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