Oahu 2023 | Day 1 & 2

Monday December 25th, 2023 - Tuesday January 2nd, 2024

We visited Oahu for 8 days from Christmas through New Years. The trip was filled with hikes, beaches, and food. Documentation of the trip will be split among 4 blog posts. All pictures taken with the Fujifilm XE-4 with the XF 23mm F2.0 and XF 55-200mm lenses.

This post documents Day 1 and 2. The first two days were eventful, acclimating to the warmer December temperatures, humidity, and the relaxed atmosphere. Whether it was the 80 degree days, or the casual floral prints everybody was wearing, you couldn’t help but feel a change in mentality. A stark difference from a busy city like San Francisco.

Day 1 Monday, December 25th 2023:

• Flight to Oahu

• Punchbowl - National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific

• 7-Eleven

• Happy Days Chinese Restaurant

Day 2 Tuesday, December 26th 2023:

• Manoa Falls Hike

• Off The Hook (Poke)

• Leonards (Malasadas)

• Ala Moana

• The Pig and The Lady

• Honolulu City Lights

7-Eleven

The 7-Eleven in Hawaii, much like the ones in Japan, have superior snack options when compared to the 7-Eleven on the mainland. The musubi and various asian/japanese snacks seem more edible than the plain sandwiches and other questionable prepared foods I encountered back when I frequented 7-Eleven in college.

Happy Days

A quick dinner was had in a crowded Chinese restaurant, Happy Days. Restaurant options are limited on Christmas Day as many are closed, but Happy Days happily fed us with classic Chinese food options. The restaurant was vibrant, with loud conversations of families enjoying the night together.

Manoa Falls Trail

Day two began early in Manoa with a hike towards Manoa Falls. The short hike transports you into a lush rainforest with tropical trees covered in opportunistic vines of familiar looking plants. You’ll recognize many of these plants in your local indoor plant shop. The out-and-back trail culminates at the base of the Manoa waterfall, which is now blocked off. The hike can be steep and muddy at parts. Go early to avoid crowds.

Off The Hook

The first poke of the trip was had at Off The Hook, recommended by a local as being one of his favorite spots to get Poke in Manoa. We were greeted with a short line leading up to the storefront door where a display of poke blocks the entrance to keep patrons outside. The patron in front of us was greeted by the cashier by first name, perpetuating a small-town feel. Toppings are included, which enhance the experience by adding texture to an otherwise monotonous mouthfeel. Not sure whether being first played a role, but this was one of my favorite poke spots.

Leonard’s Bakery

Since 1952, Leonard’s bakery has been a popular spot for their Malasadas, a sugary, doughy, Portuguese pastry. Large crowds wait outside the location during the lunch rush, waiting for their freshly fried to order, warm treat. The doughnuts could be enjoyed with different flavored powdered sugars, or filled with custard. The pillowy desserts were delicious, and I still think about them daily.

Ala Moana Center

Ala Moana center is the world’s largest open-air shopping center located in Honolulu.

The Pig and The Lady

Elevated Vietnamese fusion can be enjoyed at The Pig and The Lady. Their Pho broths are flavorful with an enhanced herbal taste. Bowls are filled with large portions of meat.

Honolulu City Lights

Downtown Honolulu was decorated with Christmas decor spanning several blocks.

Olympic National Park 2023 | Day 3

This is a continuation of our trip to Olympic National Park. Day 3 began with an early 6am drive to Hurricane Ridge. Because of recent wild fires and infrastructure damage, the Hurricane Ridge area of the park has limited access to the first 350 vehicles. By the time we arrived to the trailhead parking lot at 7am, the upper lot was already full. Luckily we snagged the last parking spot in the area.

Hurricane Hill

Possibly one of my most favorite hikes to date, hiking Hurricane hill via Hurricane Ridge filled me with joy. The trail starts surrounded by Christmas tree like flora (Pine trees). The trail quickly opens up to expansive views of snow capped mountain tops covered with massive pine trees. Pictures do not do justice to the scale of these mountains, and the number of trees covering them.

The hike quickly ramps up with steep ramps that climb to the mountain top. The trail is fully paved, making the ascent bearable. At the top of the mountain, you get 360 degree views of the park, as well as views to Canada.

Animals seen included tiny chipmunks, rabbits, various birds, and marmots.

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/hurricane-hill-via-hurricane-ridge

Mount Storm King

Hiking Mt Storm King was a humbling experience. This popular trail ascends in elevation with a 2,000 ft gain. Most of the hike is climbing steep switchbacks that tests your endurance and willpower.

The hike starts at the base of Lake Crescent, and goes all the way to the top of the mountain where you get a birds eye view of the massive Lake.

The last portion of the hike gets dicey, with signs warning that the top of the trail is not maintained. This portion is steep, very close to the edge of the mountain, and is dangerous. Ropes are anchored to trees and are the only mode of balance and transportation up and down the tip of the mountain.

We made it through 3 parts of rope trail, but were unable to reach the very top where the height got to us. Many hikers turn around at this part of the hike.

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/mount-storm-king

Lake Crescent Lodge

After the long and arduous hike up Mt Storm King, we were excited to relax at Lake Crescent. This is a popular area for families to hang out by the lake. Lodging is provided at the Lake Crescent Lodge.

Lake Crescent

Swimming and enjoying the summer energy at Lake Crescent was the best way to end our trip to Olympic National Park.

Olympic National Park 2023 | Day 1 & 2

Wednesday August 2nd, 2023 - Sunday August 6th, 2023

Our recent trip to Olympic National Park marks the 6th national park visited, and the 2nd out of 3 visited in the state of Washington. Our previous visit to Seattle and Mt. Rainier National Park was at the end of May in 2022, when the weather was still gloomy and mountains still covered with snow. Visiting the pacific northwest in August is the optimal time for the best weather.

Olympic National Park is known for it’s diverse ecosystems, including glacier covered mountain ridges, rocky pacific coast beaches, and old-growth temperate rain forests. We were able to visit all of these ecosystems in a short 2.5 days thanks to a tight itinerary with early morning starts.

The diversity in what we were able to experience at Olympic National Park puts it high on my list of favorite parks.

This blog post covers Day 1 and Day 2 of the trip.

Itinerary:

Day 1:

• Fly out to Seattle, Drive to Forks, Washington (fun fact: The Twilight films were shot here)

• Visit Rialto Beach during sunset, stay overnight in Forks, Washington.

Day 2:

• Early morning drive to the Hoh Rainforest

  • Hike Hall of Moss

  • Hike 5-mile Hoh River Trail

• Drive to Sol Duc Falls, hike

• Drive to Port Angeles where we stayed the night

Day 3:

• Early morning drive to Hurricane Ridge

  • Hike Hurricane Hill

• Drive to Lake Crescent

  • Hike Mt. Storm King

  • Hang out at Lake Crescent

• Drive back to Seattle

Rialto Beach

Rialto Beach is unlike any beach I’ve seen in the Bay Area, California. The beach is filled with giant fallen driftwood, and scattered with small and large smooth rocks. Massive sea stacks (giant land mass/rocks in the ocean) make up the iconic landscape of the beach, mirrored by the forest of spruce trees on land.

A popular hike or walk along the beach to do here is towards ‘Hole in the Wall’, a huge section of the middle of a cliff eroded, creating a hole in the wall. Spending time during low-tide checking out the tide-pools filled with starfish, crabs, fish, and more aquatic life is a common activity here.

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/hole-in-the-wall-trail

Hoh Rainforest

The Hoh Rainforest is one of the largest temperate rain forests in the United States. The lush forest is filled with moss covered spruce trees and big leaf maple trees. A single road leads to the park’s entrance to the Hoh Rainforest. A helpful tip is to go as early as you can, as traffic through the entrance can span hours if bad enough.

Hall of Moss

The Hall of Mosses trail is a popular short hike that is kid friendly. It gives you an easy access to old giant trees covered with Moss.

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/hoh-rain-forest-hall-of-moss

5-Mile Hoh River Trail

The 5-mile hike takes you deep into the Hoh Rainforest. Peeks of the glacier blue Hoh river can be seen through some parts of the hike. As you reach the 5 mile mark, the trail opens up to reveal a large flowing river.

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/hoh-river-trail

Sol Duc Falls

This short quick hike takes you through a wooded trail towards Sol Duc Falls.

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/sol-duc-falls-nature-trail

This concludes Day 1 and Day 2 of the trip. Day 3 can be found in a separate blog post.

Las Vegas 2023

Tuesday January 3rd - Thursday January 5th

We decided to fly out to Las Vegas, Nevada the first week of January to make the most of our Holiday vacation after our Portland, Oregon trip was cancelled by Southwest airlines due to weather and IT issues. It seems as if everyone else had the same idea, as prices for Las Vegas hotels and flights the first weekend of the new year were elevated. We chose to go Tuesday to Thursday where the prices were lower.

This trip would be a more relaxed, slow paced trip compared to previous Vegas trips where day/night clubs were involved. The primary goal of this particular visit was to eat good food and to visit Area 15’s Omega Mart. The photos below are in no particular order. All photos were taken with the Canon 6D + EF 24-70mm F2.8L and the iPhone 13 Pro Max.

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Catch

$$$
>> Yelp Link

Located in ARIA resort, Catch is a trendy, asian-influenced seafood, sushi, and steak restaurant infamous for their beautiful entry ways and celebrity sightings. Stepping through the floral tunnel to enter the restaurant, you’re transported into a low-lit, moody restaurant full of patrons and the excited hum of dinner conversations.

Truffle Sashimi. I usually have an aversion to truffle sauces typically found in pasta sauces or fries, but the truffle sauce paired excellently with the light and buttery sashimi.

Other dishes below include the Hellfire Roll, Crunchy Rice Cake, Crispy Shrimp, Lobster Mac and Cheese, and the Hit Me Cake.

The Hit Me Cake was the perfect way to end the delicious meal. A klondike bar sits atop layers of chocolate cake, caramel/dulce de leche ice cream, and a brownie waiting to be drizzled with more chocolate sauce, and ultimately smashed open by the consumer. A fun finale.

Hattie B’s

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>> Yelp Link

Hattie B’s is an American chain restaurant that specializes in Nashville hot chicken. The restaurant is located in the Cosmopolitan resort food court next to the popular breakfast restaurant EggSlut. Hattie B’s was also at last year’s Coachella music festival as a food vendor. They offer bone-in pieces, chicken sandwiches, and chicken tenders at varying spice levels. Below is a 3 piece chicken tender with a side of fries and mac and cheese. The meal is definitely shareable if you are looking for a lighter meal.

Gordon Ramsay’s Fish and Chips

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>> Yelp Link

A fast-casual, order at the register type of eatery located next to the Linq. With a personality like Gordon Ramsay included in the name, this restaurant has a lot on the line to perform and taste as good as Gordon’s reputation. The menu is simple, serving boxes with choice of protein, fries, and sauces. The fish’s batter is light and not dripping in excess oil, fries perfectly crisp. There is limited seating inside and out of the shop, which can be difficult as there is always a line.

Omega Mart

$$
>> Yelp Link

Omega Mart is an immersive art experience created by Meow Wolf, located inside the events pavilion Area 15. The art installation’s backstory is based on sci-fy and strange inter-dimensional oddities that you can explore as you walk through the expansive areas. The entrance to the art installation is set up as a typical grocery store, but as you peer closer to the familiar items, you’ll notice that they are slightly off in a sort of unsettling way. Go through the freezer in a speakeasy-esque fashion and you feel like you’ve been transported into another dimension. There are many rooms and objects that encourage interaction. The installation can be observed just by passively walking through, but it is highly encouraged to purchase a $3 ‘game card’ that can be used to activate a multitude of stations around the installation to learn more about the backstory, and to participate in a ‘quest’ like experience.

Area 15

$$
>> Yelp Link

Area 15 is a hub for pay-as-you-go events/experiences. Entry is free.

The Chandelier

$$$
>> Yelp Link

The Chandelier is a lounge/bar located inside the cosmopolitan. The tiered lounge has 3 levels, and is hard to miss. Known for their off-menu cocktail the ‘Verbena’, patrons visit The Chandelier to try the experience in a cocktail. The Verbena is a margarita tasting cocktail served with a ‘buzz ball’. You’re instructed to taste a sip of the cocktail, then chew on the buzzball for ~30 seconds, and then continue with the cocktail. The buzz ball is reminiscent of eating spicy Szechuan food, as your mouth starts to envelop a tingling and numbing sensation lasting for around 5 minutes. The mouth feel alters the taste and experience of drinking the cocktail.

Bacchanal Buffet

$$$$
>> Yelp Link

The famous Bacchanal buffet is located inside Caesars Palace. The buffet is divided into Mexican, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, American, Seafood, Pizza, Deli, and Desserts. Most items are self serve, aside from the carved meats. As far as buffets go, the offerings are top notch and do not feel like ‘buffet food’. Each item is restaurant quality and could tick off any possible cravings you have. It felt a bit gluttonous being in the dining hall that had an aura of abundance, but it was an interesting experience eating like a greek god for 90 minutes.

Cafe Americano

Restaurant located next to the Caesars Palace lobby. Large portions. Quick morning stop before our flight.

Nacho Daddy

A chain specializing in different variety of Nachos with tons of toppings. Great late night choice.

Assorted Las Vegas Pictures

Disneyland 2022 - Day 2

Day 2 started off early in the morning inside Disneyland exploring the new Star Wars themed area. Here, we queued up for the new Star Wars, rise of the resistance ride. The ride is one of the more popular attractions at the park, with a long queue all day. The only way to bypass this long line is to pay $20 a person for a lightning lane reservation through the new ride reservation app system ‘Genie+’ the parks have implemented. Although confusing as a concept at first, the new reservation system is a definite must if you are visiting the parks nowadays. Using the app efficiently will save you hours waiting in lines.

The new rise of the resistance ride has become my favorite ride at both parks. The ride is the first trackless attraction at Disneyland, meaning the ride uses AI robotics to move around a predetermined path instead of using physical wheels on tracks, akin to roomba. This frees up the ride to a nonlinear path, making the ride feel expanse and unpredictable.

Oga’s Cantina

It’s a small world

Assorted shots around the park

Disneyland 2022 - Day 1

We took a trip down to Los Angeles during Thanksgiving week to visit friends and Disneyland. The last time I had gone to Disneyland was in 2012. I was excited to see all the new additions to the park, as well as the holiday theme, as I have never visited during the holiday season.

Solvang, California

On the way down, we stopped to see Solvang, California, a small danish town with unique architecture, shops, and wineries.

Downtown Disney

We met up with some of our local friends to hang out at downtown Disney, a shopping and food plaza adjacent to the Disney and California Adventure parks. Downtown Disney is a gateway to Disney hotels, trains that transport guests to the Disney parking lot, and many Disney related stores and restaurants. It feels like an extension of the parks, except it is free to enter.

Trader Sam’s

A tiki bar serving cocktails and island food.

Star Wars Trading Post

Day one at Disneyland started early at 8:00 AM when the parks opened. We had 2-day park hopper tickets to maximize our time between the two parks. We opted to start with California Adventure on Sunday, hoping Disneyland would be a little less crowded on Monday. Our first ride of the day was spider-man’s web slinger in the new Avenger’s Campus. As an adult, I could better appreciate the attention to detail that goes into each attraction.

Pym’s Test Kitchen

An Ant-Man inspired restaurant serving small snacks and drinks

Guardians of the Galaxy, Mission: Breakout

Previously the Tower of Terror, the tall free-fall elevator based attraction is now themed around the Guardians of the Galaxy.

Lamplight Lounge

We got lunch at the lamplight lounge, a sit down restaurant that could be easily missed, nestled next to the water with views of the Incredicoaster and Ferris Wheel.

The theme parks transform into a lively a cozy atmosphere at night, with Christmas lights and decorations lit up all around the grounds.

Naples

After a long day at the park, we ended the night eating pasta and pizza at Naples in Downtown Disney.