Yesterday we took a drive out to my parent place to pick up our fur baby and spend the day with them. We got off to a bit of a late start on account of us both not waking up until 10 (that is SUPER late for Hubby) but we made it out around noon and enjoyed a great day with my parents. I know I am 25 and married and have a life of my own but I missed my parents! Me and my mom are very close and over the years my step father and I have become close as well and I cherish the time that I get to spend with them (they are now both retired and spend 6 months out of the year in the warmer areas of North America).
We enjoyed a delicious dinner together and I got to show them some of the pictures from our trip. At 9:30, we took a trip to Gimli to watch the fireworks display that they put on every August long weekend (Icelandic Festival!). They were beautiful and they created the best ending I have seen in a fireworks display, so amazing!
Today was a day to catch up on some sleep and get some work done around the house. Despite having clean clothing coming home I still had a whole heap of laundry to do plus vacuuming and dusting and some gardening, my poor tomato plants did not enjoy the heat of the last couple of weeks but I was fortunate enough to have only lost one plant out of 12. We also had to do a major grocery shop and as much as I hated to, we ended up at Superstore. I would rather eat nails then enter that store, especially on a weekend but it seemed like the only place to go when we had to buy so many groceries.
We took a ride out to Hubby’s parents place but no one was home so we went to visit his brother and his wife and son, it was great to spend some time with them outside on such a beautiful day.
I feel like my to-do-list is getting longer and longer the more I think about what I want to get done in the next couple of weeks. I probably should start a list (I am a list person), but I think I’ll get right on that tomorrow, I am also a big time procrastinator ;)
Sunday 31 July 2011
Friday 29 July 2011
I don’t think we're in Kansas anymore Toto
Yesterday was all about packing up our things so that we could be out of the hotel by 11am. We even need to buy another large suitcase because of all the great things we bought!
After dropping our luggage at the hotels front desk, we had 8 hours to kill before our scheduled pickup so we took a stroll through Lahaina’s old jail. They even had a creepy old mannequin sitting in one of the cells while a tap recording of a mans diary entry’s played in the background, spooky!
At 12:30 we went to see Harry Potter in the towns theater (what else were we going to do in the high heat) and then we saw Captain America at 3:45. I have to admit I felt slightly guilty for spending our last day in Maui in an air-conditioned theater but then I remember stepping into the sun and immediately breaking into a sweat and my guilt dissipates.
We had dinner at Cheeseburger in Paradise, which had a nice view and ok burgers and then we were headed back to the hotel to collect our bags and wait for the shuttle.
The plane ride was another 6-hour flight but this time it was overnight and since I don’t sleep in moving vehicles of any kind, it was a rough 6 hours!
But we have made it back to Winnipeg in one piece along with all of our luggage so I would say our trip was a success. I loved Hawaii but as most of you already know, there’s no place like home.
Next blog posting: Hawaii; The good, the bad and the ugly
After dropping our luggage at the hotels front desk, we had 8 hours to kill before our scheduled pickup so we took a stroll through Lahaina’s old jail. They even had a creepy old mannequin sitting in one of the cells while a tap recording of a mans diary entry’s played in the background, spooky!
At 12:30 we went to see Harry Potter in the towns theater (what else were we going to do in the high heat) and then we saw Captain America at 3:45. I have to admit I felt slightly guilty for spending our last day in Maui in an air-conditioned theater but then I remember stepping into the sun and immediately breaking into a sweat and my guilt dissipates.
We had dinner at Cheeseburger in Paradise, which had a nice view and ok burgers and then we were headed back to the hotel to collect our bags and wait for the shuttle.
The plane ride was another 6-hour flight but this time it was overnight and since I don’t sleep in moving vehicles of any kind, it was a rough 6 hours!
But we have made it back to Winnipeg in one piece along with all of our luggage so I would say our trip was a success. I loved Hawaii but as most of you already know, there’s no place like home.
Next blog posting: Hawaii; The good, the bad and the ugly
Thursday 28 July 2011
Really, W.W in Maui? You Bet Ya!
Last night, I did in fact make it to my weight watchers meeting in Maui. On the way to the meeting i made a new friend and i just had to stop and take a picture of him!
The good news is that I did not gain 10lbs but the bad news was that I was up 3. But I guess I can’t be too upset because I am on vacation and I have been eating the richest food I can find on the menus. For example: when I got home from my meeting last night, Hubby wanted pizza for dinner so I obliged him by googling the best pizza places in Lahaina. The name that kept coming up was Lahaina Pizza Company so we went to take a look. It was hard to find but once we did we weren’t sorry! They are known for their deep-dish crust. I ordered a medium (6 slice) cheese and Italian sausage pizza and hubby ordered a medium works pizza. Both were awesome pizzas and by the time I was full, I still had 4 slices left!
Today was a really slow day for us, a lot of swimming and just hanging out. Not too busy and very mellow during the day. We started packing up our goodies though and then we went out and bought a large suitcase to get it all home :P
This evening we enjoyed the Old Lahaina Luau. They had an incredible buffet and an amazing show. It is more intimate then the luau we did on Oahu because this time there was only 250 guests instead of 800! Our server was very attentive and was quite funny. The view was great and we were fortunate again to be seated with great people, which also added to the awesome night. We walked to and from the Luau (about 30mins each way), which was a great way to work off all the great food we ate.
Tomorrow we will be packing up and by 7:30pm, we will be picked up and headed to the airport. It was a great vacation but I have to say, I miss my puppy but at least I am not the only one (Mike has been asking to see the pictures of Snowy that are on my computer every evening since we got to Maui)
Vacation is nice, but there really is no place like home!
Also, i took this picture so that i could prove that i was actually there!
The good news is that I did not gain 10lbs but the bad news was that I was up 3. But I guess I can’t be too upset because I am on vacation and I have been eating the richest food I can find on the menus. For example: when I got home from my meeting last night, Hubby wanted pizza for dinner so I obliged him by googling the best pizza places in Lahaina. The name that kept coming up was Lahaina Pizza Company so we went to take a look. It was hard to find but once we did we weren’t sorry! They are known for their deep-dish crust. I ordered a medium (6 slice) cheese and Italian sausage pizza and hubby ordered a medium works pizza. Both were awesome pizzas and by the time I was full, I still had 4 slices left!
Today was a really slow day for us, a lot of swimming and just hanging out. Not too busy and very mellow during the day. We started packing up our goodies though and then we went out and bought a large suitcase to get it all home :P
This evening we enjoyed the Old Lahaina Luau. They had an incredible buffet and an amazing show. It is more intimate then the luau we did on Oahu because this time there was only 250 guests instead of 800! Our server was very attentive and was quite funny. The view was great and we were fortunate again to be seated with great people, which also added to the awesome night. We walked to and from the Luau (about 30mins each way), which was a great way to work off all the great food we ate.
This is me, fitting into the dress that i bought down in the states with the ladies from work. It was too small when i bought it and wouldn't zip up, but this is me wearing it in Maui only a month and a half later!
Tomorrow we will be packing up and by 7:30pm, we will be picked up and headed to the airport. It was a great vacation but I have to say, I miss my puppy but at least I am not the only one (Mike has been asking to see the pictures of Snowy that are on my computer every evening since we got to Maui)
Vacation is nice, but there really is no place like home!
Tuesday 26 July 2011
Busy Little Bee's
Sleep seems to be hard to come by here on the island but i guess there is time to sleep when I get home, but I sure am getting tired!
Yesterday we went on another snorkel cruise and this time we remembered the Dramamine before we got on the boat! I think this was my favorite adventure yet, with the exception of the trip to the Big Island of course. Our first stop was to Molokini, a partially sunken volcanic crater, 2.5 miles off the coast of Maui. The water was crystal clear, the coral was vibrant colours and the fish were abundant. I was even fortunate enough to see a spotted eagle ray as we were headed into the boat and I was even able to snap a picture of it!
Our second stop was to the turtle arches. These underwater arches were just off the southwest shores of Maui and where we had the opportunity to swim with turtles. I saw 4 different turtles in total and was the first person to spot one. This was an amazing opportunity and one I won’t soon forget.
I didn’t sleep well that night so I ended up having a 2-hour nap during the heat of the day. I am sure that Maui is both hotter in temperature but also in humidity and it seems harder to keep energy levels high.
Dinner was to Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse. It is a fancier place and one that both Hubby and I thoroughly enjoyed. We both enjoyed a rib eye steak and both of us ended up taking home a doggy bag.
After dinner we went for a walk around Lahaina and picked us some more souvenirs (I love walking around Lahaina).
Today was another early day for a great Kayaking and snorkeling tour. We met up with our tour at 7 and were in the water by 7:30. I was a little worried about the kayaking but it turns out, I had nothing to worry about. It was a lot of fun to cut through that water and just enjoy the sounds of the ocean. The snorkeling part of this tour was a little more challenging, as we had to get in and out of the kayak in the ocean but I managed and got to see some great coral wreaths, fish and even a turtle den, where the occupant was in (I LOVE turtles)! When we were back on dry land again i was able to use my camera and take a few pictures of the very small, very camouflaged crabs that were scurrying along the beach.
We were done kayaking by 11 and then we took a nice drive to Paia (a small town that is the last stop before Hana) and did some window-shopping and enjoyed a mango frozen yogurt with gummy bears!
Did I mention that I am going to a weight watchers meeting in Lahaina tonight and that if I haven’t gained at least 10lbs I’ll be shocked. Not a good thing considering I wanted to be down 40lbs by September but I made my bed while on vacation and now I will have to live with the consequences (but what a yummy bed it was)!
Yesterday we went on another snorkel cruise and this time we remembered the Dramamine before we got on the boat! I think this was my favorite adventure yet, with the exception of the trip to the Big Island of course. Our first stop was to Molokini, a partially sunken volcanic crater, 2.5 miles off the coast of Maui. The water was crystal clear, the coral was vibrant colours and the fish were abundant. I was even fortunate enough to see a spotted eagle ray as we were headed into the boat and I was even able to snap a picture of it!
Our second stop was to the turtle arches. These underwater arches were just off the southwest shores of Maui and where we had the opportunity to swim with turtles. I saw 4 different turtles in total and was the first person to spot one. This was an amazing opportunity and one I won’t soon forget.
I didn’t sleep well that night so I ended up having a 2-hour nap during the heat of the day. I am sure that Maui is both hotter in temperature but also in humidity and it seems harder to keep energy levels high.
Dinner was to Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse. It is a fancier place and one that both Hubby and I thoroughly enjoyed. We both enjoyed a rib eye steak and both of us ended up taking home a doggy bag.
After dinner we went for a walk around Lahaina and picked us some more souvenirs (I love walking around Lahaina).
Today was another early day for a great Kayaking and snorkeling tour. We met up with our tour at 7 and were in the water by 7:30. I was a little worried about the kayaking but it turns out, I had nothing to worry about. It was a lot of fun to cut through that water and just enjoy the sounds of the ocean. The snorkeling part of this tour was a little more challenging, as we had to get in and out of the kayak in the ocean but I managed and got to see some great coral wreaths, fish and even a turtle den, where the occupant was in (I LOVE turtles)! When we were back on dry land again i was able to use my camera and take a few pictures of the very small, very camouflaged crabs that were scurrying along the beach.
We were done kayaking by 11 and then we took a nice drive to Paia (a small town that is the last stop before Hana) and did some window-shopping and enjoyed a mango frozen yogurt with gummy bears!
Did I mention that I am going to a weight watchers meeting in Lahaina tonight and that if I haven’t gained at least 10lbs I’ll be shocked. Not a good thing considering I wanted to be down 40lbs by September but I made my bed while on vacation and now I will have to live with the consequences (but what a yummy bed it was)!
Sunday 24 July 2011
Lions, Tigers and Sea Turtles Oh My!
So the plan for today was driving to Hana but after yesterdays zigzag drive to Haleakala, Hubby just didn’t think he could manage. Quite frankly, I was relieved. Spending 3 hours (one way) as a passenger in a car that is making hairpin turns and driving on a road only meant for one car driving on it at a time just didn’t sound all that appealing. So we went to the aquarium instead! And although I haven’t been to other aquariums before Maui, I would still rate this one pretty high. They have a very good set up and of course it didn’t hurt to have a hammerhead shark!
It was also at the aquarium where we met a name artist and i just couldn't resist purchasing our name from this talented gentlemen.
Our next stop was one of Maui’s many beaches (this beach was recommended to us again by our wonderful concierge) and where I did some snorkeling while Hubby sunbathed. I didn’t have to venture far from the beach to find an amazing reef full of life. It was a bit unnerving to be in the ocean and to see all of these drops and craters where anything could be lurking but I stuck with it and I think I got some great shots with a waterproof camera that was borrowed from my best friends.
One of the coolest parts from the day was swimming with a HUGE sea turtle. That is something I won’t soon forget, so graceful and beautiful!
We came back to the Condo and went for another swim in the salt-water pool, and again Hubby was in there like a dirty shirt.
We showered and then took a stroll through downtown Lahaina and watched the sunset on the beach. The great thing about this area of Maui is that when I say downtown Lahaina, its not like there are sky rises everywhere and people stacked on top of each other to get down the sidewalk. Downtown Lahaina is more like taking a stroll down the boardwalk in Clear Lake or Gimli, which makes it feel like home.
A bit of a slower paced day but we will be heading to bed early tonight as we have to be up early tomorrow!
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It was also at the aquarium where we met a name artist and i just couldn't resist purchasing our name from this talented gentlemen.
Our next stop was one of Maui’s many beaches (this beach was recommended to us again by our wonderful concierge) and where I did some snorkeling while Hubby sunbathed. I didn’t have to venture far from the beach to find an amazing reef full of life. It was a bit unnerving to be in the ocean and to see all of these drops and craters where anything could be lurking but I stuck with it and I think I got some great shots with a waterproof camera that was borrowed from my best friends.
One of the coolest parts from the day was swimming with a HUGE sea turtle. That is something I won’t soon forget, so graceful and beautiful!
We came back to the Condo and went for another swim in the salt-water pool, and again Hubby was in there like a dirty shirt.
We showered and then took a stroll through downtown Lahaina and watched the sunset on the beach. The great thing about this area of Maui is that when I say downtown Lahaina, its not like there are sky rises everywhere and people stacked on top of each other to get down the sidewalk. Downtown Lahaina is more like taking a stroll down the boardwalk in Clear Lake or Gimli, which makes it feel like home.
A bit of a slower paced day but we will be heading to bed early tonight as we have to be up early tomorrow!
Saturday 23 July 2011
Flat Land Never Felt So Good
Today was the day to pick up our rental car, a little white Ford Focus. We have it until Wednesday and we intent to take full advantage of it. Our first trek out with it was to the mountain peak of Haleakala. At 10,023’ above sea level, I don’t think our little Focus likes us too much, but what a view! The winding road to get up the mountain is quite the tummy tuner: think of a lot of zigzags and then multiply that by 50 and an incline and that is sort of like the road to the summit, plus a lot of clouds thrown in there for good measure.
Once you escape the clouds though, you are pretty much at the top and your topsy turvy drive was definitely worth the Dramamine you will be taking for the trip back down the mountain!
This mountain is a dormant volcano, so when you get to the top, you get to see a small glimpse of where the volcano blew its lid when it was still active.
The total trip took us 4 hours to get up and then back to normal elevation (its true what they say: the air is definitely thinner the higher you go). A quick stop into Maui’s Costco (its better then Winnipeg’s, although they did not offer poutine on their menu) and then to Wal-Mart for some cheap souvenir t-shirts and supplies for the week.
We will probably take it east tonight, a bite to eat and hopefully some more pool time! It’s a very nice pool and to be more then honest, I prefer it to the ocean, hence us going there all the time and not to the beach, I think it’s the lack of sand up certain areas that makes it more appealing to me, plus, Hubby will actually get into the pool! So it’s a win win all around!
The entrance to the park
The road going through the clouds
The road ABOVE the clouds!
Once you escape the clouds though, you are pretty much at the top and your topsy turvy drive was definitely worth the Dramamine you will be taking for the trip back down the mountain!
This mountain is a dormant volcano, so when you get to the top, you get to see a small glimpse of where the volcano blew its lid when it was still active.
Taking a break
That's a long way up!
A view of the ocean from the mountain
The observatories on top of the mountain at 10,000 feet above sea level
The total trip took us 4 hours to get up and then back to normal elevation (its true what they say: the air is definitely thinner the higher you go). A quick stop into Maui’s Costco (its better then Winnipeg’s, although they did not offer poutine on their menu) and then to Wal-Mart for some cheap souvenir t-shirts and supplies for the week.
We will probably take it east tonight, a bite to eat and hopefully some more pool time! It’s a very nice pool and to be more then honest, I prefer it to the ocean, hence us going there all the time and not to the beach, I think it’s the lack of sand up certain areas that makes it more appealing to me, plus, Hubby will actually get into the pool! So it’s a win win all around!
Friday 22 July 2011
The Finer Things in Life . . .
Our days in Hawaii have been starting very early, to say the least, but today was a bit of a sleep in day. For anyone who knows hubby and me, you know that I am SO not an early riser but hubby is, so sleeping in till 8 was a bit of a blessing.
We met the concierge at 8:30 to book some activities for the week, (we have some exciting things coming up in the next few days!). We then also got a great recommendation for a breakfast/lunch/dinner place called the Aloha Mixed Grill, AWESOME FOOD and TERRIFIC VIEW!!
After lunch hubby went back to the condo for a snooze while I did a bit of window-shopping, no buying for me today but I have my eye on a pair of hand carved turtles.
After about an hour and a half of walking around Lahaina, I went back to the condo to collect Hubby for a swim in their salt-water pool, where he tried out my snorkel mask for the first time and had a blast in the pool! Say WHAT? Mike in a pool and enjoying it! I will definitely have to get some pictures for the folks back home so they can see just how good of a time he is having in the pool.
The next item on our to-do list for today was to go on a sunset dinner cruse. What a meal they had for us and the view of the sunset was just breathtaking!
A very mellow day for us today considering some of the others, but one where we had a chance to just enjoy each other and that to me, makes it so worth it!
We met the concierge at 8:30 to book some activities for the week, (we have some exciting things coming up in the next few days!). We then also got a great recommendation for a breakfast/lunch/dinner place called the Aloha Mixed Grill, AWESOME FOOD and TERRIFIC VIEW!!
After lunch hubby went back to the condo for a snooze while I did a bit of window-shopping, no buying for me today but I have my eye on a pair of hand carved turtles.
After about an hour and a half of walking around Lahaina, I went back to the condo to collect Hubby for a swim in their salt-water pool, where he tried out my snorkel mask for the first time and had a blast in the pool! Say WHAT? Mike in a pool and enjoying it! I will definitely have to get some pictures for the folks back home so they can see just how good of a time he is having in the pool.
The next item on our to-do list for today was to go on a sunset dinner cruse. What a meal they had for us and the view of the sunset was just breathtaking!
A very mellow day for us today considering some of the others, but one where we had a chance to just enjoy each other and that to me, makes it so worth it!
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