Geek Chic

After finally picking out a brand new pair of spectacles, I just couldn't help but embrace my inner nerd. 

I think these have a nice librarian look to them, with a hint of secretary. 

Remember kids, knowledge is sexy!

Perpendicular

Go ahead, call me... Four (squared) Eyes

Hypothenuse

Ninety Degree

Parallel

Scalene

Kauai / Such Great Heights

I hope the internet world is proud of me for executing my very first plank upon a winding road on the way up to Waimea Canyon! It was a precarious endeavor to say the least, one that involved a quick paced game of plank-shoot-run between me and my sister, as to avoid being run over by on-coming cars.  But alas... success!





Not only did the roads provide a great backdrop for silly photo-op ventures, they also lent a magnificent view of the landscape below... if you dared to look down from such great heights! The immense valleys and the rivers that run through them paint a gorgeous sight of distant purple peaks, golden brown earth, volcano red dirt, bright green groves, and glistening blue water cascading through the land.







Once we reached the peak of Waimea Canyon, a sort of Grand Canyon of this Hawaiian island, the views were even more spectacular! The expansive mountains of untainted land looked almost prehistoric, as if preserved in time by man's respect for nature--a rare occurrence nowadays. It was refreshing being able to lay eyes upon a land free of dead shopping malls, skyscrapers, and suburbs.

Oh, just doing some high altitude reading amongst the fitting terrain.

Naturally, the best views of the canyon give rise to tourists beyond tourists... not excluding myself of course. I mean, does it get any more tourist than homemade postcards?







As you can imagine, mountain top explorations can work up quite the appetite. Aloha Shrimp Station! & Mahalo for such a delicious lunch! I decided to go for the coconut shrimp--a classic and solid choice which never disappoints, I'd say. And this particular batch definitely satisfied, especially paired with their special sweet papaya dipping sauce and an ice cold can of guava juice. Gotta love those island flavors!













Now what's a trip to Waimea without a few heaping scoops of Jojo's famous shaved ice? On vacation, a meal without dessert is simply incomplete. This cute little snack shack really lived up to my expectations! With so many flavors, it took the menu and I a few ponderous moments to finally come to an agreement--a combination of green tea, lycee, and lime shaved ice piled on top of a generous scoop of macadamia nut ice cream. Heaven in a styrofoam cup!

This sweet treat sure brought back some old memories...

Can you hear the ocean?

Next stop, the Spouting Horn--a natural geyser at the edge of one of Kauai's coasts. Remnants of ancient lava tubes, these geysers produce nature's own Bellagio show of gushing sea water. These spouts of water reach heights nearly as impressive as the peaks of Waimea Canyon. Thar she blows!

Kauai / Island Hop

Our first day in Kauai was quite eventful to say the least. We seemed to master the art of hopping around the island's many hot spots with ease, as Kauai isn't exactly the largest of the Hawaiian islands. Having awoken to a brilliant Sunday morning, our first stop was to the nearest coffee shop--naturally--for some blueberry cheesecake, banana bread, and chocolate macadamia nut lattes. Yes, you heard me right. Thank you kindly, Koloa Mill coffee shop!



After a satisfying breakfast under sunny skies and a light drizzle here and there, we made our way to the oldest Catholic Church in Kauai, Saint Raphael's in Koloa. This location was the birth of my yoga-crazed papa's new obsession of the week... what he likes to call his "Brain Stand". I was his designated photographer for a series of photos he insisted I take of him doing headstands in front of every major photo-op we came across. My dad is quite the character...











The car ride around Kauai made for a moving slide show of sorts, which at times made me feel like I was in a living desktop picture! It was nearly impossible not to gawk at the never ending luscious mountain range and the expansive rolling hills of tropical trees. A particularly charming stretch of highway, situated on Maluhia Road on your way to Po'ipu, beheld a sort of fantasy-like tree tunnel of densely packed Eucalyptus trees running all the way down the path.





Around noon time, my stomach is nearly programmed to grumble. Lucky for me, and my stomach of course, we were able to find this quaint hole in the wall Hawaiian restaurant--Hamura Saimin. Saimin is a traditional Asian-inspired Hawaiian noodle and soup dish, and you know the hole in the wall joints always serve the best of the best. And for dessert, I dug into a slice of light and fluffy Hawaiian cream pie, made of some exotic fruit that is still a mystery to me. But, boy was it good.















Next stop was the Wailua River, where waterfalls ran down the side of green mountains, which seemed to go on for miles. At the bottom of the canyon were remnants of an old Hawaiian village, which was just crawling with colorful peacocks, who were clearly not phased by having to model for tourists on the daily. Maurice and I took advantage of their friendly nature and frolicked about, mimicking the tropical birds like true divas!

Can't you see the resemblance? ;)

After a bit a strolling around the earthy sites on foot, we hopped onto a Wailua River boat to see some parts of Kauai you can only reach by water. If I wasn't a Divaranan, I'd love to take a kayak down the river. But alas, I'm not quite sure I've got the arms for such a task :p

Looks like photography runs in the family!

At the edge of the river sat the destination for our river boat trip--The Fern Grotto. A green canopy-covered winding path weaved through a lush forest of tropical flowers and trees with the fattest leaves I've ever seen. This eventually lead to the fern-adorned cave known as the Fern Grotto. Our authentic Hawaiian tour guides sang some traditional love songs underneath the Grotto--famous for romance--which they continued on the boat ride back, along with our very own hula lesson.















To end the daylight right, we headed out to the shore in Po'ipu and watched the waves pull in and out over black lava rocks as we listened to the gentle roar until the sun descended beyond the horizon.

And of course, to top off our first day of adventures, we indulged in a few heaping scoops of Lappert's Hawaiian ice cream!

Feast your eyes...