Hello, Delaware!

Well, it's finally official. My brother is moving again. Two and a half years ago, he moved from our hometown in Florida to Dallas, Texas. I thought it was going to be awful not having our family all living in the same town anymore, but luckily with his job, he was able to come home quite often. It didn't take me long to get used to the new arrangement, and I actually enjoyed the two trips I made out to Dallas to visit. In fact, I'm pretty sad that he's leaving the area. It was always a fun place to check out, and there was still so much more I wanted to do there!

But alas, he's moving on, and this time he won't be able to come home very often. When I found out a couple weeks ago that his new job was in Delaware, I thought that sounded so depressing! Isn't that like the least popular state in the country?! I mean, who goes to Delaware, much less moves there? 

But I think maybe I could've made a quick judgment. Every state has something cool to offer, right? I'm definitely planning to make a trip up to visit in the next few months once he gets settled in. And let's face it, if there's not much to do in Delaware, New York City is only a short train ride away! 

Vacation in Hawaii: Days 2 and 3

The second day of my vacation was pretty intense. I didn't expect it to be, though. I thought we had all the difficult hiking out of the way, but boy was I ever wrong! What was supposed to be a nice, easy hike up to Moana Falls turned out to be the muddiest experience I've ever had. Because of the mud, it was super slippery, and I basically thought I was going to die. I was so scared that if I fell, I'd go straight down the cliff! Honestly, that's probably what would happen because the trail was really narrow, and there wasn't much to grab if you slipped. Here I am about to embark on a pretty messy and dangerous adventure!

One positive thing about it being super wet was that the waterfall at the top of the trail was so much bigger and more powerful due to all the rain. And, I'm pretty sure this was my first time in a real rain forest!! It was so beautiful!

The waterfall was just so neat to see, and it was well worth the hike! But of course, once I got up there, I was so scared to come back down!

On the way up, we kept passing people who had taken their shoes off because it was so muddy! So I could only imagine that going down wasn't going to be a simple task. Surprisingly, I made it without slipping, though, but my shoes were completely covered in mud!! Thankfully, there was a hose at the bottom where we sprayed our shoes off. 

After the hike, we grabbed lunch at a place called Big City Diner. I ordered kimchee fried rice and really enjoyed it! I had to ask the waitress what kimchee was before I ordered it! She explained that it's a Japanese food...a spicy cabbage that's been marinated. She said that other veggies are sometimes used, too. She even let me taste some! I really liked it, and especially enjoyed it in the fried rice.

After lunch, we hung out at a beach for a little while, and then went to a little store where they sold macadamia nuts. The next day, Sunday, was jam packed! We got a little lost on the way, which took some extra time, but finally made it to Pearl Harbor! It was such an emotional sight to see. 

After visiting Pearl Harbor, we headed to the North Shore for lunch, and then to check out a place where coffee and cocoa beans were produced. We sampled the coffee, bought some chocolate, and the we were on our way to the beach! We hung out at the beach where the show, Lost, was filmed, which was pretty cool!! It really did look deserted there, and you could even drive to the point where the road just ended!! You couldn't go any further, or I guess you'd end up in the water!

Mokuleia Beach, where Lost was filmed

Civilization stops here

We stayed at the beach until the parking lot closed and the sun was starting to set, and then we headed back to the hotel at Waikiki to get cleaned up for dinner. 

Vacation in Hawaii: Day 1 Continued

The end of our first day in Hawaii concluded with something I had really been looking forward to... the luau! We went to Chief's Luau and it was so much fun!! Before our trip, I spent hours researching luaus! Just when I thought I found the best one, I'd start to read some negative reviews and change my mind. Eventually, I came across Chief's Luau, which isn't as "touristy" and had nothing but stellar reviews! Chief Sielu does a great job of making each and every guest feel welcome, and the setting is one of the most beautiful places on the island. Another cool little tidbit: Last year, Chief Sielu appeared on the season finale of The Amazing Race!

When we arrived at the luau, we were greeted with some shell leis (those who paid more received traditional flower leis, but I didn't see the point of spending more). Here is my brother really excited about the luau! Ok, maybe he thought the girls were pretty nice, too!

Before the festivities officially began, you could walk around and watch headband weaving and hula lessons. Then came the imu ceremony. This was when the roasted pig was raised from the ground. As a disclaimer, I thought this was totally going to gross me out, especially as a vegetarian, and not wanting to have that image stamped in my mind right before dinner. But it really wasn't too bad. 

I'll spare you the photo of the actual pig! If you really want to see it, just ask and I will deliver! 

After the imu ceremony, tables were dismissed one by one to go to the buffet. The food selection was pretty decent. Here is my plate!

Let me explain what I ate. I had a yummy salad with a ginger dressing, fresh fruit, rice, stir fry veggies, purple sweet potatoes, a taro roll (it was purple inside and slightly sweet), and then there was that stuff in the middle... poi! Poi is a traditional Hawaiian food made from fermented taro root. It has a pudding-like texture, but in my opinion it didn't have much taste. I didn't think it was terrible, but apparently it is an acquired taste. On the other hand, my brother thought it tasted like metal!

After dinner came the spectacular show! There were hula dancers, fire dancers, and everything in between! 

I even got pulled on stage at one point! The guys started walking through the audience, and I felt for sure I would get picked because the way my chair was positioned, I was sticking out like a sore thumb! Typically, I would never want to get on stage! I saw a couple girls shake their heads no when they were approached, and I figured I'd just do the same. But then I started thinking about it, and it really was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so why not have some fun?! Sure enough, I was pulled up there, and it was actually really fun! Basically, we all got asked a question that we had to answer with the mic, and then we were taught a simple dance. Here are a couple pictures of me being a fool! (I'm in the bright pink shorts and neon green tee.) I'm pretty sure I was the ONLY one on stage in shorts. I definitely wasn't prepared for dancing!

The show was so entertaining! I couldn't believe how quickly 4 hours passed! At the end, they had everyone form a huge circle and hold hands, and they sang a song about how they'd "never forget us." It was cheesy, yes, but also SO fun! I wondered if the luau would be a little tacky, but this one wasn't. It was everything you expect when you go to Hawaii! More of my vacation adventures to come...

Vacation in Hawaii: Day 1

Last week I returned from a wonderful vacation in Hawaii with my brother. Hawaii was never a place I thought I'd want to visit, mainly because I'm from Florida, and I figured it would be pretty similar. But boy, was I wrong! 

Now, I must admit that when we landed in Honolulu late at night and started driving through the city to get to the hotel, I wasn't totally impressed. Of course, it was dark. But it looked like any other typical big city. Since it was so late and I was exhausted from so much traveling, the adventures didn't begin until the next day, Friday.

After breakfast at the hotel, we walked down to Waikiki Beach to check out the views. It was so pretty seeing Diamond Head (mountain) off in the distance. When my brother told me we were going to hike it later that day, I think I had a slight panic attack. I'm not a fan of heights, but I figured I'd check it out. Before I get too involved, let me preface by saying that my brother had been to Oahu before and done most of the things we did on this trip. He's also bee to the Big Island.

Waikiki Beach with Diamond Head in the distance

So, back to day 1... after walking Waikiki Beach we took off to see the Halona Blowhole, a couple other beaches, and then we hiked up to Makapu'u Lighthouse. 

Halona Blowhole

Hiking up to Makapu'u Lighthouse

The Lighthouse

That was all good and well, but then we ate lunch and trekked it over to Diamond Head. The hike started out on a paved trail, but that didn't last for long. It became more challenging, but it wasn't anything I couldn't handle. 

Hiking up to Diamond Head

Then we came upon this huge staircase. I thought for sure that once I made it up those stairs, I'd be at the top!! But after a lot of huffing and puffing and a little reluctance about going higher and trying not to look down and psych myself out... I got to the top of the stairs only to realize that there were 3 more stories of winding metal staircases!! Now, these were the type of stairs that you could see the ground through as you climb up them. I don't do well with those kind of stairs. So, I told my brother to go ahead without me. I was just afraid my eyes would play tricks on me, and I didn't want to risk the chance of falling down winding, metal stairs. I waited for my brother and then we made our way back down. 

The huge staircase near the top of Diamond Head

After the hike, we went back to the hotel to clean up and get ready for the luau! Stay tuned for more on that... I may or may not have been pulled up on stage! ;)

Real Simple Tips for Long Flights

The other day a friend asked me for some ideas of things to do on a long flight. At first I was kind of dumbfounded. I mean, doesn't everyone pretty much do the same things? And who I am to give advice on a long flight when the longest one I've been on was about 4 hours or so?! 

Well, I started thinking about it, mainly because I actually have a pretty long flight coming up soon, too! I'll be flying to Hawaii. Luckily, I'm using Dallas as my midpoint and staying with my brother for a night on the way out and the way back home. I think that will help to break up the trip. But the flight from Dallas to Hawaii is still going to be loooong!! 

Via

I'm far from a techie. I don't own a smartphone, not to mention the fact that I don't even have texting capabilities! I do have a Kindle that I won in a work raffle a couple years ago, and I have my iPod. I plan to bring both of those with me, although it's hit or miss whether the Kindle will work on a plane. And just for your information, I never use my Kindle to read books. I use it as my mobile internet device!!

Anyway, since those are my only gadgets, here's what I plan to do on my long flight. 

1. Read a book or magazines.

2. Listen to my iPod.

3. Watch the in-flight entertainment.

4. Try to doze off a little bit.
5. Stretch and move as much as I can, even if I'm staying in my seat.

6. Make lists. Yes, lists. Lists of recipes I want to try, things I want to do or write about.

7. Plan out any last-minute details of the trip, like which part of town I want to check out first, what I want to eat, things I might want to buy, etc.

8. Sit back, relax and enjoy the flight and the fact that I'm not working!

9. Talk to some new people if anyone interesting is sitting beside me.

That last point isn't something I typically do. Usually, I hate talking on planes! Actually, let me clarify. I hate talking while the plane starts to land and the pressure is building up so badly in my ears that it feels like my head is going to explode and the sound of anyone's voice is going to set me off! But, you just never know who you're going to meet on a flight! Sometimes long-lasting relationships have been formed, and other times long-lasting hatred for whoever is resting their head on your shoulder happens instead.

Any other tips for things to do on a long flight? Please share!

The Travel Bug

For the past couple years (ever since my brother moved to Dallas), we've made a tradition of taking a brother-sister trip together. The first year, I flew out to Dallas to visit him for the first time. 

Here we are at the Rangers game

The next year, we met up in Seattle and spent a few days there and did lots of driving... to Vancouver, Canada, and to Mount Rainier National Park (the most beautiful place I've ever seen)! 

Me and my baby snowman at Mount Rainier National Park

Last summer, I was supposed to fly back to Dallas, and then from there we were going to drive to Austin. Well, a bad storm hit Florida the night before I was supposed to leave, and I didn't think I'd be able to get to the airport, so I canceled my flight, and we decided to plan a trip to NYC in the fall instead. I had never been before, and it was such an exciting place to see, especially while it was decorated for Christmas! 

My brother and I in Central Park, NYC

But, I still have my flight voucher from my canceled Dallas trip, and I have to use it by this July. I've been thinking about where we could go in the next few months. My brother is usually nice enough to leave it up to me!! (He's a pilot and travels all the time.) Any suggestions of must-see places would really be appreciated!! I'm thinking I might like to go to a non-city place this time since we just did NYC, but there are tons of cities I've never been to and would like to see on future trips.