My First Big Island Experience

Last week I had the privilege of island hopping to what Hawaiians refer to as "Big Island". The real name is actually the Island of Hawai'i, which the state is named after and it's the largest by far of the 8 main islands that make up the most famous and cherished island chain in the world. Known for its active volcanos and delicious coffee, it's a delight for the millions of tourists who visit each year. And after a quick 40 minute flight, I got to be one of them for the long weekend.

We stayed in the charming and historic beach town known as Kailua-Kona on the west coast, which is the most popular city to visit and seemingly the most contemporary on the island. The main strip of hotels, boutiques, and restaurants are lined up along the turquoise waters of Kona Bay. The weather is almost always perfect, which explains why Hawaiian royalty used to escape here. There are some incredible beaches, such as Kua and Hapuna, just up the coastline. However, driving just a few minutes outside of town will remind you that you're on a volcano that is young and still constantly growing. Black soil and lava rocks make up much of the landscape on the island, a stark difference from the other Hawaiian islands that are mostly lush green and red clay dirt. You may even feel like you’re on another planet since the scenery is so unique. For this reason, many people prefer other islands over Big Island but I found it fascinating and beautiful.

The only other large town (which is still relatively tiny) on the island is Hilo, on the east coast. It takes a little less than two hours to drive across the island between the two cities, which is several times more than it would take to drive across the island I live on. Everyone warned me that Big Island is a LOT bigger and involves more driving than what I'm used to on Oahu, but nothing could prepare me for the 16+ hours I drove over the four days we visited. I didn't mind it for the most part, since I was among such gorgeous sights and in full explorer mode.

 

 

 

 

Walking around Hilo is like stepping back in time. It's a very sleepy little town, and far less modern than Kona. However, it seemed to be a lot more laid back and old fashioned. What I love was the abundance of hippies and natural lifestyle type stores and restaurants. We also encountered a fantastic farmers market, which not only had fresh produce but also lots of goodies like jewelry. We could have spent all day there, as we loved the vibes. However, we were not impressed with the food selection from what we could see. Also, this is not the best place for beaches. But if you’re a nature lover like me, it’s a treasure with luscious forests and waterfalls nearby. We got to check out Rainbow falls and Akaka falls, which were both super quick and easy so I highly recommend them.

 

 

 

Unfortunately for us, during the time of our visit the island was (and still is) dealing with an outbreak of Dengue fever. So one of the attractions I wanted to see most (the extremely sacred Waipio Valley) was closed. But since I definitely did not want to get eaten alive by mosquitos and infected by any disease, it was best. We still got to visit the breathtaking Waipio lookout to see the iconic view of the valley and cliffs right on the ocean, all while doused in bug spray of course. Hopefully next time I go, the efforts to get rid of Dengue on the island will have worked and I’ll be able to actually visit the valley. It’s definitely a must-see.

 

 

 

On the bright side, I got to do the coolest thing on the island, which is visit Volcanos National Park to see one of the most active volcanoes in the world, Kilauea. It’s not what you’d probably expect of a volcano, but it was an amazing experience nonetheless. We could not get close to the caldera but we saw it from a distance, including the smoke and at night you can definitely see the lava glowing. Hawaiian legend for this revolves around Madame Pele, the goddess of fire. It was all pretty fascinating, and it was especially trippy standing on lava flow.

 

 

 

However, what topped this and became one of my favorite things I've ever done was going on top of Mauna Kea to watch the sunset from above the clouds, at an altitude of 10,000 feet. We wanted to go even higher to the summit, which would have been 14,000, feet but we got there just a little too late. Next time for sure, because this was such a dope experience, even despite the altitude sickness. The key is to get to the visitor center early (around 4) and give yourself a good amount of time to acclimate before heading to the summit. This is the tallest mountain in the world from the ocean floor (33,000 feet) and the most sacred place for native Hawaiians. You can certainly see why when you feel the powerful energy and look down at the clouds, as if you're in heaven. It was simply spiritual. After the sun sets, this is the best place in the entire world for stargazing. We could actually see other galaxies and millions of stars with the naked eye. Just incredible. I was in awe for days after this, and probably always will be!

 

 

Another highlight for me was of course centered around food. There are a plethora of great choices in the Kailua-Kona area, especially for carnivores like me since Big Island is known for its grass fed cattle, so beef is really fresh. The best meals were the ono (Hawaiian word for yummy) kalbi short rib omelet at Broke Da Mouth Grindz (which translates to amazingly delicious in Hawaiian pidgin), the roasted pork at 808 Grindz, and the guava ribs and chicken at Splashers. However, I must say favorite part were the many quaint little coffee shops on every corner that all sell irresistible Kona coffee. Since I gave up coffee about a year ago, it’s nice to indulge while on vacation and this is some of the best I’ve ever had, by far. So I may or may not have had 2-3 cups a day. This stuff is super expensive and a hot commodity most places, but a cup of 100% Kona coffee will only run you about $3 while in Kona, so don’t let the hotel rip you off.

 

 

Of course we were visiting during the Super Bowl, so we spent much of our last day at a sports bar watching the game and meeting other tourists from all over the world. After all the driving and running around we did, it was a nice way to end the weekend and get ready for our short journey back to Oahu. Plus, what better way to watch a game than with the ocean and palm trees right behind you?

 

 

Although many tourists opt to skip Big Island for the more popular attractions on Maui and Oahu, this island really has so much to offer and I truly enjoyed it. The pace is much slower and the people are even friendlier, so it is the true aloha spirit I always envisioned of Hawaii, which is not always so common these days in other busy parts of the state. While I am definitely a city girl, it’s always nice to escape to the country, breathe in fresh air, and relax. This short trip was just what I needed and an unforgettable experience. I’m already looking forward to returning again!

 

 

XOXO ❤️

My Costa Rica Experience

During a visit to Costa Rica, you will hear and see the phrase “pura vida” everywhere you go. It’s all over t-shirts and souvenirs, and is even used in place of “you’re welcome” by the locals. It translates to “pure life” in English and after a 6 day visit in this beautiful country, I can truly understand why this is their official motto. Costa Rica is a place where once can truly experience PURE life in every form. Whether you’re looking for thrilling adventures, wildlife encounters, a busy city setting, or a relaxing beach getaway, here you can find it all. I was blessed enough to spend my 27th birthday on a fantastic vacation in Costa Rica and it was a trip I will never forget!

A friend and I traveled to the Central American country via a terrible first experience with Spirit Airlines (which I will NEVER ever fly again). When we arrived, we were greeted at San Jose airport by a private driver. We told him we were kind of hungry so he took us to a cute little fruit stand that sold sweets and made delicious fresh smoothies. Nearby, we got our first dose of wildlife with beautiful red parrots in a tree and several huge crocodile lurking in a swamp. When we finally arrived at our hotel in the touristy beach town of Manuel Antonio on the west coast, we were amazed. Our room was all glass and authentic Costa Rican wood, with breathtaking views of the jungle and the Pacific Ocean. We were in awe!

I never really like staying in tourist areas or resorts where all the restaurants and shops are overpriced and catered to Americans, but I still enjoyed Manuel Antonio. The people are charming and the hotel put us smack in the middle of all the wildlife we could ever ask for. We saw a sloth up close and personal, many monkeys, toucans, and even some small little fuzzy creature we never even got to identify. Oh and countless bugs that were way too damn big. We also had the pleasure to be paid a visit by a white-faced monkey on our balcony one morning and another in the hallway luring us down the steps. It was truly awesome. The beach in this area was also very beautiful and the views around us were stunning in every way. 

On the day of my birthday, we spend the morning on a hike through the Manuel Antonio National Park with an excellent and very knowledgeable guide, who was able to spot and give us details on many animals, including sloths, monkeys, deer, snakes, hummingbirds, tarantulas, lizards, raccoons, bats, and grasshoppers that were bigger than my freaking hand. He even used his binoculars to get some incredible close shots of the wildlife for us, including an amazing picture of a monkey fast asleep in a tree with her baby cuddled up on her chest. What impressed me most is how the country of Costa Rica makes it a HUGE priority to protect wildlife and preserve nature. After all, they are known worldwide for their forests, all made possible by extreme ecological conservation efforts. Much of the tourism industry that drives the Costa Rican economy is centered around their dense jungles and lush rainforests, so this is a wise tactic and smart investment by the government.

The next day, we did not want to leave Manuel Antonio, but we made a very long and grueling 5-hour trip through many windy mountain roads to the volcano town of Arenal. Thank God for the very caring and kind drivers we had because some of this travel was truly miserable. But we survived and were happy to arrive safely at the destination. Our next extreme adventure was world-famous zip-lining through the Costa Rican jungle with unbelievable views of the volcano. This is something I was freaking out about for weeks, but it honestly ended up being the BEST experience of my life and the most fun I’ve ever had. It was totally exhilarating in every way and I did not want it to end! Out of the 8 lines we completed, one was a half-mile long and lasted almost one minute at over 50 MPH. And I loved every second of it! The staff was very professional and helpful, and made the experience even more enjoyable.

Our final adventure was a 2 mile hike through the rainforest on the “Hanging Bridges” tour, which was even more interesting due to the fact that it was raining a lot that day. We had to pass through several suspension bridges that connect one side of the forest to the other, the highest of which was 180 feet up in the air! This was pretty fun to me because although the bridges definitely swayed from side to side and were kind of scary, they were still pretty sturdy and safe. 

Afterwards, we stopped and had lunch at a cute little restaurant on the way back. Unfortunately, I was never truly wowed by any of the food I ate, but then again Costa Rica isn’t really known for its food. It was good, just nothing to write home about. The best meals were in local restaurants, which are called "Sodas". After the hanging bridges tour and a nice nap, my friend and I explored the many pools at our hotel including the “hot springs” pools and made some friends with a cute young couple from California. We had dinner in the nearby town of La Fortuna, a $5 plate of local favorites, including chicken in tomato sauce, ripe plantains, potatoes, rice, black beans, salad, and a fried egg. Afterwards, we had a lovely time at a nearby coffee-shop enjoying some sweets and delicious local coffee.

As always, a highlight for me whenever I travel is meeting the locals and learning about their ways of life, as well as other travelers from all over the world. I could really appreciate the simple life in this beautiful country, which enjoys a much better standard of living and higher development rate than other Central American countries. This is largely due to Costa Rica’s lack of military, which allows government resources to go towards tourism and environmental causes. While I am definitely familiar with most Hispanic and Latino cultures, I must admit that this was one I did not have much experience with or knowledge of due to the limited exposure to Ticos (local term for Costa Rican), who do not immigrate or visit the US very much it seems. Overall, I was impressed and fell in love with the people’s kindness and hospitality, as well as all the unforgettable things this country has to offer. We were totally surrounded by nature and beauty everywhere we went and it really puts things into perspective. It was a great vacation and I applaud the travel agency I used to book the trip, Anywhere Costa Rica, who truly ensured every detail was taken care of and very little effort was required on our parts.

If you’re thinking about where to go for a trip full of adventure and excitement for a decent price, Costa Rica is definitely a great place to consider which I would absolutely recommend. It’s somewhere I’ve always wanted to go, especially the amazing zip-lines they’re famous for, and I am so thankful I got to experience! It was definitely the true definition of “PURA VIDA”.

Here are some things to know ahead of time in case you do decide to visit the beautiful nation of Costa Rica.

Pros of visiting Costa Rica:

-          Most of the locals who work in tourism speak very good English and therefore communication barriers are minimal in most cases. It was so good that I was actually extremely lazy with my Spanish. However, their Spanish is also a lot more understandable and clear than many other dialects in other countries.

-          It’s incredibly safe. Everywhere you go, you will see tourists freely wandering and mingling with locals, who embrace and welcome visitors unlike other places. Crime, especially against tourists, is very seldom.

-          While the local currency, Colones, is quite easy to convert, the US Dollar is widely accepted everywhere, making paying and tipping very easy and convenient.

-          There is an unlimited amount to do and explore. I literally do not think there is anyone on the planet who could not find something they love and enjoy here. From both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts to mountain towns, villages, forests, and urban settings, there’s something for everyone.

-          It’s pretty cheap in comparison to many other vacations. I spent far less than anticipated on incidentals, such as food, tips for guides and drivers, and souvenirs. Booking the trip was also a very good deal for all that was included. Again, I highly recommend Anywhere Costa Rica who will customize a package based on your preferences.

-          Close encounters with the wildlife was simply priceless. This is something anyone should enjoy and appreciate, and may not get a chance to in most other places.

Cons of visiting Costa Rica:

-          The $29 exit tax that we had to pay at the airport to leave the country, which no one told us about. A little ridiculous.

-          I did NOT like the airport experience at all. It was an awful way to end a great trip. The airport itself is one of the nicest I’ve ever been to, but the staff is so unlike everyone else we had encountered during our stay- totally rude. They also check your bags once AGAIN before you board the plane and don’t allow you to even bring a bottle of water with you to drink on the plane, even if you purchased it AFTER security within the airport… Something I have never seen before in any other country or airport.

-          The bumpy rides were honestly pretty rough. While most of the roads are pretty well-developed, on those that weren’t so smooth, it was made worse by what appeared to be the lack of shocks on most vehicles (or something… I know nothing about cars but I do know that passengers are not supposed to be flying up into the air for every bump and dip). As with most other countries, they drive like nut jobs so transportation can be quite uncomfortable and uneasy. I will never complain about American drivers again.

-          Again, the food was OK. Most of the hotel restaurants grossly overcharge for their interpretation of American dishes. You have to venture into town to get an authentic meal. Costa Rican food is like traditional Hispanic food but nothing too special or delicious from what I experienced. As many know, I am a foodie and I plan entire trips based on food, so this was disappointing although other parts greatly made up for it.

-          I know this is petty but the bugs were CRAZY here. They literally fly all over you and bite you the whole time. As an absolute bug hater, this was hard to deal with. They were even in our hotel and I almost died when I found a spider in my bed one night. I know it’s inevitable in the jungle areas we stayed in, and was a small price to pay for the great wildlife that came with it. But. Still. Oh. Emm. Gee.