Enjoying easy in this tropic-loving setting. We’ve looked all over the island to find the best places and things to do to access what Oahu could offer, from majestic cliffs to emerald beaches. With access to the island’s diverse landscapes, adventure activities and general gratitude to all things outdoors, these 14 activities, are must-things-to-do for anyone not wanting to miss out on anything on the capital island of the state of Hawaii. 1. Visit the Hollywood-famed WAIKIKI, BEACH Pretty sure that when you mentioned Hawaii to someone, the first thing that comes into their mind is Waikiki. Credit that popularity to Hollywood. From popular TV shows such as Hawaii Five-O 1968 series to 2004’s Lost and hit movies like Adam Sandler’s 50 First Dates and Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park movies. There are so many things to do in Waikiki. If you’re a first-timer and want to learn surfing, then Waikiki Beach is perfect for you as the waves are not as high as the ones in North Shore and there are a lot of surfing board rentals in the area that offers surfing lessons too. 2. HIKING All of the islands in Hawaii are perfect for outdoor activities such as Hiking. The Hawaiian weather is almost always perfect all the time and you don’t have to worry about wild predatory animals like snakes, wolves and/or bears since there are none at all. There are many hiking trails in the island of Oahu. My favorite is the Kamananui Valley Trail. The trail is a 6.2 mile hike good for all skill levels. It begins at the end of the Moanalua Valley at Moanalua Valley Park. When you get there you feel like you are one with nature. So quiet and peaceful and the breeze is cool and fresh and its sound makes it seem that mother nature has welcomed you. 3. Visit the POLYNESIAN CULTURAL CENTER This is the MUST of the Must visit among all the things mentioned in this blog. The Polynesian Cultural Center is a park where they showcase the different cultures of the Polynesian People. From the Hawaiians to Fijians and Aoteroas to Tahitians. The park is very educational and a fun place to be at. Both the adults and children enjoy spending their time here. I for one can attest to that since I’ve been there thrice already and the place never gets old. The park opens at noon and ends around 5pm to 8pm depending on your ticket inclusions. Tip: When going to the park, take the H3 and enjoy the view of the breathtaking skirting cliffs of the island of Oahu. Don’t forget to stop by the Macadamia Farm on your way to the park. 4. Visit KUALOA RANCH The Kualoa Ranch should be part of your itinerary. It is 4000-acre private nature reserve and working cattle ranch, as well as a popular filming location for scenes from the movies like Pearl Harbor, 50 First Dates, Jurassic Park, Godzilla and Lost. You’ll pass by the ranch when you drive to the Polynesian Cultural Center. So if you did the latter first, locating the ranch won’t be too difficult. 5. Visit PEARL HARBOR If you are a World War II nerd, then the Arizona Memorial Park in Pearl Harbor is a must visit for you. General admission is free in the park, including access to two (2) museums and exhibits along the harbor. Visiting the USS Arizona Memorial is also free. However, visits to USS Bowfin, USS Missouri Battleship and the Pacific Air Museum are subject to applicable entrance fees. 6. Visit THE BISHOP MUSEUM If you want to learn more about the Hawaiian culture, then a visit to the Bishop Museum is highly recommended. Founded in 1889, it is the largest museum in Hawaii and has the world’s largest collection of Polynesian cultural artifacts and natural history specimens. – Wikipedia.org 7. SURFING This is a no-brainer. Dubbed as one of the world's top 10 best surfing spots (surfer.com, theinertia.com and cnn.com) and is widely considered as surfing's mecca, surfing is a must for those who are an avid fan of the sport. Winter season is the best time to surf in Hawaii. The state itself pump two-to-50 foot waves all year round. Not to worry if you're a beginner. There are a lot of surfing lessons offered around the island. Note: Always take precautions if you want to try it out by yourself. 8. EAT POKE! Poke – otherwise known as raw fish salad is served as an appetizer in Hawaiian cuisine and sometimes a main course. Our favorite is the increasingly popular spicy ahi poke and is generally made with yellowfin tuna. It is available in Foodland or Sack and Save. We like it served with rice topped with Japanese furikake. 9. SNORKELING Hawaii is also known for its snorkeling spots. Amongst the famous in the island of Oahu that we personally tried are Hanauma Bay and Shark’s Cove. Hanauma Bay State Park Located in the Hawaii Kai neighborhood of East Honolulu, Hanauma Bay is both a Nature Preserve and a Marine Life Conservation District. First-time visitors are required to watch educational videos in the State Park’s mini theater to help them learn about conservation of the reefs and the type of fish that lives there. To know more about Hanauma Bay and their pricing, visit their official website at . Tip: Before you go back to your hotel, drive by the Kaiwi State Scenic Shoreline and enjoy the view of Oahu’s coastline. Shark's Cove One of the best snorkeling spots in the island, Sharks Cove can get a little packed at times. Mentioned in Scuba Diving's Magazine as one of Oahu's shore dive spots, this small rocky bay possess blue water and imposing amount of sea life. Note: Because of its rocky features, I would not recommend taking children in Shark's Cove unless to play in tide pools. 10. WALK AROUND OLD TOWN HALEIWA IN NORTH SHORE OAHU and MATSUMOTO's SHAVED ICE A recommended visit for anyone visiting the island. Old Town in Haleiwa North Shore is a total getaway from Waikiki. Well, perhaps not the crowd. Unlike the common concrete jungle concept in most cities when it comes to shopping, this place is designed with the town in mind. A perfect place to explore for island-themed shopping. From souvenirs to beach clothing to coffee and shaved-ice shops. Speaking of shaved-ice, the town has the best shave-ice on the island – Matsumoto’s! Tip: On your way to Old Town Haleiwa, take the H2-N and stop by Dole Plantation. 11. Visit HO'OMALUHIA BOTANICAL GARDEN Another of my personal favorites in Oahu is the Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden. The garden is a rainforest garden designed for flood protection with plantings from major tropical regions in the world. If you're a nature lover then this place is definitely an escape from the hustle and bustle of the busy city of the island. Entrance is free and is open daily except for certain holidays. 12. Visit SHIROKIYA VILLAGE Located at the Ala Moana Center, Shorikiya Japanese Village Walk highlights traditional Japanese culture. It consists of four main themes:
13. SWAP MEET Another shopping activity when you’re in the island. I would recommend this place more than the shopping centers in Waikiki or even from the Old Town Haleiwa for the prices. They are cheaper! And in some cases, you can negotiate the price of the items that you want to buy. It’s a Bazaar Market Place and its HUGE! Google Aloha Stadium Swap Meet for their schedules. 14. DRIVE AROUND THE ISLAND If you find driving relaxing, then I would recommend for you to do so while you’re in the island. Driving around the island might take you between 3-5 hours depending on how many stops you take for scenic lookouts and picture taking. For scenic lookouts, I would recommend driving by the following:
Pali Lookout For a breathtaking view of the windward side of Oahu, this is a MUST visit. I mean just look at the photo. Also, the site is a historical site. I would recommend reading the signs in the place for a quick history of the Hawaiian Islands. Tantalus Lookout
A short drive from Waikiki, get a great panoramic view of Honolulu and Diamond Head. Getting there is interesting. You would have to drive a narrow and winding road in a ‘Tropical Rainforest’ area. Note: Parking is limited but worth the visit.
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One is either foolish or overly optimistic to think that a few days in Bali is enough. One is either foolish or overly optimistic to think that a few days in Bali is enough. With only five days to spare for our family trip, I prefer to think we were the latter. Either way, we had to make do, which demanded very precise planning and a strict itinerary. Freediving and surfing were foremost on the menu so we spent most of our days out at sea, but I made sure to save one special day to see what dryland Bali had to offer, too. Without hesitation, we chose Uluwatu and its surrounds.
Iris ClamorIris Clamor is a writer and all-around Internet slave who is constantly on the verge of an existential crisis. She writes for thelostones.net and iriswrites.com. Know that it will be hot, smelly, and uncomfortable. The circular train journey itself will also be uninspiring. But if you ask me, that's what makes it all the more interesting. Because it is normal—nothing more and nothing less. And being a traveler in this very strange land stuck in time, it can be a real joy to be part of something normal.
Our first morning in Yangon dawned bright and chilly. "Perhaps the famed Myanmar heat was just a myth," I thought to myself hopefully. We showered and had breakfast, and by the time we stepped out of our rented Airbnb apartment, I wondered if the cold from barely an hour earlier was just my imagination.
Welcome to Myanmar. Or "Mingalabar!" as the locals are fond of saying.
The intense heat made us scramble into the first taxi we saw, and for 2,000 kyat (about $2), we were transported in comfort to the Asia Plaza Hotel in Bogyoke Road, barely half a kilometer away.
Our instructions were to wait in front of the hotel, the designated meeting point for the day's tour. At a quarter to 8 in the morning, there was no one there, so we stood outside in the heat for a few minutes, unsure of what to do. Finally, a young Burmese man approached us and ushered us into the hotel lobby where we could wait in relative comfort. He introduced himself as Thuya Lwin from UrbanAdventures.com, and he was to be our guide for the day. He wore a traditional Burmese longyi and spoke great English.
After a few minutes, two young ladies from Canada and Vietnam joined us, completing our merry little band of travelers.
Before we left the hotel lobby, Thuya went through the basics of the tour for us, as well as the standard etiquette to observe while in Burma. He also talked about the fundamentals of navigating the streets of Yangon, which is rather important because Yangon drivers are crazy. With all the essentials out of the way, we were off! Our first stop was the Yangon Central Railway Station where we would board the Yangon circular train.
Basically, the train just goes around the city in a wide circle with stops along the way, making it a great way to really see into the heart of Yangon.
While waiting for our train, Thuya told us more about Yangon and its people and history. He talked about how in the early 20th century, Yangon was one of the most progressive cities in Asia. However, they went through many decades of civil and military unrest, so they were quite literally left behind by their neighbors. Right now they're still just shaking off the stupor of having been at a standstill for so long and doing their best to catch up.
Finally, our train arrived and the mad dash to climb aboard commenced. Luckily, we managed to get seats near the rear of the train. There was a slight commotion when a lone tourist, possibly Chinese, got her head stuck in the closing train doors with the rest of her body still on the ground. Scary stuff, but luckily, the train is so old, slow, and rickety that she was extricated out of her predicament easily enough.
For the next 1.5 hours, our train meandered around Yangon. Inside the train, the sights and sounds of humble folk going about their daily routines surrounded us. There was a mother teaching her little boy his alphabet, a man reading the day’s newspaper then promptly dozing off, young people chatting.
Vendors wove in and out of the train cars, hawking myriad delicacies from fruit to quail’s eggs to deep-fried sandwiches.
Looking out the window, it was hard to deny the poverty. There were areas with rickety houses, and areas with old, crumbling apartment buildings. There were areas littered with so much trash that you couldn't see the ground beneath, and areas that stank of rotting produce. Despite all the squalor, though, what really stood out about the city was its spirit. People accepted their lot in life and made the best out of it, from what I could tell. Even with all the hustle and bustle, it all actually seemed quite peaceful.
Danyingone, however, was rather spectacular -- or horrifying, depending on how you look ast it. I found it to be a mix of both.
At the halfway point of our journey, Thuya directed us to get off the train. We were at Danyingon where Yangon's busiest wet market was. At this point, we were going to see a typical Burmese market in action.
Now, being from the Philippines, I'm no stranger to wet markets. Danyingone, however, was rather spectacular -- or horrifying, depending on how you look at it. I found it to be a mix of both.
The sheer volume of produce and people was staggering, as were the sights, the smells, the textures. There was so much activity, so many people going this way and that that the market itself seemed like a living, breathing organism -- an ecosystem of sorts.
Oddly enough, it actually seemed quite organized. For instance, you would know exactly where to find root crops because they definitely won't be in the (stinky) section where they showcased fish and shrimp paste.
After about 20 minutes of going around the market, we made our way back to the train station. The next train wasn't arriving for another half an hour, so Thuya got us cold drinks to pass the time. He also demonstrated the Burmese habit of chewing on betel nut and tobacco. Now, it's hard to miss those telltale red stains on Burmese streets, so it's fascinating to know that it actually has a sort-of science to go with it. They take a leaf (I forgot what it was called) and spread some sort of white paste on it. Then they wrap up the betel nut and their tobacco flavor of choice in it and chew away. It produces this red liquid, which does a lot of disgusting damage to their teeth (and streets!), but hey, it's their thing, so live and let live.
Finally, the train comes, and once again, we scrambled on board for another 1.5-hour journey. This time around, we saw more ponds that grew watercress and nicer houses along the way.
Most Burmese folks wear paste on their faces as makeup and sunblock of sorts. It's a little disconcerting at first, like war paint, but after a while, you can see that it's actually quite nice. Especially on the little ones. They just look terribly cute.
We finally arrived at our last stop. We then rode on these awesome Yangon tricycles along Bo Min Yaung Road, which is an entirely different experience in and of itself.
We stopped at a restaurant where we had lunch before disbanding. It was quite nice place, too, by Burmese standards -- more Chinese than Burmese, if you ask me. While waiting for our orders, we were served snacks -- deep-friend samosas and spring rolls. The Burmese do love their fried food.
After that hearty lunch, it was time to say goodbye to our group. They were still going back to our meeting point to disband, but we were already in the same street as our apartment, so we opted not to go back. By this time, the midday sun was in its element, so a quick nap in our air-conditioned flat was definitely in order.
All in all, it was a great tour, but probably better suited for the tail end of a trip when one has gotten tired of pagodas and wants to see a different aspect of Burmese living. Know that it will be hot, smelly, and uncomfortable. The circular train journey itself will also be uninspiring. But if you ask me, that's what makes it all the more interesting. Because it is normal—nothing more and nothing less. And being a traveler in this very strange land stuck in time, it can be a real joy to be part of something normal. Iris ClamorIris Clamor is a writer and all-around Internet slave who is constantly on the verge of an existential crisis. She writes for thelostones.net and iriswrites.com. |
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