more Hawaii travel ~ part 3

As we have discovered, a week long stay wasn't enough to see everything the Big Island has to offer. What we had was just a sampler and there are many more areas to visit next time. In the meantime, here are a few more highlights from the Big Island.

tourists and cliff divers at South Point

early morning breakfast stop at Aloha Lehua Cafe
in Pahoa on the way to Lava Tree Park

Lava Tree Park in Pahoa was another off the beaten path attraction and a pleasant stop on our day drive around Puna. It was a quick and easy walk around the circular path that can be done in less than 30 minutes. The signs and posters were very informative with all the details describing how the lava trees were formed.

Lava Tree Park and signage

more Hawaii travel ~ part 2

After spending a week in Maui, we headed on to the Big Island. It was an easy 40-minute flight with Hawaiian Airlines. A glimpse of the Big Island from the plane is shown below.

the Big Island as seen from the plane and a welcome drink on
board Hawaiian Airlines, a surprising treat for a quick flight

as we approached landing, the most amazing coastline
welcomed us

this quiet strip in Hilo was our home for a week

sunrise views from the rental condo veranda

fish dinner at Seaside Aqua Farm ~ conveniently located 
just across our condo building ~ fried aholehole
(a local fish) and furikake salmon with pasta shown above 

lava cliffs at Volcanoes National Park

A most fascinating combination of snow-capped mountains, active volcanoes and lava fields on one side, cool rainforests thriving with tropical plants and flowers, waterfalls, the most amazing coastlines with black, green and red sand beaches, towering cliffs and unique micro climates. These are just a few things that best describe the Big Island of Hawaii.

the active Kilauea crater at Volcanoes National park

more Hawaii travel ~ part 1

It has been almost 2 months now since we got back but Hawaii is still in my mind :-) It was the most unforgettable two weeks in Maui and the Big Island. These pictures are proof that paradise on earth exists.

in Maui, we drove by Ho'okipa Beach everyday
from our Haiku rental place

lava on the beach along the Road to Hana

small waterfalls are a common sight along
the Road to Hana

It was hard to capture the beauty of the Bamboo Forest in pictures. It's one of those that you have to experience to truly appreciate the sounds (the bamboo made a neat percussion sound as they swayed with the breeze), the colors (monochromatic green from young to mature bamboo) and the zen moments within the tall and lush bamboo. There was a portion of the hike when the bamboo got so thick that it turned dark in their midst. The impressive Bamboo Forest can be found at the Pipiwai Trail, one of the most popular and key stops along the Road to Hana. Such a unique experience!

tropical fruits in Hawaii

Below are some of the fruits in season that we tried in Hawaii. Just for these tropical fruits alone, I would go back in a heartbeat :-) It must be the unique combination of rich volcanic soil and micro-climates that make fruit trees grow so well out there. I would rate our fruit tasting experience as almost perfect. Not a single one disappointed us.

just one of the hundreds of avocado varieties in Hawaii :-)

From the first Maui avocado (shown above) that our very acommodating host left for us at the apartment, we were quite impressed with the natural sweetness and intense flavors of all the fruits. This avocado variety was buttery and had a very smooth texture that melted in the mouth. We knew that it would be difficult to get back to regular grocery fruits again :-)

We stopped by the Ono Farms roadside stand in Hana town. It gave us a chance to unwind and buy some local Hawaiian fruits. We started our day early so it was a pleasant break from the twisty one-lane roads and bridges of the famous Hana road. Organic starfruit, banana varieties, Maui Gold pineapples, papayas and breadfruit are shown above.

Fruit and vegetable stands like this one (shown above) are a common sight along country roads in the Philippines. This cute one along the Hamakua Coast in the Big Island with its attractive pink sign (shown below) caught our attention.

food memories at Maka by Mana ~ Maui, Hawaii

Our week in Maui wouldn't have been complete without trying out the local restaurants...and we sure found many outstanding ones that made our stay more memorable.

classic acai with fresh papayas, bananas and strawberries

Maka by Mana located in the colorful town of Paia easily became our favorite. We went to this raw food place four times :-) Very fresh and amazing local fruits and vegetables were the main draw here combined and blended in a way that was surprisingly so flavorful. The cool interiors of the restaurant, shown below.

At Maka by Mana, our first introduction to the world of raw food was unforgettable. Shown above, this savory open-face breakfast sandwich with warm sesame waffle bread was served with coconut cream cheese, avocado slices and capers. The classic acai breakfast bowl was a hit with us as well as well as the matcha green tea latte that my husband ordered every time. Shown below, our light lunch with spiralized beets and carrots salad and live falafels which were served with kale and dehydrated wraps.

raw pies and kombucha tea at Maka by Mana

The busy town of Paia was along the way to our rental apartment so we passed it everyday we were in Haiku where we stayed. For us, this restaurant was one of the best reasons to keep going back to Paia despite the traffic we had to deal with there. That just goes to show how much we enjoyed this restaurant as we really don't have patience when it comes to traffic :-) Parking was challenging but we later discovered their exclusive customer parking conveniently located just across the restaurant.

off season at the beach

We've been fortunate to be able to travel during the off season when it's mostly quiet and less crowded even at the most touristy destinations. There had been times when we had to deal with unpredictable weather, change of plans and minor inconveniences but we've learned to make the most out of every situation. This past week, we were happy and excited to stay by the beach with my mother-in-law who flew in to join us. The weather may not be as perfect but it never stopped us from enjoying our long walks along the deserted beach, as shown below.

Despite occasional heavy downpours and unexpected red flag warnings at the beach, there were also days when we were rewarded with moments like this...

...when dark clouds opened up to reveal bright blue skies, we were reminded how breathtaking it could be after the rain. 

One of the highlights of our stay was watching the spectacular sunsets from the condo veranda, shown above.

We saw a few rays, like the one shown above, along the shore. Just like us, this one seemed to be enjoying the calm season while relaxing undisturbed on a quiet morning at the beach.

The view from the 14th floor condo unit veranda, above. Every vacation we took always gave us a chance to try local restaurants, starting off with some memorable breakfast treats, as shown below. 

Eggs Benedict, sweet Sicilian oranges with a splash of olive oil and sprinkled with salt and pepper, capuccino and cherry mousse crepes at Mama Clemenza's European Breakfast place.

our 4th of July weekend trip

This was the second time we drove to the state capital to spend a quiet 4th of July holiday weekend. We live close to the beach and it gets busy every summer here. We don't usually venture there and just leave it for the sun worshipers to enjoy.

Florida Supreme Court

beautiful old oak tree with branches extending to the ground

With the business district closed and the college students off to their summer break, we enjoyed the laid back and relaxing time.

a week in Savannah

Shown above, statue of the Waving Girl by the river, oak trees loaded with Spanish moss, scupltures in front of Telfair Museum, gothic Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Forsyth Park fountain, beautiful twisted oak tree, Jones Street, Wilkes House signage, a creative cannon display by the entrance to The Savannah College of Art and Design

Our timing wasn't perfect as it was cold and rainy the week we were in Savannah, but the gloomy weather didn't stop us from walking around the historic district, enjoying the many attractions this city has to offer. I often heard Savannah described as a city with a Southern charm and now that I've seen it, I have to agree that the city exudes that special charm in many ways.

restored homes with wrought iron details along Gaston Street and the Wilkes House facade

wrought iron gates, ornate home entrance, archways, old clock at the City Market

Walking along the lovely streets in Savannah's historic district was like being transported to another era filled with history and elegance. The homes along Jones and Gaston Streets were beautifully preserved with wrought iron and other ornate details.

We had a chance to see the famous sculpture (shown above) used on the cover of the book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, which was later on made into a movie. It has since been transferred from the Bonaventure Cemetery to the SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design) Museum of Art.

the bright and modern lobby of SCAD Museum of Art

we snacked on these tasty macarons and sweet cupcakes :-)

We stayed right in the historic district and it was an easy walk to many interesting shops and restaurants along Broughton and many other interesting streets.

striped seabass dinner and mango upside down cake at B. Matthew's Eatery, ham and cheese croissant breakfast at Goose Feathers, braised pork belly steamed buns appetizer at Flying Monk Noodle House, Greek and Persian food at Persepolis

We tried a few restaurants for breakfast such as Goose Feathers, B. Matthew's, Pie Society and The Collins Quarter. I have to say, they were all good, there were no disappointments at all. For dinner, we tried Circa 1875's French restaurant, Zunzi's eclectic international food and Persepolis Greek and Persian cuisine. We also enjoyed the Asian noodles at Flying Monk Noodle House along Broughton Street. Overall, Savannah is a city worth visiting and returning to :-)

Pie Society at the City Market selling traditional handmade savory British meat pies and our elegant tea for two serving

2014 holiday travels

It has been a busy holiday season for me. We spent a lovely Thanksgiving weekend with my husband's family for a yearly traditional family gathering. As soon as we got back home, I just had three days to do chores and other errands before I left again for Memphis to visit my aunt and uncle. It was also a good opportunity for me to see my brother before he left for Manila.

a few of my aunt's colorful Christmas decorations

a cute elf holding an apple garland

As soon as I got there, my aunt, with the help of my cousin, got busy decorating the house for a potluck dinner with her close friends. It was also a farewell party for a special guest, a well-known singer from the Philippines, who graced this year's Fil-Am Christmas Ball in Memphis. We had fun preparing for the party as well as meeting the special guest that evening. We were not informed that she's a dedicated vegan, so her options were limited, but the other guests were quite pleased with the menu.

As shown above, we had Christmas ham, pandesal (Filipino dinner rolls), whole wheat challah bread with sliced queso de bola (aged edam cheese popular in the Philippines during the Christmas season), a healthy salad assortment with quinoa, legumes and vegetables from Whole Foods (brought by one of the guests), my version of chop suey (chicken and vegetable stir-fry), crispy springroll wrappers drizzled with honey (my cousin's specialty) and fresh fruits on the dessert table. It was a happy event with family and friends.

back to St. Augustine

Our final stop was at Florida's oldest city, St. Augustine. This city has a European flair with its ornately decorated architecture and old historical points of interest. It has been more than 10 years since we first came here and it was good to be back.

Flagler College, shown above, was formerly Ponce de Leon Hotel, a luxury hotel conceptualized by Henry Flagler and built in the late 1800's. The history of the hotel is shown on the marker by the entrance of the college.

Not to be missed is Castillo de San Marcos, an old Spanish fortress right in the heart of the city. Shown above are just a few of the highlights at the fort (1) Castillo de San Marcos walls (2) drawbridge entrance (3) tour guides in period costumes (4) cannon display.

Castillo de San Marcos gate

cannon display

Pedro Menendez de Aviles monument, above

Downtown St. Augustine with its Spanish architecture, old buildings and Bridge of Lions.

a tourist attraction, Fountain of Youth Park

We had tasty picadillo and beef empanadas for lunch at the Spanish Bakery (shown above and below). Located along busy St. George Street, it may be considered off the beaten path because of its quiet and obscure garden seating right in front of the bakery.

our dinner at Mango Mango Caribbean Grill along A1A Beach Blvd.

The map above shows the route we took. It was a fun discovery drive and tour around Florida.