Destination Honduras

We are on our way to Honduras. Our plan is to spend one night in San Pedro Sula and then head to the island of Utila for scuba diving. We don't know how internet connection will be on the island but we try to update the blog if it's possible.

-Maija & Olli

Having small snack in five guys

Having small picnic in symphony concert

Another American road trip

We arrived to LAX last Friday and spent the weekend in Irvine with Philip, Amber and Delphine (thanks again, Perea's!). We just relaxed, had a great time together, played some board games and watched Curiosity landing to Mars. It was fun watching it with two physicists.

On Monday we drove to Las Vegas, we were staying at MGM Grand this time. We did basic Vegas things: ate too much in the buffet, gambling and went to see a show which this time was a Penn and Tellers Magic Show (crazy stuff there....). Vegas was as amazing as it is always.

After Vegas we drove to Arizona to see Antelope canyons. Well it wasn't so easy. We drove whole day to small city called Page and found out that all 18 motels were booked or overpriced or had only smoking rooms left. And of course the access to the canyons was closed already. So we decided to continue driving to Flagstaff. Fortunately we saw a sunset in Horse Shoe Bend which was a spectacular place.

Today we saw a beautiful mountain views all day long. We went walking to the Red Rock national park and went to see Cathedral Rock. It was very hot, today 115 Fahrenheit, 46 degrees in celsius...
At the moment we are near downtown Phoenix. We will go back to Irvine on Sunday.

-Maija

Ps. Now it's easier to leave a comments to us (no need to register anymore).

Big cacti  (Hawaii)

Olli is winning the game ;)

Olli in Las Vegas

Maija in Paris...

I went all in

We went to see Penn&Teller show

Maija & Teller (He's taller than I thought..)

Penn Jillette & Olli (He's taller than I thought...)

Nice view in Arizona

At Horse shoe bend, Arizona

Horse shoe bend, Arizona

Red Rock park, Arizona

Cathedral rock (remember to have water with you, it's hot in there)

Mauna Kea and diving with Manta rays and a dolphin

On sunday (29.7.) we drove to Mauna Kea wich is the highest peek in Pacific (13796 ft/ 4,2 km). We drove to the top of the mountain by car (once again, this is America ;)).
There was a visitor center (9000 ft) where they do stargazing every nights (it's above the clouds). It starts 6 pm and it's free. So we did that too. They had huge telescopes you could look at the stars and moon. It was so cool! Unfortunately there was almost full moon shining so we couldn't see as much stars as it's possible. Anyway they say it's the best place in the world to do stargazing.

Now we have been the last couple of days in Kona. We rented a nice room from Kona Islander Inn. This is little bit like hotel, they have reception but all units are privately owned. We have a kitchenette facilities, huge balcon and free wifi in our condo. This is the best value for your money so far, I'd highly recommend this.

Yesterday afternoon (1.8.) we spent our 15th anniversary doing scuba diving. We had booked two tanks dive including a sunset dive and a night dive with Manta Rays. Both of the dives were in same place called Garden Eel Cove, it's located near Kona airport.
First dive was just ok, normal nice dive nothing we haven't seen before but the second was something special. We basically went down to 8 meters with diving torches and laid down in the bottom heading our torches up toward surface. On the surface there was snorkeler and their torches were heading down. This is because Manta Rays eat plancton and lights attracts plancton. Then we just waited couple of minutes and then the huge Manta Ray just game and started to spin above us eating plancton. It came were close to us, it was so amazing. The cherry on top of the cake was that one huge bottle-nose dolphin came to check what is going on here. We have seen dolphins from the boat and had been swimming with them but this was first time we saw a wild dolphin while scuba diving.
Diving itself was really easy there but the waves were very heavy in the surface so going back to the boat was hard.

Hawaii TOP-3:
1. Diving with a dolphin and Manta rays
2. Stargazing in Mauna Kea
3. Walking in the Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park

Today our trip continues back to LAX, we are going to spend a weekend with Philip, Amber and baby-Delphine. And then we will do a road trip and of course, once again, Las Vegas is included ;)

Aloha
-Maija & Olli

They call this a salad

Akaka falls

Waipi'o valley lookout

Make up your own mind about this sign...

Hi'ilawe falls

Waipi'o valley beach

Above the clouds at Mauna Kea

On the top of Mauna Kea

Maija looking at Saturnus

Somebody got a big fish

Hawaii continues

Today (26.7.) we checked out from Royal Kona resort and drove to Hawaii volcanoes national park. On the way, we stopped by and had a little walk around Pu'Uhonua O Honaunau National Historic park. Quite nice place, but we got irritated of all the “don't do this and that” signs.

At the Volcano park we did a 6.4km/4mil/2h walk around a volcano and saw some really cool stuff. No magma action, but we did walk on top of solidified magma lake! We also check out a lava tube which is kind of a tunnel created by lava flows. Very impressive nature there. Some parts of the scenery when driving to the volcano reminded me of mix of Lapland, New Zealand and Madeira. If you come to Big Island, you definitely should check this place out.

At the moment we are in a nice hostel called Wild Ginger Inn in Hilo. We got the last room($106) but the place is nice enough. We might be spending two nights here, but so far we booked only one. Let's see what we end up doing. All we have planned is to have an evening and night dive with Mantarays in Kona next wednesday so we have about a week to spend around the Big Island before that.

-Olli

Some sort of a sacred beach (Pu'Uhonua O Honaunau, Hawaii)

Jungle trail (Volcano national park, Hawaii)

Standing on frozen magma (Volcano national park, Hawaii)

Overlook on the crater (Volcano national park, Hawaii)

Aloha Hawaii (23.7. - 25.7.)

On 23^rd July we flew to Kona, Hawaii (Big Island) where we are going to have our 15th anniversary. We rented a car (Yes, It's America you'll need a car) and drove to the center of Kona where we had booked three nights at Kona Royal Resort. It is a old hotel but has a great location just in the front of ocean. We have 180 a degrees ocean view from our balcony. The hotel also have pools and private beach so its nice place to get over jet lag which came back again after California.

So far we have been in the southest point of USA, from there we did a one hour windy walk to the Green sand beach.

Our next plan is to drive around the island and do a Mantaray dive after one week when we come back to Kona.

-Maija

Our hotel in the background. We have a nice ocean view. (Kona, Hawaii)

Green sand beach. (Close to southest point in USA, Hawaii)

Even closer to southest point in USA (Hawaii)

Living the Californian dream (18.7.-23.7.)

After having two days stopover in London and hanging out with our friend Chris we flew to LAX (Los Angeles, CA) at 18^th July. We went to Irvine where our dear friends Philip and Amber with their 3,5 weeks old, the cutest baby ever Delphine, had just moved. The place where their apartment is was like a five star hotel with large pool area including spa and gym, what would have been better place to start holiday?!

We did nothing special just hung around the pool area, went to the beach, ate good food and walked around with push chairs.

One more time we like thank Chris, Philip, Amber & Delphine for your hospitality :)

-Maija

Do I REALLY need all this stuff? (Chris's flat in London)

American breakfast on Philips birthday! (Ruby's, Irvine, CA)

Maija's new best friend Delphine (Irvine, CA)

Phil and Amber have a nice Spa! (Irvine, CA)

A fancy pool goes well with the Spa (Irvine, CA)

Olli has a new friend too (Phil and Ambers apartment)

I LOVE ribs (can't remember, CA)

Tour de Laplandia

It has been a little bit funny that I have been on the other side of the world but never in Lapland. Well, now I have been there as well.
After spending relaxing time at Olli's uncle's summer cabin and visiting Olli's cousins' we did 3 days tour of  Lapland by car (3555 km). We spend a night at Saariselkä then drove to Hammerfest in Norway (the northest city in the world) trough the spectacular and beautiful North-Norway. Then back via Kilpisjärvi to Tornio (for one night) and then back to Espoo. IMO the east part of Finnish Lapland was really nice and beautiful. A road from Kilpisjärvi to Tornio was kind of boring so if you go, choose the easter way. There were a lot of reindeers and mosqitous, of course.

This weekend we were celebrating Olli's dad's birthday at Kuressaare, Estonia. We had a great party with  very good company. Happy birthday to Jukka, one more time and thanks for a wonderful party :)

Gradually I begin to realise today is the day we leave to our round the world trip. We just packed our stuff (2 large backbags and 2 small), we checked in for the first flight to London. The adventure, here we come...

-Maija