Honolulu

I have four Honolulu trips this month, with a London sandwiched in the middle.  I am just kicking back and enjoying the warm Hawaiian weather, and appreciating the cooling tradewinds.  I have had my favorite room for the first two trips, overlooking the beautiful Moana Surfrider Hotel.  The best sunset views on Waikiki Beach have been from my balcony.

I always enjoy walking along the beach, and something about the light this month has made for spectacular photos.  All of my beach shots look like postcards!

Everyone was out enjoying the sunshine and the water.

The flowers were actually more colorful than they appear in this photo.








I had planned on taking the trolley to the Farmer's Market at Kapi'olani Community College, erroneously thinking that it was there on Sunday.  I guess I missed the part about it being the Saturday Farmer's Market.  Duh.

http://www.kapiolani.hawaii.edu/object/farmersmarket.html

I decided to take the bus to Chinatown instead, and check out the markets there.  I went early on Sunday morning, but the streets were still very crowded with shoppers.  I took the #2 bus on the way there, and returned on the #19 bus.  The way home was much more scenic, passing by the Ala Moana shopping center, and much of Waikiki Beach.  The #2 bus seemed to pass through the industrial part of town, without much of interest along the way.  It does pass by the Asian Cultural Plaza, which would be interesting to check out sometime.

My friend, Erika, who grew up in Hawaii, had told me to sample  the delicious manapua.  I had no idea what these were, so my side mission was to discover what they were and where they were available.  I had searched them out online, and discovered that they were part of the Chinese heritage of Hawaii.  This is probably the best website about their history on the islands,

http://www.aloha-hawaii.com/dining/manapua/

and, of course, Wikipedia has more info about the baked version which I purchased in a Chinese bakery in Chinatown.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cha_siu_baau

The Hawaiian baked version is larger than the original steamed dim sum types, but filled with the same sweet delicious pork.  I guess there are other fillings, but I didn't see any.  

I loved the soft, sweet type that I ate, but I will look for and try the steamed version on one of my next trips this month.

I sat on my balcony before our Sunday evening pickup,  and ate the manapua, with a glass of guava ginseng green tea.  I watched the surfers and sailors enjoying the waves.  I saw at least a dozen beautiful Japanese brides and their tuxedoed grooms arrive, pose for photos on the entrance steps to the Moana Surfrider, get married (I guess) and leave in identical white limos.  It seems to be the thing to do, as I see the same parade every weekend. 

I will be back again on 24 June to repeat this drill, and do something more energetic........or not.

Southeast of London

On my next 49 hour London layover, I decided to take a bus tour south to the coast. It has taken me a long time to post this blog, because I was so overwhelmed by the experience, and all that I saw.  I don't think I can do it justice, but I will try.

I have never liked the tour buses that we ride on from the airport to our hotel.  The seats are not comfortable for me at all, and I squirm and wiggle around in them all the way into the city. I was hoping that I wouldn't feel this way about them when I was out of my uniform and rested.  I booked a tour that picked me up a my hotel,

and I could purchase the ticket from the concierge.

http://www.evanevanstours.co.uk/

It was easy, convenient and they did a good job,  but I still hated the seats.  However, it was definitely worth putting up with to see what I saw on this trip.

Our first stop was about an hour southeast of London at Leeds Castle. I have visited quite a few castles, but this one is truly exquisite. Located in the beautiful countryside of Kent, "called the garden of England

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kent

amid pastoral lanscapes,

on an island surround by a moat, it is breathtaking.

http://www.leeds-castle.com/goto.php?ref=y&sess=u0|p0|n0|c0|s0|g1|d0&

We owe the pleasure of enjoying this castle to Lady Baillie, an American who came to love it,

own it, restore it, and create a foundation to preserve and support it.

Her story is at this link

http://www.london4seniors.com/html/lady__baillie.html

The castle sits on 500 acres of parkland,

a golf course,

has an atrium of exotic birds,

a restaurant, a maze, and gorgeous gardens.

Peacocks roam free, as do the black swans imported from Australia by Lady Baille.

We spent about two and half hours here, but it would be nice to spend an entire day.

We continued our drive through Kent, and the beautiful fields of yellow flowers.  I thought the crops were mustard, but rapeseed is the popular choice for farmers, as it yields two crops per year.  In the picture below you see an oast house.  These were formerly used to dry hops for ale, before beer making became big business. The hops were heated in the house below, and the moisture escaped through the "bells" on top.

http://www.invectis.co.uk/kent/kent.htm

Many of the oast houses have been turned into private residences, and a few into bed and breakfasts.  The one at this link looks delightful.

http://www.hallwoodfarm.co.uk/

We arrived at Cantebury, ready for lunch.  A few of us decided to eat at a tea room near the cathedral, called Tiny Tim's, which turns out to be the most haunted building in Cantebury.  

Lunch was excellent, as was the Kentish hard cider enjoyed by

my tablemates.  I chose to try a light, pleasant Kentish white

wine.  I don't know if that had anything to do with it, but I
swear I heard one of the ghosts groaning in a hallway.




I had visited Cantebury Cathedral about 45 years ago, and had many vague memories of it.  The town has grown up around it, but the cathedral is somewhat timeless. I am
going to refer you to the following website, since the photos there are far superior to mine.










http://www.sacred-destinations.com/england/canterbury-cathedral


I especially remember the design in a floor I stood over. The area is blocked off now to preserve it, but the floor was as I pictured it after all these years.

I have a couple of  black and white photos of myself on the road to Cantebury,





and in a garden in the cathedral which is no longer open to the public.



Seeing the road today, I couldn't believe that we rode our bicycles from Dover to London.  I'm sure there was much less traffic then, but it is still narrow and very hilly.

There is so much to see and do in Canterbury, but I would recomment one more place to you if you are a literature lover or history buff.  There is Canterbury Tales Visitor Attraction, which is worth your time.

http://www.canterburytales.org.uk/home.htm







Our last stop on the tour was Dover, and the famous white cliffs. They are not as spectacular when viewed from land, as they are when you approach by sea......but spectacular, none the less.








We passed Dover Castle as we entered the town, but did not have a chance to visit it. You can easily spend a day here touring the castle.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dover_Castle

At the close of the day, I stood on the beach and viewed France, just
26 miles across the English Channel, and you all know that what I really wanted to do was to catch the next ferry to Calais, and retrace my steps back to Paris. 

More London

The next day I set out for more London sightseeing.  I wanted to see Victoria Embankment Gardens, a favorite hangout along the river, for me and most of London.  If the weather is even halfway decent, it seems that the gardens are full of people enjoying the blooms and taking in whatever sun is available. In the heart of London, along the banks of the Thames, this haven invites you to linger.

The old watergate was built in the 1620's, at the water's edge of the north bank of the river, as a gateway to the Duke of Buckingham's property, long before the embankment was created.

http://www.virtual-london.com/sightseeing/monuments-parks-and-gardens/gardens-in-london/victoria-embankment-gardens.html





This marker tells a bit about it, and answered a question
for me about where the street from Embankment Station
tube stop, where the west entrance to the gardens is
located, got it's name.  The street is Villiers, and he
was the first Duke of Buckingham.

Villiers is also the street where Gordon's Wine Bar is located.  I have mentioned this wonderful place before, which is in a 300 year old cellar and sells, among other things, the finest sherry and port wines from the cask.  In the photo above Gail and I enjoyed a fine Old Wood Tawny Port in the cellar, several years ago.  And yes, I did drop in there later, but back to the garden now.

http://www.gordonswinebar.com/default.php

There are so many wonderful statues in the garden, in addition to all the colorful plantings.  I especially like the memorial to the men of the Imperial Camel Corps, the tribute to Sullivan (of Gilbert and Sullivan fame) and the statue of Robert Burns. Here is a link to the best information I have found online about the statues and the stories about them..











http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/speel/london/embank1.htm

After I left the Embankment Gardens and had a nice glass of port at Gordon's,
I headed for Kensington High Street and Holland Park.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holland_Park

My favorite thing here might have been all the wisteria arbors,

   or the wild pig,    

or the great group of students I met and talked with

from Holland Park School.  It was a beautiful stroll.

Now I know that you think I don't do much in London besides eat and drink, but how can you

not visit and return to all the wonderful restaurants and pubs in the city?

This pub is called The Windsor Castle, and it is truly a delightful place to stop for a bit of pub fare, or a cool drink in their beer garden, drawn by a cute,

friendly bartender.

http://thewindsorcastlekensington.co.uk/

The pub dates back to 1835, way before the

city built up around it, when you could see Windsor Castle from the upper rooms.  Parts of it are constructed from old ships, the floors are uneven,

and you definitely have to watch your head.

The beer garden is a delightful cozy oasis in the summer, and

even in the winter with warming heaters and snuggling blankets.

I made one last stop on Kensington High Street, before heading back to my hotel.

Hotel Chocolat is a luxury chocolate retailer in London,

with an interesting business history, and a chocolate

plantation in St. Lucia.  You can read about them at

the following links, but better to taste them if you have

the chance. They have stores all over the UK, and two

stores in Boston.

http://www.hotelchocolat.co.uk/Chocolate-Store-Locations-Achocolatestore/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotel_Chocolat

I have to tell you about the elephants in London.  I started seeing them yesterday, and thought it would be fun to photograph them all as I saw them.

Then I found out that there were 250 of them!  It is all for a good cause, to save the African Elephants. They have been painted by many artists and will be auctioned off after they have been displayed about the city.  I am adding a link with info about them........ you could own one!..........and posting the photo I took of the one I think is my favorite, although I did really like the red one with the grass mohawk.

http://www.bitrebels.com/geek/a-herd-of-baby-elephants-invades-london/

After I returned to Gloucester Road (Tube) Station, I was walking to my hotel when I saw a cab with this admonishment.  Good advice where ever you are in the world.