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New Zealand, day one: a birthday at the end of the world

Gosia — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 16:18:50 +0000

I will never forget my first day in New Zealand. It was my birthday, and it was exactly how I’d imagined it – far from home, at the end of the world. Those first days are always stuck in the memory best – they set the tone for the whole trip. And knowing I had 18 days of adventure ahead only cranked up the excitement. Karekare Falls – 30 metres of watery adrenaline The first stop was Karekare Falls in the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park. A short, half-kilometre walk leads to a 30-metre waterfall surrounded by palms and lush, exotic vegetation. Mercer Bay Loop – a walk with views and Māori history Next up was the Mercer Bay Loop Track. This 2.2-kilometre loop leads to Te Ahua, a place of significance for Māori, with jaw-dropping views over the west coast. A high cliff, wind whipping your hair, waves smashing into the rocks… can you imagine a better backdrop? Piha, Lion Rock and Kitekite Falls – beach magic Piha is a stunning, wide beach, dominated by its icon: Lion Rock. This ancient volcano, shaped like a reclining lion, looking at the ocean. Right next to it is another curiosity – the Keyhole Natural Tunnel. A natural tunnel carved into the rock, looking like a gigantic eye of a needle. Not far away, you can wander to Kitekite Falls – a charming waterfall reached via a trail winding through palm forest. Whites Beach and Anawhata Beach Track – almost deserted corners You don’t need to go far to reach another spectacular viewpoint – Te Waha Point Lookout. From here, you get sweeping views of the coastline and the almost deserted Whites Beach. The lookout is reached via the Laird Thomson Track, a pleasant walk through New Zealand’s rolling green fields. The Anawhata Beach Track leads along cliffs, through lush forest, to a small, beautiful beach where you’ll often meet… well, no one at all. Bethells Beach (Te Henga) – the raw power of the Tasman Sea But the real show-stealer is Bethells Beach. This is one of those places where you genuinely feel like a castaway. Wild coastline, vast stretches of sand, emerald-coloured water – the perfect spot to surrender to the power of the Tasman Sea. For the persistent, there’s a 10-kilometre coastal route waiting. Tirikohua Point – the end of the world Tirikohua Point is a little-known, and therefore even more atmospheric, stretch of the west coast of the North Island. A trail through wild pasture and waist-high grass leads to towering cliffs that look like the literal end of the world. The route is under 2 kilometres – a small price to pay for having a beach all to yourself. Muriwai Gannet Colony Beach The trip ends at Muriwai Gannet Colony Beach – a must for nature and bird lovers. Muriwai impresses with its black volcanic sand and dramatic cliff-lined coast. And that’s how the first day in New Zealand – and my birthday at the edge of the world – came to an end. Just one day, but so packed with sights that it felt like I’d lived a hundred already 😄

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Lebanon – off the beaten path

Gosia — Sat, 28 Sep 2024 15:51:56 +0000

Lebanon is a country that not only delights with its history and culture, but also with its rich nature. Picturesquely located religious buildings, spectacular waterfalls, huge caves, and the ruins of ancient metropolises are just a small sample of what you can discover while traveling around this amazing country. So far, I’ve written about Lebanon from a geopolitical perspective, I’ve tried to show the realities of life and the problems it encounters. Leaving aside the uncertain political situation, Lebanon is one of the most beautiful countries I’ve ever seen. Less than 30 kilometers from Beirut, in the town of Harissa, there’s one of the most important Christian sanctuaries in Lebanon – the sanctuary of Our Lady of Lebanon. This place is not only a pilgrimage destination, but also a tourist attraction attracting visitors from all over the world. The sanctuary is under the care of the Maronites. Maronites, who are Catholics, live mainly in Syria and Lebanon. The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lebanon is located on the top of Mount Harissa, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding area and the Mediterranean Sea. To reach the peak, you can take a gondola ride. It’s the location that makes this place unique. At the top there’s a huge statue of Mary, with her arms outstretched towards Beirut. Inside the statue you can visit a small chapel, and from the observation deck you can see an amazing view of the capital of Lebanon and the coast. The sanctuary was visited by Pope John Paul II during his pilgrimage to Lebanon in 1997. However, this is not the end of the huge religious statues. Near the town of Faraya, you can see a monument to the Maronite monk – Saint Sharbel. The statue is 24 meters high and is located high on the top of the mountain, offering an amazing view of the mountains and the Chabrouh Dam. By the way, I have doubts whether erecting a monstrous monument to a saint who was famous for his modesty and asceticism was a good idea… While visiting Lebanon, I also discovered one of the most charming religious places I have ever had the pleasure of seeing – the monastery of St. Elijah in Hadchit. This place is not only noteworthy for religious reasons, but also delights with spectacular views. Rising higher and higher along the quite steep serpentine, I couldn’t help but wonder whether my modest Nissan Micra would be able to cope with the road for 4WD cars. I must admit that this route was no less exciting than the view from the monastery. Located far from the hustle and bustle of civilization, surrounded by mountains, it’s an oasis of peace and gives you the opportunity to discover harmony with nature. Despite the amazing views, this place doesn’t seem to be popular. For me this was an advantage, I had it just for myself. The green valleys shrouded in fog and the mountain peaks were amazing. Being in such an environment allows you to break away from everyday life and enjoy this extraordinary atmosphere. Lebanon is an amazing country where you can also see the remains of ancient civilizations. Tire and Sidon, now known as Sour and Saida, are two cities that show rich history of the ancient Phoenicians. In Tire, you can travel back in time by exploring the ruins of the former Phoenician metropolis. However, for those who are less interested in ancient civilizations, a visit to Tire may be an excellent opportunity to observe the everyday life of the inhabitants. In Sidon, it’s worth visiting the atmospheric old town, where you can see traditional Muslim buildings. During Phoenician times, the city served as a main port and trade center. Both in Sidon and Tire, there was trade in luxury goods such as silver, gold, ivory and high-quality fabrics. Both cities were also famous for the production of the dye – purple. Sea snails native to Tyre were used for its production. The dye was called “royal”. Due to the high production costs, only kings could afford it. Apparently, it took as many as 100,000 snails to produce one kg of dye. Purple was such a valued material throughout the world that it gave rise to the name Phoenicians. The word Phoenicia comes from the Greek phoínios, meaning “Land of Purple”. However, the ruins in Baalbek made the greatest impression on me. It was my last trip in Lebanon. It seemed to be interesting from the very beginning. I set out at dawn, I wanted to be sure to see everything. I wondered what would happen to me along the way. I will not mention that during my trip, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs advised against traveling to these areas, due to the proximity to Syria (about 20 km from the border) and numerous refugee camps. I started on route no. 30, called the highway to Damascus. The highway looks like an ordinary road, but my impressions from it were unforgettable. Numerous trucks constantly pushed me into the opposite lane, posing a risk of head collision. I will add that I was traveling in Lebanon in a Nissan Micra 1.6… The only thing that saved me was acceleration 😉 Anyway, at least there was no need for coffee that morning. The next section of the road was pure pleasure, a narrow serpentine with a wonderful panorama of the mountains. When I left the mountains, I headed onto another highway, leading straight to Baalbek. However, it was not boring there either. Baalbek and the nearby areas remain under the control of Hezbollah, hence there’re numerous checkpoints on the road. As you can guess, I was stopped each time, but I won’t say anything bad about the control, I had really nice conversations 😀 Baalbek made a huge impression on me. I admit that its scale surprised me very much. The preserved ruins are a remnant from the times of the Roman Empire, when Baalbek was the main place of worship of Jupiter. The Temple of Jupiter is the biggest structure and is located in the central point. It’s said to be twice the size of the Parthenon on the Acropolis. The massive structure made of huge stone pillars gives an idea of ancient times. Interestingly, it remains a mystery to this day how such huge elements were transported. Another, better preserved building is the Temple of Bacchus – the god of wine and fertility. It was built on a similar scale as the Temple of Jupiter. The Temple of Venus is slightly smaller, decorated with symbols of the goddess – doves and shells. Byblos, one of the oldest cities in the world, is another important point on the map. From the 3rd century BC it was known as a center of trade. Papyrus was brought here from ancient Egypt, which is where the name of the city comes from. The Greek word “byblos” meant papyrus. Just above Byblos stands the Citadel – a castle built in the 12th century by the Crusaders. There’s an interesting view of the coast and the remains of Phoenician temples. It’s worth ending your trip to Byblos with a walk around the charming old town. There is no shortage of waterfalls in Lebanon. When driving from Batroun to Basharri, it’s worth taking a short trip to Kfarhelda Falls. In the town of Jazzine you can see an interesting waterfall of the same name. The waterfall is quite unusual because the water flows down the high slope on which the residents’ houses are located. Unfortunately, there was no trace of the waterfall during my visit in June, but the view of this place was still unforgettable. Baloue Balaa – this mysterious name hides the most spectacular place in Lebanon. It’s also known as Baatara Gorge. The gorge is famous for its amazing waterfall reaching 225 meters high. The waters of the waterfall fall into a cave called the Cave of the Three Bridges. The cave is formed by three naturally formed bridges, hanging over the abyss. The scale of the waterfall is amazing. Another huge waterfall can be seen at the Ouyoun El Samak restaurant, located about 20 km west of Tripoli. Lebanon also delights with its underground attractions. Less than 20 km from Beirut there’s the longest cave in the Middle East – Grotte de Jeita. The cave actually consists of two limestone caves with a total length of 9 km. Inside you can see numerous stalactites and stalagmites, formed in an interesting way. The trip to the cave below includes an additional attraction – a boat cruise. An interesting underground world can also be seen in the Zahlan Zahlan Grotto cave. The cave actually consists of three caves filled with stalagmites and stalactites. However, its location, among steep limestone cliffs, is also amazing. An interesting place is the Forest of the Cedars of God – a cedar reserve located near the city of Bashari. Cedars have been an integral part of Lebanon for centuries and are a symbol of the country. For this reason, the cedar was placed on the flag of this country. Unfortunately, mass deforestation has made these trees less and less common here. The Forest of God’s Cedars is a place where we can see the remnants of the former cedar forest. The oldest trees in the reserve are over 1,500 years old and make an amazing impression. While in the vicinity of the Cedars of God Forest, it is worth visiting La Jetée – a viewing point from which there is an amazing panorama of the area.

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Costa Rica attractions, naturally! Part II

Gosia — Fri, 31 Mar 2023 20:28:38 +0000

From my trip to Costa Rica, I will definitely remember one thing – the amazing lush vegetation of tropical rainforests. Místico Arenal Hanging Bridges is definitely a must-see. The park has 6 suspension bridges and 10 traditional bridges that allow you to see the rainforest from a completely different, higher perspective. The most spectacular view is from the longest bridge, which is almost 100 m long and over 25 m high. The way there is an attraction itself, because the bridge is not a stable structure and wobbles with each step you take. In addition, it gets quite slippery when it rains. Looking down isn’t recommended, especially for people with a fear of heights. The bridge is a metal structure, and only a metal mesh under our feet separates us from the abyss. Costa Rica is also famous for its spectacular waterfalls. One of them is almost 30 m long – Llanos de Cortés. Less than 70 km north of Llanos de Cortes, there is an even more spectacular place – Tenorio Volcano National Park. In this rainforest, you can admire one of the most beautiful places in Costa Rica – the Río Celeste waterfall. The milky-blue colour of the water contrasts with the lush greenery of the rainforest. According to the locals, the phenomenal colour of the water, was created when God finished painting the sky blue, an then he washed his brushes in Río Celeste. November is supposedly the best month to observe the Poas and Irazu volcanoes. Unfortunately, in my case it didn’t work out 😀 While in the misty forests the fog created an amazing atmosphere, here it could obscure the volcanic eruption itself. At the end of my adventure in Costa Rica, on the way back to the border in Paso Canoas, I visited the beach – Espadilla. I wasn’t surprised that it was rainy on the beach, but it didn’t make much difference to me because I didn’t come here to sunbathe. This place is famous for another attraction… You can see a huge number of capuchin monkeys here. In fact, I did not expect to see so many of them. What’s more, they seemed to completely ignore the presence of people or cars on the road. While in Costa Rica, I also saw countless raccoons, which also seemed to function perfectly among people. Although, I did not manage to see a macaw or a toucan, in national parks could observe other interesting species of birds. Costa Rica is also worth visiting because of the stunning vegetation. After the rainy season, the forests looked like jungles, with an intense juicy green colour. The variety of interesting flowers with intense colours was also amazing. Find out more about my trip to Costa Rica here. Z podróży do Kostaryki, z pewnością zapamiętam jedną rzecz – niesamowitą bujną roślinność tropikalnych lasów deszczowych. Punktem must-see jest z pewnością Místico Arenal Hanging Bridges. W parku znajduje się 6 wiszących mostów oraz 10 tradycyjnych, które pozwalają zobaczyć las deszczowy z zupełnie innej, wyższej perspektywy. Najbardziej spektakularny widok roztacza się z najdłuższego mostu, który liczy prawie 100 m długości i znajduje się na wysokości ponad 25 m. Przejście tego kawałka jest atrakcją samą w sobie, gdyż most nie jest stabilną konstrukcją i chwieje się wraz z każdym postawionym krokiem. Dodatkowo, w tracie deszczu robi się tu dość ślisko. Jednak patrzenie pod nogi może się okazać złą taktyką, szczególnie dla osób z lękiem wysokości. Most jest metalową konstrukcją, a od przepaści dzieli nas tylko metalowa siatka pod stopami. Kostaryka słynnie również z widowiskowych wodospadów. Jednym z nich jest liczący prawie 30 m – Llanos de Cortés. Niecałe 70 km na północ od Llanos de Cortes znajduje się jeszcze bardziej spektakularne miejsce – Park Narodowy Wulkanu Tenorio. Park stanowi las deszczowy, na którego terenie znajduje się jedno z najpiękniejszych miejsc w Kostaryce, wodospad Río Celeste. Mleczno – niebieski kolor wody kontrastuje tu z bujną, soczystą zielenią lasu deszczowego. Zjawiskowa barwa wody podobno nie jest dziełem przypadku według miejscowych kiedy Bóg skończył malować niebo na niebiesko, umył swoje pędzle w Río Celeste. Listopad jest podobno najlepszym miesiącem do obserwacji wulkanu Poas i Irazu. Jednak w moim przypadku to się niestety nie sprawdziło 😀 Podczas, gdy w mglistych lasach mgła tworzyła niesamowity klimat, tak tutaj mogłaby przysłonić samą erupcję wulkanów. Na zakończenie mojej przygody z Kostaryką, w drodze powrotnej do punktu granicznego w Paso Canoas odwiedziłam jeszcze plażę – Espadilla. Ku braku mojego zaskoczenia, na plaży było deszczowo, natomiast nie robiło mi to dużej różnicy bo nie przyjechałam tu z myślą o plażowaniu. Miejsce to słynie z innej atrakcji… Można tu zobaczyć ogromną ilość małp kapucynek. Faktycznie, nie spodziewałam się, że na miejscu tyle ich zobaczę. Co więcej zdawały się kompletnie ignorować obecność ludzi czy samochodów na drodze. Będąc w Kostaryce widziałam także niezliczoną ilość szopów, które także zdawały się doskonale funkcjonować wśród ludzi. Co prawda nie udało mi się zobaczyć ary lub tukana natomiast w parkach narodowych można zobaczyć wiele innych, ciekawych gatunków ptaków. Kostarykę warto także odwiedzić, ze względu na zachwycającą roślinność. Po porze deszczowej lasy wyglądały jak dżungle, o intensywnym soczystym zielonym kolorze. Niesamowita była także różnorodność ciekawych kwiatów o intensywnych kolorach.

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Israel – 7 amazing places to visit!

Gosia — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 09:45:26 +0000

Israel is mostly associated with holy places, leisure sunbathing like Eilat or music scene like Tel Aviv. However, in this small country there’re more than 40 national parks. What’s more interesting, due to the different location, they are very diverse. They include: green oases, the emerald coast, a unique crater, ruins of ancient cities or even the coral reef. Rosh Hanikra Grottoes, Israel or Lebanon? White, limestone cliffs, caves and crystal clear water of the Mediterranean sea this is how Rosh Hanikra Grottoes look like. However, at the top of the white rocks you can see a high fence with a barbed wire, on the other side is Lebanon. Actually, from Rosh Hanikra, it’s closer to Beirut than Jerusalem. Here runs so called Blue line – the line set by the United Nations, only 19 years ago (in 2000). The border was established just after the Israeli army withdrawal from Southern Lebanon. You can get to the grottoes by cable car (return ticket costs 45). In addition to clean water and paper white rocks, very interesting is 200 m tunnel. It was built during British reign in this area in order to connect by railway line Haifa with Beirut and Tripoli in Lebanon. The railway line served the British for military purposes during World War II. Ein Gedi – zielona oaza nad Morzem Martwym Oaza Ein Gedi zlokalizowana jest na wschodnim krańcu Pustyni Judzkiej, tuż obok Morza Martwego. Pustynia Judzka zupełnie nie przypomina pustyni, zamiast piaszczystych wydm, można tu zobaczyć wysokie wzniesienia i skały. W parku znajdują się dwie główne ścieżki prowadzące przez zielone doliny: Wadi Arugot i Wadi David. Oprócz cudownych widoków na oazę oraz Morze Martwe, dodatkową atrakcją jest możliwość kąpieli w strumykach i wodospadach. Szlak przez dolinę Wadi David kończy się na wysokim wodospadzie, w którego głębi znajduje się jaskinia. Poza niesamowitymi widokami, na terenie parku znajdują się również ruiny prehistorycznej świątyni oraz starej synagogi. Szlaki oznaczone są dwoma kolorami. Czerwone prowadzą przez pustynne krajobrazy, natomiast niebieskie – w dolinie, wzdłuż rześkich strumieni i wodospadów. Wstęp kosztuje 28 szekli. Masada Strome, niemal pionowe zbocza Twierdzy Masada wyróżniają się w nieco monotonnym krajobrazie wybrzeża Morza Martwego. Ogromna góra licząca ponad 450 m nad poziomem Morza Martwego, co w praktyce wynosi jakieś 10-20 m n.p.m odejmując depresję, widoczna jest z daleka i robi niesamowite wrażenie. Strategiczne położenie Masady było jednym z powodów dla których Herod – Król Judei postanowił wybudować tu kompleks fortyfikacji. Masada była ostatnim bastionem obrony Żydów przed Rzymianami w 73-74 n.e. Po długotrwałym kilkumiesięcznym oblężeniu twierdzy przez Rzymian, obrona została zerwana. Obrona zakończyła się masowym samobójstwem mieszkańców, którzy woleli odebrać sobie życie niż zostać rzymskimi niewolnikami. There is a long path to the top, but most tourists decide to get there by cable car (return ticket costs 46 shekels and admission to the park 31 shekels). Caesarea Maritima The person of the king Herod is also associated with Caesarea Maritima – one of the most beautiful archaeological sites in Israel. In the complex of the ancient ruins you can visit the Roman theatre, the remains of the ancient port, the citadel and the fragments of ramparts. The path to ruins leads along a huge hippodrome, which is located just at the shore the Mediterranean Coast. Admission to Cesarea National Park costs 39 shekels. Ein Avdat – an oasis in the middle of the Negev Desert Parking just at the entrance to the area of Ein Avdat National Park does not encourage to go on a trip. The arid landscape of the Negev Desert starts being boring after driving more than 170 km through the same countryside. However, a few steps further the tourist trail will lead you to completely different place. Admission costs 28 shekels. A narrow, deep canyon, surrounded by interestingly sculptured rocks, caves and waterfalls creates a unique atmosphere of this place. Ein Avdat is also the habitat of the ibex, which can be seen on the trail. Ramon Crater Sometimes there’re places that can’t be described by words. Sometimes there’s no point in taking out the camera, because even the best photo will not present the scale and beauty of these places. That’s in the case of the Ramon Crater (Mitzpe Ramon). It’s a real gem on the map of Israel and a must-see place during your stay in Israel. It’s one of the biggest craters on earth, created by erosion. It is 40 km long, 9 km wide and 300 m deep. The scale of this place is unimaginable, moreover, it’s constantly extending due to the processes of erosion. The crater was named after a participant of the tragic mission of the Space Shuttle Columbia, astronaut – Ilan Ramon. The nearby museum is dedicated to the disaster of the Columbia Space Shuttle, while the hills surrounding the crater were named after the rest of the mission participants. The canyon makes an amazing impression at sunrise and sunset, especially from a nearby viewpoint, resembling the shape of a camel. Ejlat – Coral Reef Therefore after an intense sightseeing, it’s best to rest in Eilat – located at the Red Sea. In the suburbs of this famous holiday resort is a national park where you can swim in the Red Sea surrounded by amazing colorful fish.

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St. Beatus caves – a short visit to elves’ wonderland

Gosia — Sun, 24 Apr 2016 16:37:42 +0000

St. Beatus caves which are located close to the town Interlaken, at the picturesque Thun lake, is an exceptional place. Here one can move to the magic world of the Rivendell – the elves’ residence, created by J.R.R. Tolkien. The similarity isn’t coincidental because this place was the inspiration for the author of the Lord of the Rings, who visited it during his voyage through Switzerland in 1911. What’s more, the visualization of The Last Homely House, presented in Peter’s Jackson movie was made by John Howe – Canadian book illustrator, who lives in Switzerland. The name of the caves is connected with St. Beatus – English missionary who, according to the legend, defeated the dragon which was living there. The twisty path with Bridges leads to the top. It’s a perfect place to see the spectacular waterfalls falling from the top and the beautiful panorama of the Thun lake as well. Only 14km of the caves are explored and 1 km is opened for visitors. Just after the entrance you can hear the swoosh of the waterfalls which builds up with every step. The 1-hour route leads through the maze of the dimly lit limestones which have different shapes and colors. Narrow passages and Winding path it’s a one big surprise because you don’t know what’s on the other side of the corner. Indeed, there’re a lot of attractions: cascades, ponds, stalactites, stalagmites, grottoes or even vegetation. St. Beatus caves are the secret of the Thun lake. This place is sometimes omitted in tourist guides and the lack of the visible signs makes it really difficult to reach. To get there from the town – Interlaken, you need to head the road in the direction of Thun, which leads on the North side of the lake. Caves are located close to the town Beatenberg. There’re a few parking lots on the way, from which you can go up the hill. The last parking lot is located just beneath the caves and it’s well marked. It’s also possible to get there by the bus no. 21 which runs between Interlaken West Bahnhof and Beatushöhlen (details you can find here).

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Road to Hana – road for the road’s sake, part II

Gosia — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 13:17:32 +0000

Road to Hana ends in a town of the same name. But it’s not the end of attractions of the east Maui island. Around 12 km farther, at the 45 mile maker, there’s an amazing waterfall called Wailua, which rises 80 feet above the ground. Although it doesn’t seem to be easy to reach you only have to cross the street to see it! Heading farther to the south, on the way 330, it’s worth to stop off at Haleakala National Park. Entrance is located at Kipahulu Visitor Center and admission fee costs 10$ per car (I recommend to keep this ticket because it’s valid in the whole park area for 3 days). Just behind the parking lot you can find interesting trail called Pipiwai Trail. All way takes around 2 hours (6 km) and it isn’t tough. Just after 1 km, you can admire a beautiful panorama of Makahiku Fall which is surrounded by lush rainforest. A little bit farther is amazing banyan tree which huge roots and branches radiate in all directions of the world. It’s no wonder that this tree is a religious object in Hinduism because it looks really phenomenally. Just behind the banyan tree is a stark bamboo forest. Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants. During one day it can reach even 1 meter. The highest bamboos can measure 40 meters. Bamboos growing on Pipiwai Trail are smaller but in some places this forest is so thick that it creates amazing dusky atmosphere. Road ends on a beautiful, 120 meter high, Waimoku Fall. It’s not the end of amazing landscapes. On the way back you can choose the route leading from Kipahulu to Kula. This road is totally different than green Hana Road. This road is intended for 4WD cars and it surprises by its steppe character. I guarantee that you will never forget this view at the sunset. Road to Hana despite its little distance impresses by fabulous landscapes. Here you can see the most beautiful Maui views: azure Pacific contrasting with black and red sand beaches, steep cliffs, huge waterfalls and rainforests. Eucalyptus trees, coconut palms, banyans, bamboos, banana, mango or guava trees are abundant. Little Hana town and roadside fruit stands create unique atmosphere.It’s no wonder that the Road to Hana is regarded as a one of the most beautiful roads in the world. Some tips: – start a trip as early as possible because during the day it’s very crowdy, – there aren’t any gas stations so tank your car before journey, – put your map and gps aside and look for mile makers. Sometimes this activity is even more tiring than driving as they are located in every nook and cranny, – buy something to eat and drink, – become acquainted with the car rental conditions. Some companies forbid to drive this way, – if you want to go from Kipahulu to Kula, you need 4WD car, – drive “aloha”, give way to other vehicles, – take raincoat, mosquito repellent, swimming suit, study shoes and suntan lotion, – take your time and admire beautiful landscapes, – if you see something interesting, stop your car if it’s possible later you won’t regret that you didn’t do this, – try banana bread or shave ice, swim in the waterfalls or in the Pacific or just go for a walk. ” order_by=”sortorder” order_direction=”ASC” returns=”included” maximum_entity_count=”500″]

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Road to Hana – road for the road’s sake, part I

Gosia — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 07:38:06 +0000

Why am I writing about the road? You can think that it’s nothing special. But there’s one road, in the east part of Hawaiian island – Maui, which is not only a road but also a destination itself. It is called Hana Higway but in fact its name is a bit misleading because it has nothing to do with a highway. Travelling all this 100 km route can take even 1 or 2 days! Is sounds weird, especially for the USA road conditions. But this highway is not a simple road. It’s typical switchback with 600 turns and around 60 bridges. The most part of this road is too narrow for 2 cars. Using horn or high beam before hooks is a must. It’s also very hard to say what is shorter there: straight sections or cellular network range.Additionally during driving this road we can spot a lot of abandoned houses and cars. But I can guarantee one thing: during these 100 km you will see every possible dream landscape! Beautiful cliffs dipping steep to the turquoise ocean waters, amazing black sand beaches, lush rainforests with exotic vegetation and spectacular waterfalls are just for the asking or rather making a few steps from a car. So turn Hawaiian music on, fasten your seatbelts, open a sunroof, stick your elbow and go! Stop 1: Paia town It’s the last place on the 100 km Road to Hana where you can tank your car. Formerly this town was the important center of sugar industry. Now it’s a mecca for surfers and windsurfers. Here form the Hookipa Lookout, we can admire their amazing water stunts. Stop 2: Kaumahina State Wayside Park (just before 12 mile maker) After short walk to the hilltop we can see a beautiful coast landscape with black beach – Honomanu Bay. Stop 3: Kalaola Point (between 14 and 15 mile maker) Here you can see a beautiful coastal panorama. Stop 4: Ke’anae Beach Park and Ke’anae Landing Fruit Stand (on the turning, just before 17 mile maker) Here you can see a beautiful view of Ke’anae Peninsula with palms, bananas trees and black lava rocks in the background. In the Ke’anae Landing Fruit Stand (address: 210 Ke’anae Rd) you can taste the best banana bread in the island. It is sold straight from the oven. It’s an ideal refreshment on the way to Hana. Stop 5: Three Beard Falls (between 19 and 20 mile maker) This waterfall is one of the best on the road to Hana. The amount of the water depends on the rainfall and unfortunately during our visit it was a bit dry. As you can see all attractions are for asking. Stop 6: Pua’a ka’a State Wayside Park (between 22 and 23 mile makers) This is an ideal place for a picnic in the surrounding of a beautiful waterfall or swimming in a nearby pond. Stop 7: Hanawi and Makapipi Falls (they are located between 24 and 25 mile makers) You can see there beautiful waterfalls in the exotic Hawaiian scenery. Stop 8: Wai’anapanapa State Park (you need to turn left to Wai’anapanapa road at the 32 mile maker) In this 120 acre park, among lush vegetation you can find interesting cliffs, caves and black sand beach. „The highway” ends in Hana. It’s a small town with a population of 700 residents. It’s located in the surroundings of banyan and breadfruit trees. Little church, gas station and popular Hasegawa General Store create special Hawaiian atmosphere there. ” order_by=”sortorder” order_direction=”ASC” returns=”included” maximum_entity_count=”500″]

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Waimea – the Great Canion of Pacific

Gosia — Mon, 13 Jul 2015 01:29:45 +0000

My love for the mountains has started since the moment I made the first step. Every holiday I used to spend with my father traversing mountain trails. These vacations were so much so that monothematic that in fact I went to the seaside at the age of 14. To some extent these experiences have formed my stubborn character. They also helped me to distance myself from some bad experiences which are sometimes beyond control. Mountains hide incredible mystery, beauty combined with nature unsteadiness, admiration co-occurring with thrill and what’s the most important: climbing effort rewarded by amazing views. It’s no wonder that before my trip to Hawaii, I knew that Kaua’i Island would be one of “these” places. This island with the population of 60 thousands residents and the area of 1,4 thousand sq m is relatively small but it hides spectacular, even surrealistic landscapes. Here you can find everything, starting from steep cliffs look like cut almost by godlike intention, huge waterfalls and ending with wonderfully carved valleys. To top it all off everything almost sinks in the lush greenery. Justifably Kaua’i is called The Garden Island. One of the main tourist attractions is Waimea Canyon. It’s approximately 16 km long, 2 km wide and up to 900 m deep. Although its relatively small dimension, it is called The Grand Canyon of Pacific. This natural wonder was created around 5 million years ago by the process of volcano collapse. Lava flow almost intentionally formed horizontal stripes on the crater walls. The rest of this magnificent creation was made by erosion, mainly in form of the floods which went down from the peak of Waialeale mountain. Waialeale Mountain with an elevation of 1569 m is the wettest place on Earth. Annual rainfall reaches here approximately 12 000 millimeters. Waimea in Hawaiian language means “red water” but besides red color it stuns by its orange, yellow, green and brown shades. We can reach it by serpentine Canyon Drive. There are a lot of vantage points along this way. The most beautiful are: Waimea Canyon Lookout, Pu’u Hinahina and Pu’u O Kila Lookout. But nothing compares to “meeting this phenomenon face to face”. The most popular and beautiful is Canyon Trail, starting from Pu’u Hinahina Lookout. It’s quite easy trail. It takes 2 hours and leads to Waipio waterfalls. Just before the waterfalls there’s a short but very steep slope. Walking there after rain can be really dangerous and it can lead to fast and close “meeting” with the canyon floor. After crossing this slope ironiccaly it can happen that you won’t see the main point of this trail – Waipio Falls because of the rainfall shortage. But in my opinion these waterfalls are not as spectacular as the whole trail winding along amazing canyon walls. Views from its peak are amazing and seems even unreal.

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