TravelStream™ news feed for member mimosa79 on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/mimosa79 en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Sat, 04 Apr 2009 15:33:33 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mimosa79/18/1194594240/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mimosa79/18/1194594240/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mimosa79/18/1194594240/tpod.html Sat, 04 Apr 2009 15:33:33 -0400 California Fall 2007...otherwise known as My Return from Tonga.

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Malibu, California, United States

As we set out on our drive north to San Francisco, my mom and I were seen off by a pod of dolphins making their way south along the waters edge of the Pacific Coast Hwy.  A cheerful sight, we stopped to say our hellos before continuing on our travels.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mimosa79/18/1194633660/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mimosa79/18/1194633660/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mimosa79/18/1194633660/tpod.html Sat, 04 Apr 2009 15:04:33 -0400 California Fall 2007...otherwise known as My Return from Tonga.

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Gilroy, California, United States

Starting out at a stoplight on Las Posas Road on our way from the Pacific Coast Highway to U.S. Highway 101,  I took advantage of the pause in driving to snap a shot of the cabbage growing in the roadside field.For the next several hours, we passed some beautiful terrain as the weather made its will be known over the hills we passed.  Beautiful light and spectacular clouds kept us company on our journey north to San Francisco.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mimosa79/tonga_aug_2007/1186791840/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mimosa79/tonga_aug_2007/1186791840/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mimosa79/tonga_aug_2007/1186791840/tpod.html Sat, 04 Apr 2009 12:52:33 -0400 The third installment in the Tonga Adventures.

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Neiafu, Vava'u, Tonga

For now, just a quick word...Every Friday night in Vava'u, anyone who is eager can enter their boat in the weekly race held in the Port of Refuge.  If you are without sail, you can hop aboard a boat that is entered and help crew, or just be the onbard cheer squad.  It's a great way to start the night...with awards and drinks after.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mimosa79/tonga_aug_2007/1193830260/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mimosa79/tonga_aug_2007/1193830260/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mimosa79/tonga_aug_2007/1193830260/tpod.html Thu, 26 Mar 2009 17:16:03 -0400 The third installment in the Tonga Adventures.

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Neiafu, Tonga

Okay, so <i>maybe they weren't <i>quite gale force winds, but it sure felt like it!&nbsp; A-rockin-and-a-rollin all night long.&nbsp; I thought that Hilltop Hotel was going to be blown away in the night and we would wake up in Fiji!&nbsp; The rain and wind were so strong last night that you couldn't hear yourself think.&nbsp; As of this moment, the weather sounds a bit like a wind tunnel....that's two nights running.&nbsp; Although, I guess I should mention that the weather has been pretty erratic ever since I got here.&nbsp; We have had alot of rain with some sunny days thrown in for seasoning.Oh yeah!&nbsp; I almost forgot!&nbsp; Happy Halloween!!!! Well, at least here it is, although, I guess in California it's almost Halloween as well. Hmm. : )Vava'u, Tonga
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mimosa79/tonga_aug_2007/1186705800/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mimosa79/tonga_aug_2007/1186705800/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mimosa79/tonga_aug_2007/1186705800/tpod.html Thu, 26 Mar 2009 17:12:11 -0400 The third installment in the Tonga Adventures.

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Not a city, simply an Island, Tonga

Well, I made it!I am finally back in Vava'u, Tonga.&nbsp; After a crazy time getting to LAX, I am finally here.Let me fill you in on what has transpired over the past 24 hours or sobefore getting on with the Tonga portion of this entry.&nbsp; I arrived at DFW with plenty of time to spare before my flight...allthings went smoothly there.&nbsp; Due to weather in Dallas the past fewweeks, I had decided to take an earlier flight that connected throughDenver instead of the later direct flight, so I would have a buffer ofabout five hours between my arrival in L.A. and departure later in theevening.&nbsp; My flight arrived in Denver a little bit late because ofweather (in Denver) and my connecting flight departed considerablylater than scheduled (once again, due to weather in Denver).&nbsp; Iended up getting to LAX with about an hour to make my connection(which, three hours is the recommended time for check-in prior todeparture for internatinal), but as my bags were checked all the waythrough to Tonga, I didn't have too much to worry about, other thangetting to the other terminal.Arrival in Tonga had its own measure of difficulty, as one of my bagsdid not arrive with me.&nbsp; Had to go through the process ofreporting it, during which time I received a proposal of marriage (in aroundabout way) from the young man who was helping me with my bags.:)&nbsp; He was very nice, and very helpful, but, regretably, I had todecline his kind invitation.&nbsp; I didn't know if I had a ticket for a flight to Vava'u, as my itineraryhad changed to a later date from planned, but my paramour found outthat there was a flight leaving in approximately thirty minutes toVava'u and so I hopped in a taxi and made my way to the Domesticairport.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (This might be a good time to add a brief explanation of the airport situation in Tonga.&nbsp; The &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; International and Domestic aiports share the same runway, and although in most cases &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; would be in the same complex, thus being comprised of two seperate terminals, they are &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; in fact two <i>seperate airports which require you to drive from one to the other.)As luck would have it, they had one seat available and like that I was once again on my way to Vava'u!On the plane I sat next to a nice Tongan gentleman who was going toVava'u for the day on business, and after talking with him during ourloud and cramped journey above the archipelago of Tonga, he offered mea ride to Hilltop Hotel if no one was there to great me at the airport(which there wasn't, and so he did).&nbsp; So, that is how I made myway back again to Hilltop Hotel in the beautiful Kingdom of Tonga!Now, arriving at the hotel was a slightly strange experience for me, asI was still a bit dazed by the whole journey here.&nbsp; Everyone (Bev,Eric, and my Dad...Ben and Ryan were in town) was sitting at the largetable in the lobby when we pulled up in front.&nbsp; In my delerium,when something was mentioned about going snorkelling, I assumed thatthey had had a full day of adventuring and were telling me about whatthey had done earlier in the day prior to my arrival.&nbsp; I had ajolt when I finally realized that they were talking about getting readyto <i>go snorkelling and were in fact asking me if I wanted to join them!&nbsp; Well, okay, can we sayjetlag!?!?&nbsp; Until that moment, I thought that the day was almostover, rather than just beginning.&nbsp; I do have to say in my defensethoughthat this was the first time that I had ever flown in to Vava'u soearly, usually getting in sometime in the afternoon.&nbsp; So I quicklygot changed, well, as quickly as any zombie can anyway, and we wereoff!&nbsp; Time for a day of fun, sun and aquatic adventures!I hope you enjoy the pictures of the beautiful Nuku Island, a little strip of Heaven in Paradise!Hilltop Hotel Website:&nbsp; http://www.hilltophotelvavau.com
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mimosa79/tonga_aug_2007/1186531200/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mimosa79/tonga_aug_2007/1186531200/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mimosa79/tonga_aug_2007/1186531200/tpod.html Thu, 26 Mar 2009 17:04:29 -0400 The third installment in the Tonga Adventures.

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Los Angeles, California, United States

Arrived from Denver, said my hellos to Rose and Mike who drove me to the other side of the airport to Air New Zealands terminal, checked in and said my goodbyes before boarding the plane.A quick, whirlwind of a stop in Los Angeles.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mimosa79/13/924031620/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mimosa79/13/924031620/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mimosa79/13/924031620/tpod.html Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:28:43 -0500 Acapulco 1999

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Acapulco, Pacific Coast, Mexico

Met George at Barbaroja and we all had drinks.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mimosa79/13/891822480/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mimosa79/13/891822480/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mimosa79/13/891822480/tpod.html Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:19:01 -0500 Acapulco 1999

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Novato, California, United States

Speed packing to finish in time for the flight.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mimosa79/tonga_aug_2007/1194255660/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mimosa79/tonga_aug_2007/1194255660/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mimosa79/tonga_aug_2007/1194255660/tpod.html Mon, 19 Jan 2009 00:57:49 -0500 The third installment in the Tonga Adventures.

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Niutoua, Tongatapu, Tonga

Ha'amonga
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mimosa79/tonga_aug_2007/1194303000/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mimosa79/tonga_aug_2007/1194303000/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mimosa79/tonga_aug_2007/1194303000/tpod.html Sun, 18 Jan 2009 22:24:14 -0500 The third installment in the Tonga Adventures.

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Haveluliku, Tongatapu, Tonga

Passing through the jagged portal we make our way into the darkness.&nbsp; Vision momentarily gone from the sudden lack of light, the musical sounds of the cave assault the senses.&nbsp; &nbsp; A symphony of noise; the staccato rhythm of dripping water from the ceiling above, the splashing crescendo of people jumping into the pool below, the rolling thunder of laughter resounding off the walls as people are sprayed with the ice water of their fellow swimmers. &nbsp; Eyes try to adjust to the new dimness, searching for sought after light.&nbsp; In the darkness beyond are the twinkling faerie lights of candles placed along surfaces of the cave to allow some illumination for those brave enough to journey down into the depths below.&nbsp; The candles flicker light across the walls, movement from the drafts and breezes that somehow found their way down beneath the soil above; shadows cast in darkness.&nbsp; &nbsp; The smells of moist earth and rock surrounding you as you make your careful way deeper into the bosom of the earth, walking along the sloping surfaces.&nbsp; An erratic path made by the gradual erosion of water and determined individuals carving out the way to the goal below.&nbsp; Pivots and turns, stairs and trail, rising or descending before you, these steep, sloping and rolling surfaces are made slick by the ever present moisture seeping from the earth itself.
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