The Hawaiian Islands

Have you ever seen a giant sea turtle sunning himself within touching distance? You feel bliss at the sight of dolphins leaping in the wild? You had such a juicy pineapple that made you groan with pleasure? The last time you saw a spectacular sunset and swim at the beach that looks like it was taken from the "Guide to the Good Life".

All this and much more you will find in Hawaii. Group of distant islands in the Pacific which is about twenty-hour flight from Israel and is the object of the dreams of many.

Not long ago I returned from a trip of three weeks to this remarkable archipelago and I was left with strong impressions. I visited four of the eight major islands, enjoying every moment.
Come and walk with me in the magical realm of the Kingdom of Hawaii, ready?


Oahu: The Gathering Island

The Island of Oahu, where the capital, Honolulu is located, reached via a ten-hour flight from Newark - We landed straight into the "Aloha" atmosphere (which is the blessing of peace and love), with an intoxicating sense of freedom. We were on the other side of the world!

Upon arrival to Honolulu, we visited one of the world-famous beaches - Waikiki. A beautiful lively beach with many hotels along it and nearby streets that are busy all day.

Surfing culture occupies a prominent place among locals and all the time you see men and women of all ages carrying surfboards in every size and colour on the way to catch another wave. Do not miss famous monument is the father of surfing, "Duke Kahanamoku", a native, who made surfing the most popular activity it is today.

Traditional hula dance is a mesmerizing dance that can be seen in many places in Waikiki and it is often accompanied by the traditional string instrument, the Ukelele.

Pearl Harbor, the bay where the Japanese bombed the U.S. Navy anchored there, is within a few minutes drive from Waikiki. At the visitor centre you can see a touching movie about that black day on December 7th 1941. You can also visit the monument located on the US Navy ship Arizona's remains which are buried with its sailors deep in the bay.

On the North side of the island are a number of beautiful beaches, lined with coconut and palm trees, that are more fit for surfing than for bathing because of the high waves. To our good fortune, at Waimea Bay beach we encountered groups of dolphins right near the coastline. It was very exciting to see them jumping for fun in the open sea. Sunset Beach with picturesque, turquoise water, is where some of the most important surfing competitions in the world are held and in the romantic Turtle Bay, we ended the day watching a spectacular sunset in front of the great ocean.


Kauai: The Garden Island

Dramatic Lookout at Kaua'i

We arrived at the little, charming island, Kauai, in the North of the archipelago, within a short flight, 20 minutes from Honolulu. The wild mountains that kiss the clouds, provided an impressive and dramatic scenery for a number of famous movies filmed here, including the movie Jurassic Park.

The Island is full ofÿ tropical vegetation, waterfalls and rivers, which justifies its nickname "The Garden Island". On the other side of the island you can see the impressive Waimea Canyon, which left us open-mouthed for several minutes.


Maui: The Valley Island

On the beautiful, popular island of Maui, we began a fascinating journey to the West via a steep and narrow road between the mountains, part of which was in the clouds. More than once, a rainbow was seen, that completed the euphoric picture in front of us.

Later we stopped to look at the huge cliffs that descend into the ocean and we visited beaches in the Napili and Kaanapali areas that are tropical and extremely photogenic.

In the South-West was a chain of wonderful beaches that seemed to never end, and at the end of the road there was a rocky and black beach that was made from lava that hardened, a reminder of the volcano that erupted here many years ago. We felt like we were walking on the moon.

Next was, Ia'o Valley, a green and beautiful place. located between several high mountain ridges.

"The Road to Hana" is considered one of the world's most beautiful drives. After visiting the North Island surfers' town, Pa'ia, we began our journey East along the coast, 109 kilometers that, at its end is the city Hana. The drive was rich with vegetation of wild tropical jungle, flowers, fruit trees such as banana and mango, numerous waterfalls and spectacular ocean views. In the South, the landscape changes completely to that of the desert, shades of brown and black rule. Visiting the winery and tasting local wines was a refreshing end to the journey in this part of the island and completion of the circle around it.


The Big Island of Hawaii

The highlight of this amazing and multicoloured island is the volcano that has been active continuously since 1983. As soon as we left the airport, we immediately felt the oppressive heat and intense volcanic fog ("vog"), and the ground for miles is rocky and black. We spent a pleasant few days in the Western side of the island. In Kona, there is a nice promenade and a farmers' market. You can lounge around on beautiful beaches with crystal clear water and white sand like flour and snorkle in Kahalu'u Bay.

At Hilton Waikoloa Village you can watch dolphins training, a day of real fun. From Kona area we drove North to the city Waimea. The landscape began to become greener and greener. We stopped to look at the breathtaking beauty of Waipi'o Valley. It is painted in shades of Valley Green, caressing the sea and is a beautiful picture postcard. From there to the city of Hilo, that is in the East of the island and is surrounded by tropical forest, waterfalls and never-ending green. From here, the way to the icing on the cake was very short. In the National Volcano Park, we spent twenty-four hours. The scene of the smoking volcano is literally breathtaking and makes you think how small we are compared to the power of nature.

At night we went back in total darkness to see the red glow of the burning lava, which seemed hypnotic and surreal. The next day we walked along the Kilauea Iki crater that once was a giant lava lake - it dried only in 1959. The rest of the park is mainly lava fields and on its beach you can see the road that is blocked by lava to this day.

Punalu'u beach is unique in that is has black sand. We were happy to find a giant sea turtle sunbathing on the beach. From there we went to the small town Nahalu'u, which is the southernmost city in the U.S. Finally, we visited a historic park, a reconstruction of an ancient city of refuge with the Hawaiian ways of life. Here, too, ended our intense and fascinating journey.

In conclusion, Hawaii is a pearl in the Pacific Ocean in which nature is alive and kicking in every direction. It has a rich variety of animals and plants, some unique, beaches, breathtaking landscapes, fascinating culture. It's easy to tour the country because it is part of the U.S. and everyone will find what he wants. So do not hesitate if you have ever dreamed to visit this paradise, Hawaii will welcome you with Aloha.


Tips for the Traveller in Hawaii

• Don't worry if you come to Hawaii without having done your homework. You can find plenty of free information, such as maps and weekly magazines on each island, and at the airports. 

• Buses: In Oahu it is very easy to travel with buses almost everywhere and when you buy a ticket, it can be used for a transfer to another bus for up to two hours in between stops.

• Hawaii generally is very expensive. There are many activities you can do for free, for example public Hula shows (ask locals or check in the free magazines from the airport and in hotels). To see turtles and dolphins in the ocean, all you have to do is go to the right beaches according to the map. We saw them many times, even without planning. Many free events occur in the shopping centres. Snorkling is easy in the right place. You can buy cheap equipment and in fact almost everything in Walmart stores.

• Whales are very common in the Hawaiian archipelago but can only be seen in the right season, which is December to April (check with locals). You can see sperm whales and their young.

• All the prices in Hawaii are quoted without tax included. Do not be surprised if the cost seems higher than you first thought.

• Be aware of tourist traps. It is not necessary to use all the offers of organised tours and boat trips. You can find many ways to find the natural beauty of Hawaii without expensive 'help'. Watch out for timeshare deals disguised as deals on cheap or free attractions. 

• Before you are tempted to buy shells and dried starfish from local shops, please ask the shop where they obtained them from. Some shops take illegally harvested shells which involved the death of a rare ocean creature. 

• Hawaii is part of the USA, therefore you will find big shopping centres, big cars, American fast food, the US dollar and the expectation for tips.

• In the Hawaiian language, the letters K, W, U and H are very common. Please read place names carefully as sometimes these can be very similar or even the same in different locations.

• The ocean is, in some beaches, really wild with big, rough waves and strong currents. Please take care when entering the water.

Slang

The most common word you will here is "Aloha", which is used for hi, bye, welcome, love.

"Mahalo" is thank you. For the restrooms; "Wahine" means women and "Kane" means men.

The famous flower necklace is known as a "Lei". It is customary for the one who makes the Lei to give it away to someone else with aloha. 

London, England

If it's your first time in London, the huge, capital city of Great Britain, there are a few places I recommend you must see.

1. Buckingham Palace - this is the Queen's residence when she is in London. Don't miss the changing of the guards. When I was there last December, it was every 2 days at 11.00 but check the times on the internet because it changes according to the season. Nearby is the beautiful St James's Park, where you will see ducks, squirrells and a beautiful lake.

2. Big Ben and The Houses of Parliament - the most famous clock in the world is located just by the river Thames in the city centre in the area known as Westminster. From there, you can take a nice walk on the South Bank of the river Thames.

3. The South Bank - this has a very nice walkway which is always very lively with music an artists. You can spend the whole day there. If you come from Big Ben, you can see:

• London Eye - huge wheel just on the river. Its better to purchase tickets online to avoid queues.
• Royal Festival Hall
• National Theatre
• The Southbank Centre - centre for many events and festivals. Open to the public. The home of London Philharmonic Orchestra.
• Tate Modern - centre of modern art in London. (Free entrance)
• Shakespeare's Globe Theatre - reconstruction of Shakespeare's original theatre.
• Southwark Cathedral - very old original cathedral. (Free entrance)
• HMS Belfast - and old Royal Navy ship that today is a museum which you can visit.
• Tower Bridge - the famous Bridge with the towers and the road that lifts up.
• Tower of London - can visit.

TIP: Afterwards you can take a riverboat ride from the station at London Bridge back along the river (use your travelcard).

4. Covent Garden - a complex of shops and market stalls - for tourists so its expensive. It is worth visiting to see the open entertainment, acrobats, jugglers and musicians.

5. Leicester Square - in the centre of the London West End, you can find many theatres. Tip: You can find half price tickets for most of the shows on the same day in Leicester Square.

6. Chinatown - colourful and interesting to walk through to see the gate and architecture. As you would expect there are many Chinese restaurants.

7. Trafalgar Square - famous for New Year celebrations and its fountains. At the centre is the statue of Admiral Nelson who won the battle of Trafalgar - when the English navy beat the Spanish who wanted to invade. Just nearby, dont miss the National Portrait Gallery and the National Gallery. I really enjoyed these.

8. Oxford Street - London's popular shopping street with a variety of shops for everyone. You can start at Tottenham Court Road and walk to Regent Street.  On the way is Soho - the famous area for London's film industry and sex shops. After Regent Street is Piccadilly Circus with the famous Eros fountain and electric advertisement screens. At the Western end of Oxford Street, you can find shops such as Selfridges, Marks and Spencer, Primark superstore. At the end is the famous Marble Arch monument.

9. Hyde Park - a beautiful, green park with a lake at the centre. At the South you can find the Princess Diana memorial fountain. Every year in the Christmas holiday period, there is a huge Christmas Market in European style, with many traditional foods, crafts and an amusement park.

10. Kensington - The area is famous for high society shops and fashion designers. Visit Harrods first. It is the famous shop that apparently claims you can find anything on Earth you need. Continue along Brompton Road to the Museum area. You can visit the famous Victoria and Albert Museum, Natural History Museum and Science Museum. Continue to a concert in the Royal Albert Hall and end your day for amazing food at the Hard Rock Cafe.


11. British Museum - Not far from Tottenham Court Road, this famous museum contains, among many other things, fascinating exhibitions of ancient statues from Egypt, mesopotamia and the ancient Levant (now Israel).

12. St Paul's Cathedral - very old cathedral with interesting architecture, that survived the bombings of World War 2. Walk round this area and you will find the financial district and you can see the old stock exchange buildings and the Bank of England. If you walk to Fleet Street, you will see the Royal Courts of Justice and some interesting architecture.

If you have extra time...

Camden Town - Alternative area, famous for its complex of shops and extensive market near the canal. In the evening the night life is interesting and the streets are full of alternative people; punks, grunge guys and hippies.


Spitalfields Market - near Liverpool Street Station, is Spitalfields market. It is worth visiting on Sundays, when there is also a flea market all along some of the streets.

Baker Street - you can visit Madame Tussauds, the famous Wax Museum that started here; the Sherlock Holmes Museum; Regent's Park and London Zoo. Not far from here is the Jewish Museum.

Tips for the traveller:

• The most economical way to travel by public transport in London is to buy a Travelcard for a day or for a week. This is available from many shops and Tube stations. The Travelcard can be used for underground trains, buses, local overground trains, river boats.

• If you would like to try local English food, don't miss Fish and Chips in one of the many pubs or Fish and Chip shops. This is very tasty with a pint of beer! Try London Pride or Boddington's for example. Please note most pubs stop selling alcohol at about 23.00.

• If you would like to try some Indian food, which is very popular in the country, in Brick Lane you can find many Indian restaurants who will be glad for you to come in their door.

• To watch a concert by a famous, international star in the huge O2 Arena is a totally remarkable experience.

• If you love 80's music, the Reflex club in Watling Street, near St Paul's Cathedral, is the place for you. 

• Smoking is forbidden in all clubs, pubs, restaurants, cinemas, museums and public spaces.

• The cheapest and nicest places to stay are the YHA Youth Hostels, such as the one at St Pancras or near St Paul's Cathedral.

Slang
Don't forget to say 'please', 'thank you', 'excuse me' - the British people are really polite.
'Loo' in the local word for toilets.
'Tube' in the word for the London Underground train.


Currency
Pounds (Sterling) is the currency of Great Britain.
Euros or Dollars are not accepted in shops in England normally.