Circling round the island of Oahu- must sees!

The last few days before my parents and I both left for Atlanta, we manage to squeeze a drive round the island of Oahu. I have to pathetically admit that as a resident of Oahu for the past four years, I have not done a drive round the island!!!!! This time, due to my father's insistence, I finally dragged myself out of bed, and just started driving my parents around the island and managed to visit a few places which I wanted to visit but never got a chance too:)

These pictures and captions are for those interested in visiting the island. Having to drive round the island is rather tiring, but if you have a GPS, a rented car, and good company, this is a must when you come to Oahu island in Hawaii:)

First up, we went to the Dole plantation(where you get great pineapples from)...

My parents at the entrance

First thing I wanted to try, the famous Dole Whip. It is basically pineapple ice cream and it was yummylicious!! Remember to try it when you are there!!

My father trying out the world's largest maze. It was cute because they gave you a map and your job was to find 7 things within the maze and draw it on a card they gave you, they timed you too. It's definitely a challenge for people who are competitive!

My mom and I being the lazy and erm..."not so competitive" ones, went on the Dole plantation train instead...very relaxing and slllooooow ride...

We of course got to see pineapples..

Machineries they used to proccess the pineapples

Other random plants they plant on the fertile soils of Hawaii

The best part of the train ride for me was the scenery:)

After the Dole plantation which took about 2 hours, kinda crazy right???!!, we headed to the small town of Haleiwa to grab lunch at the famous shrimp trucks by the roadside. I have always wanted to try it because it was famous and apparently delicious. You will find it along the way at the start of the town and we tried Giovanni's which was apparently the most popular, here are a few pictures to tempt you....

Most of the trucks looked like this

Our plate of shrimps for 13USD, I thought it was a hassle to eat as it wasn't shelled but the sauce was good:) Definitely an experience!

I also suggest walking along the town of Haleiwa because it is really quaint and a group of friends and I usually have lunch and take a walk around there on when we are free. I didn't get too walk the town this time because we were rushing for time and wanted to visit Turtle Bay before heading to Kailua. Turtle bay is actually a bay known where turtles head to for laying their eggs, and the Turtle bay resort is basically situated there. To our dissapointment, we didn't get to see turtles butttt we manage to find a cute bar overlooking the bay..........manage to chill out and people watch with the breeze blowing in our faces...to quote "typical Hawaiian experience":)

To end the tour for the day, we went to Kailua(where the Byodo-In temple was). Another cute and small town, and the beach there stretches for miles and miles!!weee......for those loving the beach, you can go jogging there too.......I didn't get to take pictures of  Kailua beach for you..Soweeee!!!!!! Next time k?????? But here are a few more pictures of Byodo-In temple when my parents and Jason were here...

At the meditation pavillion

Look at how big the bamboo plants are!!!!!!

Another part we didn't get to hit was the East side of the Island where Haunama Bay is, I suggest people who love snorkelling to check Haunamay Bau out because you get to see beautiful turtles and fishes, not so much the coral reefs though:)

I hope you guys enjoyed the tour of the island from my eyes!!!!!!!

xoxo

Meiz

Halekulani- House without a key

My parents are down in Hawaii now, have been a whirlwind two weeks for me!!!!!!! First, organizing the party, Jason coming and my parents too....try catering for two parties at the same time!!It is definitely NOT EASY! If you have or are currently living overseas, you will probably know the feeling when your parents, relatives or friends come and visit, you have to plan carefully where to bring them to sightsee, cater to what they eat(ahem....my dad is super picky! harder when he loooveess Chinese food only), and basically keep them entertained. And being Asian, it is basically innate to cater to your family and friends whims and fancies right??????!!??? Of course, I basically get to enjoy being a tourist too, doing things that I wouldn't have done usually....heheh....this particular post is about a great location to stay if you come to Honolulu for a vacation and expect a beautiful and sophisticated hotel or if you plan to just chill and grab a bite at a place overlooking the sea......

I was basically wrecking my brain when my parents asked me to bring them for tea(scones, pastries,etc.) as they don't really have that here because having "tea" is a British "thing" apparently.......I found that out when I would tell my friends from the U.S.A, "let's meet up for tea" and they would look at me with a quizzical look "what do you mean by tea?".............. and that's when I knew.....that they don't have the idea or event of having "tea" here...interesting eh? My parents being brought up during the British colonial era in Malaysia believed in having tea and loved it, same here actually. So...I was desperately finding for a place to have tea when I chance upon a magazine stating "The Veranda" in HaleKulani.

When I arrived at Halekulani, I was taken in by the hospitality of the staff in which they took the time to point out where the veranda was to me. BUT...I highly do not recommend "The veranda" because it doesn't overlook the beach and it is actually in a small little corner overlooking the interior courtyard of the hotel.

The courtyard that "The veranda" overlooked

I spotted another restaurant overlooking the sea nearby in the vicinity of Halekulani called the "House without a key"....Although they did not serve "tea" stuff, they had a good selection of desserts and appetizers!!!!! PLUSSSSS, the view was amazing!!!!!!!

 Literally looking at the waves crashing on the shoreline:)

Very white, pristine surroundings

The three of us wore blue...totally matched the calmness and sereness of the surroundings..and it wasn't even planned!

Mom's drink "Tropical itch".....Since the name of the cocktail was tropical itch, they gave my mom a scratcher to cure the itch! How cute was that???!!??

They made such a simple drink such as fruit punch taste sooooo good!

Nicely done, matcha panna cotta

Peanut butter and chocolate cake....heavenly!!

Guess what?????I guess we were squeling over the scratchers, the servers probably took pity on us and gave us both scratchers too before we left...sweetttttt!

In a nutshell, I totally recommend "House without a Key" for tea with your family or just for a get together with your friends! You can chill, eat, be merry without blowing your budget and just walking on the grounds of the hotel made my day:) Although I have not seen the rooms, I believe they are most likely worth it due to the surroundings and have an Asian Zen feel to it...very warm.....

If you have stayed there before, I would love to hear your thoughts on it???!!???? In the meantime, I am busy packing and my next update will probably be from Atlanta (going for my brother's graduation!!Holler!!!)

xoxo

Meiz

Graduation- The transition to adulthood

For alot of people in their 20's  the past weekend held alot of promise and anticipation as to what was coming next, especially for those just graduating with their bachelors degree! Congratulations to all that graduated, you've  all earned it!!!!

I remember, when I first graduated with my bachelors, I was really excited but thrown off guard because it was too quick and I wasn't prepared for it, literally felt like a rug was pulled from under me because I didn't expect to graduate so early, and have yet to send in my applications for graduate school. I decided to take a year off to write up applications for graduate school and finally breathe, after chugging along my college years at full steam! For alot of my friends now, and I am sure for those that are currently graduating, you are probably nervous and filled with doubt, "What should I do", "Am I going to be able to get a job?" and a million questions running through your head especially during these tough economic times........don't worry fresh graduates, don't think you are alone in this, because I personally feel that every graduate feels the same way when they are just about to graduate or just graduated....... Now, you don't have an organized program where you study, pass an exam, and that is your main focus, but rather you actually work for an organization, hold responsibilities and naturally become an ADULT! Graduating from University/college is a huge transition, and it takes a little bit of getting used to, but it's a journey that everyone goes through and it is just how each person transitions through it, face obstacles and go on their own path. Nothing to be afraid of.....if you need time to think on which career path to take, just take a minute, and then go from there. You don't have to rush into a job so quickly, OR feel like a failure if you have yet to get a job. Like my mom told me before, "You are going to be working your whole life, so why not take some time off to think or rest first"...Just love her:)

Anyways, I hosted a party for two of my friends that just graduated, Mayco and Kendra at my place...pool and barbeque partayyyy....congrats to you guys, both of you did an amazing job!!!!

With the two fresh graduates! Mayco with a masters in music....woo hoo! He plays amazing traditional Indonesian music btw!!!Kendra with her bachelors in civil engineering! Both taking time off to decide and rest a bit....Kendra chasing another career path possibly, *cheers* for being brave babe!

Jason, Mayco and Erenst starting the fire!!!

Basically barbequed half of the food even though he was one of the hosts! aiks!

Thanks for the amazing shrimps with the special sauce! Another barbeque guru!

Getting ready to party!!!!

 Lovely friends who also came for my sorta graduation party too...*ssshhhh, quite shy about it* still have my PhD to complete!!!heheheh

The party was in full swing when everyone was jumping into the pool and jacuzzi!

Or just chilling out by the pool....kinda cold to swim at night.....I totally get it!:)

Jen showing her delicious red velvet cupcakes....tastes waaay better than store bought ones! This gal is going to own a bakery very soon! and I willl be buying all of her stuff..yum yum

Vivian and Lisa brought these lovely cupcakes for graduation!

Look at the smiley faces on it.....these cupcakes are not just meant for me, Mayco, and Kendra but for all who graduated this year....!!!! All the best with job hunting and starting a new phase in your life....don't look at it as a chore(to find a job) but a journey filled with excitement and new experiences:)

Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

xoxo

Meiz

Experiencing Japan through Hawaii

While I was preparing for a personal project of mine yesterday, I discovered one of the most beautiful and  sacred locations in Hawaii. An interesting thing about this place is the fact that it is hidden from the view of the world, and when you actually enter the location, you instantly feel like you are not in Hawaii anymore but possibly right in Japan.

You are wondering, what this place is right? Well, it is actually called the Valley of the temples or the Byodo-In temple. This Buddhist temples is actually a direct replica of a temple in Kyoto, Japan. One word that comes to mind when I think of this place is "SPECTACULAR". It's not "just" because the temple was built without nails, or the fact that it was built to mark the 100th year anniversary of Japanese immigrants in Hawaii, but the feeling you get when you are actually in the surroundings of the temple. You truly feel calm and tranquil, without a worry in the world........... some pictures for you...

Walking on this path was really surreal! There were lakes on both sides, SWANS, ducks, and even peacoks running around..... where on earth do you actually see swans and peacocks nowadays? Amazing!

The temple itself...majestic

Ben trying to feed the swans

These animals are sooo tame, and an interesting thing I saw was the fact that all the birds, swans, and peacocks get fed right from your hands and they are not aggressive at all......and according to the minister, they are wild??!!??? I seriously think it is the tranquility and sereneness of the place that can even tame wild animals.....:)

I love this temple and it's surroundings so much that I will be going there soon again!!! I can basically be selfish and not tell anyone about it :P , my "lil secret"  to keep it pristine and tourist free BUUTTT the temple needs donations to maintain it and I want to share this gem of a place with the rest of you!! So, go visit the temple if you have not been there before and you are from Hawaii. For those planning to come here, remember the Valley of the temples!!!

I finished the day with dinner at a Japanese restaurant in Waikiki (Doraku).....the food was good and priced reasnably too.......Untill now, I cannot believe what luck I have that I am in Hawaii because this state is possibly the only state that has Japanese cuisine all over and they are most likely authentic coupled with the fact for my LOVE for Japanese food!!!!!!!

Here are a few dishes which I recommend:

New Doraku styled role..to die for!

Miso yakki butter fish

Our surroundings was pretty zen and if you sit on the balcony or at the side, you face out to the beautiful scenery of Waikiki

Topping on top of a very beautiful, "Japanese experience" day, was eating Baskin Robbins at the Sheraton! You can buy Baskin Robbins and sit on the couches overlooking the pool.........lovely:)

Well guys, if you are headed for the U.S., remember to drop by Hawaii because you can experience a part of Japan when you are here. Killing two birds with one stone to put it aptly because you get to see American and also Japanese culture together.....awesome right? and super money saving...hehehe

xoxo

Meiz