Thinking about my next trip

It is spring here at home and we are having a constant stream of storms. The ground is pretty saturated and it just keeps raining. As I write this, I can hear the thunder rolling in again. For now I'm content to just sit at home and enjoy the greening of the earth, but I know that soon my wanderlust will strike again. With that in mind I am starting to plan my next trip. I'm thinking of maybe going to Western North Carolina. It is beautiful in the Blue Ridge Mountains at this time of year, and I have roots there. When I visit those hills, I feel a connection to them. The highways and byways of North Carolina are littered with my relatives and the graves of my ancestors. It is calling to me.

Aloha Paradise!

We enjoyed one last day in Paradise, otherwise known at Hawaii, yesterday. We have had some great times here. I love the slower pace, the chance to relax and enjoy nature, the polynesian laid back attitude, and the beauty of the place. It is time to go home and get back to normal life, but we will carry with us some wonderful memories. I know we will come back. We must. This place is a part of me now and so it will always be calling me back.

As we prepare for the long flight home, I am will post some pictures of flowers and scenery that I have photographed this past week.

Aloha!

LDS Temple in Laie

One of the beautiful places we've seen here in Hawaii is the LDS temple. It is white and pristine and is set in absolutely beautiful grounds. What a view! We toured the visitors center and enjoyed it very much. It was informative and comfortable and welcoming. The missionaries working there are so nice. They told us more about the Laie area. Apparently it is 70% LDS (Mormon). There used to be almost nothing out here, until the Polynesian Cultural Center was built. Now it is a huge draw for tourists. Tour buses drive to and from the Polynesian Cultural Center for people to visit the temple. You can't go inside unless you are a member of the church in good standing, since it is used for sacred ordinances, but you can wander around and enjoy the peaceful, beautiful grounds. Around one side there is a big unusual tree. I don't remember what it is called, but it is awesome.

Polynesian Cultural Center

Yesterday afternoon and evening we were able to go to the Polynesian Cultural Center here in Laie. It was wonderful. It has a very interesting history. It was established by the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) to provide a place for the local people to work. Next to the PCC is BYU Hawaii and lots of their students work there.

It is a great place to see many polynesian cultures in action. There are clusters of villages and displays all over the grounds. You can watch dancers, drummers, crafters, and lots of other things. The grounds are beautiful. Green grounds, lots of tropical trees and flowers, and waterfalls, and water ways with canoes and rafts going to and fro. The people are so friendly and helpful. We watched performances and demonstrations in Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, Hawaii, etc. In the evening we went in to see the big colorful show they put on at night. It was fascinating and so much fun. By the time we left, I felt like we had been exposed to the best the islands have to offer. It was wonderful.

Turtle Bay Resort

We have really been enjoying our stay at turtle bay resort. It is wonderful. The rooms are comfortable and the outdoor facilities are luxurious. We have spent time at both the pool and out on the beautiful beach. The beach wasn't very crowded and there is lots of white sand, palm trees and blue water. We relaxed on the beach in the shade of a palm tree. I took pictures of the palm trees up above with the sun shining through. It was fun to go out a ways in the bay and see the fish. I even saw a sea turtle swimming by. I tried to go out on the outcrop of coral, but it was rough going so I gave up and came back to the beach. We spent some time out by the beautiful pool too. It has a wonderful waterfall that really adds to the tropical atmosphere. The view of the pool and the ocean, so close together, is breathtaking! I walked all around the resort and took pictures of both beaches (one on each side of the resort). One of the beaches was kind of rocky and the waves seemed a little rougher so I didn't venture out into the water. There are condos that you can rent as part of the resort that I think I might have to try next time I come. We went to the Polynesian Cultural Center this afternoon and evening too, but I will write about that in my next post.

Traveling on the King Kamehameha Highway

Yesterday we spent more time on the beach, but in the morning we went souvenir shopping. We heard about a great place to buy them. Sellers set up hundreds of souvenir stands all around the parking stadium at the University. It costs 50 cents to get in and then you can shop till you drop. It was so fun. We didn't even begin to see it all. There were t-shirts, and beach outfits, lots of jewelry, and about everything else you could think of. It was pretty reasonable too. We bought some t-shirts to take home to everyone. I bought a pear necklace, and a beautiful crystal pineapple. I would have loved to buy more, but lets face it, anything I buy I have to fit in my suitcases.

Today we changed our location to Turtle Bay Resort. We drove down the King Kamehameha High way to Laie. It was absolutely beautiful! The sharp, tall mountains jutting up suddenly to one side and the miles of pristine white beaches and palm trees on the other. I'm posting some great pictures from our drive. I took about a hundred. I just couldn't stop snapping pictures!

Sun, Surf, Sand

Today was fun. We have been traveling around enjoying the view of the ocean. We spent some time relaxing on the beach. White sand, clear blue water, sun, surf...what more could you ask? We went swimming too. The waves didn't look all that strong, but for awhile they knocked me over every time they got close to me. I learned to judge when they would hit and jump up and ride over them. I got a couple of good mouthfuls of salty water before I got it down. I went out deeper and it was easier than it was where the waves were rolling hard onto the beach. After our swim we enjoyed just resting in the shade of some palm trees and watching the other swimmers. I'm not a sunbather. It is too hard on my skin, but I loved the view and the breeze!

Pearl Harbor

We visited Pearl Harbor today. It was well worth the visit. We drove out to Pearl Harbor and after finally finding a place to park we made our way to the entrance. We had to get tickets and then wait a long time for our turn to go. We went through the museum displays while we waited. Seeing the actual artifacts of the sailors and read the words of the letters they last mailed home was so sad. One letter of a mom anxiously waiting for word from her son really got to me. He died on December 7th.

I was amazed to see some Japanese sailors touring the site. At one point they were standing so that I could see the white memorial off in the distance behind them. It seems so ironic that the first time I ever saw the Arizona memorial I was looking at it past Japanese sailors. We finally got in line and got to start the tour. The first thing we saw was a film about the bombing of Pearl Harbor. It really sets the mood before you get to go see the memorial. We loaded onto the ferry and took our seats. I enjoyed the ocean breeze as it blew in my face on the way across the harbor. When we got there we climbed stairs onto the Memorial and we just quietly walked around. The wall of names is very sobering. Then to stand and look down at the rusting hulk of the Arizona is awesome. It is hard to take it in, that you are looking at an actual ship, in which the remains of many sailors are forever at rest. I think the thing that made it really seem real to me was the rising oil. The day before the bombing of Pearl Harbor the Arizona had had it's oil tanks filled. That oil is slowly leaking out. You can just sit and watch that oil slowly come to the surface, little bubbles of it that rise slowly and hit the surface and then slowly float away. Oil that would have been used by that ship to sail the sea, is now just rising and floating away. I placed a picture of the oil at the end of the Pearl Harbor post.

I am so sad to think of those young men that died so horrible. I honor them. I think of them and I'm so glad we have this special memorial to always remember them.

We're here in Hawaii. It's beautiful! Warm, but not hot, clear and sunny. I'm so happy to be here. I plan to really enjoy this visit. It is still dark, and so I decided to get up and write some. My body is still on US central time I guess. We were able to relax yesterday. We went to church at a local church where we found the service quite Hawaiian like. "Alohaaaa". When we returned to our hotel we napped (jet lag you know). We are staying in Honolulu at the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort. We have a view of the ocean that is awesome. The color of the water is such a beautiful blue. Just looking at it is relaxing.

I guess today we will go be tourists. I want to visit Pearl Harbor! That is a must for both of us. I hope we can find our way around OK. We brought our GPS so that will help I'm sure. Honolulu is a busy place, with some big freeways, and we are just country folk, but it should be fun!

Chocolate!

We're sitting in the San Francisco airport waiting for our flight to HAWAII!!!! Not looking forward to the flight, but can't wait to get to Hawaii

Yesterday was fun. It was kind of cold and cloudy, but since I like that kind of weather, I didn't mind. We went to Ghirardelli Square. We wandered around and went into some of the shops. My favorite part was watching the making of the chocolate. Yum! We were sure to get plenty of samples. After our time there, we went to Golden Gate Park. I used to go there as a young adult and I have lots of good memories of picnics and bike rides in that park. I enjoyed seeing it again, but it wasn't really picnic weather.

At the end of the day we went to the Marina to eat dinner. We found a great place that sits out over the water. As it was getting dark we relaxed and ate our dinner and watched the lights of the boats in the Marina. What a wonderful time.

A day in San Francisco

It's been a great day so far. We set out in our little rental car and went wherever our hearts desired. My husband wanted to go to Fisherman's Warf so we started out there. We wandered around and enjoyed the sights and smells -- well kind of enjoyed the smells. The smell of fish and seafood permeated the place, but it was fun to try out different treats like crab, and smoked fish, etc. We bought a few souvenirs for family back home.

There sure are a lot of strange people here in San Francisco. We saw some of the wildest outfits today. And the hair...Wow! Spikes and color and you name it. The people make this a truly colorful place.

We drove over to catch a ride on a trolley car. Clang, clang! It was bumpy but fun. The hills in this city are amazing. I loved the trolley car. My crazy husband had to ride hanging out of it for awhile, just to see what it was like. I preferred the safety of the seat. It is fun to ride as a tourist, but if I had to ride one everyday I think I would get tired of it, but I'm sure that in their heyday they were a real boost to transportation.

After our trolley ride we drove around, just looking at the sights. Of course we had to drive down Lombard Street, the crookedest street in the world. There are 15 switchbacks and its all paved with red brick. It is fascinating to look at, but I was glad my husband was driving since it made me nervous. I think the houses along it are fascinating too, but I would hate to live on a tourist attraction.

We weren't too hungry at lunchtime, thanks to all our food sampling on Fishermans Warf so we skipped lunch. Later in the afternoon we stopped at a little cookie shop and got some fresh and yummy cookies.

We're back at the hotel resting for awhile. Soon we will head out to a nice restaurant for dinner. We are discussing where we'll go.

Beautiful view of the lights of San Francisco

We finally arrived in San Francisco, picked up our rental car, and headed for the hotel. We were tired so we just relaxed in our hotel room for the evening. Our 6th floor room gives us a great view of the lights of San Francisco. It is beautiful. We opened the curtains wide and enjoyed the view until we went to bed. We ate at the breakfast bar downstairs and now we are getting ready to head out. It is a little cloudy today, with the possibility of rain, but I refuse to let that get in the way of having some fun.

On my way to San Francisco and then Hawaii

I have finally settled on my destination. Hawaii, with a stopover in San Francisco. I'm sitting in that Atlanta Airport right now. My local airport only had a route through Atlanta, so I am actually backtracking some. My husband and I boarded the plane and we were all set for take-off when there was a delay in our departure. We have been sitting here for an hour already and it doesn't look like we are close to leaving yet. Bummer. But I will just sit here and think of the fun I will have on this trip. I grew up in California and used to travel to San Francisco as a teenager with friends. I'm really sad that the looney liberals in the country have kind of taken over that beautiful city. But I am going to go visit and try to ignore them. Then on to Hawaii.

Where next?

I've been home a few days and already my feet are itching to start out on my next trip. I just love to travel. I'm debating where to go next. Am I in the mood for warm sparkling beaches or cool crisp pine smelling mountains? Perhaps I will just do some more wandering down the highways and byways of little known places. I guess I'll think on this a little more and then I'll pack and be off...

My long walk

I will be leaving this area soon, but I had the opportunity to go for a nice long walk. There have been workers up on the water tower that rises high above the town. They've been scraping and repainting it. While walking I heard sirens blaring as fire trucks went whizzing by. I found out that there is a big chicken house on fire. This is an area with lots of chicken houses that grow chickens for the big Tyson plants in the area. Apparently one of them burned today. How many fire trucks are needed for a chicken house fire? Well I lost count, but every volunteer fire department in the county must have responded as fire trucks just kept coming and coming.

My long walk took me to the cemetery on the outskirts of town. I love walking in cemeteries. I guess it is my interest in history that causes me to enjoy walking in a cemetery, because they really aren't the most cheerful places to go. The cemetery I visited today had tombstones dating from the 1800s to the current year. There are lots of Italian names. A lot of Italian immigrants settled here in the heyday of the coal mines. As I walk I take special note of the children's graves. There are so many children buried here. Some of the old graves have been disturbed by the roots of some big trees on the far side of the cemetery. I'm not sure why the trees are allowed to stay but I have to admit that they are a nice source of shade. I walked around the trails of the cemetery and it was slow going since there were so many tombstones that caught my attention so that I had to stop and read them more carefully. Who were these people? What were their lives like? How did they die? I'm so curious. But all I can do is wonder, so I walk on. It is a beautiful, green cemetery, framed with a forest of trees on all sides and view of Sugarloaf mountain in the distance.

tornado warning and snow flurries

Wow! The weather here in Western Arkansas is crazy. Last night we were under a tornado warning. The tornados missed us, but we did get thunderstorms. It was really cold this morning. 35 degrees is pretty cold for this area in late March. This morning we had snow flurries. I guess it is the last hurrah of winter.

There is a lot of family hanging around and so things here are kind of wild. Laughter, debates (arguments), stories, games...

Everyone is getting ready to go bowling. Fun for everyone. Gotta travel about 30 minutes to get to the bowling alley. A trip to Las Americas restaurant for some mexican/Central American cooking. It is a little dumpy place, that makes some great Papoosas.

Cold rainy morning

I awoke to a rainwashed day. The air is crisp and smells wonderful. Before the storms moved in yesterday there were people out mowing their lawns. Is there any other sound that is so associated with summer? Today the newly mown lawns are getting a drink so they can continue their cycle of growing and mowing.

Rice for breakfast. Appropriate, since Arkansas is a rice growing state. Not this part of the state though, its too mountainous.

As I sit here typing I can look out the window and see a beautiful blooming redbud tree, with bright green of newly emerging leaves surrounding it. Now I have to decide where to explore today.

Arkansas

I am staying with family in a little town in Western Arkansas. It is showing many signs of spring here. In fact not long after my arrival we got hit with quite a hail storm. It lasted awhile and left a few dings on my car. Oh well, just some souvenirs of the trip I guess. I love this little town. There isn't anything here to attract visitors. It's just a place where people go about their lives. There is a school, and a gas station with a little cafe in it. There seems to be a bank and a Mason's lodge. And there are a lot of churches.

The trees are coming out green with a promise of lushness soon to be. Mountains surround this town. Sugarloaf Mountain and Poteau Mountain and several rounded hills. It's very close, if not a part of the Ouachita Mountain range. The Ozark Mountains and the Ouachita mountains make up the U.S. Interior Highlands and are the only mountainous region between the Rocky Mountains and the Appalachian Mountains. In fact anciently they used to be a part of the Appalachian Mountains.

This town lies on the border of Oklahoma, and the residents have a choice of shopping in Fort Smith, Arkansas or Poteau, Oklahoma. Poteau is probably closer.

The people are friendly and wave as they pass you in their cars and trucks. There are many small towns in this area. All have their own charm, and seem to have a mix of old time residents and newer move-ins.

The weather is crazy in the spring here. Like today. It started out warm and as a cold front moves in, we are experiencing thunderstorms and the before mentioned hail storms. There is even a chance of snow in the forecast for Saturday, but the snow will probably stay a little further north, but cold is definitely on the way.

I plan to sleep well tonight and enjoy the storms raging outside. (Please- no tornados!)

Almost There!

I'm almost there. The next place on my itinerary. As I drive through the backroads of America I see many things. It is amazing to think of all these people going about their daily lives. They live in the spot I have traveled many miles to see. I will be here briefly and then on to the next place. But for now I will stop and enjoy their food and their culture. I will reflect for awhile on the beauties of this place. Come and check back soon and I will tell you all about my destination. I'm almost there.