insanely adorable planters out front and every time I went by I seemed to find something new to check out. I’m kinda wishing I’d bought that first light fixture hanging in the back on the left because it would have been a great addition to the laundry room’s new vintage vibe!

I wanted this little metal one on the tracks for my garden sooooo bad, but it was super heavy which means it would take an act of Congress to get it back home to Alaska so I had to pass. I later saw it being carried off to someone’s car, so I’m not the only one who loved it.

Across the way from this booth was Built From Scrap, who created this fantastic cart table that was previewed on the event’s Facebook page. Even the hubs commented how cool it was! Although I didn’t get a picture of their booth (but you can see it on their page here) I did buy an amazing rusty pulley from them for and chatted with the owners Joe and Tonya. Apparently I made an impression when I mentioned that I was going to use it as garden art in Alaska because Joe later sought me out in the crowd to ask if I’d be interested in a pulley wheel on a stand that he had out in his truck. He even offered to bring it in for us to check out! At just $10 I couldn’t pass it up so it got added to the wagon too.

The row up from them was Whimsical Details, who had the most ADORABLE booth. I love every single thing about it! Her style is so on par with mine that it felt like several ideas I’ve had suddenly sprang to life as I browsed her displays. Don’t be surprised if you see some DIY projects in the near future that have been inspired by her!

I scored some fantastic metal numbers for the gallery wall at Our Country Homestead’s booth. Although they had a large selection of letters to pick from I didn’t see any numbers, so I asked if they had any. It just so happened that they had a small batch tucked away that they let me look through! After testing several groupings I ended up with a 9, 0 and 7 to symbolize Alaska’s area code for just $36!

Remember the little piggy pot I shared in my last post? I got it from the Cat’s Crate booth, which had lots of other great stuff. I loved their basic, rustic furniture paired with great antiques. I didn’t even notice the moose horseshoe rack in the back until I was editing the pictures back home!

The Weathered Home had a great set up and Serendipity Design – Flea Chic’s booth included a real retro trailer! I also enjoyed browsing a joint booth run by B Designs Home Décor and EMJ Design who had a simple classic style with a nice punch of color.

All that amazing stuff had me on a serious junky rust high and smiling like a fool! By the time we’d hit all of the downstairs booths the wagon was pretty full, so the hubs had to make a trip out to the car to unload it while I headed upstairs. Luckily for him, I didn’t need it upstairs since I only bought a few small items at those booths.

After almost 2 hours of shopping here, the final haul all loaded up in the car. Notice that tall trellis in the middle? That was a surprise. I saw it and loved it but thought it would be too difficult to get back to Alaska so I passed over it, but the hubs secretly went back and bought it while I was at another booth! Yeah, he won some serious brownie points on that one! I spent a good portion of the ride home just looking back at everything grinning like the Grinch.

The entire experience was wonderful and I’ll do it again every chance I get! Now that I’ve got one big show under my belt I thought I’d share my top 10 tips for junk hunting:

Carry cash – Although many vendors will accept credit cards these days, cash is still king.
Bring a cart or wagon – This was the best advice I heard before attending the show. Make sure it has a long handle and is easy to maneuver if possible.
Be ready to measure – Have a tape measure if you’re looking for pieces to fit a specific spot
Talk to the vendors – Even if they don’t have exactly what you’re looking for, they might have it back at their shop or know another vendor who does.
Get there early for the best selection – Don’t be the pesky early bird who hassles vendors while they are still setting up, but the best pieces usually sell first, so be there to buy them first.
Have a plan – When shows are large and have multiple vendors navigate the booths in a particular pattern so you don’t miss any.
Grab a map – Not only is a good resource after the show to contact vendors you want to follow, but it’s an easy way to note where you purchase large items that need to be picked up when you leave or booths that you want to revisit for particular items or sales.
Wear comfortable shoes – This is a no-brainer. Wandering booth to booth should be fun, not painful.
Be willing to negotiate – Most vendors are open to offers, especially if you’re buying multiple items or a larger piece.
If you love it, buy it – The majority of items at these shows are unique and one-of-a-kind so if you can’t live without it buy it before someone else does.

I hope that helps during your next junkin’ trip. If you have other tips to share, please leave a comment below. I’ll do a post on how I’m using these finds around the house soon, so stay tuned!

Linked to The Scoop @ Cedar Hill Farmhouse, The Everyday Home, Confessions of a Plate Addict, and White Lace Cottage. Also linked to Knick of Time’s Vintage Inspiration Party #199.