Frederiksborg Castle build in 1560 by Frederik 2. King of Denmark

Herewith another couple of minutes from recent trip to Grenada. I was transfixed one evening at the villa by the almost haunting sound of cane toads (I think there are two, but it might be more on the recording) in the near distance. Mix that with the dripping of the rain on the palm leaves in front of me, the radio-static of the insects and the high-pitched squeak of the tree frogs, and it takes me right back to the Spice Island, just about ready for a goat curry or some coconut shrimp.

I’m working on another clip of the rain, this time a heavier downpour from later on in the two-week stay. I’m reminiscing.

Bye for now.

As soon as my friends and I arrived in Bath we headed straight for a tearoom that had been recommended to us; Bea’s Vintage tearooms. Inside we found ourself transported back to the 1950s thanks to the decor and general ambience. Here they served an abundance of cakes, tea and homemade pies but unfortunately we only had something small, as it was a little to early for lunch.

The Victoria sponge cake that I chose to eat was lovely and moist, I could have probably eaten the whole cake, not just a slice.

I was slightly disappointed that they did not supply decaf tea, as I am not allowed to drink caffeine and I would have liked a cuppa to accompany my cake.

The food that was coming out of the kitchen to be served to other tables looked very edible and I would therefore go back again to try one of their pies.

After filling up on cake we decided to take a wonder around Bath itself. This was my 3rd visit to Bath and I think I fall in love with the place a little more each time I go. I just think the limestone buildings add a certain charm and class to the city that I have never found in any other part of the country.

I think the city has a lot to offer and because of this it has become a very popular tourist destination bringing in approximately 3.8 million day visitors a year. Bath has five theatres which put on a wide array of performances all year round.

There are various festivals that also take place each year, these include the Bath Fridge Festival, Bath Film Festival, Bath Literature Festival, the Bath Beer Festival and the Bath International Music Festival.

Bath is also home to two universities, underground bars and a variety of restaurants and cafes. Along with all its museums, shops and picturesque landscapes, I cannot imagine why anyone would not want to live there (Jane Austin must have been mad).

On a sunny day I would very much like to return to Bath and spend the day sitting on a rug, reading my book and watching the world go by on the Royal Crescent green. Today we did pass the famous Circus which is a great example of Georgian architecture and if I won the lottery I would put my name down for one of those townhouses.

After a little retail therapy, we decided we had better find another cafe to have some lunch. On a previous visit we ate some lovely baguettes in a cafe called Hands of Bath, Georgian Tearooms. We decided to return and my friends enjoyed a ploughmans and a brie and cranberry baguette. I had ham, egg and chips and was very pleased to discover that the ham was thick and the eggs weren’t crispy. You can tell a lot about a place by the way they cook their eggs!

After stuffing our faces yet again, we decided to go for a wonder to walk it off. We headed for the river and walked all the way along it, finding a maze on the way.

Once we reached the end, we saw people getting off a boat. My friend got very excited and begged us to join her on the hour long boat ride that would cost us £6 with our student discounts. Begrudgingly I climbed aboard the St William Pultney and gave the man my £6. As we chugged along the river I did actually start to enjoy it and when the sun came out I applauded my friend for making us hop aboard.

The boat ride allowed me to see another side of Bath and it made me fall deeper in love with the place. If you are ever in Bath, I highly recommend the boat trip because the scenes are beautiful and the captain and his tour guide are friendly. The captain even pointed me in the direction of all the Bath rugby players after we happened to see one rowing his lady friend along the river – how romantic.

The whole day was topped of by us singing at the top of our voices to Emeli Sande in the car journey home. A very pleasant day involving food, shopping and a boat trip…what more could you ask for?

-San Francisco photos (complete)
-Clippers sales team highlight reel – (40% complete)
-Music Video – (0% complete)

Hopefully I can get both videos done as soon as possible… In the meantime, here are some of the pictures I edited from my San Francisco trip with Liz.

Manali to Ladakh: Bike trip
Manali to Ladakh: Day 3
Manali to Ladakh: Day 4

Good Morning Jispa
We all woke up quite late, thanks to previous day tiredness, sickness and a picturesque location. Having our breakfast, we all began our giant bag packings. Being late already, things went worse when one of the bike’s stand spring went off. It took another hour to get it replaced at a nearby tyre shop in Jispa.

Scenary at Jispa

Another one

To Sarchu

Halt on the way to Baralacha-la pass

Road blocked!!

Just when our riders were riding the bike in a crazy fashion ( being started late ), the journey came to a halt after Zing-Zang bar. Well, not to have some rest, but due to the bad luck that a bridge was broken down by a truck. Being on bike, we surpassed the long waiting cars and reached the bridge. Being fortunate enough, two of our bikes crossed through the narrow gap when Indian Army blocked it to repair it. Waiting for almost two-three hours, we decided to move on with two bikes to Sarchu so that we can get accommodation for night. It was decided that we will park our bikes on road to let our other group know where we have to stay.

Freezed at Baralacha pass

If you sit back today and think of one of best part of ride, this was it. Baralacha Pass!!

Baralacha Pass

Riding on curvy roads, surrounded by snow capped mountains, icy lanes and freezing winds, we were stunned by the surrounding. Hands frozen, head blown of due to pain, we all stopped for a brief photoshoot. The physical condition didnot permit us to stay longer and we raced off to escape from that cold.

Baralacha to Sarchu

Stay at Sarchu

After escaping ourself from cool breeze, we followed the trail to reach Sarchu as soon as possible. The road thereafter were pretty good,concrete and we were not presented any challange. Pretty landscapes all around the road gave a warm welcome to us. The tented accommodation sitting in mid of the mountain ranges added to our delights. We stopped there looking for our night stay.

Eventful Night of Sarchu

If you ask the place that you loved the most during ride .. it is Sarchu. If you ask the place you hate the most.. it was Sarchu. If you ask one place during the trip that was memorable, it was it.. Sarchu!!!

Feeling the breathlessness and breath taking cold outside, we all unpacked our bags to capture the bed. Blankets,Quilts,Jackets, all were too less to pour heat into out body that time. After a while, we went out for dinner, or rather “a bad dinner” provided by the tent owners.
We were carrying our “energy drink” from Manali itself and decided to have all the energy drinks to feel the warmth. Oh yes!! then who can stop once it gets going. One , two three, four and all finished!! Beign all tight, we drank all the water we could get there to avoid any hangover. Some of our smart member were too brave to have a solely drink, without any mixture of water. Ahh!! God was kind enough to provide us the entertainment that night.

Breathlessness and Headache

We all started feeling the pain after a while. The headache was so painful that it didnt let me sleep. I was restlessly lying on my bed, trying to have a sound sleep. Our brave mate extracted all from inside, whatever he had in dinner that night. The room was full of all the stuff we had in our dinner.   Suffereing from all these we somehow managed to sleep and give ourselves a bit of rest!! Good night!!

In lieu of being able to go to Florida this year, I will instead blog about it and let my memories serve as a mental vacation. I’m writing this blog in a summer skirt and tank with the sun and blue sky outside my door, a warm breeze flowing through my room and a smile on my face as I imagine that Florida is right outside my door.

Ever been to Florida? It is truly America’s playground and tourist heaven and the Orlando area knows this. I know the Orlando area very well. I have been to other areas of The Sunshine State as well. Miami is glitzy and tropical with a ton of Cuban flair. Tampa Bay is also another ritzy area of Florida and on the Gulf of Mexico. Clearwater is small and less glittery but has beautiful beaches nonetheless. Cocoa Beach, about an hour’s drive west of Orlando, is a surfer’s paradise and close to Port Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center.  Daytona Beach, about an hour’s drive northeast of Orlando, is a biker’s paradise and home to the world-famous Daytona Bike Week, held in March of every year. Orlando is located on central Florida and immediate surrounding communities are Kissimmee and St. Cloud.

COST AND CONVENIENCE

I choose to fly into Orlando because it’s very inexpensive and I am a frugal traveler, as I earn a modest income. I book through Priceline.com and from Portland, Oregon I can get a week’s vacation in Orlando, including flight and 2-star hotel, for about $550 average, depending on the time of year. Spring break will always cost more to fly, no matter where you are coming or going. I generally tend to go to Florida beginning of March and any time in April and May. Off-season starts in the Fall, generally, so prices will be lower end of September through end of February. I like to get a rental car as well and book this outside of Priceline, through Thrifty Car Rental, as they have the lowest rates and if you are like me and don’t have a credit card, you can still rent a car. Hotels and car rental companies work with each other and a free shuttle will pick you up at the airport and bring you directly to the car rental agency so that you don’t have to worry about paying for a taxi. Many of the motels that I book through Priceline are located on the Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy, which stretches for miles through Orlando and contains dozens of restaurants, chain stores such as Walmart and Payless Shoes, dinner adventure eateries (such as Arabian Nights dinner show), numerous touristy gift shops where you can get among many other things, Walt Disney merchandise like toys and clothing for a fraction of what you would pay at DisneyWorld. There are also many salons and you can get a pedicure for $20.

LODGING AND SAFETY

About lodging. I noted that I secure a 2-star or even less when I book a vacation to Orlando. Some may turn up their nose at anything less than a 3-star, but as for me, again I am frugal and most importantly in picking a motel choice is that I don’t plan on spending all day at the hotel lounging in a pool. Yes, 2-star or less motels in Florida all have pools, as this is a given for the humid environment. But I plan on going sightseeing and only really plan on being in my room at night to sleep, or maybe during the day briefly if I want to change clothes or something. I do like to have certain amenities, such as free wi-fi and a locking safe and many offer these, too. The downside is that because Orlando is so touristy, there are extra little fees that are incurred at most motels. The locking safe for example, is generally an extra $2 a day charge for the privilege of being able to lock up valuables in your room when you are gone. Leaving them in your car is a definite no-no. Some motels charge for parking, too. I stayed in as very nice 2-star once that had gated security personnel and a very nice lobby with beautiful pond and palm trees. I felt safe and secure from outside crime due to the extra gated security person. However, I ended up having to file a complaint when the security guy began hitting on me and would leave messages on my room’s phone asking me out. This made me highly uncomfortable and I worried that because he knew my room number, could he also secure a key to get in as well?

Tourists are highly targeted in Orlando. One way that unsuspecting visitors are scammed is through false pizza advertising. Many a times I have come back to my unit to see a flyer or two under my door advertising a great special on pizza. How is this a scam you ask? Let me explain. Scammers will create flyers for pizza delivery to your hotel, posing as a legit business. You call them to order a pizza and pay over the phone with your card. That’s it. They got your debit/credit card number. You may actually get a pizza delivered…but who knows where it was made or how. Most likely, you won’t get a pizza at all. So, how can you tell who is real and who is not? Look for a business address on the flyer. No address, not legit. There will only be a phone number listed.  No legit business will neglect to list their business address on an advertisement. This way, you can’t track them down if you don’t know how to find them. I can tell you with 100% certainty that Flippers Pizza is reputable. I have had them deliver before and they have various locations in the Orlando area, with all their contact information. More about safety: always use the chain lock on the inside of your unit door in addition to deadbolting it. That way, if someone does happen to get an access key card to your room, you have an extra lock that prevents further opening of the door while you are in there.

Another annoyance that bugs the hell out of me are the “timeshare” hawkers. They may work at motels where you are staying or stand outside of tourist shops and try to get you to sign up for a presentation on owning a timeshare in exchange for free DisneyWorld tickets or $500. You don’t have to do anything except simply attend a one or two hour presentation by a timeshare company and for your time, you get paid. Well, it’s really not that simple. While free money or tickets sounds great, I am not on vacation to “earn” money or incentives. I am on vacation to play. Also, timeshare companies are tricky. They work VERY hard to make sure that you do not leave without buying something from them, no matter your budget, which by the way, has to be within a certain range. Talk about pressured sales. In 2009, a motel worker who ran the sightseeing brochure booth also pulled double-duty as an agent to get people to sign up for the stupid timeshare presentation. He was very persistent, even to the point of signing me up even as I declined. I did not meet the minimum yearly income at the time so he forged it so that I would “meet” the income requirements. He proceeded to get irritated the more I protested. Finally, I let him sign me up just so he would leave me alone and the next morning, my check out date and day of presentation, I snuck out without him seeing me (my tab at the motel had already been paid) and left him to deal with the matter. On that same trip, a man outside of a gift shop was also trying to get folks to sign up for a timeshare presentation in exchange for $500. I decline politely, only to have him yell after me, “You must be stupid to turn down free money!” I only smiled, got in my car and as I pulled out of the parking lot, flipped him the bird.

By now, you are probably thinking there is no way you would want to visit Orlando with the scams, low quality motels and shady people. However, I can guarantee you that in every motel room on the TV, a special channel is dedicated to “everything Orlando” and includes some of the warnings I just told you about, particularly the pizza scam.  The city wants you to be safe, have a good time and come back to visit over and over…which is what I do.

WEATHER, LANDSCAPE AND WILDLIFE

You probably already assume that Florida is warm and sunny. You are correct in your assumption. If you are not used to warm and humid weather, I discourage you from visiting the sunshine state in June through mid-September.  I have been there in July and the heat is very burdensome.  When I am there in the spring, nighttime and early mornings are muggy and warm.  Upon arrival at the Orlando International Airport, when you step outside the muggy warm air hits you in the face, which for me is fantastic but for others, it may be too warm or somewhat suffocating at first. For me, tropical air and palm trees are my paradise. It does certainly rain in Florida and there are frequent lightning strikes as well. A couple times at DisneyWorld, some rides were temporarily shut down due to inclement weather, which was lightning and rain. The smell around Orlando is also quite distinctive. It’s not necessarily a pleasant smell- almost a paper mill kind of odor. Orlando is not set along the coast, again because it is centrally located within the state, but you can get to a beach within an hour, such as Cocoa or Daytona.

There is a joke about speedbumps in Florida, the joke being: what is the highest mountain in Florida? Speedbumps.  Florida is flat as a fritter and has no mountains. NONE.  There are palm trees and birds of the tropical and seafaring sort. I love the pelicans. You will also find armadillos, manatees, snakes, dolphins, sharks, sea turtles and of course, alligators. You will often see this sign:

I had someone say to me once, “Ew! Who would molest a gator?!” With a straight face I explained that the word molest means “to bother.” Alligators can be found all over Florida and apartment complexes and homes with pools need to take care and screen off the pool to prevent a gator from slipping in and going for a dip.  Gators love to hide out in culverts, ponds, lakes and rivers. On an airboat ride on Lake Oviedo, I learned that that lake is considered “the most gator-populated lake in the world.” The airboat guide may have been right. Gators were everywhere. Big ones, small ones, sitting on banks, floating on top of the lake, sitting on logs…I had a blast. Everytime I go to Florida it is in ingrained in my brain to seek out gators in bodies of water. I know how to spot them, know to keep a distance and I never molest them.   I am careful at night even, if I have to go to say, Wal-Mart and it is close to a body of water. There could be a gator lurking in the parking lot.  I even tried gator meat once. It had almost a metallic taste to it and I was not very impressed.

Dolphins and manatees are abundant in the Sunshine State. Manatees prefer brackish water, a mix of fresh and seawater. Manatees are gentle creatures and also protected by Florida State Law.  Dolphins can be seen of course in the ocean but also in bays where many boat sightseeing trips happen.  I will never forget the most awesome moment I have ever had in Florida, last year in 2012 when I was in the Tampa/Clearwater area and visiting a small Greek town of Tarpon Springs. I had finished a most excellent lamb gyro meal at Mama’s Greek Cuisine, complete with bellydancing, to which I had the pleasure of dancing a minute or so with the performing dancer. It was a safe, small quiet little town and at night a warm breeze swept through the village and I leaned against a wooden railing at a boat dock. In the quiet stillness two dolphins came swimming into the small bay and chattered with each other as they frolicked in the warm water. They did not seem to notice me, nor be afraid, as dolphins are very social and do enjoy human interaction.  I watched them with a big smile on my face under the moonlight as the pair glided effortlessly and gracefully along the surface, their grey skin sparkling in the light.  It was so magical and breathtaking that I never wanted it to end. I was the only one there to see this beautiful display and I felt incredibly blessed. It was the highlight of my trip.

Snakes are abundant but I have actually only seen a few while in Florida. Mostly, you will see tiny lizards everywhere. These little brown lizards are like bugs. They are on the roads, sidewalks, trails, grassy areas, parking lots, parks, ponds…if you are scared of lizards, Florida may not be the best place for you to visit. I personally have an abnormal fear of snakes (see my blog titled Snakes and Ophidiophobia) but I know that I am less likely to see a snake than a lizard. I guarantee you will see these little brown lizards. That’s how common they are.

DISNEYWORLD

I have never been to Disneyland, located in Southern California. I have been to DisneyWorld, located in the Orlando area, numerous times. I am pretty much a big kid and still love Disney.  Depending on where you are lodged at, DisneyWorld may or may not be a 30 minute or longer drive, but this also depends on traffic.  And Florida traffic requires you to be a defensive driver. I do want to take a quick step back about the lodging part- you can stay at a DisneyWorld resort hotel and you will have peace of mind the entire time about being safe. No pizza flyers under the door here! It is spendier of course, than a motel off Disney property, so it’s just a matter of budget.  Many motels offsite offer free shuttles to DisneyWorld, too, so if you don’t have a rental car and can’t afford a taxi, book lodging that offers this perk.

Ah, DisneyWorld. It truly is the happiest place on earth, as they say. With four theme parks, two water parks and world-class spas and golf resorts, this place has something for everyone. To check it out, go to DisneyWorld and learn for yourself. Let me give you just a brief rundown of the parks and other features.

• Magic Kingdom. Fairytale dreams come true for children of all ages at Magic Kingdom park. Delight in classic attractions, enchanting fireworks, musical parades and beloved Disney Characters across 6 whimsical lands. See fantasy become a reality as you explore Adventureland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland and Main Street, U.S.A areas. Zoom through space, become a swashbuckling pirate and watch fireworks light up the sky over Cinderella Castle (Disneyworld.com).
• Epcot. Discover exciting attractions, enchanting international pavilions and award-winning fireworks. Celebrating the human spirit, Epcot has 2 distinct realms: Future World, which features technological innovations, and World Showcase, which shares with Guests the culture and cuisine of 11 countries: Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Italy, the United States, Japan, Morocco, France, United Kingdom and Canada (Disneyworld.com).
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Movie magic comes to life at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, awash in the glitz and glamour of Hollywood’s Golden Age. Step into the action with attractions based on blockbuster movies and top TV shows, and delight in exciting entertainment that puts you center stage. With the vibrancy of a bustling movie set, this park features 8 sections: Hollywood Boulevard, Echo Lake, Sunset Boulevard, Streets of America, Commissary Lane, Pixar Place, Mickey Avenue and Animation Courtyard areas (Disneyworld.com)
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Encounter exotic animals and exciting adventures at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park, the largest animal theme park in the world. Home to more than 1,700 animals across 250 species, the park reflects Walt Disney’s dedication to conservation and is committed to animal care, education and research. Explore 7 enthralling lands: Oasis, Discovery Island, Camp Minnie-Mickey, Africa, Rafiki’s Planet Watch, Asia and Dinoland, U.S.A. areas (Disneyworld.com).
• Typhoon Lagoon. Escape to Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park for a storm of fun in the sun! Snorkel with sharks, stingrays and tropical fish in the coral reef. Plunge down rushing rapids, sunbathe on the sandy beach and glide down the lazy river on a relaxing raft ride. After an epic typhoon hurled surfboards into palm trees and tossed boats like toys, the storm-soaked Mount Mayday became a topsy-turvy oasis of water-filled adventure! (Disneyworld.com)
• Blizzard Beach. Discover frosty fun for the whole family at Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park, a one-time ski resort that has melted into a watery wonderland. Zip down the slushy slopes of Mount Gushmore on one of the world’s tallest and fastest waterslides. Float down the tranquil river and sunbathe on the white-sand beach. Children under 48 inches tall can even splash around in their own water play area with a snow-castle fountain and kid-sized waterslides (Disneyworld.com).
• Wide World of Sports Complex. Play at the next level at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. These 220 acres of professionally run, state-of-the-art facilities host over 60 sports and thousands of events for athletes of all ages and abilities. Train and compete with your team—or catch the excitement as a spectator—in this grand sports setting where classic athletic ideals meet contemporary innovation (Disneyworld.com). This is also home to the Atlanta Braves spring training and you can attend training games for a great price.
• Downtown Disney. Free to get into, this is a shopper’s paradise for Disney items as well as the famous Lego Store. It also has a House of Blues and a Cirque de Soleil attraction.
• Disney’s Boardwalk. Experience the timeless charm of Disney’s BoardWalk, a quarter-mile promenade of exquisite dining, unique shops and exciting nightlife. Stroll along the water’s edge, play afternoon midway games and discover evening street performers. Evoking turn-of-the-century boardwalks in such coastal cities as Coney Island and Atlantic City, Disney’s BoardWalk is a short stroll to Epcot and a breezy boat ride to Disney’s Hollywood Studios (Disneyworld.com).

All parks have amazing rides and attractions. I have not seen any parades at the waterparks, but the main theme parks have spectacular parades featuring all kinds of Disney characters. I love Epcot and Magic Kingdom. At Epcot I love that there is a Little Mermaid-themed ride and aquarium with manatees and dolphins and the thrilling Test Track ride, where you play the role of a crash-test dummy at an automobile plant! The World Showcase is phenomenal in that within each nation, the employees, food, smells, souvenirs, rides and attractions are all based on that country. You are likely to meet Mulan in Japan and Belle from Beauty and the Beast in Germany. My personal favorite is Mexico, as the grand temple takes you inside what looks like a nighttime outdoor market, with a great Mexican restaurant, a Three Caballeros water ride and a lava-flowing volcano in the background. There are white lights strung up above your head and the ceiling is painted a very dark blue-purple set with twinkle lights that look like stars. I also like Norway, as there is a Maelstrom viking ship ride that is quite thrilling. Magic Kingdom, complete with its newest addition, Fantasyland (which I have not seen yet) will bring out the prince and princess in you. You just cannot help it. You can dine at Tony’s Italian Restaurant (remember Lady and the Tramp?) and sail the thrilling Pirates of the Caribbean ride. The Haunted Mansion ride is among my favorites and yes, it is kid-friendly despite the spook-factor. One of most favorite attractions in Magic Kingdom is Mickey’s PhilharMagic. It’s not a ride, but instead a 3D attraction that kept a huge smile on my face the entire time. I love encountering Disney characters at the park. Whether it be Captain Hook, Cinderella, the Chipmunks, Goofy…I know it’s a person in costume but for a few magical seconds you are able to forget.  I swear its like being a kid again. All the little kids in princess and prince outfits getting so excited over Disney is adorable and heart-warming.

DisneyWorld tickets are pretty spendy and kind of complicated for a newbie to purchase, as there are various options you can add on to each ticket and what parks you can use it at, or how many times.  Also, you have to pay for parking, which was $12/day last year when I went. The parking lots are so huge that a shuttle takes you to the park gates. There is also an inter-park monorail system that can transport you to different parks.  There are water fountains at the park but to me the water tastes gross and is always warm. Bring a water bottle because bottled water is more expensive there than soda. The food is not too cheap either for the portions you get. There are a lot of souvenir shops and as I stated in the early portion of the blog, there are gift shops all over Orlando where you can buy the same kind of souvenirs for much less. In Magic Kingdom, one of my favorite shops is the Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe. It houses all kinds of Disney Christmas items and it just smells like Christmas in there. My hope is to one day make it to DisneyWorld around Christmas time. As a child, I watched all kinds of Disney Christmas cartoons and to this day, get a warm, comfy feeling inside when I think about that memory. It’s like comfort food for the soul. I also watched Disney Halloween cartoons as well and someday would also like to visit the park during Halloween. Both holidays at DisneyWorld receive much fanfare with special events and decor. Check out this link for all the special events that DisneyWorld hosts.

When it comes to rides, there will be lines- and long ones. Disney realized that this was just not acceptable and found a way to help you get onto a ride faster. The system is called FastPass. You insert your admission card into the machine and it tells you when to come back, usually 45 minutes or so. When you go back to the ride at the time instructed, you enter the ride though the FastPass line, which is really not a line at all.  You get onto the ride sooner and in the 45 minutes that you waited for the ride, you didn’t actually have to wait in line…you could go do something else in the park in the meantime. A total time saver. Another cool trick I learned is that single riders can get on rides sooner as well. As I always visit Florida alone, I know that as a single person going on rides, most people have a buddy with them and take up seats together, usually leaving one empty in the same row. The ride attendant will ask how many people are together and if you a single person, voila! You get to fill that empty seat! One year at Epcot I was waiting for my FastPass to get on Test Track when I just needed to cool off and relax without being in the sun. There was a ride I was skeptical of and thought for sure it would be boring as hell, but it turned out to be quite fascinating and I achieved my goal of staying cool and resting my feet, which were starting to get blisters. Oh! That reminds me: footwear. You may think that flip-flops would be a good option but trust me- after walking around on pavement for hours upon hours, usually more than one day, your feet will be begging for mercy. Also, strappy sandals are a no-no, as the straps will start to dig into your feet. I have realized that the best option are lace-up shoes, such as Keds or sneakers. You may want to look cute in your sundress or shorts and wear fashionable footwear, but you will regret this. Comfortable shoes! Anyways, back to this ride. It is called Living With the Land and you get to ride in a boat past various exhibits that talk about energy and food production. Not usually a topic I care to engage over, but it was educational and I liked the greenhouses at the end with mega-sized veggies on display. Epcot also houses a ride called Soarin‘ that makes you feel as if you are hang gliding over California. I have only been to Hollywood Studios once and it was raining quite heavily so I did not get to see the entire park, but if you like thrills, this is where the epic Hollywood Tower of Terror is housed. I won’t give the details away- you will just have to try the ride and see for yourself! At Animal Kingdom, there is the very cool African Safari ride through acres of roaming wild animals, including lions. Their newest ride I have not been able to go on yet, is called Expedition Everest. Check out the link and see for yourself how awesome this ride looks.

The things about the rides at DisneyWorld is that even if you are waiting in line, Disney knew this would be very boring and thus created exhibits in accordance with that ride for you to look at and interact with while waiting for the ride. As you work through the line, providing you did not use a FastPass, you can see African artifacts, for example, when waiting to get on a rafting ride at Animal Kingdom. When not going on rides there are also various exhibits that are fun and interactive. At Animal Kingdom, visit a very authentic-looking African village or trek through a jungle and see monkeys, birds and other exotic creatures- maybe even a tiger! At Magic Kingdom, visit Western Town and hang out with Woody from Toy Story.  At Epcot, take a stroll through the world and see bellydancing in Morocco.  At night, fireworks and lighted parades illuminate the parks.  There is so much to see and do. You can get what is called a Park Hopper ticket, which allows you to enter multiple parks in one day (except for water parks- those are separate) but I would not recommend this for first-time visitors. It easily takes a whole day just to explore one of the theme parks. The last two times I went I purchased a Park Hopper because for one, I had seen the theme parks before and two, there were certain attractions I wanted to focus on in a limited amount of time.  The Park Hopper ticket option is extra of course. To give you an idea of what tickets cost, based on the Disney website, a four-day adult ticket (ages 10+) is $272.64 with tax. Spendy. Children under ten can get a ticket for less. A single adult one-day ticket to any theme park (again, except water parks) is $89. Children 3-9 are $83. Now, say you want to add the Park Hopper option. This will add another $57.00. If you want a base ticket and a water park ticket, it is also an additional $57. If you want a base ticket with both a water park and Park Hopper option, then you are going to add $79 to your existing $89 base ticket. Yowzers. Florida residents get a discount, luckily. I tend to try to buy my park tickets on eBay, but if you go this route make sure and scrutinize the seller’s info on that ticket. Check if it’s for an adult or child. When does it expire? Is it a Park Hopper ticket or base ticket? Even then, you generally only get a small discount off eBay anyways, as DisneyWorld passes are a hot item. There are also various discount websites dedicated to selling excursions and theme park passes for less and I actually have gotten pretty good discounts from here on many things, except DisneyWorld tickets.

EXTRA STUFF

Orlando is not about DisneyWorld exclusively. You also have Universal Studios and SeaWorld, both of which I have not been to yet. You can find top-notch restaurants, parks, botanical gardens, smaller attractions such as Ripley’s Believe it or Not, helicopter excursions, designer outlet malls, golf courses, water parks, mini golfing and so much more. This site is trustworthy and I have been to this center and the staff are extremely helpful. You can get discount cards and maps as well as advice on what or where to visit. I’m sure I will publish this blog and then realize I have forgotten to include more pertinent Orlando information but if that is the case, the link above to the Orlando Visitor Center will tell you everything you need to know. Orlando is very family-oriented and there are always things to do, so plan your visit when you have a good amount of time to stay and play. Wear sunscreen, carry bottled water and remember comfy shoes!

]]> http://thingandwhere.com/2013/05/21/coffee-in-covent-garden/ Tue, 21 May 2013 17:00:42 +0000 thing and where http://thingandwhere.com/2013/05/21/coffee-in-covent-garden/

Bali at Gilimanuk Port,
Java at Ketapang Port,
Connected by the ferry,
A 24 hour operation,
365 day a year,
Except on “Nyepi” holiday
(In Bali)..

Today I crossed again,
As a tourist,
After many-many years,
More than 20 years ago,
My last time crossing by ferry.

The Central Criminal Court, or Old Bailey as it’s colloquially known, is open Monday to Friday 10am – 1pm and 2pm – 5pm for members of the public to watch trials in session. You never know what you are going to get until you arrive, so this particular ‘attraction’ can be a little hit and miss, but makes for a unique and interesting stop off. The Old Bailey is one of the most famous criminal courts in the world with many historic cases taking place there. It might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it can be fascinating to watch the pomp and ceremony of the British law system, where white wigs are juxtaposed by white MacBooks which the legal teams tap away on. I will certainly be returning for further visits and very much enjoyed gaining some understanding of our legal system, be sure to arrive promptly as the public galleries fill up quickly, especially on more publicised cases.

Old Bailey sign (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Worth nothing: You cannot take mobile phones / large bags / food or other electronic equipment into the public galleries, and there is no where to store them within the court, so leave them at home if you can! Or a couple of the shops nearby will charge you (£2 – £5) to leave items with them.

More info here: http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/about-the-city/what-we-do/Pages/Central-Criminal-Court.aspx

Facing the Hagia Sophia and built over the ancient Hippodrome, the Blue Mosque is the epitome of grandeur and Ottoman architectural excellence. It is also known as the Sultanahmet Camii and the Sultan Ahmed Mosque. Its construction began in 1609 under the supervision of the chief architect Mehmet Aga and its original design comprised of a hospital, a tomb, a market and a school for the Sultan as well as his family. There are over 260 windows that shed light on the 20,000 blue tiles in the dome ceiling (hence the name Blue Mosque) while the grey domes were built to appear as though they rise up to the heaven.

The ceramic tiles at the lower level of the ceiling comprise of patterns made to symbolize fruits, trees and flowers matched with intricately written Quranic verses. The Blue Mosque closes for five times during a day for the daily nimaz (prayer) and the non-worshipers, mostly tourists, are allowed to enter through the north entrance only.

When we entered the Mosque itself, we were told that it is also mandatory to cover our heads and take off our shoes and put them in a plastic bag which we would then carry with us while we explored the mosque’s interior. For those tourists who did not have head scarves or guys who were wearing shorts, they were given blue colored cloth to cover themselves before they entered. As soon as we stepped inside the mosque, the faint smell of Persian rugs, covering the mosque floors and the hushed murmur of the worshipers offering Salah (prayer), completely awed us and simultaneously added to our sense of mystery and wonder. The Blue Mosque does indeed live up to its reputation as one of the main tourist attractions of Istanbul. It is beautiful. We could not help but take a whole load of pictures, trying, albeit in vain, to capture some of it’s real splendor and majesty within our cameras. We failed at that, but we did capture some amazing moments and created memories that are worth a lifetime for sure.

Interesting Facts about the Blue Mosque:

• It is the only mosque in Istanbul comprising of six minarets in its façade. According to some, when Sultan Ahmed ordered its construction, it had one minaret more than the Grand Mosque in Mecca and so it was deemed disrespectful. Thus, the Sultan resorted to ordering  the construction of a new minaret for the Grand Mosque in order to re-establish the peace.
• The hanging lamps from the ceiling were at one time, covered in gems and gold. Also, in the old days, it was possible to find crystal balls as well as Ostrich eggs among the glass bowls. However, over time, all these were either robbed or removed.
• The chains and lamps from the West entrance were intentionally hung low enough to ensure that every person entering the mosque was forced to bow his head as a sign of respect. Even when the Sultan himself visited the Blue Mosque, usually on a horseback, had to bow his head in respect.
• Sultan Ahmed’s tomb is located on the north side of the Blue Mosque and faces the Sultanahmet Park. He died at the age of twenty-seven; only a year after the construction of the Blue Mosque had been completed. His tomb was big enough to allow his wife and three sons to be buried alongside him and the tomb itself is also decorated with blue tiles, similar to the Blue Mosque.

Modern Sultan Ahmed Jr. with his candy man. They were selling candy which is supposedly similar to how it was made during the 17th century.

I know I say this a lot but Incheon airport is by far my favorite airport! Like everything else in Korea, it is super efficient, super organized, and super clean. Even an international flight only requires you to check in an hour before because they are that fast. I arrived at Incheon courtesy of the 3300 bus that is an exact 45 minutes from Ilsan to the airport. I was quickly able to find my counter, check in, and was at my gate in a total of 20 minutes. As I sat down with my food and magazine waiting to be checked in, I couldn’t believe that I was lucky enough to get an extra day off work. Once on board our flight I was surprised to find out that we were actually getting food on a 2 hour flight. And perhaps I am the only person in the world to say this, but I absolutely love plane food. The fresh rolls, the chicken and rice, the fruit, the salad, and of course a few beers to wash it all down with. I turned on Ratatouille and fell into a deep sleep. My habit of staying up the night before a flight remains a constant among other things. 

And with sweet dreams of traveling and exploring new places, I awoke to find myself in Taipei. I quickly got through customs and picked up my bag to meet my dear friend Kirsten waiting on the other side. We went to the bus terminal (which was super easy to find because all the signs are in English) and bought a one way ticket into central Taipei close to our first hostel. The bus was 150 Taiwanese dollars. The exchange is sitting at about 30 – 1, so for the rest of my trip I’ll just refer to everything in Canadian Dollars. Makes everything a lot easier. Right, so a 5 dollar bus ride into the city. The bus ride was about an hour which was perfect because it gave both of us time to talk a mile a minute and catch up on our adventures!

Once we got off the bus we headed to our hostel. The first night we were staying at a place called JV’s hostel. http://www.hostelworld.com/hosteldetails.php/JV-s-Hostel/Taipei/30551

The price was great at 15 dollars a night, and I have to say these are the best directions I have ever come across for a hostel. We had absolutely no trouble finding it or checking in. Once we got into our female only dorm I have to say we didn’t have the best room mates. The room held 6 and 4 of the beds were taken by a group of Chinese girls. And of course I’m not stereotyping but I have traveled and been in the same room as Chinese people before and unfortunately they have always been very dirty. These girls were no exception, their stuff was absolutely all over the place (including our beds), they had laundry everywhere, there was hair everywhere, and the place was a hot sweaty mess. We were just staying there for one night so it was no big deal for us, but I can’t imagine having to share that room any longer with them. The bathrooms and showers seemed clean enough although it sucked that there was no toilet on the second floor. Each floor had a sink which seems to have all their left over hair in it, but I’m used to seeing girls hair everywhere, so again, no big deal. We quickly dropped off our bags and decided to head out for some food, drinks, and exploring. 

Upon heading out and taking a sharp left we quickly came across the Tonghua night market. This place was bustling with energy, bright lights, and people everywhere. We made our way through with eyes darting left and right. There was so much to see that we didn’t know where to start! Food stalls, drink stalls, clothing stalls, shoe stalls, literally everything a girl can ask for!!! I won’t go through every single detail but we ended up spending several hours there. 

The fresh fruit drinks were to die for as was the fresh fruit! I was able to also get this incredible Taiwanese dessert that I will talk more about later. I have to say I gave in to my darkest need and purchased a pair of shoes… for 3 dollars! One of the many reasons I love Asia! And we ended our night with an incredible dinner of freshly cooked chicken, rice, coup, and vegetables, for a mere $6!

Around midnight we decided to call it a night as we had so much to do over the next few days! So far so good, Taipei has been able to fulfill everything in only a few short hours!

For the past two days we have hadnothing planned and something planned as a small group and then that changes so my attitude changed to ok y’all I’m going to do my own thing. This included tanning by the pool, walking Ala Moana Beach Park and shopping. I was invited by a new friend from my first mall excursion (back during the first week I was here), to be a head of hair (he sells hair straighteners) for the new guy to practice on. I was cleverly chosen for my copious amounts of hair and the fact that the new guy was shy and needed someone to talk to him while doing hair…DONE!  While I was at the mall I decided to do a little shopping, but soon had to leave for the safety of my bank account.

After spending money at the words largest outdoor mall (Ala Moana Center) I went to the International Market to spend money on some souvenirs.  Here they have decent prices on the cheesy hula dancers and money shaped coconut banks (which my grandpa brought back when he visited Hawaii, I have it now ).  Here you can find brightly coloured sarongs and leis as well as every type of necklace that screams ‘I was in Hawaii’.  I got a Tiger Shark tooth, as requested.  A short walk from the International Market is an entirely different type of shopping.  The kind that a student such as myself presses their nose up against the class like a dog trapped outside, but I don’t dare to go inside.

 

 

I had to be a good Catholic and visit the Basilica. Not only is it beautiful, but look who I found: 

Saint Rita for those of you who don’t speak Hungarian and are too lazy to use Google Translate. 

Next I visited the Dohany utcai Synagogue, because I’m culturally diverse and I have Jewish relatives you know. It is the largest synagogue in Europe and frankly looks a lot like a church on the inside and has mosk-ish elements on the outside. 

This is a monument that is outside the synagogue to commemorate the lives of the Hungarian Jews that were murdered during WWII. It’s hard to see how beautiful it is from this photo (taken on my iPhone), but on every leaf there is a name of a family or person lost. The tree (a weeping willow) itself is entirely metal and worth the entrance fee to the synagogue. 

My photos for the rest of the sight seeing/tourist adventure are lacking, and frankly I’m exhausted from the $2.50 for three beers deal (some of it really is just jet lag). 

To end this very short update I’ll leave you with a photo of me being a wonderful, guiltless (I wish), good, Catholic girl and my small candle I lit at the Basilica.

love from Budapest

keelin

The hotel has retained many of its original features, with its Georgian façade and classic Doric columns. The hotel has 336 bedrooms, 10 function rooms and its a 7 floor mansion. It offers guests superb customer service, as well as a selection of fantastic facilities and an award-winning and hugely popular Italian restaurant, Avista.

Guests can enjoy a leisurely stroll through the beautiful Grosvenor Square Gardens, browse the boutiques of Bond Street and the fashionable stores of Regent Street, walk through Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, or attend a theatre performance in the West End. The Houses of Parliament, London’s financial district, US Embassy Canadian Embassy, Indonesia Embassy, Italian Embassy are also within easy reach of the hotel.

The class took place at the Avista bars, it was a two-on-one session lead by the two amazingly skilled mixologiest Rewfus Brode and Casey Small (follow them on twitter @thecocktailserv), they thought us how to make a Mojito. we also had a few competitions between the teams (the other bloggers) and my team won the best Mojito but lost on the timing (boo), The class was fun, networked with some interesting people. Here are some “not so perfect” pictures i took…

If you want a 5 stars, luxury hotel…then The Millennium Hotel fits the bill.

After a few hours (yes, as I had to wait for my other friends) I made it home to the lovely Courtfield Garden.My flat is right across  St. Jude's Church, meaning I will be enjoying my morning tea sips with a lovely view . Awesome!
My first impression of London: I like it here, I feel, strangely, warm. In terms of architecture,London and Boston have very similar styles. London's buildings, however, are brighter and lighter in shades-which is exactly how I like buildings to be.
I am so pleased that the apartment is very near to the central and relatively safe, which means I can always wander around, alone...And I did: I went to pick up some food, ended up in Waitrose - Stop&Shop equivalent, and decided to cook my very first meal in London. I got some salmon, mushroom and spices - which turned out way better than I's expected guess I have more "chef" potential than my mom and I thought).

This is the bike stock, from Target for $259

Notice the flat bars, BMX style brake levers, and clicky shifters.  I’m not really against click type shifters, but on this particular bike, it was never possible to get it adjusted absolutely perfect to where the full range of clicks would shift fully into the next gear.  For instance, if you wanted to go all the way low or high on the back chainrings (cogs) you’d be stuck kind of between gears.  Not very cool.

So this, that, and the other thing…it was time to make a change!  I’ll try to keep a running price tally when listing new parts, in order to determine the final price of the bike.  I’m hoping to make this ‘cheap’ bike (compared to some people’s crazy fancy rides) race ready and competitive…at least as much as to get through the HIM without wishing I was on a pricier bike.

So first things first, Angela got me these for my birthday!

A set of Sunlite 46cm Road bars.  Super light, and only $27.48 on Amazon.com.

I also got some SRAM white bar tape for Christmas, $11.09 on Amazon.com.

To complete the new handlebar setup, I needed some brake levers and shifters.

I got a pair of these Tektro RL520 brake levers on ebay for $21.99 + $3.23 shipping.

All I needed now was some shifters.  I got these cheap looking, but actually awesomely working tension shifters from Amazon.com.  They were under $10 for the pair, but they got lost in transit, so they refunded me the money, and sent another pair for free!  Free shifters! Whooo!

Ramiko Friction Thumbshifters

So let’s tally this up……..$73.79 for the front end upgrade putting the total bike price at $333.79.  Not bad, considering a coworker just told me his son bought a $10,000 tri bike recently!

Yup, I took the picture of the bike on the ceiling of the garage and flipped it haha.

I’ve been riding this set up for about a month now, and am very pleased with it!  Everything is working great, and is way more comfortable.  On a side note, I did an 18 mile ride this morning with some guys from work…guys that are all decked out with clips, crazy bikes, cycle jerseys (is that even what they’re called?) and what not…and I was able to keep up with them just fine!  It gave me a little more faith that my ‘Target Special’ will be able to get the job done this Fall!

-Josh

The primary rule of travel, as immutable as the laws of physics, can be thus rendered: wherever there are tourists, there will be hucksters.

They misdirect you to bad attractions. They over-charge your for services or souvenirs. They convince you that the fake artifact you just bought was in fact a great bargain.

Hucksters are trust hackers. Lacking any kind of credibility, they gain your trust by making you think they’re doing you a favor, or that they’re your newest best friend, effectively hot-wiring your skepticism.

Often their tricks are age-old sales gimmicks. Other times they are more sophisticated psychological sleights of hand. Everywhere I go, I always let myself get taken by one of them – in a controlled manner, where I lose little or no money – to learn their methods.

Protect yourself by knowing how they get you:

The Time Crunch

Example : “But my exhibit is only on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Tomorrow is Friday. It’s your last chance.”

You see this all the time on TV: hurry while supplies last. This is a limited-time offer. It creates a sense of urgency by making something seem scarce. But if there’s money to be made everyday, who would be stupid enough to limit the flow of customers?

The Inside Information

Example : “You’re going to the art market? It’s very nice. But there’s this little art shop just down the street that no one knows about with really nice original works.”

Right. He’s telling this to you and only you because you’re so darn special. But it’s a trick that works: gaining trust by making you think you’re getting exclusive local advice. But this is often someone paid by a shop-keeper to direct tourists to his store, which may or may not be authentic. That’s your call to make.

To make matters simpler, only trust info from people who don’t profit directly from tourism, like pedestrians and shopkeepers that serve locals.

The Fake Savior

Example : “Have you heard of the tapestry mafia? They make fake tapestries with bad dyes that fade with time. Make sure you go to a legit dealer. There’s one right over there…”

Hey, this guy just saved you from buying a fake. He must be trustworthy. Go ahead, take his advice and stroll right into the tapestry mafia’s headquarters. A classic bait.

The Ego Stroke

Example : “Most tourists just go to the palace. But I can tell you’re a real traveler. I think you’ll like to see this historical old house instead.”

What amazing powers of insight this guy has. He has known you for 20 seconds and knows you’re not like those mindless tourist lemmings. Right. You and everyone else he meets.

The Misunderstood Pariah

Example : “So many people who come here try to negotiate a lower price like I’m selling souvenirs. They don’t realize this is master craftsmanship.”

It may be master craftsmanship, but that doesn’t stop him from trying to sell it way above market value. He’s appealing to your compassion by faking intimacy. Help this poor, struggling artist pay his bills by getting royally ripped off.

The Guilt Freebie

Example : “I just spent 15 minutes showing you how my people create this unique art form. For your enjoyment, please step into my gift shop.”

Ever feel the urge to buy the full product after tasting a sample at the supermarket? It’s called the reciprocity urge. It taps into the instinct to return a favor, a reaction baked by evolution to keep societies inter-dependent and at peace with each other.

You didn’t force this guy to show you anything. You don’t have to give anything back.

Full read @ World Nomads

But one of my favorite places I have ever visited would have to be New York. Before I had the chance to go there, I had only dreamed of it, thanks to the help of many tv programmes and films, I had a good idea of what to expect. But I got much more than what was bargained for!

It really is an astonishing city, and it certainly doesn’t sleep. I’ve been once in the autumn and once in the summer and It’s funny how different a city can be, dependent on the weather! With so much to do and see, whether you are there for a few days or a few weeks, you will have a lot to see and do.

The last time I visited was summer’12, three years since the last visit, with the intention of seeing more than the average tourist attractions. The empire state is a must see attraction, having done it both times, I would never give the sight a miss. The city is just beautiful from that height, it really does make it look so small. Then of course its what time you go up, or you go up twice! Ohh and p.s have a decent camera, you wont want to miss taking pictures of that view.

My favorite thing about New York is central park. There is so much peace from such a large city. Its everyone’s garden, and the sheer size and beauty of it is amazing. With a pond and plenty of bridges, there is a day and a half in visiting it alone. Summer and autumn are as pretty as eachother, you can even sunbathe in the summer.

Of course there is the statue of liberty and Ellis Island, which cant go a miss. The history behind both really gives you a deeper insight into the history of this amazing city.

The best way around the city is the underground or by cab. But if its your first visit why not use a sightseeing tour bus. You will learn more about the city aswell as get around. Of course not everyone wants to do the tourist attractions when visiting new york, but its inevitable on your first visit. You dont want to miss this superb opportunity.

This time around, I also managed to see a broadway show, Chicago. Its one of mine and my sister’s favorite musicals, and it was such an excitement to see a broadway show in New York, something thats an experience in itself.

By no means, I loved the show, but I wouldn’t say its the show to see if you want a real glitz and glamor broadway show that you would expect to see in such a place like New York. Mamma Mia would probably be the ideal broadway show to watch whilst you’re there.

However, if you are in New York during baseball season, going to see a baseball game would be a must. Whilst there during the summer, I managed to go and see the New York Yankees and what an experience. Its nothing like you would ever think, and its certainly not a game the americans sit down glued too, unlike us with football. Its more about the food, but all for their own :L Anyways, you couldn’t miss the opportunity and you’d be stupid if you did.

Food wise, you have sooo much choice, you are in a city so why wouldn’t you. Of course you have all the chain restaurants like Bubba Gumps, TGI Fridays and Planet Hollywood. Other than those, I didn’t have the opportunity to visit any other restaurants that aren’t mainstream, but they’re just fine anyway.

My biggest tip when visiting would be don’t stop. There is no time to stop in this bustling city. Plus with the amount of walking, you wouldn’t want to stop otherwise you wouldn’t get started again.

New York is one of the most spectacular cities I have visited, but I wouldn’t say its a summer holiday, more of a city break. Don’t miss out on the tourist attractions and even if you don’t enjoy shopping (much like my dad), you’d want to do it, just to see the sheer size of the stores.

Its a place that I could go back to again and again and discover fantastic aspects and quirky corners that you wouldn’t of thought of before. Its certainly one of my favorite places to visit, and I would tell anyone to jump at the chance if they have it!

Today we hiked up Diamond Head and I thought that this Lion King quote was very appropriate for what to expect from the view!  The hike is a switch back, not especially difficult but it is hot and there are quite a few people that are hiking it all at the same time.  This means that if you like going your own pace, which is faster than a Japanese family that includes three or more generations, you may be a little frustrated, left to cook in the open sun, looking for openings like an F1 driver as you round a corner.

My other disappointment was the ‘tour guide’ at the top of the hike who, instead of giving pieces of information, stands at the top peddling future tours.  If you stand at the top for more than 15 minutes you will hear his exact same speech at least twice.  While members of our group were trying to take pictures and commenting on the view, he got in the way of those pictures and even ‘Shhhhed’ David!  Now, due to the fact my mother reads this blog I will not venomously attack this man with every dirty word I learned on the playground…but whatever comes to your mind feel free to think that is how I would have described him, I bet you even know a few I don’t.

Without further delay here is the Diamond Head Hike!

Thats me in the hat, watch out its windy at the top!

There are a few places to rest and take photos where you will not be in the way.

Views as we are hiking.

Wow!

When you are hiking up you can choose the stairs or the easy way!  This is us after some of the stairs…

If you take the stairs it pops you out at this view!

So amazing but not at the top yet!

Here we are at the top!

From the top you can see all around…definitely worth the work out!

Hike well done…remember to bring sunglasses or you will look like a doofus in pictures

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