087 Hawaii: Oahu and the Big Island

Hawaii: Oahu and the Big Island (Hawai'i)

We hire a car and drive to Pearl Harbour. It is a very sobering experience and the balance between information, tourism, commercialism and respect is very well balanced. This is the Arizona memorial built over the sunken ship.

All these years later and crude oil is still bubbling to the surface. Several investigations have been made and the final outcome is that the crude oil is less environmentally invasive than the  output from the boats that ferry people to the memorial. Hmmm.

The size of the missiles launched from submarines genuinely amazes me. They actually launch Polaris missiles from submarines - something I never realised.

We climb Diamond Head - no mean feat. Above is the view of Waikiki from the top and this is the view of the peak as we leave the park with some of the climbers silhouetted against the setting sun.

We've hired a car and drive the surf beaches. At Sunset Beach we come across this iconic palm tree.

There are probably 30 surfers in the water and only one is female. Guess who Frank takes a photo of! (Good job I have  a thick skin !!)

We move from Oahu to Hawai'i (Big Island). We make the mistake of staying in Hilo rather than Kona, where the majority of people stay as it is the dry side of the Island. There are an amazing number of waterfalls - they get over 200 inches of rain per year. It poured down on our side for most of the three days we were there.

Frank swims in one of the many waterfalls.

We are surprised to see the Union Jack in the Hawaii state flag.

 The Big Island is where Frank has wanted to visit for a long time. He loves geology and the volcanic areas are a delight to him. The rain does not dampen his enthusiasm.

We see loads of fantastic rainbows and notice they have a rainbow as an emblem on their car number plates. This one is from our hotel bar.

This was extraordinary; it looks like hair but is actually natural glass created by the volcano.

The shapes we see in the hardened lava blow your mind. Serious natural art.

Vast areas are laid waste by the volcanoes but the rainbows bring a surreal dimension.

With all the rain comes magnificent rain forest. This waterfall is a 440ft drop.

We book a helicopter ride and fly over the volcano. On our first attempt the flight is cancelled due to bad weather but the next day  we are lucky enough to be in the first group who are cleared to fly that day (2pm, when they start at 9am). This picture shows the direction taken by the river of lava from one of the Kilawaeu cones. It is a chain of cones, not just the one main crater.

The volcano last erupted just a few days ago. The forest is still on fire. There is a 2 mile embargo area on the new eruption. At the end of the flow houses are being destroyed and the local streets are blocked so that residents have privacy. We are in awe of what we see.






One of the lava tubes has spilt, so you can see the molten lava flowing below the surface. Most of the 2500 degrees Fahrenheit lava moves underground with a cooling crust on top.

We emerge from our helicopter ride, over an active volcano, unscathed ;)

We fly from The Big Island back to Waikiki. Frank asks me to take a photo of him in this car at the Hard Rock café.

 

and finally the sun sets on our 8 month adventure with a loud fireworks display over Waikiki beach. 

086 Mexico; Cancun

Mexico; Cancun
Tulum, Chichen Itza

The area of Cancun we stay in isn't really Mexico. It is a self contained tourist area and it is amazing. The security is fantastic. You feel very safe indeed - something you need in Mexico just at the moment. Perfect place for a vacation. It is easy to stay away from the party hotels and ours is very quiet and laid back.

We have a lovely evening meal in an Outback steakhouse. We haven't noticed them before but it seems it is a very large chain in the USA. We discover the staff and the manager have no idea where the pictures around the place are from so we have a great time 'selling' Australia to them. For those unaware this is Brighton Beach Bathing Boxes - 3K from Black Rock.

We take a half day tour to Tulum (turns out to be 8 hours). This is quite a small city. Our guide is good but sadly we are taken to one of their stores, which was not mentioned in the brochure and spend 1 hour at the store. Then we only have 2 hours at Tulum and it isn't enough. Feels rushed.

They've done a good job in regard to restoration. The little thatched roof provides protection for one of the better preserved carvings.

At Tulum we get 30 mins to swim in the Caribbean sea. We've already swum in the Gulf of Mexico and thought it brilliant but the colours of the water here are perfect. It is warm, so it isn't really refreshing and with the temperature in the 30s we need something to cool us down - and there isn't enough time to go to the bar - not happy Jan!

We learn a great deal about the Mayan culture. This is their alphabet on their paper. While we are often lead to believe that the Mayans died out, this is not true. There are over 3 million of them still in the area and they have managed to protect both their language and their culture.

This is Blue Agave as it is harvested. It goes to make Tequila.

A Mayan village. They have many of the same issues as any indigenous people experience; low education, poverty, no electricity etc. but their life expectancy is a remarkable 80+

and finally we are at Chichen Itza. This was one of the items I put on the itinerary. It is awesome. A massive city. Still in the process of being restored but the feeling of the place is extraordinary. I'm speechless (yes it is possible)

We learn so much about their history and every time we're told more we are in awe. This was a remarkable culture. One of the things that saved this area from destruction was that there was no gold.

The size and the splendour of the buildings. They would have been painted in the same colours as per the alphabet above. The carvings are spectacular. Some of this is over 1000 years old.
I thought I was satiated with history but this really made me sit up and take notice.

and this is their observatory; recognise the shape? seen it before? knocks your socks off when you turn the corner and see it for the first time. It was actually hard for me to catch my breath.

The next day we took an adventure tour to the cenotes (sink holes). We got a bit more adventure than we bargained for. We'd been on the road for over an hour and on the dirt track for about 30 mins when we came across this 'road block'. Our driver gave them some food he'd stopped in a take away for and they let us pass. They were not happy looking people. Everyone was very nervous. We had to go thru it again on the way back, in the dark, but the head-honcho of the adventure tour preceded our bus in his tinted glass 4 wheel drive. He negotiated something with them and we were allowed to pass.

 

The official part of the adventure tour was driving along fire tracks to two cenotes (sinkholes with water 200 feet deep) on ATVs (All Terrain Vevicle like those on the beach hills) and then either jumping into the water from a great height or dropping from a zip line. We weren't brave enough to drop from the zip line. It was a very unique experience and we were the grandparents of the group - so we were very proud of ourselves. I can tell you Frank challenged a couple of the young bucks as he passed them on the ATV (with me clinging on for grim death!)

After the ATV they gave us very strong Pinna Coladas and took us to the zip lines. The reason the photo is blurred is because I'm going so fast, feeing no pain!!! It was so much fun.

 

and that was Mexico and we have to go back. We did less than half of what was on offer. This is an amazing holiday resort. The weather was perfect. Loads of shopping. More bars and shows than you would ever want and a local bus service that has to be experienced to be believed.

 

Next stop; Hawaii and less than 10 days before we are home.

085 USA; Florida Keys

USA; Florida Keys

This is the African Queen from the movie. The challenge is to keep it in a state that looks dilapidated (as per the movie) when it isn't!

We had a wonderful brunch at a little place called Robbie's in Islamorada. For just $3 you got a bucket of small fish. Some people laid down and these monster fish 'swallowed' half their arm. There were signs asking you not to lift the Tarpon out of the water. They get to 7 feet long and have a mouth like a Barramundi.

If you threw the little fish in the air you got seagulls trying to catch them mid-air and if they missed a mass of smaller fish 'boiling' the water as they all competed for the fish. It was great fun.

Just a picture of the road across the Florida Keys. Long and straight with long low bridges and water either side a la True Lies with Arnie Scharzanegger.

We visited Key Largo & Key West. While having coffee we noticed chickens and a cockerel wandering about. It seems in the 50s cock fighting was made illegal and many of the fighting birds were just released. Due to the way the law was phrased they are protected and now are a pest. The people collect the eggs that are laid to use so that the population is controlled.

Key West is a laid back place. Made us think of places like St. Andrews. It claims to be the southern most point of America and almost is except a military base is a few miles further south. It is just 90 miles from Cuba, as a result they have a problem with illegal immigrants.

Hemmingway spent a big part of his life in Key West - house in photo 2. I'm not quite sure how many of his 4 wives lived here but the place had a reputation as being party central and he was most certainty never faithful to any of his wives. He must have been very charismatic as two of his wives chased him down. Interesting that as a war correspondent he suffered 267 wounds to his body with the Italians who helped his recovery.

As we arrived in Key West we were very surprised to find we couldn't find anywhere to park. It turned out that there was a major international speedboat race going on. Nice to watch for a short while but a bit like the Grand Prix, you see the action for a few seconds as they go past noisily.

Frank nearly became a radio star. 3 guys, well over 60, were running their own radio station from this beach bar. It was about 1pm and there was an unusual aroma in the air that I think was assisting them in their rapport, I don't think it was tobacco they were smoking. When they found out we were from Australia they wanted to interview Frank on air but after a couple of records it slipped their mind they had asked!

Happy Frank in his red Mustang convertible with one of the Keys bridges in the background. Might be the one that Jamie Lee Curtis was rescued from by Arnie !

I was sitting in the shade on a picnic table when I heard a noise right behind my shoulder. I turned around and this racoon was looking right at me. I jumped out of my skin, it couldn't have cared less.

and that was mainland USA and we loved it.

We did struggle at times with the tipping, especially when you've paid a lot of money for something and you find out the driver doesn't get paid by the company but only gets the tips. That is such a bad model.

Loads of extra taxes added all over the place.
We'd forgotten just how many great things America has added to this world.
Most people were incredibly well mannered and very friendly.
While there are a great number of fast food outlets you can find great food outlets.
Didn't think much of their wine :)

 

Next stop: Cancun Mexico

084 USA; Everglades

USA; Everglades

As we are driving along I spot a sign that says Manatee viewing centre. It is by a power plant and the Manatees come to bask in the warm water of the outlet valve. There are about 20. Feeding, sleeping, playing. Several mothers and calf's. We can't believe it is free. Promoted by the energy company. So well done. A highlight.

This was so funny. There is just lots of air blowing down on his head. The 'thrill' might not have been there but we haven't laughed that much for ages. Best $2 we've spent :)

There are really panthers in the area.  They are nocturnal. The two locals we spoke to see them regularly but are currently very concerned as they say that cats are starving. It seems the protection of the alligators is reducing their food source.

There are alligators everywhere. Frank can't believe how close we can get to them. They are relatively docile but still you wouldn't want to provoke them.

Air boat ride. Fantastic. The ride was better than the wild life viewing. We had a slightly crazy driver, which suited us jut fine. Bit expensive, so we only went on the one but were very tempted to go back.

and yes, the bird is as close to the alligator as it looks.
The driver feeds the alligator marshmallows!

The fish almost jump into the boat. in less than a minute Frank has this on the line.

This little lad was just two years old. They don't need to tape their mouths like we do with the crocs.

This guy is a bit bigger than the one I'm holding. We were on a boardwalk walk when we spotted him and the reflection was just perfect.

Nearest we got to Eagles. We were about 2 weeks early for the breeding season.

This is a post office in the middle of nowhere.  The lady who's office it was, was possibly one of the happiest people you will ever meet. Whereas the driver was a grumpy so and so.

Frank was not comfortable with me getting out of the car, and perhaps my laughter was more based on nervousness?
We'd gone off road a bit down a road called the loop road. About 13km of unmade road. We stopped counting alligators when we got to 30.

There are still quite a few native American Indian tribes in the area. They hid in the everglades and managed to preserve their culture.

 If you look closely you will see the snake. There is an abundance of wildlife. The birds were congregating for the winter so we were very luck to see large flocks.

 

and that was the Everglades. so different. fantastic. so glad we decided to take the time to go.

 

 

Next stop: The Alorida Keys.