The best beach on the island, I thought, was remote Polihale. At the south end of the Na Pali cliffs. As far as you can drive west.
all my Polihale photos – flickr
My favourite campground, too.
Category: travel
spider, Kauai, Hawaii
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The pretty spider we saw many times on the island. Some call them “garden spiders”.
back in Mazatlán – more dental work
The view from my Centro Historico home away from home.
11 bedroom, 12 bath with pool. (OK, I only get 1 room, 1 bath)
Own Mazatlan’s premier address and have the ocean and storied Olas Altas Boulevard at your feet. Enjoy sea vistas, city views and sunsets from one of four gracious terraces, or luxuriate in the privacy of the large verdant garden with its 50 square meter swimming pool. Entertain lavishly in the 1500 square foot Sala Grande or the 700 square foot formal living room. Imagine glittering parties around the home’s centerpiece: a breathtaking spiral staircase with a stained glass canopy.
It could be yours for about $800K.
My room ($45/night) is in the same building as Mexican Dental Vacations. The dental work finished. … For now.
We were doing my most visible teeth, the top front.
BEFORE:
MIDDLE:
AFTER:
All 6 front top teeth are fakes. Five of those new.
LONG TERM GOAL
As you can see, I have a long way to go. But I’m happy my teeth are in better shape than they’ve been since the last time I had dental insurance: 1993.
And I am happy with Mexican Dental Vacation. (details and prices)
Actually, my original dentist Dr. Mackey departed, apparently due to health reasons. Happily, the first time replacement Dr. Hernandez worked out very well. It was an interesting contrast for me. The veteran, American authoritative man contrasted with the young, recently-trained Mexican female. Both were good. But in different ways.
Leave a comment if you want to know more about Mexican dental vacations. I am a big fan.
UPDATE:
Do your homework before you walk into any medical facility:
… numerous complaints about so-called “medical clinics” in the Golden Zone that profess to deal with emergencies. …
Pacific Pearl newspaper
National Tropical Botanical Garden, Kauai
Pretty pictures from our short visit. Almost all the flowers are introduced species.
all my Botanical Garden photos – flickr
PS
Flickr just added video clips up to 90sec in length. I will stick with YouTube, for now.
chickens in Kauai
The first thing one REMEMBERS about the Hawaiian island of Kaua’i is “chickens”.
Chickens are everywhere.
original – flickr – noremorse42
They add to the rustic charm of the place. (If they don’t keep you awake.)
… they don’t resemble any chickens you’ve ever seen. These are the Hawaiian Moa (Ornamental Red Jungle Fowl) now considered a protected state bird introduced to the island centuries ago by the Polynesians on their travels across the pacific – although since that time these birds have been intentionally and unintentionally cross bred with many other species of chicken, from fighting birds to wild fowl. …
Kauai Country Inn
Actually, there are all kinds and colours of chickens. Many were freed by Hurricane Iniki in 1992.
hostile hostels in Kauai, Hawaii
Kauai is known as an expensive holiday destination. That’s not true if you tent. And shop prudently.
But it IS true if you are looking for inexpensive accommodation.
Here’s what Lonely Planet has to say about the only two hostels:
… due to consistent user complaints about safety, drugs and cleanliness, they are not included in this book.
If the shoestring guidebook won’t list the cheapest options ($25-30), they must be REALLY bad. I took this as a challenge, arriving at Kauai International Hostel. The boss man Mike greeted me suspiciously. Within 60secs accusing me of being a “dirty old man” and questioning whether I had an airline ticket off the island. I’ve never had a colder welcome to a hostel in the hundreds I’ve stayed at.
Perhaps Mike is trying to improve the horrific reputation of his place. I dunno. I left.
Arriving at the “other” hostel, Kauai BeachHouse, I was informed check-in was only done at 6 and 8PM. No big deal. But when I returned at 8PM the guy in charge (also named Mike, I believe) was gone to a Harley biker festival.
Since neither hostel had free wireless internet, I left there too. Camping on the beach ($3-$5) was much preferable to either.
Hey, to be fair, Maikiki General Manager, at Kauai International Hostel, has most of the many rules he rudely outlined to me posted on the website. As well as his outrage at others like myself who complained. Maybe I am a dirty old man.
The Door to Hell – Uzbekistan
This place in Uzbekistan is called by locals “The Door to Hell”. It is situated near the small town of Darvaz.
Geologists lit the gas leaking out of the cavern once upon a time. It’s been burning since, for 35 years without stop.
more photos – EnglishRussia.com
(via Adventure Blog)
kayaking Hawaii – Wailua River
The standard tourist trip to Fern Grotto. And a side trip hike to Secret Falls.
We LOVED it.
original – flickr – Californie
Fern grotto.
On the hike.
all my photos from the day – flickr
no snakes in Hawaii?
We saw two. Including this one in a tidal pool on the south coast:
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
We don’t believe it’s a half-banded snake eel. Looks more like a sea snake.
swim Victoria Falls in Africa
In Zimbabwe, Africa, you will find the magnificent Victoria Falls,at a height of 128m. The location is known as the “Devil’s Swimming Pool”. During the months of September and December, people can swim as close as possible to the edge of the falls without falling over. These falls are becoming well known amongst the “radical tourist” industry, when more and more people search for the ultimate experience.
more photos on the Snopes message board
Thanks George.
In related stupidity on the edge of a waterfall, today we visited the Fantasy Island waterfall in Kauai, Hawaii:
Tradition holds that Hawaiians once dove these Falls as evidence of their manhood. Many died. And many have died from jumping and accidental falls since.
Over a one week period a few years ago, three 22-year-olds leapt. None died. All were badly injured. All evacuated by helicopter.
Rick McCharles 