Out of Africa?!?

I tend to go through phases where I get completely consumed by certain culture themes, for example I've been obsessed with anything Polynesian related my whole life, and will probably never change that infatuation. After living in Rome a few years ago I maniacally wanted everything Italian to a point that I was convinced that I may have become Italian by default. Last year I began my Middle East phase and insisted that harem pants become a part of my daily wardrobe and learning Arabic was something I needed to try.

All these obsessions still remain and just continue to add up, this year's phase: Safari! Animal prints, African tribal wear/accessories, decor and anything referencing the Lion King. I'm hooked!

Last week I turned 26 and would have it no other way than to have a Safari themed birthday. Unfortunately, I couldn't make it to Kenya or Tanzania or Namibia like I would have loved to but I did find a worthy alternative...

Who knew Africa was only an hour and a half drive from San Francisco?! Rhinos, giraffes, monkeys...oh my! We found the Sonoma Serengeti at SAFARI WEST in Santa Rosa! It's only a small teaser of what a real African safari would be, but nonetheless it was still a good time. 

Love that we can sit at the top of the truck during the safari.

Safari West isn't a zoo or drive through park, they're an authentic African preserve and working ranch, and home to 800 individual animals. Safari (driving and walking) tours start at $68 for adults and lasts about 2.5-3 hours, reservations are needed and spots do fill up on the weekends. 

You have the option to spend the night in an authentic African luxury safari tents shipped from Africa. Cottages are also available, overnight stays start at $170/night, depending on the season.

Other activities include private animal encounters like:

-Cheetah Photo Session

-Fast Cat Alley: Up close and personal interaction with cheetahs

-Barn Visit: Behind the scenes of Safari West

-Keeper of the Day: Feed and work among the animals, overnight stay included

Male giraffes "necking" or fighting for a female giraffe.

Oh hello there, this giraffe like the attention from the trucks. 

It's not Africa, but it'll suffice for now. 

"Some people feel the rain and others just get wet"

A couple weekends ago, against warning signs and better judgement I flew to New York City a day before the massive Hurricane Irene was scheduled to hit the East Coast. 

Luckily by the time it reached NY, the hurricane downgraded to "Tropical storm Irene" and failed to be the "apocalyptic, big-city disaster" that they anticipated. Even though the state was prepared and overly cautious, they still couldn't prevent the damage from Irene's strong winds and rain. Brooklyn and Long Island flooded, but Manhattan was spared (good news for us since we were staying at the Gild Hotel in Lower Manhattan, only a block away from the evacuation zone). 

Airports up and down the East Coast were shut down for 3 days, more than 13,000 flights cancelled, everything was closed, the NY subway and buses were shut down for a day and a half, and New York's Mayor Bloomberg ordered NY's first mandatory evacuations. "The city that never sleeps" was in lockdown and Manhattan was a ghost town.

Penn Station lockdown.

The streets of Lower Manhattan empty?

NY subway chained?

Hurricane much?

Sure the shelves in the grocery stores were empty and there were long lines to buy water and supplies, but surprisingly I never sensed any major panic from any New Yorker or tourist. The night before everyone partied like a regular Friday night, during the hurricane our hotel opened up their bar and provided board game entertainment for guests and the calm after the storm was no different, everyone celebrated "surviving a hurricane." The nightlife scene felt more festive than worrisome, and everyone seemed to make the best out of a bad situation. 

Entertainment during Irene.

Despite the setbacks, I wasn't going to let a hurricane rain on my parade, I still wanted to see New York! I've been to this city plenty of times before and each visit I get a completely different vibe, and I love it. There's something really special about "the capital of the world." I find it hard not be completely fascinated by the fast paced way of life in this concrete jungle. I'm constantly looking up at all the skyscrapers and not paying attention to where I'm walking because of all the street distractions, the shops, and the people. 

The "naked cowboy" at Times Square

Central Park

View of the Empire State from the Top of the Rock

Trying to find our way through New York City.

World Trade Center Site

I <3 NY! 

P.S. If you don't already know, this year marks the 10 year anniversary of 9/11. Unfortunately the memorial wasn't open when I was there, (it opens on the anniversary and the museum is set to open later this year) but from the pictures displayed by Ground Zero, it looks like something that can't be missed. 

P.S.S. To check out some good eats in NYC, visit my sister blog, The Long Weekenders.

One Love

For real Rastafarians, Bob never died...and I believe them, his music and legacy has become universal and that is what keeps him alive. Bob's music was heavily influenced by Jamaica's social, cultural and political unrest. He helped spread the word of the Rastafari Movement (a religious movement in his homeland Jamaica) and the notion of an "Africa United", with the hope of "One Love."

Bob Marley's mausoleum is found in the interior valleys of the Parish of St. Ann, in the small hamlet of Nine Mile. It's a two hour trip from Montego Bay, and the closer you get to Nine Mile, the rougher and narrower the roads become. His burial was also his birthplace and is considered sacred to the Rastafari. For $10-15 (depending on the season) you can take a tour of "Mount Zion" (the path leading up to the Marley house) while a knowledgable guide shares Bob's life with you, as well as some ganja which is legal within the gates of Nine Mile. You'll also run into locals trying to sell you pot and candles that you can leave in the Marley Mausoleum. 

The gates of Mount Zion

Warning: If a Rastafari approaches you and asks you if you want a tour of Bob Marley's "Plantation," say NO! It's a scam ran by locals, tricking tourists to think that it's part of the Marley tour. They take you to a nearby marijuana field (which isn't considered part of the compound) and tell you a lame story on how Bob once smoked here. Our trusty driver Colin shooed them away after we refused to pay the $20 per person they tried to harass us for.

The most interesting people we encountered were some of Bob's family who help maintain the compound, one of which was a carefree uncle who played the banjo for us while our guide serenaded us singing "don't worry about a thing, every little thing is gonna be alright..."

Inside Bob's room

Bob's rock pillow

You can walk through Bob's simple two-room cottage and wander the courtyard, where you will find the infamous Rock Pillow that Bob used for inspiration (mentioned in his song "Talkin' blues").

Mama Marley's tomb

There are a few family tombs and two mausoleums on the property. The first mausoleum that you will enter is Mama Marley's, and the second is Bob's and his half brother's . Bob's crypt is on the bottom, and his brother's tomb is stacked on top of his, which was Mama Marley's wish that the brothers be buried together. Combined the two tombs are 6 feet above ground. Bob Marley died in 1981 at the age of 36 from a malignant melanoma found under his toe nail. Doctor's insisted he amputate his toe but because of religious beliefs he refused, and continued to tour. He fought it for 8 months but the cancer spread to his lungs and brain. Unfortunately no pictures are allowed in his Mausoleum. It's nothing extravagant, it was simple and respectable that one of the greatest musicians of the 20th century is buried in such humble surroundings. Even though we were closed off in a mausoleum, it didn't feel creepy at all, surprisingly it felt the complete opposite. The interior and tomb is all white, and sun shines through the stain glass window with the Star or David. It's a peaceful place, and shoes must be off while inside. 

"My music will go on forever. Maybe it's a fool say that, but when me know facts me can say facts. My music will go on forever." -Bob Marley

I loved it here, and since Marley is synonymous with Jamaica, I don't think your trip is complete unless you visit Nine Mile. R.I.P. Bob, you really are timeless.

For more info on the rest of my stay in Jamaica CLICK HERE, and you'll be directed to my sister blog, "The Long Weekenders".

Some light summer reading?

I was never a fan of summer reading when I was in school, I hated being forced to read a list full of books that do not interest me in the slightest. Now that I'm out of school and no one's forcing me...the opposite happened and all I want to do in my spare time is read! Along with attempting to finish reading the first 5 Harry Potter books and rereading my Photoshop/Photography notes, here's some other titles I've been digging into. Notice a trend much? Even when I'm at home my mind is always stuck on travel (go figure). 

Thank God for libraries and free rentals. Now which destination should I go to next???

My growing personal library of travel books has now extended to travel novels, I can't get enough!

Happy Hump Day everyone.

Kailua-Kona part 2: Big Island loving

Lava cliffs

As promised on my last blog, here's some info for your Big Island vacay.
Kona is one of my favorite destinations (I even named my dog after this city)... full of natural beauty like volcanic deserts, deep lush valleys, rain forests, snow-capped mountain tops, waterfalls, and black sand beaches... 

Getting around: You need a car on this island! There is no public transportation, taxi is expensive and most of the major sites are too far away from each other to walk or bike to. When you drive on Highway 19 towards the Kohala Coast and a little bit on Highway 11 towards Kailua from Kona Airport, you'll immediately notice the black lava rocks found on both sides of the highway. One thing I love doing (as well as many other people) is to pull over and write my name using white rocks on the black backdrop. 

Volcanoes: The island is made up of 5 separate volcanoes overlapping each other, one of which, Kilauea, is the world's most active volcano and still spews out lava daily. You can see Kilauea's activity at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park and explore the summit's caldera. Or you can also choose to explore the volcano underground at the Kilauea Caverns of Fire, which has the longest lava tubes in the world. 

"shark teeth" lava

"lava rose"

Black Sand Beaches: The Big Island has plenty of black sand beaches but Punalu'u Black Sand Beach Park is one of the better beaches to spot sea turtles, which like to roam the shores and nap on the beach. 

Culture: History runs deep in this island. Captain Cook was killed and memorialized at Kealakekua Bay, and in North Kohala the hometown of King Kamehameha the first is marked by a stone wall at the Mookini Heiau State Monument. Many other sacred heiaus (Hawaiian temple) and fishponds are found around the island and are essential to Hawaiian culture. Another sacred place I like to visit is Pu'uhonua O Honaunau also known as the Place of Refuge, which were once used as a sanctuary.

The Place of Refuge

Activities: You can find all the typical island activities here like luaus, scuba diving, catamaran sailings, surfing, zip lining, whale watching, etc. Located inland near the North Kohala Coast is Waimea, known as paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy) country, which many of the ranches offer horseback and ATV rides in a more unique setting.

Food: The Big Island is very fond of their (Kona) coffee and there are more than enough brands to choose from. If you love macadamia nuts as much as I do and have the time, visit the Mauna Loa Macademia Nut Factory in Keaau. You also HAVE to try a piece of Mac Pie, they really are "A Slice of Paradise". 

My fast food/dine in recommendation: Pine Tree Cafe in Kailua (close to the airport) off Highway 11. Cheap, has an extensive Hawaiian menu and I literally had their fried poke plate everyday. It's tied with McDonald's Portuguese sausage breakfast meal for my favorite thing to eat in Hawai'i. It's delicious!!!

Nightlife: If you're looking for some kind of big city life, you're in the wrong place. The Big Island is full of modest local towns, so if you think you can find something here that would be the equivalent of Oahu's Waikiki Beach and Honolulu nightlife you'll be disappointed. The closest thing to nightlife are the laid back bars and casual lounges of Kailua-Kona Town and Downtown Hilo.

Kailua-Kona part 1: Waikoloa living

I normally don't stay at fancy hotels, it's more of a once-in-a-while type thing, and only if I come across a good deal. But when I travel to the Big Island of Hawaii it's a given for me...I HAVE to stay at the Hilton Waikoloa Village for the majority of my stay (which is tied with the Hilton Taba in Egypt for my favorite/best hotel that I've ever stayed at).

This 62 acre resort is a destination in itself, you need a minimum of least 2 days at the Hilton Waikoloa to really enjoy/appreciate it. It's located 20 minutes from Kona International Airport, on the waterfront of the Kohala Coast, in the luxurious Waikoloa resort compound. They have 3 towers with 1,200+ guest rooms, and 3 ways of getting to these rooms: walking, tram or boat. The air conditioned tram and canal boat rides are completely unnecessary, unless you have a lot of luggage and have a room located in one of the far towers. But I absolutely love the idea of it and every chance I get (regardless if my walk time is significantly shorter) I will opt to ride the boat to whatever part of the hotel I need to get to.

Canal Boat to the room? 

Orrrrrr you can take the tram...

My favorite part of the resort: the salt water lagoon! It is connected to the ocean and Hawaiian sea turtles can roam around as they please. The lagoon also has a waterfall, which is the best place to snorkel with the turtles. FYI, it is against Hawaii state law to touch or harm these endangered turtles and is considered a serious offense. 

Hilton's own salt water lagoon

Sea Turtles swimming in Hilton's Lagoon

Other water sport activities you can do in the lagoon are kayaking, paddle boating, hydro biking, snorkeling, and stand up paddle boarding.

Still not convinced? Here's some other things the resort offers:

-Tropical Gardens and wildlife

-Museum walkways full of Polynesian and Asian artworks displayed all around the hotel (there's over 1,800 pieces in their collection)

-Restaurants and Lounges with live music & pool tables

-Shopping- Can't find what you need at the resort? Visit the 2 small shopping areas that are located close by in the Waikoloa complex. The King's Shops and Queen's Marketplace are both walking distance from the hotel. Feeling lazy? No worries, they also have a shopping shuttle.

-Golf & putting course

-Hawaiian classes & complimentary water aerobics and introductory snorkeling classes

-Dolphin Encounters

-3 swimming pools (2 have water slides, and with poolside bars next to them)

-Legends of the Pacific Luau

-Tennis courts

-The Kohala Spa- Did I mention the free toiletry sets they leave in the room are the best smelling shampoo/conditioner/lotion I've ever gotten from a hotel?  They're from Kohala Spa's signature "Coconut-Mango" collection. I love them, and I always try to ask for as many extra bottles they can give me. You can also purchase them at their store in the lobby but they do get a little pricey (example: $25+ for a 16 oz bottle of lotion).

The serene Buddha Point

Get close to the Hilton's various wildlife

Asian art found underneath the lagoon's waterfall

Kona Pool- the largest of the 3 pools.

Beachfront

*Keep an eye out the next couple days for my "Kailua-Kona part 2" blog which will be about what to see and do on the Big Island...