6 Day Itinerary: Hawai'i and O'ahu

I am publishing my Six Day itinerary for the State of Hawaii

Here are some facts that confuse people:

• Hawaii became the 50th State of US only in 1959!
• Is the only place in US with actual king's palace.
• Hawaii is the name of state and also the name of Big island.
• There are 8 major islands viz.Niʻihau, Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Kahoʻolawe, Maui and the island of Hawaiʻi

Initially, you will find names very confusing but at the end everybody just knows Aloha and Mahalo!

Suggestions:
1. Read some history of Hawai'i and King Kamehameha I. You will really appreciate its uniqueness
2. Carry an umbrella or raincoat ( weather is unpredictable)
3. Carry sunscreen
4. Buy snorkel gear if possible . You can get it for cheap $45 from any sports store.
5. Get both flipflops for the beach and heavy boots for hiking 


We decided to spend 6 Days in Hawaii because of Vacation constraints ( longer the time better it is..). I decided to do some island hopping too as I still consider myself young.


We decided to spend three days in Island of O'ahu and three days in Hawai'i ( also known as the Big island)

Vacation has different definitions for different people: For me its not about relaxation ( unlike my wife) but to explore places, food, hike around and talk to people.

O'ahu: O'ahu ( means gathering place) is the most crowded island of Hawai'i. The state capital of Honolulu has more than 900,000 population. It gives you an experience of Hawai'is History, Big city life, traffic jams and unparallel beauty!

Day 1:
We stayed right in the heart of Waikiki. Place is filled with skyscrapers and high-end shops

USS Arizona Memorial: Fee: Free. 2-3 Hours (if you go early). Must

USS Arizona on a cloudy day!

This place marks the resting place of sailors and civilians dies during the infamous Japanese attack of pearl harbor on 7th Dec 1941.
You have to go early to get the tickets or stand in the queue hoping that those who booked the tickets don't show up there. There is a short film about the attack (it was fairly neutral with no chest thumping). After that you are taken to the USS Arizona memorial a monument built over the sunk ship. We can still see the oil slick coming from the ships. I could see many people breakdown crying.

:http://www.nps.gov/valr/index.htm


Hanauma Bay: Fee: $7/Head.  3-4 Hours. Must.

Not so hidden paradise - Hanauma Bay

This is the most exciting place for snorkeling. You can also buy the snorkeling gear here. Water is never over your chest at least for 600 feet off coast. It is ideal if you don't know much swimming. Just look down and you will see an amazing range of fish and corals!

http://www1.honolulu.gov/parks/facility/hanaumabay/


Day 2

KCC - Farmers Market - Near Diamond Head: Fee: Free. 1-2 Hrs. Carry Cash. Optional. Only Sat/Tue
Go early. Hoards of Japanese tourists. But range of foods is simply awesome. Had my best pizza ever.....

@KCC Market Fresh Farm Produce

Best Pizza Ever!

Pali Lookout: Fee: $3 Parking. 1/2 Hr.
When we went it was foggy. But still it has nice views. It has also historical significance.

One of the turning points of Hawai'is history

Lankai Beach: Fee: Free: 1-4 Hrs.
I nice white sands beach with turquoise water. Good for paddle boarding.

Blue Lankai

Boyodo Temple: Fee: $3. 1 Hr
It is a replica of Japanese Buddhist temple in Kyoto. It is a peaceful place.

Peace at last!

Laie Point: Fee: Free. 1/2 Hr
Rugged lava flows and clear blue sea. 

rough blue seas

Sunset Beach: Fee: Free: 1-4 Hrs.
This place is for surfers. I could see 6 feet waves. The waves are much higher. It is the best spot in the world for surfing!

Best beach for surfing 6 feet waves!

Matsumoto's Shaved Ice: It is one of the landmark groceries. The most popular hawai'ian shaved ice.

All touristy things done!

Day 3

Leonards’s Bakery: It is one of the must do things in HNL. You should try Malasadas ( Portuguese doughnuts)

Diamond Head Hike: Fee: $2/Head.  2-3Hrs. Must
It is an easy hike. roads are well paved and have to go through tunnels to reach to the top of Diamond Head. You will get nice views of downtown Honolulu.

Top of Diamond Head!

Bishop Museum: Fee: $20 (is indeed high!).
If you are interested to learn the unique history of Hawai'i this is the place to come to. I would suggest read some history of Hawai'i.



We flew to the Big Island ( Hawai'i) to KOA. It is fully a rural setting (a stark contrast to Honolulu). We stayed in different places all 3 days ( all of them BnB's..and it was wonderful! We covered full island in 3 days..)

Day 4

We stayed in Captain Cook BnB. It was a nice experience with awesome views. The house owner used to stay in same place where we were staying in CA.

Morning coffee in Kona

Honaunau Bay(Two Step) and Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park: Fee: $5. 3-4 Hrs
Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park: It has all the artifacts like huts,idols ..a unique perspective. Worth your time. The two step is the best snorkeling place I have been to.  There are no services near this place. Bring your own snorkeling kit. It has two steps where you can go in this deep water. . It has  the most beautiful fish and corals I have ever seen! I will rank this as my highlight of the trip!

Ahh! I wish I was there again....

South Point (Ka Lae) and Green Sand Beach: Fee: Free, 2-3 Hrs. Must
It is the southernmost point in US (of the 50 states).

Green Sand beach: It is one of the must dos . It is very close to Ka Lae ( just a road bifurcation). You will reach a place beyond which normal cars cant go only 4X4 with high suspensions can go. There would be an illegal passenger transport car. He would charge $10-15 for the 3 mile hike. It is worth this money. The beach is amongst only 2-3 beach to have the olive green sand! 

Green Sand....

Day 5

Volcano National park: Fee: $5/Head. 4-5 Hrs. Must
One of the reasons why I chose to come to big island is to see volcano!
But unfortunately this year volcano is flowing not in the sea but in the woods owned by federal authorities. It was nearly impossible for us to see lava
kia iki trail: 4-5 miles trail

Crater with oozing gases

Waipio Valley Lookout - Fee: Free . 1/2-3 Hrs
It has a black sand beach awesome for surfing. The village down below is extremely isolated. You cannot go to the valley in your own car you need 4X4 car. The roads are so steep that even walking is difficult.We got a ride form a creepy local who was drinking beer! So watch-out for him..take lot of water..

Black Sand

Waipio Valley

We stayed in Jacarada Inn. A beautiful place but expensive. We paid $168/night.

Day 6

Mauna Kea VIS:  Mauna Kea is the highest peak in Hawai'i. It is snow-capped. you can drive up to Visitor information center but beyond that you will need a tour guided vehicle or 4X4 as the ascent is very steep. Try to advance book a night guided tour to the summit observatory

On the way to Mauna Kea

Pololu Valley Lookout: Fee:free.
Walk down the valley (1-2 Hrs). This place has nice views.

Picture Perfect

Hapuna Beach: Fee: Free ( Parking has fees but you can park outside free).
It is one of the top 10 beaches in the world.  Good for paddle boarding as waves are not very high.

End of the Trip :(

A Year Gone by 2013

It is amazing how humans try to find patterns in their lives however random events might be. Everything has to make sense right? That's the reason why we freaks  celebrate New Year!

This years was mostly non-descriptive for me. Really speaking nothing happened, nothing moved.

Health: Realizing that I am getting older and would not like to die of gluttony, starting of the year we decided that we would join L.A. fitness. To my amazement (however discrete)  we continued going to gym. Now I can see my feet with only some obstruction!

Besides health, watching "healthy" women workout is truly inspirational. Now I can pull-up my body 20 times at a stretch, which was never possible in my LIFE...... AND THERE WAS NO GYMINTIMIDATION!

Travel: This year was also the year of National Parks and my love for nature: We visited Joshua Tree National park, Yosemite National Park, Kings Canyon and Sequoia Tree National park and  most striking Alaskan National Parks : Denali and Kenai Fjord

Highlight of the year was the “Alaskan adventure”  : It was a trip of a lifetime. It was the time of many firsts: Helicopter ride, near mid-night sun, glaciers, whales and most beautiful nature. I will surely go back there again....if time and money permits...

Yosemite visit was most abrupt. Wildfires had filled the valley with dense smoke and made it unbearable. Hope my luck with Yosemite changes soon.

This is the age to travel and travel I will.

Materialism: This year, I crossed many heights of my own materialism. Brought things that I did not need, but I do not regret ( or do I ?)

Leica: Did I need to buy a $2000 “point and shoot” camera? -- NO, frankly speaking with so limited features, even $200 camera offers better value....

BMW 528i: I already had a working car but spending almost half of my annual salary was it worth it? -- NO. Frankly speaking, this car throws error even if you fart!

Professionally: Professionally almost everything changed and nothing changed but I am definitely in a better state than I was at the start of the year. The thing that jerked me awake on May 21 will remain on my mind forever.
But I am sure things are going to change for good :)

Personal: 

A new member was added to our family: Neev, my nephew. He was there with me for 2 days in December and I already miss him :(

My In-laws' visit to Los Angeles was other highlight of the year. The visit was filled with uncertainties right from the time they were about to leave India to the time they reached back home.

Epilogue:

This song from America was playing in my head throughout the year....It speaks of the area where I live...and reminds me of that SoCal spirit!  :)

 New Years Eve....

So here I stand in downtown LA, totally sober (unlike last year, marital life has made me sober). I stood in the line of 500 people to get Indian food from a food truck. By the time it was our turn it was 11:49pm  and we were one of the last people! Bit of a luck here!
Placed order for Saag Paneer in 2013, got our food in 2014....so all in all was a good year! 

Review: Leica X2

Leica X2: Front View

My SLR , Canon 450D, has become old. For 5 years it  has serviced me really good. It still functions well so no replacement was needed.

I wanted a general purpose camera to go along with SLR. Light weight with a small form-factor. For me image quality is really important. I brought few point-and-shoot cameras and was very disappointed with them. So I was searching for bit higher end mirror-less cameras. After months of research I finalized on Leica X2 - a hand “Made in Germany”  mirror-less camera.

Leica X2: Without Cap

If one word to describe this camera it would be “Beautiful”. It is mostly used for street photography as the lens is fixed to 24mm. People don't get intimidated like they do for SLR

Link to official website:

http://us.leica-camera.com/photography/compact_cameras/x2/

After using the camera for 3 months here is the review:

There are so many disturbing features:

1          Price: $2000. In this price you can get a medium format Canon or Nikon SLR body

2.       Fixed 24mm prime lens – But this is what you get for entry level Leica and this is not M9 ( Body itself will set you back by  $4500. Lenses can cost you up to $9000)

3.       Multi-point focus does not always work properly. At times the object you focus (auto) will be out of  focus! This is a big flaw!

4.       Simple thing like zooming on an existing photo during playback is not available! You have to remove the lens-cap  to see the photos! How dumb!

5.       At higher ISO ( anything above 6400) the noise is too much to bear!

6.       Low light performance is just “OK” for the price you pay.

7.       JPEG picture quality is miserable (as bad as any point and shoot)

8.       Leica is offering you just 16MP (but consider this M9 is just 18MP)

9.       The Leica EVF V2  viewfinder ( bought separately)  costs $500 ( more than most point and shoot cameras)

Leica X2: Rear View

You can live with those flaws if you see the pros:

1.       RAW Picture quality exceeds medium format camera ( compared it with Canon 5D). No doubt. For a camera this size it is really astonishing.

The APSC sensor is really good in this.

2.       It is light weight but feels sturdy. It comes in two colors silver and black. Silver gives it that classic look. It does not feel cheap like other “rival mirror less” cameras like Fuji X100 ( though Fuji  it costs $1000)

3.       A full charge will allow you around 400 RAW photos – But that is very common these days.

4.       Leica Glass: Elmarit 24 mm f/2.8 ASPH – the most prized thing – is no doubt one of the best I had. Extremely sharp pictures and vibrant colors. I feel saturation is bit bumped in X2.

5.       View Finder function is not available on any other camera  (AFAIK) . If you have time to focus this is the best way to focus on still objects.

6.       Can control Aperture, Exposure mode and shutter speeds just like M settings of SLR.

Leica RAW

Canon RAW

Leica JPEG

Is it value for money? Answer is NO. You pay for the red dot! Anyways value is what you perceive it is. Getting a Leica was a dream for me and it did meet my expectation.

I will rate it 4/5 just for image quality.

Happy Birthday Pralaynath Gendaswami!

Today is Pralaynath’s First  birthday (my bike Triumph Bonneville SE)

It was this month, last year that I went to Simi Valley to purchase my bike. My Joy knew no bounds and my wife’s sorrows just began!

I drove a motorcycle for first time from the dealer to my home. I told my wife to follow me in our car. To my surprise I felt I was going too fast!

All the winding roads seemed to be easy to me. I was the king of the road. Then, I realized there was a huge line of cars behind me and I clocked an average of 30 miles an hour! In India, I would have most probably got run over by cars and people would have sworn at me.

I have been regularly driving in India for past 10 years. It is very different experience driving a motorcycle in US. First of all if you say that you are riding a bike, it means you are riding a cycle and not a “Motorcycle” Unlike in India, motorcycles are driven by only few people. Mostly driving motorcycle is a manly middle aged fad! So if you see  mostly bald guys with big bikes don’t be alarmed!

Bikes are way smaller in India averaging 150cc. Here bikes range from 500cc up to 2000cc.

The biggest commercially available engine is Triumph Rocket III with 2l engine.

On the contrary to the popular “Indian”  perception, driving bike in US is safe. Unless I get squished by some drunk man or a non-drunk lady!In fact car drivers are bit scared of hitting motorcycle riders . There is a liability if you hit one! Driving between the cars is perfectly legal in US. This gives us good advantage while taking on the crowded freeways. (specially the notorious 101-405 junction where traffic jams at 1 in the night are common!)

There are other few advantages too at many places parking for bikes is free! There you can save few bucks.Other thing that you will notice that there are no helmet locks! People just hang their helmets on the bikes and nobody will steal them. Not that people are honest...they just don't care!

Motorcycles are Chick magnet in India but here they  di*k magnet . Not a single lady has even glanced at me on my bike.I am mostly admired by balding old  guys and they always give me a thumbs up! This would really help gays to catch hold of a mate!

Bikes are not comfortable at all! You feel vibrations, dust goes in your mouth, you can smell foul odor and small temperature changes are exaggerated. Even though southern California has amongst the best weathers in the world for a motorcycle rider little change in weather effects a lot.
 My wife hates the bike, it has given her the burn marks on her legs and the wind simply disturbs her hair!

Highway riding: This is what had scared my wife the most. Driving at 45mph (60kmph) feels like you are driving at 100 miles/hr. The most I have clocked is 92Mph ( If you are police, I am lying!) even at this speed I have seen other motorcyclists zip past me.

Cost of owning a bike?

It cost me $11,000 plus a registration fee of $135 and insurance of $270 per year

My company pays me $2 for coming to office on bike so that offsets it ( in 15-20 years :D)
It has never given me more than 30 miles/gallon. So Prius which gives 45 in city beats me hands down

I am lucky to be in Southern California I stay just about 3 miles from Topanga Canyon road which connects Pacific Coast Highway. It is one of the most scenic drives and I go there often.

My dream is to travel from Europe to India on Pralaynath! Hope it comes True!

But have you ever tried eating tandoori chicken?

Recently I read an article on NPR about the attitudes of vegetarians towards people who eat non-vegetarian food.Vegans or the pseudo vegans (those who consume animal products like milk, cheese etc.) consider themselves to be on the moral high ground.They look down on non-vegetarians. Being Indian the case is special for me. India is a  where the percentage of vegetarian population is unusually high (It is around 30%  compared to 2-3% in other parts of the world). So bumping into one is not very uncommon.

  “Dude! you are eating shit! That piece of shit was living! Don’t you have a heart?"

I feel insulted. That is my food you are talking about! Anyways, even If I try to resuscitate the chicken would it come alive? My only reaction to this would be “But have you ever tried eating tandoori chicken?” and anyways the chicken has a heart too and its tasty…

Most of the people try to spread vegetarianism by showing you gruesome videos of cows, chickens and ducks being slaughtered in pool of blood.

YES! I GET IT! The videos that are shown people killing animals are gruesome…the sight of blood, the stink of flesh is awful. Did you ever try to think why it is that you feel it is gruesome? May be you are built that way! “But have you ever tried eating tandoori chicken?”

Even plants have life. Do you think god made them for your consumption? I don’t think so…..

When you are eating  bread you actually grind and eat the live embryos of wheat!

One bread will have about a million seeds! Killing one seed is better or million?

I eat bread too, “But have you ever tried eating tandoori chicken?”

Only explanation the vegetarians would give me is that the plants are made to be eaten! Gods have made plants so that you can eat. Even your shit would be vegetarian!

I say F#$k the science! What has science ever done for me? Who gives a damn about the canine you have? What about the milk you consume? Yes, god made cows for you so that you can drink its milk!

Some explanations are also humorous. “Vegetarians eat only parts of plants and not the full plant”

I could say the same thing “I eat only the leg piece” If you ever come across a chicken with one leg, most probably its me!  

Vegetarians would always give you examples of great people who are vegetarians. Albert Einstein, Pamela Anderson, Lalu Prasad Yadav and Hitler.

I can give you examples of great people who are non-vegetarians… "ME" !

Each of the groups below think they are morally superior to others:

Vegans – No milk, No cheese - Damn those fat a$$es!

Jains (A sect in Indian subcontinent)- No tomatoes, potatoes garlic or onions- Damn those Onion eaters!

Vegetarians- No animals, but animal products like milk, cheese is ok ! Damn those meat eaters!

Hindus – No cows because cow is god! Damn you beef eaters!

Muslims and Jews – No Pigs! Damn you Bacon eaters!

Christians – No humans, because humans are humans! F@$& you Cannibals!

Cannibals - "We don't discriminate" - Damn you all!

Would you care if somebody else eats you (assuming you are a human and not a chicken)? Hmm, I say I could care less, I am dead right? 

 

 Each of the  above groups would like to admit people from other group! But trust me if you think it is hard for a Veggie to convert to meat eater than you would be surprised! It is even harder for meat eater to become veggie!

 I do enjoy the occasional naked protesting by PeTA. That is the only time all the people would be willing to eat lettuce neatly covering the required organs.

This eternal fight between Vegans and Carnivores will continue till the end of time. 

Me writing anything or you reading anything won’t change anything, So just Let me be! 

This fight is very much like stupid religious leaders fighting among each other claiming that their religion is best…To all the religious leaders, shouldn't you be asking your self, “have you ever tried eating tandoori chicken?”

An Open Letter to my wife…..

<Normally, open letters are never read by the meant recipient. I am trying to change that. BTW this is not a cheesy love letter! >

May 16^th 2013 is our Second Marriage anniversary. Staying apart for two years after Marriage was not only difficult but also expensive. It was only in December that we actually started living together and that was the end of my bachelorhood. No more careless living for me!

Living with one of your friend is a good experience. But I forgot that a friend is different from a wife…….

We had a house of our own for first time and we decided to decorate it. Here comes the change. Obviously as a self-respecting woman like you have opinions about everything I do!  And supposedly my tastes are poor! 

Soon I learned how dirty I am, and raising the toilet seat is more important than using the toilet, itself! I also realized that one towel is  not enough to clean myself. I need one towel for my hair, one for my face and one for rest of my body.

As a married man you lose many freedoms. Freedom to fart freely and unhindered is the most I miss. (BTW women fart too!)

Marriage changes the type of movies you see. The definition of 'classics' for Girls are very different from 'classics' for men. I soon found out  ‘Sex and the City’ and  ‘Pretty Woman’ are classics and I should watch them without questioning any logic. And the movies I mostly see are noir and stupid!

Marriage also changed my perception towards television. 'The Bachelor', for me was just one of the stupid reality shows. But after seeing hot girls in skimpy bikinis fighting for a guy, really opened my eyes! Television is simply wonderful. I have faith in humanity now.

I thank my YOU for that!

I started liking ‘Runway’, ‘Flea Market Flip’, ‘Meet the Kardashians’ and ‘Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’.

‘BBC World’, ‘National Geographic’, ‘Discovery Channel’ and ‘Top Gear’ are stupid and meaningless channels.
I also realize that I would not get to touch the remote control unless it is far, somewhere out of your reach !

Another thing that I lost was freedom to sleep in peace (no double entendre here!). I have to be a ninja even when I sleep. Knees in the ribcage, slap in my face are a common occurrence. I expect to be pushed off the bed anytime during the night.  Might be you have a anger in  back your mind and starve to take revenge!

I also realize that having you sitting besides me while I drive, is so important. Without your 'side-seat driving advise', I would be a dead driver. You are the one to keep me alive at every nook and corner of the dangerous streets (all the streets)!

I would also like to thank you for  bearing with my 'good' habbits:

- I realize at times I crack 'crude-non-veg' jokes which would offend any living person but 'once' you took it lightly.

 - I would also advice new grooms that jokes on in-laws are strict NO-NO.

-Snoring is inherent to male population. You are so lucky to experience it!

-Thanks for keeping up  with my spending habits. This explains why you are way richer than me!

- I also realize that I am intruding in your domain by cooking awesome food! Sorry for that!

- It took me two years to learn your last name! Sorry for that again but its not my fault!

Finally , I would not thank you for $2000 'Point and shoot' Camera, You know how crazy I am

Happy Second Anniversary!
~Adi