Recuperating in San Blas!

Recuperating in San Blas!

Arriving in the San Blas islands was a very fortunate adventure. With no reservation I showed up at the Air Panama Airport and forcefully convinced the staff that I needed to be on this plane - it worked.
As soon as we cleared the mainland of Panama the skies cleared and the sun exposed the most beautiful paradise of endless islands covered with white sandy beaches and coconut palms. Was this for real? After landing on the shortest landing strip I have ever seen, taking up the entire length of the island, we were taken by boat to a small island with just a few bamboo huts, which is where we would spend the next 3 days in complete relaxation mode! A fresh and exotic breakfast was prepared for us before we went on a 20 minute boat ride to our own desert island where we would hang out on pristine white sandy beaches for part of the day. Relaxing on the beach, some snorkeling on the reef and just taking in this incredible "Robinson Crusoe" scenery is all we would do. Must be the the closest thing to paradise! Back at my bamboo hut sitting on stilts over the ocean I would find the time for an afternoon nap in the appropriately arranged hammock. After a delicious lunch consisting of the catch of the day and whatever else nature could provide we went on a tour to the Kuna Village on another island. This proved to be a very educating experience and a great insight to how this Indian culture has managed to survive through millenniums. The end of this first and perfect day in San Blas has been overwhelming with new impressions and proved to supersede any expectations one might have had - and after reading the feedback from other travelers mine were high! Truly an incredible experience. While laying here in my bamboo hut listening to the soothing sound of the waves crashing, my eyelids are getting heavy after a very content day in what must be paradise! Time to call it a day.

There's about 400 of these uninhabited "Bounty Islands" with very limited access. Flying over some of them gave us a preview of what to expect!

So that I can find this incredible place again! Yandup Island Lodge got the highest ratings on Trip Advisor and more than lived up to it!

My Bamboo hut sitting on stilts on the ocean. Very comfortable accommodations. No need forwindows or mosquito nets!

Our desert island for the day where you could walk around the entire island in 20 minutes. Only covered by white sandy beaches and coconutpalm trees.

Different side of the same picturesque island.

The bamboo hut from the outside. As Organic as they come!

Just hanging with a friend in the hammock at sunset!

The Kuna Indians who run this island community prepared our food and agreed to one photo op!

Vegetable appetizer before lunch. Purely organic as well! Lunch and dinner are based on the catch of the day. Too bad I don't eat sea food! The chef went to one of the neighboring islands to get me a chicken! Of course organic as well!

Looking back towards the mainland of the Panamanian deep jungle the rain approaches and creates a unique light as the islands are covered in sun.

Me drenched in sun!

Chilling after a "tough" day at the beach. Sipping some of Nature's Electrolytes!

Looks like we might get some rain after all - but nope we got to enjoy the sun all day!

After a long day filled with new images I am once again in my hammock, watching the moon appear behind the clouds, leaving reflections in the peaceful ocean. What an incredible day, in truly one of the most precious places on Earth.


Tomorrow I go back to see my friends in the more civilized world of Panama City and another adventure awaits for the weekend.

Puerto Vallarta & Punta Mita

Puerto Vallarta & Punta Mita

After an easy flight of only 2 1/2 hours from LAX we arrived in Puerto Vallarta in the afternoon ready to take in the exciting Mexican Riviera. Because of the time of year being right before the rainy season the humidity was extremely high at 80% and with the temparature at 90F (33C) it was very hot indeed. But coming from a cold and foggy May in Santa Barbara this was quite welcome.

After checking in we went to our condo on the 8th floor where we were quite impressed. Not only the condo itself was very nice but the views from our large balcony was panoramic of the entire bay of Puerto Vallarta. Quite the first impression this city had already given us and we were anxious to see what more was waiting for us to explore. So on we went for some cocktails and evening entertainment on the rooftop of one of the local hotels. As we watched the sun going down over the Pacific we knew this would be one of those VERY long nights as we learned that this city has endless offers of nightlife! We were so lucky that one of the entertainers from the rooftop took us out to his favorite Mexican restaurant El Brujo before showing us the nightlife in Vallarta - Cuban style!

Much of the next couple of days were spent exploring the streets, shops and the beach of Vallarta, as the locals call it. And the evenings were spent at that same rooftop with it's wonderful views and cocktails.

It got to feel so "homy" that the staff would call us by name. And the same could be said about the night clubs which kept us busy until a couple of house before sunrise.

As much as we had fallen in love with Vallarta and it's many attractions we were still left short of breath when we arrived at our next destination, Punta Mita just about 1 hour north. Even though the ride in a local bus (we thought $120 charged by the Four Season shuttle was just to pricy compared to the cost of the local bus at $4) was a bit rough it was certainly an experience! Punta Mita is like a small protected paradise. The local bus dropped us off at the gate to this little enclave as it was not allowed inside. From here we were shuttled in to the Four Seasons where we were welcomed with luxury. First of all we were given a cool towell for the face along with bottled water. Then the staff gave us a tour of the property in a golf cart and I have to admit that even with my extensive travelling this was truly impressive.

Ready to indulge on some delicious Mexican lunch while overlooking the crystal clear ocean and white sand beaches.

Our Own little Paradise!

From the infinity pool with a drop above the ocean to the open style lobby with "palapa" roof, which is a roof made from woven palm leaves not to mention the 7 miles of pristine, untouched white sand beach.

Lounging on this pristine beach!

Another great vacation must come to an end!

Time to plan the next one!

Road trip with the Parents

Road Trip with the Parents

Route 66. Daddy watching his "Dream Car".

On our way down to the trail an elk was having his breakfast.

Having walked about a half hour into the Grand Canyon this is the incredible view.

Mules wating for us to pass.

Marianne hiking into the Canyon.

Taking in the incredible view in Zion National Park.

Cruising through Monument Valley.

Looking for a place to eat in this Mekka of restaurants and hotels called Las Vegas.

The fountain at Bellagio was dancing to the tunes of "My heart will go on" by Celine Dion.

Maui '09

Another Birthday Celebration - in Maui

Our trip to Maui was supposed to be my birthday celebration but lucky for me I got to have both an incredible birthday party as well as a birthday vacation. And I wouldn't have missed any of them.

After landing in Maui we spent one night in a small Inn in Kuau, close to the small town of Paia. A taste of the true Hawaii and close to the infamous Mama's Fish House. An incredible Restaurant not to be missed just before you enter the rainforest on the Road to Hana. The inn was very basic and with an outdoor shower under the open sky surrounded by the tropical lushness and very sweet air you were immediately in tune with the authentic Hawaii. It was indeed a sharp contrast to our other very exclusive hotel stays but at the same time it was a very nice introduction to the Hawaii lifestyle.

As we headed through the rainforest towards Hana the Hawaii experience became more intense.

Hana has often been named one of the most remote spots on Earth as it is located on an island with 2,500 miles of water to the nearest land mass and is just about the most far removed and difficult spots in Hawaii to reach.

Driving though the dense rainforest for almost 3 hours this becomes evident.

With beautiful waterfalls here and there as well as it's numerous switchbacks the Road to Hana completes the experience and is almost like a time capsule taking you back in time.

The beautiful flora with it's incredible colors.

The Road to Hana with single lane bridges and numerous switchbacks.

The locals have food stands, here with local fruits and flowers.

As we arrive in Hana we go straigt to our hotel the Hotel Hana-Maui. We are welcomed with beautiful leis in true Hawaiian style by my distant cousin Leokane.

As the only hotel in this remote location it is far removed from the big resorts and resort areas and the Hana Maui is a spiritual retreat from the pace of the 21st century.

Located on 66 tropically-landscaped acres, it's a very special place for those wishing to take a step back, slow down and rekindle the spirit. We are so fortunate that we get to spend the night in one of the Seaside Cottages, as the name indicates located by the ocean with incredible ocean views.

We almost did not want to leave this beautiful resort and nearly missed our friends at the beach as we also had to stop by one of the local food stands. Another specialty on the Road to Hana where the locals serve delicious home cooked meals out of their front yard.

The local beach of Hamoa.

After a visit to the beach we were invited to a cocktail party at the hotel which later turned into dining and I wascelebrated once again with a home made Hawaiian present wrapped in a very earth friendly wrapping paper, true Hana style. Wish we could do this in Santa Barbara!!

I had a special Hawaiian birthday song by cousin Leokane with special guest performance by Hawaian singer Lee Ann. I was overwhelmed and being on California time still, I am not sure how we lasted till the early morning hours.

The beautiful grounds of the Hotel Hana-Maui. A perfect yoga site in the quiet morning hours, it turned out.

After saying goodbye to our friends we left this very spiritual and remote part of the island and drove back into the present time zone as we approached the Fours Seasons in Wailea.

We were welcomed with name recognition and that you would expect from this kind of a hotel. Our room was like a luxury apartment with all the amenities you can imagine.

Our bathroom the size of most people's living rooms.

Then we headed for the beach but there after we hardly left the resort.

Looking out over the Four Seasons resort with it's prominent gardens.






We had to try all of the resort's amenities including the room service. Not sure if it was worth "every penny".




The lobbies at the hotel were simply immense with live music and hula dance in the evenings.

Overlooking the pool with an outrigger canoe in the middle. The resort offers outrigger canoe lessons among others.

No comment!

Again the incredible flora.

Looking towards the island of Lanai.

Makena Beach.



We will be back!