Saturday, September 29, 2012

Hawaii days 10 & 11

At our last B&B, we met an extremely adorable retired couple, Peter and Linda from Newcastle upon Tyne, England. They've been coming to Hawaii every year since the mid nineties, so they are practically experts. We spent two evenings chatting with them late into the night (which for us means till past ten). I loved their vocabulary, featuring words like "a fortnight" (sorry to say, I don't know how long that is exactly and was too embarrassed to ask) and "Crikey!". This pic shows them with other fellow breakfasters yesterday morning.
 We left that B&B and headed to the black sand beach in the southern portion of the island. It was pretty, the water a lovely blue.

We met an old turtle lazing about on the beach.
Next, we went to Kona and stopped at The Coffee Shack for lunch. I met a friendly lizard.


The lunch was TOP NOTCH. Ono fish sandwich, locally grown salad, and a decadent lime pie washed down with locally grown Kona coffee. Aaaahh. Now that's what I call a lunch. Next we toured a coffee plantation, which was super interesting.




They grow, harvest and roast. It was the Holualoa Kona Coffee Company. I'd never seen coffee growing before. It is so pretty, red to green berries and shiny dark green leaves. Next more snorkeling on the east coast, then on to Waimea Gardens Cottage B&B in Waimea. The place
features natural wood floors and furniture in a modern studio layout with beautiful grounds about. The town lies in a valley below tall green rolling hills. I could definitely live here. Today we toured Anna Ranch, a museum which used to be a working cattle ranch, as this is a big ranching region.






Tomorrow to the beach all day to swim and snorkel before heading home. Hawaii is the best.

Friday, September 28, 2012

Hawaii day 9

Quick post, as QG is waiting to head off to the black sand beaches. I have to tell you about yesterday. It was amazing. 

We spent the whole day hiking at Volcanoes National Park. What a treasure. Isn't nature ridiculously amazing? 
 How this lush tropical rain forest can spring from dry crumbly lava and then get covered again by lava and then reforest itself over the lava I'll never understand. 
All I know is that is is stunningly beautiful. And the whole idea of how lava comes rushing up from our Earth on its own mysterious timetable is too cool. 
Also, the energy of the lava, the wind, the ocean currents, and the rapid plant growth is so lush and inspiring while at the same time beyond magical. 
 I am in awe. Here are a few pics from the day.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Hawaii days 7&8

Quick photo post. I have died and gone to heaven. It is called the Big Island. We arrived yesterday at My Island Bed and Breakfast Inn at the town of Volcano. An amazing seven acre botanical garden surrounds this place. Here are a few pictures. If they agree to take me on here as a dishwasher, I may never return to Texas.