Photo Friday: Greetings From Parksville

Three photos this Friday. The first two are a comparison of the beach when the tide is in and the tide is out.

The tide is in

The tide is out, although this is not the farthest out it goes

The next photo was taken at the Parksville Sand Sculpting Competition. The sculpture was not the most detailed and I don’t think it won any awards, but it really struck a chord with me. I absolutely love it.

The Forgotten Homeless, by Denis Kleine

I will post some thoughts about my week in Parksville soon, but for now, these photos show the beauty of this wonderful area. All photos courtesy K. Douglas

Photo Friday

Waipio Valley, Hawaii

Things to do on the Big Island: The Petroglyphs

If you can tear yourself away from the spectacular ocean or the relaxing pool, there’s actually a lot to see and do in Hawaii. We spent four days touring around and seeing the sights, and there were plenty of sights to see. This first post covers the petroglyphs. Future posts will include the painted church, the place of refuge, Volcanoes National Park, the Mauna Kea and Hilo (including Waipio Valley, the Hilo Farmers’ Market, and Rainbow and Akaka Falls).

Puako Petroglyph Archaeology District

What is the big petroglyph doing to the little petroglyph?

The petroglyphs are ancient carvings in stone. Although the meaning of some of the petroglyphs are obvious (even in stone, turtles still look like turtles), many are a mystery, as are their origins. The Puako Petroglyphs are among the most varied petroglyphs on the Big Island. At this one site, you can see carvings of individuals, families, fishermen, turtles, dogs, canoes, what we thought was a whale, and fertility symbols. Other sites tend to focus on one topic, such as fertility. There is much disagreement about the origins of the petroglyphs: some experts think they are linked to rituals and ceremonies while others think they were visual cues for storytellers.

Man with really long arms holding lasso?

Unfortunately, the petroglyph district has not always been protected. Some of the petroglyphs have been lost to people creating rubbings of the carvings. Others have been lost to the wind and rain, while others are lost to lava.

This is either a honu (green sea turtle) or a primitive Volkswagen Beetle

There are numerous petroglyph sites on the Big Island, including Kailua-Kona (the Puako petroglyphs), Waikoloa and Kona Village Resort. Lucky for us, the Puako Petroglyph Archaeology District was less than a 30 minute walk from our hotel. It wasn’t the most fun walk in the world, but it was worth it for the view of the petroglyphs–and to imagine the circumstances surrounding their creation.

The area of the Big Island that we were on is very heavily filled with lava rock. People on the island take smaller white rocks and use them to spell out messages (one message: “I like pie,” another message: “Happy birthday, Sandra.”) These messages appear all along the lava. I like to imagine that in 1,000 years, experts will look at these messages and come up with all sorts of explanations as to why people would write in white rock on the lava.

Maybe they’ll think it was some sort of strange ceremony or rite of passage. Maybe there will be long, passionate debates about the origins of these messages and what they really mean. Maybe they’ll discuss why the messages are all oriented to the mountains (so they can be read from the road). Maybe they’ll wonder “Why here?” Maybe they’ll question why “Randy” felt the need to express his love for “Angel” in rocks. And maybe the reason the petroglyphs were created is the same reason people write on the lava: because they can. And because it looks cool.

If you look closely, you can see the messages written in white rocks.

If you choose to walk into the Puako Petroglyph District, be sure to wear a lot of sunscreen and adequate footwear. The trail is bumpy and uneven and the sun hits you for much of the walk. Although the trail from the parking lot is 15 minutes (the parking lot is approximately a 10 minute walk from The Fairmont Orchid), it can get very hot, so be sure to bring water. Make sure you go when there is adequate sunlight to get to the petroglyphs, contemplate them and get back.

All photos courtesy of K. Douglas

An Authentic Hawaiian Luau at the Kona Village Resort

It could be one of the activities most associated with a trip to Hawaii, and the authentic Hawaiian luau—with its poi, hula dancers, and emu—was at the top of our “Must Do List” for Hawaii.

Because we were on the Big Island, we decided to take in the Kona Village Luau, ranked as one of the 1,000 Places to See in the U.S.A. & Canada Before You Die. The book even says the Kona Village Luau is the Big Island’s “longest-running and most authentic” luau, and, as we found out, the setting is straight out of South Pacific, with tiki-torch lights and lagoons dotting the landscape.

Scenery at the luau

The person I made the luau reservations with said the luau began at 5:00 pm; however, we weren’t seated until 5:15 (or possibly later) and the entertainment didn’t start until 5:30—it’s worth noting that there were line ups for first-come-first-serve seating, though.

The evening then kicked off with some live music, followed by a demonstration of a coconut husking that balanced information and entertainment of a more comedic bent .

The Fairmont Orchid

The ocean at the hotel

Have you ever been to a hotel where you walked in, looked around and thought, “This is nothing like what was advertised?” You get that same sensation with The Fairmont Orchid in Hawaii, only in this case it’s because the pictures can’t possibly do the hotel justice. From the magnificent views of the ocean, to the multitude of delicious meals to the many activities for hotel guests, The Fairmont Orchid is a hotel that has to be seen to be believed. And it has forever ruined other hotels for me.

My room was a deluxe partial ocean-view room. This means that the view directly outside my room was this golf course:

The view directly outside my hotel room

But, step onto the spacious balcony (and into the divine Hawaii air), turn to the left, and you see this:

Partial ocean view was fine by me

The hotel room was large, with two luxurious queen beds (the most comfortable hotel beds ever), a television and a small fridge. For those people who experience severe sunburns and wind up spending the vacation in a hotel room, this is the hotel room to do it in. Plus, the bathrooms were magnificent, with double sinks and a separate walk-in shower. Plenty of room in the bathroom for me to apply all the sunscreen I needed to avoid turning lobster red in the sun.

Part of the reason pictures of the hotel don’t do it justice is the amazing atmosphere. It’s difficult to feel stressed out when you’re staring at the beautiful ocean, breathing in the fragrant Hawaii air and enjoying the Hawaiian music piped through the hotel’s speakers. The staff were all incredibly friendly and helpful whenever I had a question or request, which just added to the comfortable atmosphere at the hotel.

In addition to the beach property, the Fairmont Orchid has a 10,000 square foot pool that’s open 24 hours. I highly recommend taking advantage of the quiet time to enjoy a dip. The moment my brain finally accepted that I was in Hawaii was at the end of my first full day, when I went down to the pool at 10:00 pm, floated on my back and stared up at the stars while the palm trees swayed in the breeze.

The pool, right by the ocean

Of course, you don’t have to stay at the pool. The Fairmont Orchid has a beautiful beach that includes an activity center–you can snorkel, paddle board, surf or even take out an outrigger with one of the “Beach boys” (men who run the activities on the beach). Whether you’re by the pool or the ocean, someone is always nearby to take your drink order, so you don’t miss any time in the sun.

A view from the beach

I actually tried snorkeling and wound up swimming next to Honu (green sea turtles) as they rose to the surface for air. (Please note: on land you must stay at least 20 feet away from Honu because they are endangered animals. When swimming, however, you can be around them, provided you don’t get too close and do not in any way impede their movement or bother them. Staff at the hotel is absolutely strict about protecting these beautiful creatures and will take action if people get too close.)

A Honu basking

You don’t have to walk far at all to see beauty at the Fairmont Orchid. Every trail has gardens, waterfalls, ponds or fountains to enjoy. For those who enjoy shopping, there are plenty of guest shops, jewelers and shops with resort wear to keep you happy.

A waterfall at the hotel

When it comes to food, the Fairmont Orchid has something for everyone, from Brown’s Deli, which serves sandwhiches, wraps, salads and pizza, to Brown’s Beach House, with outdoor seating, to Hale Kai, an outdoor restaurant with sand floor, that serves the best mud pie ever, to the Orchid Court, with its daily breakfast buffets, and Norio’s Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar. For those worried about finding food for keiki (children), every restaurant has a special keiki menu.

The Hale Kai restaurant, next to the pool

On two evenings, we sat in the Luana Lounge and watched the sunset while eating appetizers, listening to live acoustic guitar (the singer was amazing) and watching a hula dancer (who was mesmerizing). It was the perfect way to end some truly wonderful days in Hawaii.

Sunset from the Luana Lounge

Although it’s not an inexpensive resort, if you can save the money to stay at The Fairmont Orchid, I highly recommend it. It has something for everyone and helped to make my vacation perfect.

The Fairmont Orchid is a five star, four diamond (AAA, 2010 rating) hotel with a Green Key eco-rating located on the Kohala Coast, Hawaii. The 540-room luxury hotel is set on 32 beachfront acres in the Mauna Lani Resort. In addition to the above-mentioned amenities, the hotel features a “Spa Without Walls” with private outdoor venues, and a fitness club. For those who can’t travel without their dog, The Fairmont Orchid allows “well-behaved canine companions.” Fairmont has a President’s Club, which allows guests a variety of special rates for activities and other benefits, you can join by visiting the Fairmont website.

A bird drops by for a visit outside Brown's Deli

All photos courtesy K. Douglas

Aloha!

From the first day, the view out the front of the Fairmont Orchid

I’m back from beautiful Hawaii and still processing my thoughts about how fantastic a vacation it was. I highly recommend going to Hawaii–even for those of you who are not sun worshippers (I have the rare ability of getting a sunburn while just thinking about the sun and I still managed to have a fantastic time). Upcoming posts will focus on the hotel (the Fairmont Orchid–magnificent!), sightseeing on Hawaii’s Big Island (so much to do, so little time–see below), tips for making the most of your time in Hawaii (make sure you leave time for relaxation) and more.

Being from Canada–and specifically British Columbia–I am spoiled when it comes to natural beauty. I’ve seen awe-inspiring sunsets, magnificent mountains and jaw-dropping views of the ocean all in my “backyard”. Although I appreciate natural beauty from around the world, it’s sometimes difficult to impress me. Hawaii impressed me more than I ever thought possible.

Places we visited that will receive attention on Tripific in upcoming posts include Place of Refuge, Volcano National Park, Waipio Valley, the Painted Church and the Kona Village Luau, so stay tuned for the lowdown on these one-of-a-kind spots.

I’m still processing the trip, but I wanted to post some photos to inspire you to start planning your own Hawaiian adventure. It’s absolutely worth it.

A Honu (green sea turtle) basking on the shore outside the Fairmont Orchid

On the final evening, the sunset from the Fairmont Orchid (imagine sitting in an open-air lounge, listening to live acoustic guitar and watching a hula dancer and this sunset--it's heavenly)

Please note: All photos courtesy K. Douglas.

Photo Friday

The view from a BC Ferries vessel from Departure Bay to Horseshoe Bay

Another view from the ferry between Departure Bay, Nanaimo, and Horseshoe Bay, West Vancouver

Keeping with the boating theme, a cruise ship sails past Campbell River

(All photos courtesy K. Douglas)

You’re In Lions Country

BC Lions country, that is.

Game sign (photo courtesy K. Douglas)

One of the most perplexing things to me is that the BC Lions play in one of the most moderate climates in Canada, yet our CFL (Canadian Football League) team plays in an indoor stadium. But for the next year at least, the Lions return to their original home, Empire Field (originally named Empire Stadium), while BC Place goes through renovations to update the roof. Having been at Empire Field for the home opener on July 10, I have to ask, “Can’t we stay here forever?”

Sure, BC Place is indoors, protecting fans from the rain and cold–but we might look a little wimpy when compared to die-hard Saskatchewan Roughriders fans, who brave all sorts of nasty weather to put watermelons on their heads and cheer their team to victory.

And yes, BC Place is right next to a skytrain station, making it easily accessible to locals and tourists alike.

But there was something special about watching the BC Lions play outdoors. It was exciting, watching the game and looking over the stands across from me to see Playland visitors ride the rollercoaster (frightening), experience the Drop Zone (horrifying) or try out the Hellevator (terrifying).

I could practically hear the screams of terror from the roller coaster before the game (photo courtesy K. Douglas)

Empire Field has a personal feel to it. For the first time at a football game, I repeatedly interacted with other fans around me, as we bemoaned the fate of our beloved Lions. Although we were sitting in the last row near the end zone, we didn’t feel far away from the action. It seemed there were no bad seats in Empire Field. Add to that the incredible sound of more than 27,000 fans cheering at Empire Field and you get a sense of how special the venue is.

Besides, it only makes sense that a team named for mountains– “The Lions,” two mountains on the North Shore–should play outdoors. (The mountains are visible from Empire Field.)

The sound of 27,000-plus fans stomping their feet on the metal stands was exhilarating. Plus, because we were outdoors, we got to see an F-15 fighter jet fly overhead. You don’t get that when you’re indoors. There is covered seating at Empire Field, but we were happily located in the sun–and fully covered in sunblock.

27,000 fans hope for a better outcome next time (photo courtesy K. Douglas)

Sure the game could have had a better outcome, but I don’t know that anything could beat the joy of sitting in the sun, taking in the fresh BC air and watching a game of football, beverage of choice in hand.

Empire Field is located next to Playland, on Hastings in Vancouver. Fans who have tickets to a Lions’ game and visit Playland on game day receive a two-for-one admission to Playland.

There are a number of options for fans to get to Empire Field, including driving and transit. The BC Lions website has information for people coming from all over the lower mainland.

Tickets for games at Empire Field range from $35 to $85, not including HST.

If you’re in Vancouver this summer, don’t miss the opportunity to see the BC Lions play outdoors–it’s something special that shouldn’t be missed. Of course, I’m a big supporter of the CFL, so if you’re in any city hosting a CFL game, see if you can get tickets. Canadian football is fun and exciting, and the fans are as interesting as the action on the field.

A Saskatchewan fan (photo courtesy K. Douglas)

A BC Lions fan (photo courtesy K. Douglas)

Photo Friday: Shots from the Seawall

We’ve noticed other bloggers celebrating Photo Friday, and what better way to share the beauty of the Pacific region than with photos–after all, sometimes it seems our words just don’t do it justice. So for today, some shots from the Stanley Park seawall.

Beautiful Vancouver

Inviting on a hot day

Is there anywhere better?

Campbell River

I know I promised to post from Campbell River this past weekend, but the truth is that it was so beautiful and so much fun that I couldn’t tear myself away to go on my computer. Sometimes, all it takes is a few minutes surrounded by beautiful scenery to make a gal forget her Internet duties.

How could I possibly think about posting, when I woke up to this view every morning?

A spectacular view to wake up to

And this view?

Another spectacular view

When we did tear ourselves away from the view, there were still more vistas to take in. We drove 10 minutes to a nearby lake and were delighted to see a deer eating by the side of the road, not to mention the dog-friendly beaches, filled with pooches waiting to dive into the serene lake to cool off.

Campbell River is approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes away from Nanaimo’s Departure Bay terminal. To get to Nanaimo, you can either take the new Island Highway (19) or the Island Highway ocean-side route (19A), which follows the shoreline. The scenic route is longer than the inland route, but is well worth it for the fantastic ocean vistas. Taking the scenic route also takes you through the beautiful communities of Parksville, Qualicum Beach and Courtenay.

Campbell River has a variety of lodgings. We stayed at the Best Western Austrian Chalet because of its indoor pool and mini-golf course, which were perfect distractions on the one day of less than perfect weather (although really, the weather was still fantastic). But there are many other hotels along the Island Highway that also boast wonderful ocean views.

When we tore ourselves away from the shore, it was to go to a different location on the beach for the Transformations on the Shore competition. We were there while the carving was going on and saw some beautiful work.

Carving by Glen Greenside, no title given at time photo was taken

"Spirit of the Morning Hunt," by Chris Sparrow, went on to win second place

At night, we stood on the shoreline and watched the cruise ships go by, wondering about who might be on those massive ships and where they were headed.

One of the many tourists I met at the hotel described Campbell River as a little piece of heaven, and I have to agree. With deer by the road, eagles in the air, magnificent ocean views and plenty of beaches and lakes, Campbell River makes a wonderful vacation spot.