Molokai, Hawaii, USA

A week of relaxtion, swimming on a deserted beach and consuming a stupid amount of Pina Coladas.

Molokai is a small, rural and relatively untouched island compared the the rest of the inhabited islands of Hawaii. Only one hotel on the island and no traffic lights - it was just amazing.

The people we encountered we all very lovely and friendly. So welcoming to us "Haoles". Lots of signs up protesting against any more development on the island, which I thought might indicate that they were not too happy with tourists, but we had the best time and only experienced the "Aloha" of the islands with all our encounters.

Our hotel was exactly what I would have hoped it to be (and a little noiser than expected). The bar/restaurant and pool were all by the oceanfront of the property. They had local entertainment every night. Relaxing and lovely time with loads of food and the best Pina Coladas we had during the whole trip.

Loved spending some quality time with mum and my twin.

Mum having a fun time in the Hula Shores Restaurant

Performers at the Germaine Luau in Honolulu

View of Kalaupapa from the lookout

View of the south east side of Molokai from the plane tour

The sacred site and rock formation called Phallic Rock - A site for...you guessed it fertility!

My twin, Amanda enjoying a Mangorita


Murphey's beach on Molokai

Watching the sunset at Hula Shores restaurant (our hotel)

The aforementioned sunset

The rooms of the hotel Molokai

Spiegeltent and Paul Capsis

The Spiegeltent is exactly what I wanted it to be.

Embued with the charm of theatre, burlesque and vaudeville mixed up into a cute venue with severly overpriced drinks.

We arrived early to make use of the tram bar, both of us bemoaning the fact that you can't easily get croque monsieur in Melbourne, we instead nibbled on a ham tomato cheese toastie from the Art Centre cafe while drinking our pre-show beer and wine.

These are the nights that remind me why I moved state and fell in love with this small and sometimes pretentious city.

Cheese cheese & more cheese

Another Melbourne Wine and Food Festival event!

King Island Dairy got together with Libertine restaurant and put on a night of decadence for the cheese lover.

There was a black label cheese tasting hosted by the "cheese whisperer" from King Island Diary Mr Ueli Berger, followed by a 5 course dinner with cheese as the 'hero' matched with wines from Stonier.

Some very nice cheese and meals were eaten. I am slowly developing an appreciation for that MOULDY stuff. I think my future mother-in-law is happy about that and perhaps will like me more if I do end up liking the stuff :)

The Geek and I are engaged!

Spain vs Victoria

My Christmas present from GB was the Spain vs Victoria event of the Melbourne Wine and Food Festival.
It was a tasting of Spanish Vino, Jamon and queso pitted against Victorian wine, ham and cheese.

The Swedish Chef and the Korean Sommelier put all their passion and enthusiasm into the night and made it a fun and interesting experience. It was a fantastic night.

Superbikes 2011

The World Superbikes were on at Phillip Island this weekend....and I went! This meant I got to see Checa win both races, I got to see my best friend for the first time in over 2 years AND we both got to ride in a a helicopter for the first time ever.

As weekends go, you will be hard pressed to beat something like that.

Phillip Island is such a great track. The riders like it and the spectators are afforded views like no other:



I loved our helicopter ride. Thrilling. Looking forward to the next time I can do it. Even looked up how much it would be to get my licence today ($20 - 45k waaah *sadface*)



The weekend was nicely ended with a dinner with GB at our favourite Tapas bar Lulo.

#51 Go to the Moonlight Cinema

WOOHOOO! Another one finally struck off the list.

I have been wanting to do this one for quite some time.....9 years in fact. I took GB to watch the Rocky Horror Picture Show. I love this movie. Tim Curry is so damn fantastic in this movie - I can never imagine anyone else playing the role of Frank N Furter.

It's not easy having a good time! Even smiling makes my face ache!

I would like, if I may, to take you on a strange journey......

With Gold Grass tickets, some lovely noms and our lovely selves we hit the grass in the Botanical Gardens with an enthusisam beyond a simple movie excursion as we were rocking the Moonlight Cinema to cross something off my list and also to rectify the disgraceful fact that GB nor L & M had EVER seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Lots of fun ensued and GB even got to see the majority of the movie before succumbing to naps on the bean bag. I loved it when people clapped when Time Warp was sung and when Frank N Furter made his appearance. It was great.

Action

One of my favourite parts of exercising, is seeing how big the sweat mark is on my top afterwards.

I judge my workout on the size and saturation.

It has been a couple of weeks back into the working out again mode after the holiday, Christmas, NY blowout of laziness. What I know for sure is that exercising and eating properly help my mood swings and my head be not so messed up. I am really starting to enjoy jogging. I like the rhythm.

Not just an old womans scent!

In a place called Nar Nar Goon there is such a property that combines five star luxury accommodation, a lavender farm, a cafe/shop........and a pet cemetery. It is called Serendipity Lavender Farm.


Off a winding dirt road, up a drive lined with agapanthus in bloom, we pulled into the empty parking lot. I figured that since it was 40 degrees that not many people were up for tip-toeing through the lavender. And we were certainly not. We managed to drag our sweating bottoms into the cafe/shop and that is where the tour of the farm ended.

But this is what made the journey worthwhile. Lavender scones freshly baked served with homemade comquat and crabapple jam with Gippsland cream. Yum.