sahs's TravelStream™ — Recent TravelPod.com entries

sahs's TravelStream™ — Recent TravelPod.com entries TravelStream™ news feed for member sahs on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/sahs en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Thu, 13 Mar 2008 13:16:14 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com The UN and NYC Public Library — New York City, New York, United States http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sahs/world_wandering/1199555940/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sahs/world_wandering/1199555940/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sahs/world_wandering/1199555940/tpod.html Thu, 13 Mar 2008 13:16:14 -0400 Diaries of a World Wander West/East: Continually Meeting the Sun

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New York City, New York, United States

The last things on my places to see wish list.  Both reasonably priced or free, and in theory, more than enough to fill my day.  In theory.  That should be noted, because in fact, it was a saturday, and I was greeted at the doors of the UN by the polite sign that the visitor hours for January had been reduced, the centre would only be open to tourists during the week for the whole of the month.  So it transpired that the most I saw of the UN was through the railings outside the perimiter.  I confess I was disappointed, I had been looking forward to it, and I would not have opportunity to visit on Monday, as I had to sort out all my things for the flight home.  Perhaps I will have to come back to NY after all.The Public Library was more of a success, and also an example of the philanthropy of some of the city's earlier elite.  It is maintained by trust, set up by, among others, Samuel J. Tilden who upon his death bequeathed most of his fortune (about $2.4 million) to "establish and maintain a free library and reading room in the city of New York."   The monument is exceptional.  An incredibly beautiful building, which, somehow, is almost, but not quite, lost amid the surrounding skyscrapers.  It settles an immense feeling of peace on you as soon as you walk through the doors.  The grime of fumes and brashness of the city just drops away once you enter the library.  It is a very serence place, and was beautifully decorated for Christmas.  I spent about two hours wandering around the public sections of the library, reading up on its history, and considering the five friezes that described the transmission and growth of writing as a resource for mankind.  It reminded me greatly of the British Library, and it was easy to see why it is regarded as one of the greatest libraries in the world.  There is little else I can say about it from my brief visit there, all I can say is that this institution impressed me, where others in New York had failed, the library still concentrates itself toward knowledge rather than money.  A refreshing and welcome change here. I was glad this was the last public building that I would be visiting in New York, it is a good memory to take from the city.  The library is, quite simply, fabulous.  My only intention for tomorrow is to take in more of the park, I do not have money for much else, and, like the library, it is to me, a positive impression of New York, and that is what I want to remember.  All too soon I'll be home, and my thoughts are increasingly turning that way, I want to relax on my last day here, and the park is the best way to do that.
]]> Sony and Rockerfeller — New York City, New York, United States http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sahs/world_wandering/1199378700/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sahs/world_wandering/1199378700/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sahs/world_wandering/1199378700/tpod.html Thu, 13 Mar 2008 12:59:48 -0400 Diaries of a World Wander West/East: Continually Meeting the Sun

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New York City, New York, United States

I could not take an earlier flight out of New York.  I tried, I had wanted to arrive home in time for my Brother's 18th, but I could not get on a flight due to the New Years rush.  It is strange to think that he is 18 now, and one of the reasons that i think I now constantly refer to him as my 'little' brother, in truth he outstripped me years ago in terms of stature.  It hekps to remind me he will never be too big!!  In a way it was quite fortunate that I couldn't get a flight, as I have done very little since arriving in Manhatten other than party for New Year, which, although it is expensive here, is not acceptable, especially as I don't think that I will be back.To rectify this we aimed to have a cheap day while out sight-seeing today, checking off our tourist to-do list.  I met up with Ness and Nick and we decided that we would first visit the Sony Centre Wonderlab, as it was inside, and therefore warm, and also, free, we were not about to look that gift horse in the mouth!!  We arrived to find that most of the site was under reconstruction and that only a small portion was open, I pointed out that were hardly about to complain when it was a free exhibit, and the visitor lady informed me that I would be surprised at what people complained at.  At this point I cannot say that I am blown away by this information.  The vido and gaming floor was the only one that was open, and it was evidently aimed at children, so obviously we enjoyed it immensely, especially the part where we got to cut a trailer for a brand new film.  Much fun to mismatch effects and images!!Our trailer ended up as a buddy comedy starring Will Smith (from <i>MIB) and Eddy Murphy (as he appears in <i>Daddy Daycare) as they fought against the Stay-Puffed Marshmallow Man in the urban jungle (complete with jungle noises) in New York - appropriately.  It transpired that they would be aided in their struggle by the wondermouse Stewart Little, who drove a car with the power (from the sound) of a jet engine.  I did mention that we were big kids and the resulting trailer was quite hilarious, in a slapstick way!  I wish I'd had the presence of mind to record it with my camera.Afterwards we went to Bloomingdales, mainly because Nick needed to do some belated Christmas shopping (all his family opted for having their Christmas and New York presents combined) but also because it was bloody freezing in downtown today.  Bloomingdales is very glossy and I felt supremely underdressed in my overwashed, threadbare trousers and windswept walking jacket, but if I had been given a bucket of money to spend, I confess that I would have liked it enormously.  It was chic without being overbearing.As the afternoon was wearing toward sunset we decided to go up one of the skyscrapers to see the skyline, the advantage of this time of day being that we would see it all as the lights came on, effectively a 2 for 1 deal, and about as close as we would get to a second freebie today.  Nick declined the trip to the Top of the Rock (we decided on the Rockerfeller centre as we wanted to see the Empire State Building) as he gets extreme vertigo, so it was just me and Vanessa who set off for the observation deck.  I think it was a good decision and Ness was inspired to suggest we make the trip up at dusk, as we definately got the best of both worlds.  Not all of my photographs worked out but I managedto get a few decent ones, and the sunset, if not spectacular spread an impressive red-gold hue across the sky, which created a magnificent backdrop to the sky line.  The clear skies helped us to see further and it must be said that the sea of spires and towers and smoke-billows from cooling vents, the roof tops and renovation cranes, though severe, presented an image of great opulence, and a city alive.  The only drawback of the Rockerfeller Observation Deck, to me, was the fact that it was impossible to get an unobstructed view of the Chrysler building, which was partially hidden behind the unsightly concrete mass of the MetLife building.  Still we got some good touristy shots, including some of a stunted-looking Central Park (something I did not think possible as the park is so vast) before we headed down.Our laast stop was the very glitzy and Electric Times Square, which we half stumbled onto on our way to the subway.  It is very bright and a million different brands flash advertisements to you.  Your eyes are instantly drawn up to the flashing neon strips, but it is definately an overwhelming display.  I can only recall the giant Hershey's bar and the giant M&M's.  I wonder if that says anything beyond the obvious - that I am suffering from chocolate withdrawl due to the dwindling cash in my bank account.By the time we had eaten and found our way back to Upper Broadway it was near 10pm, and I was quite happy.  Today was much more fulfilling than my trip to the Met, and cost very little more than that did.
]]> Journey's End - To the Kindness of Strangers — Middlesbrough, United Kingdom http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sahs/world_wandering/1199809620/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sahs/world_wandering/1199809620/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sahs/world_wandering/1199809620/tpod.html Thu, 13 Mar 2008 11:37:17 -0400 Diaries of a World Wander West/East: Continually Meeting the Sun

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Middlesbrough, United Kingdom

Back to where I started, all those months ago.  It hardly seems like any time at all, and yet at the same time, it feels like years.  I'm home, and it is wonderful to be back.  It was wonderful to see my parents again when I stepped off the train - even if they didn't initially see me, as they were waiting at the wrong end of the platform!!I am home.  I will find out soon how much has really changed.All I want to do with this final entry is to extend my thanks and gratitude to all those who offered me hospitality, who made homes for me away from home.  Those who taught me more about myself, the good and the bad.  Those who inspired me to keep writing because they have followed my trip, and who have now come to its end.This trip would not have been as fulfilling as it was had it not been for the kindness of strangers met at every turn, some who have become friends, and others who simply helped me on my way.  It would not have been so fulfilling had it not been for those who stepped up to help when it was needed. To the Kindness of Strangers.
]]> Homeward Bound — JFK, New York, United States http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sahs/world_wandering/1199722740/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sahs/world_wandering/1199722740/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sahs/world_wandering/1199722740/tpod.html Thu, 13 Mar 2008 11:26:53 -0400 Diaries of a World Wander West/East: Continually Meeting the Sun

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JFK, New York, United States

Well, thats it.  I have run out of money.  I had to sit by my bags for three hours in the hostel because I could not afford storage if I wanted to eat before my flight - well, I could have done if I had used my credit card, I'm not broke per say, but I chose not to.  I made my way to the airport early, wanting to rid myself of my bags for the last stop.I can't believe I will be home tomorrow.  It is a strange feeling to know that I am going to see my family in less than 24 hours... Well, provided I can make it though London of course, its just a different world there!!I am looking forward to going home.  Its been a long trip, and I have loved every minute of it, but I am sick of the sight of my backpack, and I am looking forward to different clothes, and the captive audience I will have when I get there.  I don't think they will know what has hit them!!!Reflections will have to come later I am afraid, right now, all I am wondering is what the inflight entertainment will be like - I think I will be happy so long as I am not subjected to the bloody <i>Grinch!!!  Hopefully it will actually be entertaining...
]]> Liberty, Ellis and Brooklyn — New York City, New York, United States http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sahs/world_wandering/1199462220/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sahs/world_wandering/1199462220/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sahs/world_wandering/1199462220/tpod.html Thu, 13 Mar 2008 11:18:57 -0400 Diaries of a World Wander West/East: Continually Meeting the Sun

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New York City, New York, United States

Three names that have the lilt of the feminine about them, and three, which, in concert, denote a bulwark of the USA, and of New York in particular.  Liberty, a gift of the French (though carefully constructed so that its size did not out-do the Eiffel Tower, that just  would not do), Ellis, an initial border control, which, by association is representative of the hopes and aspirations of those who made, and continue to make, their way across the Atlantic (and other oceans) to the US, and Brooklyn, a suburb, connector and a baby Beckham, which shows potential.It was our intention to visit all three today, but the queues for Ellis and Liberty were huge and unruly (I keep forgetting that there are a lot of tourists in New York at this time of year) so instead of standing for hours at the dockside, which was icy, waiting to take a brief trip to the islands, we opted instead for the free Staten Island ferry which passes right by the islands on the way to its destination.  We were not really bothered about climbing the inside of the tower, so that was not really a problem for us, we wanted the pictures, and to see the statue first-hand.  We got both from the ferry.  We may not have gotten up close and personal with Liberty, but we did see herand though the statue is not as big as I imagined, it is still an impressive sight.  We also got an impromtu comedy act from the ferry crew as he came outside to tell us we had to get back inside because of "the high winds and frigid temperatures...Brrrr!"After Liberty, we visited Ground Zero, very briefly, but there is not really anything to see there anymore, it is a construction site, which in itself is a strange thing to see, due to the encroaching high rise all around the sight.  It was impossible to comprehend what happened here, from the perspective with which we were met - that being a constuction site, much like any other around the world.  I do not wish to disregard the events of 9/11, but in a way it was good to see life continuing, that, I think, sends a much stronger message than stasis.From this point we set off for the Brooklyn bridge, which, according to the sign, is actually a reconstruction of the original.  Nick did not stay with us for long, as his extreme vertigo got the better of him once he had looked down between the wooden slats of the walkway.  He strode off ahead, leaving Vanessa and me to take in the bridge at our leisure.  We got another look at Liberty from the bridge, as well as uninterupted views of the Chrysler building, which we had not been able to see from Rockerfeller the day before.  Brooklyn bridge is deceptively long.  It took us half an hour to walk the length of it, though it did not seem that long at the time.  We opted for the quick way back and hopped on the subway, Ness and Nick off on a shopping spree, and me back to my hotel, as I had somehow managed to jar my shoulder.  It was an exceptionally successful day, in terms of sightseeing, and even more so when I realised that the whole day had cost effectively nothing, as I had already paid for my subway ticket at the beginning of the week.  Who says you can't do anything in New York for free?!
]]> The Met — New York City, New York, United States http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sahs/world_wandering/1199287740/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sahs/world_wandering/1199287740/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sahs/world_wandering/1199287740/tpod.html Thu, 13 Mar 2008 10:57:10 -0400 Diaries of a World Wander West/East: Continually Meeting the Sun

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New York City, New York, United States

I confess myself disappointed with the Metropolitian Museum of Art.  Particularly in the way visitors are corralled in the entrance to make their so-called voluntary donations.  The 'suggested' 'donation' - neither of which are accurate terms - is $20, but before you can get into the museum, you must pass a manned till, which provides you with a decal so that you can wander around the museum only once you have made your 'donation.'  Why not just charge an entry fee - it is a more accurate description of what you are being asked to do.  The only way in which it was a 'donation' was that in theory you could choose to pay whatever you liked once you arrived at the booth, but it was made extremely evident whilst you were queueing that to offer any less that $20 would see you branded as cheap.  So much for public facilities, and unfortunately, this distasteful introduction to the museum comprises my overriding memory of the museum and it drove home a point I had noted earlier about the city, which is that New York apparently revolves solely around money.  I was further shocked when, walking around the museum, I was conforonted with an ionic column which had been chopped down and scruffily reassembled with a concrete filler between the base and the capitol.  I daresay the museum would argue that the most intriguing parts of the column are these two features and that they wanted people to appreciate the complexity of the structure via these two pieces, but the whole was just ridiculous, as the shape was lost, and all that you were focused on as a visitor was the grey glob of concrete that was nothing more than a connective.  If all they wanted to display was the capitol and the base, I do not see the point of displaying them in a vertical alignment, as it does not convey the aspect of the capitol any more clearly in this particular context than a display of the pieces side by side would have achieved.  I expect more from such an institution as the Met than a mess in the centre of one of their galleries.All said, though these are my over-riding memories of my visit, and not a good advert for the museum (which I do not think it really deserves anyway), there were some installations and aspects of the gallery that were interesting, and even innovative.  I particularly liked the installation by Tara Donovan, which utilised pins and silver duct tape to create an abstract installation in a room on the mezzanine floor which projected an image of being inside a cloud and a futuristic corridor all at once.  An absorbing and deftly constructed piece.  I felt quite drained today, so I did not think on it in academic terms, but tried simply to enjoy it for the aura that it cast, the the shapes things and places that the abstract whole seemed to conjure, and the strange sense of quiet felt whilst surrounded by the installation.I also enjoyed the armoury galleries, which showcased beautifully the intricate craftsmanship that went into every detail of armour and saddlery, even those section that would be seen very little or not at all.  There was also a small room dedicated not to European armour, but Tibetan mail, which displayed some impressive headgear aimed at the protection of horses, as well as the deceptively complex armour worn by Tibetan soldiers.  Overall however, despite the fact that there were some galleries that I enjoyed, I was ultimately disappointed with the Met, which seemed to me to be more about pretentions than the conveyance of knowledge and understanding, though I admit that my experience was tainted by my initial disgust at the stealthy way in which the institution extracted money from patrons.   It is not often that I find a museum so utterly disengaging as I did this one.  I could not shake my sense of disappointment.
]]> Central Park — New York City, New York, United States http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sahs/world_wandering/1199203380/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sahs/world_wandering/1199203380/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sahs/world_wandering/1199203380/tpod.html Tue, 05 Feb 2008 11:21:01 -0500 Diaries of a World Wander West/East: Continually Meeting the Sun

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New York City, New York, United States

Having eaten very little yesterday, and then drinking to welcome in the New Year, I, quite understandably, was not up to much today.  I opted for what was easy and went to Central Park, though not until about two in the afternoon, and not until I had rather slowly and painfully made my way through a McDonalds meal.  My idea for the day was simple.  Take a nice, relaxed walk and try to regain the feeling of being human.  I am, pleased to say that it was rather effective.  The air was crisp and clear (city clear at any rate) and the park is rather beautiful.  I have to say that I honestly had no idea just how big Central Park actually was, but I spent three hours wandering along the paths and boulevards, taking pictures and dodging puddles, and I only traversed the western-mid-section of the park.  So I quickly realised that it is fairly immense.  I do not know what it looks like in the summer, but I like the starkness of the trees in the winter, they seem raw and powerful, and the contrast with the surrounding city is still very apparant, for all that the muted tones should blend with the masonry in the background.  I particularly enjoyed the rocky outcrops that scatter across the park, climbing quite abruptly along the park edge and bursting through the lawns, and the windblown leaves that have yet to be raked away.  The slight wildness that this renders is a wonderful juxtapostion to the veneer that I have experienced in the rest of the city.In some ways I was minded of Hong Kong Park, because New York, just like Hong Kong, fades to a silent sentinal against the park, which, at this time of year, has a certain scrubby quality to it, which I very much liked.  It was blissfully quiet.  No horns blaring, which actually helped my headache quite a bit...The late afternoon sun cast a pleasant glow over my surroundings and the open expanse of the Jackie O Resevoir  showcased Manhatten as it overlooked the park.  This was the big difference between Central Park and the parks of Hong Kong.  Despite their proximity to the park, the size of the open area means that the buildings do not encroach upon the open in the same wat that the towers loom over the parks of Hong Kong.  It is strange in some ways, to feel such a sense of space in the city.  It is not something that I have experienced before, except perhaps in King's Park, but Perth is such a rambling space that I hardly think it is appropriate to compare them.It is also true, I think, that Central Park, at least in winter, is a much more relaxed place than the rest of the city, people seem to be far more placid and content, less likely to run you down in their rush to be important.  Maybe that is just something that parks in general engender.  In any case, I had an exceptionally pleasant afternoon, even if I do still have over half of the park to explore, and a stroll had been just what I needed, a good welcome to the New Year I think.
]]> New Year's Eve — New York City, New York, United States http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sahs/world_wandering/1199113980/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sahs/world_wandering/1199113980/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sahs/world_wandering/1199113980/tpod.html Tue, 05 Feb 2008 11:02:53 -0500 Diaries of a World Wander West/East: Continually Meeting the Sun

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New York City, New York, United States

The day did not begin brilliantly, as my friends, who had flown out to meet me for New Year, had suffered a minor disaster en route to NYC.  Their luggage had not come with them.  It was still in Amsterdam, and the next flight that it could come on was the one departing today, to arrive in New York at about 2pm, but there were no guarantees that their luggage would even be on that flight.  They had no clothing or toiletries of any description, and they were without anything to wear for the party tonight.  They had also spent the past 36 hours in transit due to their route and connections, so, understandably, they were not happy.All of this meant that none of us had an outfit for the night, because Ness had been bringing one for me (remember I said that I didn't think I would need black tie, in the very first entry?  Turns out I was wrong...)  This meant, that instead of doing some of the tourist stuff, we were forced to contend with the massive crowds down on Fifth to try and procure said garments, with the proviso that we could always return them if by some miracle the luggage arrived.  It didn't.We did manage a little sightseeing on our way into town, as we decided to walk in just to guage the distance.  We wandered through Central Park, down Fifth Avenue, all the way along past the zoo and the Met, and into FAO Shwartz to see the masses of overpriced toys and gadgets for sale, including a giant stuffed dragon costing over $2000, which evidently, someone, somewhere has both the inclination and the money to purchase.  The best of these toys (yes I admit it, some of them were quite fetching) was the lifesize Iorek Byrnison, the Armoured Bear King from Philip Pullman's <i>Northern Lights.  We couldn't stay in the toy wonderland for long though, we had only a limited amount of time to get sorted for the party tonight.  To be totally honest, I was not all that impressed with Fifth Ave, it felt nothing more than superficial to me, and as though it only had time for those who were super rich, which, considering the majority of the shops that line it, is probably a fair assessment.  We stopped briefly at Tiffany's, which we had been told had an exceptional Ladies Room, though in truth, it was nothing particularly special.  Marble faced walls with heavy wooden doors and neat sinks.  It was much the same as some of the ones that are standard in the Hong Kong Malls.  Needless to say, i did not really understand the fuss about the 'bathroom' facilities.  I had been expecting at least a Swarovski encrusted chandelier - perhaps it was being polished.  Iwas not alone in my assessment, my friend was equally disappointed by the ordinary nature of the supposedly extraordinary bathroom, and her boyfriend, being excluded by way of gender, just had to take our word for it.After this, we set off in search of Macy's, passing the Rockerfeller Centre on the way, as well as a pit of pennies, which called for a change for the better in the name of 'Common Cents.'  I thought it was a very clever piece of public art and charity.  Eventually we found the Behemoth flagship store, famous for its window displays at Christmas, and they were very good, but we did not spend much time outside because we still ahd much shopping to do, and we realised as soon as we were confronted with Macy's that the task would not be an easy one.  The decor inside the store was equally fantastic, though the jumble of clothes, that had obviously been well picked over, did not leave us much time to appreciate them.  By the time we got to the shoe department we realised that we were not going to do anything quickly.  The department looked like a whirlwind had blasted through it, and nothing was where it should have been - no fault of the assistants, just the general after-Christmas rush of women to sale shoes.  By the time we had managed to get something that worked, the store was closing and only two of us had outfits.  Nick was not happy, epsecially as by the time we got back to the hostel, it was clear that their luggage still had not arrived.Fortunately, one of my room mates came to the rescue, and offered to loan Nick some clothes for the night, though it took a while for all of us to get ready and go, as he was still frustrated at fact that his clothing had not yet made the short trip from La Guardia to the city.  With all the roads closed off for New Year's though, there was little the courier company could do about it.  Bythe time that we made it into the centre it was difficult to get through the streets to our venue, as most were cordoned off around Times Square, but we did manage to get in and take advantage of the free bar for an hour before it was shut four hours earlier than advertised.  Needless to say, that did not impress, but we did manage, eventually, to blag a bottle of vodka for free, so we were cheered by that.  In the end, I decided just to not care about the semi-fiasco that the evening had offered, as far as I am concerned, New York is much the same as London, that is to say, that it is very much a rip-off.  It was more important to me in the end, that we were all there, my room mate included, who had managed to get in after the ball dropped.We left at about 2.30am, because I was hungry and the advertised buffet had also been non-existant, which meant that I had survived the day on three blueberry pancakes and a slice of cheesecake.  Not the best or most balanced set of meals, I think you will agree.    Unfortunately, the only thing that we found open was a Dunkin' Donuts on Broadway, which was not particularly helpful as it was far too sweet.  Still, it took the edge off my hunger.In all, I actually had an excellent night, despite the almost no-go start, and Iwas glad that everyone was there.  It made New Year, to share it with friends, so much better than it would have been had I been on my own.  Even though we did not see the ball drop (my watch was five minutes slow) we had a very good night.
]]> Island Excursion: Day 1 — Wailea, Hawaii, United States http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sahs/world_wandering/1197320700/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sahs/world_wandering/1197320700/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sahs/world_wandering/1197320700/tpod.html Wed, 23 Jan 2008 09:39:03 -0500 Diaries of a World Wander West/East: Continually Meeting the Sun

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Wailea, Hawaii, United States

I decided that since I have a set of wheels while I am here I am going to make all possible use of them.  I am therefore taking a two day trip around the island.  You do not actually need two says to drive around the Big Island, even though its land mass is more than all the other islands put together, but it is a more comfortable trip if you do.  Anyway, I am riding in Kohala tomorrow, so it seemed silly to make the journey to the area twice, or to rush past one part of the island in order to get there in time for my ride.I started my trip by driving up past Hilo on the coastal highway, with the end of my trip for today at Waimea in the northern area of Big Island.  I made a few stops on the way up the coast though, mainly at scenic points of interest.  The first was at Akaka Falls, which, after the hype I had been reading, was not as lovely as I had expected.  It is a very high ribbon fall, which drops down a cliff face which is covered in moss, apart from the section that is directly behind the ribbon of falling water.  In fact I think that moss covered wall, and its peculiar shade of green was the most stunning part of the fall.  In fact the whole area around the fall is rich and varied shades of green, which almost entirely engulf the fall. The best  description I can think of for the greenery is fairy-like, and I am not entirely sure why that description os adequate, but it is only the fact that the water is moving that makes it stand out in the scene,  If it were somehow a frozen liquid (vertically still, but not ice), you would be too entranced with the greenery to notice the water.  It was the landscape and the cliffs that held my attention, rather than the water.My drive continued up the coast, though progess was fitful as there are quite a number of roadworks going on at the moment.  Some are clearing the debris from the recent storms, and others are road improvements, but it all translates as delay, and I was glad I did not have a ride to get to today.  I was actually quite glad of the frequent stops as it gave me time to take in the scenery without having to worry about getting in someone's way.  No one mentions how difficult it is too look around at scenery while you are driving and trying to keep half of your attention on the road.My next stop was at the Waipio valley lookout.  I could not go down into the valley because I did not have a 4x4, and I was not feeling particularly energetic so I did not walk down (amazing how having a car can make you so lazy.)  In truth, from what I saw of the road, it did not look any worse than some inclines that we have at home, which it is entirely possible to navigate in a standard car, but it could easily have gotten more tricky out of sight, so I will reserve judgement.  It is also true that it is easier to tackle such roads in a manual transmission, and I had been given an automatic, as it is standard in the US, and I did not feel the same level of control behind the wheel as I do when I drive a manual transmission.I was also a little put out whan I saw a group of people going down into the valley for a horse ride, I had not considered that as an option.  I am looking forward to my open range ride however, as it promises that it is not a nose to tail outing, which should be a new experience.  My final scenic outing of the day was in the very northern part of the island, at the Puhalo Valley Overlook.  It is basically a mirror image of Waipio, although it is more remote in a lot of ways as the only way into the valley is by foot.  It was also, in my opinion, a much more spectacular lookout, because the sea here has a kaleidoscope of colours close to the shore, which was entrancing to look at.  I made a brief stop in Hawi on theway back to Waimea to see the original King Kamehameha I statue (he was the first king of a united Hawaii) which has been placed there after being lost at sea.  A copy is in Honolulu near Iolani Palace, the royal residence, which was commissioned and erected after the original was lost.  When the original, the one at Hawi, was dredged up, it was brought here to mark the place where Kamehameha spent his youth.  After this, all that remained today was to find a place to park up and sleep.  There are no hostels in Waimea, or certainly none that I can find, and I should be fine, for one night, in the car.  I should not be bothered if I pull up late and leave early.  Well, I hope not anyway.  So, here is to hope.
]]> Round Island Trip — Honolulu, Hawaii, United States http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sahs/world_wandering/1198678740/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sahs/world_wandering/1198678740/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sahs/world_wandering/1198678740/tpod.html Wed, 23 Jan 2008 09:35:43 -0500 Diaries of a World Wander West/East: Continually Meeting the Sun

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Honolulu, Hawaii, United States

I made my long postponed trip to the North Shore today, mainly because the weather in Waikiki was not conducive to sunbathing, but also because I felt that I had to make an effort to at least see some of Oahu.  I took the scenic route along the east coast of the island, which took much longer than I had anticipated, but did display some good scenery.  The mountains on this side of the island rise almost vertically, and all are tree-lined.  It was an impressive sight.  The bus passed through all sorts of suburbs, some that were very American and others that looked run-down, with rotted timber often showing under the paintwork.  The eclectic mix of Hawaii, in terms of cultures and finance does not cease to amaze me.  There were beaches all along the route of the bus, and the waves along this section of coast appeared to be better than those at Waikiki, but as I don't surf, I have little idea of what good waves look like.  After about two and a half hours of scenic bus riding, for the bragain price of $2, I arrived at North Shore.  It had been my intention to get off the bus here and have a look around, not least because the bus had picked up a crazy man who was apparently under the delusion that he had just been elected president, and was busy trying to come up with his inaugural address.  "Thank you very much for making me President of the United States...Thankyou for voting me President of the United States.  I have two Georges here (referencing his currency), George and George.  And we would like to thank you for making me President of the United States..."  It went on for some time, but you get the general idea.However, as the bus trundled through the town, I could not see much that would entice me to disembark, so I carried on, deciding to go and visit the Dole plantation and the largest maze in the world instead.  I should have known better, a visitor centre devoted entirely to pineapples can in no way be all-absorbing, unless of course, you have apineapple fetish, which I don't.  Had I considered that, I would have saved myself a lot of time wandering through the rows upon rows of pineapple merchandise, and waiting for a bus in the middle of nowhere.  The most interesting thing to me in the platation was the distance to London, a little over 7000 miles, and the closest I have been to home since March.  I am looking forward to it.My return to Honolulu took me through the central Oahu plateau, which was not as interesting, scenically, as the east coast, but which proved to be a much faster ride.  I looked over the Ala Moana centre on my way back through town, but I fully intend to spend my day lazing at the beach tomorrow before I head on to New York and into a real winter.
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