Dharmaville & Pineapples

A must-do when visiting Oahu is the Dole Plantation, especially for a family outing. Not only do they have delicious food (pineapple ice cream),but also train rides, mazes, and itty-bitty pineapple gardens. The maze was huge and complicated, and we didn’t finish because it was roasting hot. I highly recommend bringing an umbrella for sun protection!

Once we left and continued North, we saw the sprawling pineapple fields that just go on and on! It was incredible.

Yes, I did paint this pineapple. No, it doesn’t look that great. But I had fun regardless.
(click photo for color)

Our next stop was something I have been dreaming about since…September 22, 2004. That date is significant if you’re a Lostie, which I was for a solid six years. Yes, we went to Dharmaville (aka YMCA Camp Erdman).

There are many websites and blogs about Lost filming locations and which ones are open to the public or not. I can now tell you from experience, you will have no trouble visiting this one. I just checked in with the camp counselors who had me sign in and wear a bracelet which let them know I wasn’t a crazy person. They also gave me a brochure with details about each house where they filmed.

Needless to say, I was stoked.

I’m pretty sure this was Benjamin Linus’ house

And I want to say this was Kate and Claire’s, but I don’t remember, and I lost the brochure.

I was very calm for being an extreme Lostie back in the day.

I was very thankful to Camp Erdman for letting me geek out (and my sister for driving to the North Shore so I could run around screaming)

Pearl Harbor on Independence Day

 

As I planned to make my way back across the Pacific to the States, my sister convinced me (which didn’t take much) to meet her half way in Hawaii for a week. There really was no choice to be made. We booked the Airbnb that day.

We stayed in a lovely condo in Waikiki that was part of the Hawaiian Monarch Hotel. We had pool access, a karaoke bar, a delicious breakfast restaurant right downstairs, and WiFi! The only downside was paying for parking every single day.

The view from our room was particularly great for me because, as an avid LOST fan, this crazy building with the hole in it plays a pivotal role in the show.
SPOILER ALERT: (although if you haven’t watched it by now, it’s your fault)

This is the famed building that John Locke was pushed from, explaining how his spine was broken. It is the Waikiki Landmark condominium.

If you are planning on visiting Pearl Harbor, go early. Mega early. The tickets for the boat to see the memorial are free, but they are limited. If you show up late, you could be waiting hours for the next available boat. Luckily we were able to snag a few since there were only two of us (and an incredibly adorable nephew).

We were in Oahu the same time as RIMPAC, the Rim of the Pacific Exercise. The world’s largest international maritime warfare exercise. All of the ships were docked here, packing the island with sailors from all over the world. It was fun seeing all the different flags fly.

Before traveling to the memorial site, they play a video explaining what happened and who all was lost. It was humbling to watch. It made me immensely proud of the valiant men and women who served that day, as well as those serving this country today.

The U.S.S. Arizona runs right underneath the memorial.

All of the names of the men who remain within the U.S.S. Arizona are written on this wall.

I am so thankful for the men and women who sacrifice so much to protect this country. It was an honor to be on this island for Independence Day. It’s more than just a day for fireworks and barbecues, it’s a day to remembers what America means and who defends it.

(click to see in color)

Green Tea & Itaewon

Whenever I move to a new place, which is often, I usually hibernate for the first three months. No, I don’t sleep all the time. I simply don’t venture much further than a two mile radius outside of my new home. I know, lame right? Why move across the world to stay in and read?

Well first of all, reading is cool no matter where you are in the world. Second, my body and mind need a reset period. I just left everyone and everything that was familiar. I don’t do well jumping into new environments with no prior knowledge of what I’m getting into.

Call it an introvert thing or just a recluse-parading-as-a-world-traveler thing, but I eventually get over it and start exploring my surroundings. With baby steps.

First thing’s first, I needed a drink. Luckily I have a cute coffee shop right at the end of my street called MaBoo (in English)

It couldn’t be more me. The one thing I was missing in D.C. was a good coffee shop that I could settle into for more than five minutes. There’s WiFi, tons of seating and a calm artsy atmosphere.

I’m not sure if this was a serious contribution to the foundation, but it was cute nonetheless.

I got a Chocolate Chip Mint-Green Tea Frappuccino. It was delish.
I may as well give up collecting receipts since the only thing I can read is the price: 6,500 WON. About $5.50.

I love walking aimlessly, although in a foreign country it can be a little risky when all the roads twist into each other and look alike. I saw some interesting things on my way. South Korea is all over the thrift shop game.

My mom is already on my case about the rocking horses. ‘Buy me all the rocking horses’ she says. Sure no problem. There’s only twenty…

Don’t Blink. (keep looking Whovians!)

I walked a little further to the touristy neighborhood:
Itaewon (Eee-tay-wahn). There was a festival going on, so a gazillion people were there. Some accompanied by their very nervous pets.

Itaewon is a maze. (as is the rest of Seoul in my opinion)
Shopping in Itaewon can be fun, but you almost need to photograph your twist and turns to get back out. I got lost a few times. But I found a cool scarf and an old Sprite shirt.

I seem to have gotten in the habit of snapping photos of animals wherever I go. This little guy was tied up on my street and not happy about it.

He did not want his picture taken either and thoroughly chewed me out for it afterwards.

So far, I haven’t freaked out completely being a stranger in a strange land. Yeah, the 7-Eleven has dried squid, but they also have dried seaweed, my fave!

I’m adjusting to new things, like heated tile floors and ‘house shoes’ since you do not wear your actual shoes inside.

And thankfully, when I do get a little overwhelmed, I can turn to this beauty. I hadn’t seen her all summer since I shipped her off before my travels started. There’s nothing a little Beatles tune can’t fix.

Next post will feature adventures in Namdaemun, Yongsan, and more!