On Oahu
Friday 1/25: Shop, Shangri-La, Ala Wai Canal Runs
Morning run for me along Ala Wai Canal and then yoga in the room. Breakfast at Hideout (oatmeal, eggs, pastry for Mr. E; smoked salmon avocado toast for me). Then some shopping at Ross, Tori Richard, and Quiksilver before getting two Biki bikes to ride to the Honolulu Museum of Art. We had time to peruse two of the contemporary special exhibitions and then checked in for our 1:30pm tour of Shangri-La, the former estate of Doris Duke that showcases her love of Islamic art and culture. I had done this tour during our last trip to Oahu in 2017, but I wanted to share it with Mr. E because I was so impressed by the entire experience. And the repeat visit certainly didn't disappoint!
Due to traffic, our shuttle to and from Shangri-La was a bit delayed, but we still received the full 90-minute tour and then returned to the Museum around 4pm. Too bad we didn't know that it was an "Art After Dark" evening or we might have planned to linger for the activities! Instead, we waited just a bit for the free shuttle back to Waikiki, especially since the rain had started and we didn't want to get caught out either on foot or on Biki.
We stopped at Duke's Market for me to pick up a sorbetto and fruit bowl snack. Then it was Mr. E's turn for a run along Ala Wai Canal while I checked email, blogged, and updated the travel journal. We decided to have dinner at Basalt, one of the eateries in Duke's Market. The food was very tasty, and the kitchen was able to make the scallop dish without onions or garlic for me, but the service was a bit off -- sort of friendly but rather abrupt. Mr. E lingered at the bar for cocktails, and I returned to the room to read and relax.
Saturday 1/26: Market City, Foster Botanical Garden, Hawai'i State Art Museum, Wetsuit
I enjoyed a peaceful lap swim in the hotel pool and then yoga. Breakfast at Hideout again where we shared oatmeal with fruit and an omelette with peppers and mushrooms. Unfortunate issues with the potatoes (onions and garlic despite our reminder to the server -- *sigh*).
We headed off around 10am for a Biki ride to Market City Shopping Center. We'd read about a Chinese New Year celebration at the site, but we were apparently two late for the firecrackers and only stayed for a bit to watch some of the lion dancing. Then back on the Biki bikes for a longer ride to Chinatown near downtown Honolulu to visit the Foster Botanical Garden. Lots of wind today, but the cooler temps and partial cloud cover were very welcome during our multiple Biki rides.
The stroll around the Garden was lovely cooling. We saw some interesting and large trees as well as butterflies and interesting flowers in the Conservatory. Lunch at Zippy's right across the street. Our first attempt to purchase swag for the Year of the Pig (Boar) had been unsuccessful due to a language barrier and inflexible cash-only negotiating, so we were very pleased to spot a small flower shop off of Beretania Street that had several decorations and a much easier transaction process.
As Mr. E waited to complete the purchase, I headed a block away to the (free) Hawai'i State Art Museum. Wonderful! One exhibition highlighted recent acquisitions to the collection, and the other showcased a variety of works from across the decades that showed how artists respond(ed) to and portray(ed) the changes that have happened in and on and to the islands. The collection includes both 2D and 3D artwork, which was an interesting variety and provided some great photo opportunities.
Mr. E joined me eventually, and we perused the outdoor sculpture garden together to finish up our visit. We also learned that Hawai'i was the first state to pass legislation requiring public art and setting aside funds for it back in the late 60s.
We took a final Biki ride back to the hotel, where I showered and relaxed while Mr. E went for a short workout. Around 6pm, we left to try to catch the sunset from the Top of Waikiki, but the restaurant was too busy even at the bar, so instead we ended up on the public beach near the Royal Hawai'ian Hotel (along with lots of other folks).
Then we set off on a quest to find a wetsuit for me to help stay warm during our snorkel cruise tomorrow. Success with a Roxy long-sleeved shortie front-zip version at Quiksilver -- yay! We had drinks and snacks at Hideout and then procured additional food at Duke's Market (yes, there's a pattern emerging here...) to bring back to the room. Jaws 2 was playing on TV, so of course that was a perfect background for our in-room picnic!
Morning run for me along Ala Wai Canal and then yoga in the room. Breakfast at Hideout (oatmeal, eggs, pastry for Mr. E; smoked salmon avocado toast for me). Then some shopping at Ross, Tori Richard, and Quiksilver before getting two Biki bikes to ride to the Honolulu Museum of Art. We had time to peruse two of the contemporary special exhibitions and then checked in for our 1:30pm tour of Shangri-La, the former estate of Doris Duke that showcases her love of Islamic art and culture. I had done this tour during our last trip to Oahu in 2017, but I wanted to share it with Mr. E because I was so impressed by the entire experience. And the repeat visit certainly didn't disappoint!
Due to traffic, our shuttle to and from Shangri-La was a bit delayed, but we still received the full 90-minute tour and then returned to the Museum around 4pm. Too bad we didn't know that it was an "Art After Dark" evening or we might have planned to linger for the activities! Instead, we waited just a bit for the free shuttle back to Waikiki, especially since the rain had started and we didn't want to get caught out either on foot or on Biki.
We stopped at Duke's Market for me to pick up a sorbetto and fruit bowl snack. Then it was Mr. E's turn for a run along Ala Wai Canal while I checked email, blogged, and updated the travel journal. We decided to have dinner at Basalt, one of the eateries in Duke's Market. The food was very tasty, and the kitchen was able to make the scallop dish without onions or garlic for me, but the service was a bit off -- sort of friendly but rather abrupt. Mr. E lingered at the bar for cocktails, and I returned to the room to read and relax.
Saturday 1/26: Market City, Foster Botanical Garden, Hawai'i State Art Museum, Wetsuit
I enjoyed a peaceful lap swim in the hotel pool and then yoga. Breakfast at Hideout again where we shared oatmeal with fruit and an omelette with peppers and mushrooms. Unfortunate issues with the potatoes (onions and garlic despite our reminder to the server -- *sigh*).
We headed off around 10am for a Biki ride to Market City Shopping Center. We'd read about a Chinese New Year celebration at the site, but we were apparently two late for the firecrackers and only stayed for a bit to watch some of the lion dancing. Then back on the Biki bikes for a longer ride to Chinatown near downtown Honolulu to visit the Foster Botanical Garden. Lots of wind today, but the cooler temps and partial cloud cover were very welcome during our multiple Biki rides.
The stroll around the Garden was lovely cooling. We saw some interesting and large trees as well as butterflies and interesting flowers in the Conservatory. Lunch at Zippy's right across the street. Our first attempt to purchase swag for the Year of the Pig (Boar) had been unsuccessful due to a language barrier and inflexible cash-only negotiating, so we were very pleased to spot a small flower shop off of Beretania Street that had several decorations and a much easier transaction process.
As Mr. E waited to complete the purchase, I headed a block away to the (free) Hawai'i State Art Museum. Wonderful! One exhibition highlighted recent acquisitions to the collection, and the other showcased a variety of works from across the decades that showed how artists respond(ed) to and portray(ed) the changes that have happened in and on and to the islands. The collection includes both 2D and 3D artwork, which was an interesting variety and provided some great photo opportunities.
Mr. E joined me eventually, and we perused the outdoor sculpture garden together to finish up our visit. We also learned that Hawai'i was the first state to pass legislation requiring public art and setting aside funds for it back in the late 60s.
We took a final Biki ride back to the hotel, where I showered and relaxed while Mr. E went for a short workout. Around 6pm, we left to try to catch the sunset from the Top of Waikiki, but the restaurant was too busy even at the bar, so instead we ended up on the public beach near the Royal Hawai'ian Hotel (along with lots of other folks).
Then we set off on a quest to find a wetsuit for me to help stay warm during our snorkel cruise tomorrow. Success with a Roxy long-sleeved shortie front-zip version at Quiksilver -- yay! We had drinks and snacks at Hideout and then procured additional food at Duke's Market (yes, there's a pattern emerging here...) to bring back to the room. Jaws 2 was playing on TV, so of course that was a perfect background for our in-room picnic!
posted by jms | 7:57 PM
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