Day 100 We got up and went straight to Auckland Airport to catch a flight back to Nadi, Fiji. We were then had to wait in Nadi airport for our connecting flight for 6 hours! For those who have ever been there it is a very small space with limited facilities to spend 6 hours. But after some reading, chatting and people watching our flight was finally called. We boarded the plane at 10pm on the 19th July. We were quite lucky as the flight was not full so we got 3 seats between us both so were able to stretch [View Full Entry]

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July 22-24 I am tired. Yesterday was a long, full day of activity and today I slept it off and didn’t leave the house until after three. I didn’t have much in mind to do, just take the bus over to the Blaisdell Farmer’s Market before my Wednesday Niketown run. The farmers market was pretty small, but still there was tons of great stuff like fresh baked breads, organic vegetables, fruits, jams and spreads, and flowers. I bought my first apple bananas (smaller version of a banana that tastes pretty much the same, maybe a little sweeter?) and some fresh hamburger [View Full Entry]

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leaving for a trip is always fun... airports are some of my favourite places and as such, i love walking through them people watching and experiencing the full extent of this part of the trip. two full hours before my flight to LA, i arrived at the vancouver airport, wide eyed and bushy tailed, ready for adventure. i successfully went through check-in, customs and security in a mere 30 minutes, and was then left in the international departures wing of the airport to gallivant... breakfast at tim horton's seemed appropriate, since i was going to be far from one for a [View Full Entry]

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plans took a turn last night, when one of my roomies (helen) came busting into the room announcing that her and a couple other friends were getting up early to go see the sunrise from the top of haleakalá, the world's largest dormant volcano. immediately, i asked if there was room for one more and she jumped out of the room to go ask. thankfully, i was rewarded for my forwardness and alarms were set for 3am for an early 3:20am departure! 3am came a little too quickly as it was well past 10:30pm when we went to bed, but the [View Full Entry]

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Since 1986, when I first visited the Big Island of Hawaii, I have been captivated by Pele's song. Unlike other large rocks I have encountered, the Big Island is alive. It breathes, it strecthes, it coughs, it sometimes wakes with a start from a nap, and like all living things, it is unpredictable. Buying a chunk of the Big Island is a bit dicey - either you're a millionaire or you're in a lava zone, and I'm no millionaire. The south side of the Big Island is separated into 2 regions - Ka'u (pronounced ka-ooo), a dry, temperate area which consists [View Full Entry]

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After a wonderful winter of mucking out hot tubs for skiers at Killington Ski Area in VT, I was able to complete my purchase of an acre of rough lava, ohia, and scrub in Hawaiian Ocean View Estates in the Ka'u District of the Big Island. Knowing there would be much work to be done (and remembering my travel partner's need for a hot shower!), I decided to get us a place a bit more on the civilized side than our last visit's accomodations (see my first blog!). While banging any number of boards with rentals on the Big Island, I [View Full Entry]

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July 21 Big plans today....must make it to the top of Mt. Olympus. It's the hike that I did way back, maybe my 2nd week here? But I only went about an hour in before turning around and heading back out. Terry mentioned that she'd also be interested in doing the hike, so we decided on today to attempt it. It's a long hike, roughly six hours which is long for only being 5.5-6 miles long. But, it's a ridge trail that follows the ridge line all the way from the top of St. Louis Heights in city limits all the [View Full Entry]

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Hey Everyone- Few weeks late as usual, but here are all the spectacular pics from Kim and Erin's visit to the island. We had so much fun. I realize some our dupes from Facebook, but guess you'll just have to deal with it... hehe Also, I think it should be noted what was going on behind the scenes of all these pictures. While Kim was planning her and Erin's exciting daily adventures in Hawaii.... someone back at home was planning some extremely exciting future plans. A week after Kim got back from Hawaii... Jamie proposed :) Congrats again girlie! So happy [View Full Entry]

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July 20 *I included a video of my newfound love: turtles, on today's blog..check it out. Caught a 7:50am bus to the North Shore trying to get the most hours as I possibly could out of this day. I'm becoming more bus savvy, and today I was equipped with my book: Harry Potter #1, ipod, and sweater. Time flies with something to read and pretty soon I had come to the first stop on the North Shore: Dole Plantation. I didn't really have this one on my list as something that was important, but what the heck? I'd passed by it [View Full Entry]

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July 17-19 Yes! I've been wanting to go to Hanauma Bay to snorkel since the first week I got here and today was the day. Eagerly, I hopped out of bed at 7am and quickly packed my bags for the day. By 7:30, I still hadn't heard Bill stirring in his room upstairs, so I texted him. Nothing. Knocked on his door...nothing. Called...and apparently, woke him up. Not good since we had to catch an 8:15 bus about a mile away. Bill was hungover. No, he was actually still drunk. And moving quite slowly. We ended up running to catch the [View Full Entry]

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