The World Is My Oyster

2014-12-16T14:40:00.000-06:00

Maui, Hawai'i December 2014

An excellent trip from December 2nd through December 13th.

Sunrise in Hana, Maui.

I made a friend on Hamoa Beach. He sat with me for about an hour.

Hamoa Beach in the morning.

Sunrise in Hana

A view South with Hamoa Beach on the right.

Bougainvillea flowers at the Sheraton, Black Rock. (Pu'u Keka'a)

Barack Obama can be found as a dashboard doll for your car here.

The grounds of the Sheraton at Pu'u Keka'a just after sunset.

Maria Lanakila Catholic Church in Lahaina, Maui.

The Waipoli Church cemetery includes the burial sites of many of Hawai'ian royalty.

We stopped to pay our respects and leave a stone on their graves.

Trinkets on display in Lahaina shops come in many colors.

Trinkets in Lahaina Shops.

About a 2-3 foot tall hula doll from the 1940's, unfortunately she was not for sale.

David under the Banyan tree in Lahaina.

The Waipoli Church cemetery includes the burial sites of many of Hawai'ian royalty.

We stopped to pay our respects and leave a stone on their graves.

Jewelry in all colors is available in the shops of Lahaina.

The Tibetan Peace Stupa in Pa'ia, Maui.

Spinning the prayer wheel inside generates prayers and

for each revolution of the wheel, a bell is rung.

Artwork on display in Pa'ia, Maui.

Cheryl, the nicest person in all of Maui.

She operates the Hana Ranch Gift Shop. What a sweet lady!

Sunrise in Hana.

A view of the Kaupo Gap on the East side of Maui.

Notice that the terrain has changed from jungle to semi-arid pastures.

The open vistas on the East side of the Haleakala volcano are amazing.

This is the Pokowai Sea Arch.

This lady sold the best handmade popsicles by the side of the highway in Hana.

We had quite a lengthy discussion with this lady about living in Hawai'i.

She relocated here from Venezuela with her husband a few years ago.

Grilled mahi mahi burger and spicy ahi poke on the left.

The poke was burning my mouth, it was extremely spicy...which was great!

Lipstick palm tree sprouting off the side of it's parent tree.

Good philosophy while on vacation!

Sunset at the Grand Wailea Hotel.

After dark, the fountains come alive at the Grand Wailea Hotel.

Artwork on display at the Grand Wailea Hotel.

A view of the morning glow over the dormant Haleakala volcano

as seen from the Napua Tower of the Grand Wailea Hotel.

A beautiful cheese plate served at the Grand Wailea Hotel.

Sansei, a sushi restaurant in Kihei, Maui.

This was their Kona Roll topped with kampachi and masago.

Sansei, a sushi restaurant in Kihei, Maui.

Various sushi rolls and nigiri.

A beautiful display at the Kula Ali'i Lavender Farm.

Two pincushion proteas to the lower right of the statue.

Each night, the turndown maid at the Hilton Grand Wailea left

a note on your pillow and an orchid flower.

The fountains of the Hilton Grand Wailea Hotel by day.

2014-07-02T17:51:00.004-05:00

Circa 1994
Rescuing a baby manatee, later named Mariah, at the Jupiter, FL Inlet.

2014-07-02T17:41:00.002-05:00

Circa 1990
Sea Turtle Research under State of Florida Permit # 007
Gary Davidson in the hat and Mark Levasseur holding the flashlight.

2013-12-02T09:41:00.000-06:00

9/17/2013 - Arrival at the Hilton Grand Wailea Hotel

9/17/2013 - The view of the ocean from our Concierge Level room at the Hilton Grand Wailea Hotel.

9/17/2013 - The view of Haleakala from our Concierge Level room at the Hilton Grand Wailea Hotel.

2013-12-02T09:28:00.001-06:00

9/14/2013 - Unicorn Tang (Surgeonfish), Maui, Hawai'i.

2013-11-12T11:02:00.001-06:00

We took a side trip from Lahaina Harbor on board the Trilogy catamarans to the Island of Lanai. The boat leaves around 9AM from the docks at Lahaina and returns to Lahaina harbor about 6-7 PM. It's a very full day and the crew of these catamarans really knows how to treat the visitors. They're very patient with the elderly and children and very informative regarding the islands and wildlife. It's NOT a standard tourist trap operated by people who are so bored with telling the same old story to ignorant tourists. These folks are REALLY good, and enthusiastic. If you run across whales or dolphins during the 90 minute crossing, they will take the time to slow down and let you see them as up close as the law will allow their boats to approach. If the wildlife decides to initiate a closer contact, then you can consider yourself very lucky as this does often happen. Great work by Trilogy Charters!
9/18/2013.

Check-in at the Lahaina Harbor.

2013-11-12T10:54:00.002-06:00

Night time visits the Sheraton Black Rock in Ka'anapali, Maui Hawai'i.
9/16/2013.

2013-11-12T10:44:00.001-06:00

The view to the Island of Lanai, Hawaii as seen from the balcony of the Sheraton, Black Rock Resort in Ka'anapali, Maui Hawai'i. This is one of the most easily accessible snorkeling venues in Maui, if you are staying at the resort. Black Rock, at the right of this photo has some very nice coral and tropical fish to view. In addition, it is a nice gathering place for sea turtles.
9/18/2013.

2013-11-12T10:39:00.001-06:00

Chef Bobby Masters and his kitchen crew at the Hula Grill in Ka'anapali, Maui Hawai'i as viewed from the Chef's table (bar). This crew does amazing things with local Hawai'ian foods!

Hawai'ian Opah with locally grown tatsoi greens, radish sprouts, and tomato salsa served at the Hula Grill.
9/16/2013.

2013-11-12T10:35:00.000-06:00

Ahi Sashimi served at the Hula Grill, Ka'anapali, Maui Hawai'i.
9/16/2013.

Ahi Poke Tacos served at the Hula Grill, Ka'anapali, Maui Hawai'i.
9/15/2013.

2013-11-12T10:31:00.002-06:00

Kukui nut encrusted Ono (Wahoo) sandwich served at Leilani's on the Beach in Ka'anapali, Maui Hawai'i.
9/17/2013

2013-11-12T10:29:00.002-06:00

A Lava Flow and a Mai Tai served at the Hula Grill in Ka'anapali, Maui Hawai'i. 9/17/2013

Moonshine Grill 303 Red River, Austin, TX.

2013-07-10T18:46:00.000-05:00

Musashino Sushi Dokoro in Austin, TX

2013-07-09T12:54:00.000-05:00

Overpriced sushi in a dirty restaurant. Dirty floors and tables and the soy sauce dispenser was unused for so long that the spout was clogged by dried soy sauce. Not a good choice.

Lavon Lake in Wylie, TX by air

2013-07-09T11:50:00.001-05:00

Photographed during my Delta Airlines flight on 7/8/2013.

Winnipeg Canada at night.

2013-07-04T22:06:00.000-05:00

July 4th, 2013...this is what 10:00 PM looks like. The sun still has not set by 10PM! Very nice view from the Delta Hotel balcony. The MTS Centre, where the Winnipeg Jets hockey team plays, is at the distant lower right corner of this photo.

Prairie dog at the Winnipeg zoo.

2013-07-04T18:46:00.000-05:00

An angry toucan at the Winnipeg zoo.

2013-07-04T18:45:00.000-05:00

A happy tiger at the Winnipeg zoo.

2013-07-04T18:44:00.000-05:00

Spider roll and sashimi at Ichiban restaurant in Winnipeg Canada.

2013-07-04T18:43:00.000-05:00

ICHIBAN Sushi - 189 Carlton Street, Winnipeg, MB Canada

A-

This is really one of the better sushi restaurants in town. Clean tables and pleasant staff. One of the few places where the staff is truly eager to ensure you're comfortable and happy with your meal. I really like this place. There are teppanyaki tables throughout the restaurant, so it can sometimes be quite loud, but they do play some pleasant and authentic Japanese music so you have a level of authenticity to the experience. I think the only thing I don't like is the fact that it seems to be the same exact music (probably on CD) played over and over again all night long and every night. I would think they would find some other CD to play on occasion.

Minneapolis airport complex.

2013-07-04T18:42:00.000-05:00

Shoyu, a sushi restaurant at the Minneapolis Airport.

2013-07-04T18:41:00.000-05:00

Shoyu - near Gate G1 at the Minneapolis Airport

C-

One of the features I do like here is convenience. You place your own order via the iPad located on each table and you pay by credit card when the order is electronically sent. The server delivers your meal fairly quickly and the receipt to your table, although at the end of processing your order on the iPad, you are also given the option of sending your receipt electronically to your e-mail address. This is quintessentially fast food. The sushi is served cold and the different soup bowls are served hot and delicious. The only negatives I find with this place is that the staff seems indifferent to the customers...they have no personality and friendliness. I almost feel as if they're feeding the animals at a zoo, and maybe that's a bad analogy since zookeepers genuinely care about the animals welfare! The food is very overpriced (examples: $15 spider roll, $8 for 2 pieces of hamachi nigiri, and $6 for a bottle of San Pellegrino water) and the dining tables are often sticky. The only things this restaurant has going for it, are decent quality food, the iPad ordering gimmick and the ability to surf the Internet while dining and waiting for your plane.

Clouds over northern Minnesota.

2013-07-04T18:40:00.000-05:00

Sesame ginger teriyaki steak at Moxie's in Winnipeg, Canada.

2013-07-04T18:39:00.000-05:00

Moxie's Grill & Bar - 300 portage Ave. Winnipeg, MB Canada

A-

The gimmick here is scantily clad waitresses serving at your table. This place serves remarkably upscale food for the area and the staff is pleasant and accommodating. The restaurant is located in the MTS Centre where the Winnipeg Jets hockey team plays. The food is of exceptional quality although it is not always served hot or on time. The staff frequently seems to be occupied by idle chit chat either at the bar or at the hostess stand, so sometimes service can be a little slow and you do need to catch a waitress' attention. the tables are clean and the restaurant sparkling. The food ingredients are always high quality and flavors & sauces are certainly tasty. I had the Ginger Teriyaki Steak bowl. The sauce was tangy and not overpowering with ginger. The vegetables were cooked, but crunchy and the steak was quite tender.

A big win on a penny slot. McPhillips Casino, Winnipeg, Canada.

2013-07-04T18:38:00.000-05:00