backpackersdiary

[backpackersdiary]

Faith is a house with many rooms #jerusalem #westernwall #israel #palestine #religion #culture #love #faith #peace #travel #backpacking #wanderlust #globetrotter #explore #trust #happy #lucky #style #hippie #girlwhotravels #see #understand #jewish (at הכותל המערבי - Western Wall)

#explore #peace #jewish #love #palestine #hippie #backpacking #understand #wanderlust #faith #lucky #style #see #religion #israel #trust #girlwhotravels #jerusalem #westernwall #globetrotter #travel #culture #happy

[backpackersdiary]

I’m exactly where i’m suppose to be. On the right path. Never felt this happy and satisfied before. “We don’t realize that, somewhere within us all, there does exist a supreme self who is eternally at peace.” —Elizabeth Gilbert #negev #desert #ramoncrater #israel #travel #wanderlust #journey #path #globetrotters #backpacking #explore #theworld #peaceofmind #peace #love #hippie #reisen #love #happy #shetravels #sunset #eatpraylove #adventure (at Negev Desert, Israel)

#desert #israel #sunset #happy #peace #shetravels #adventure #travel #path #reisen #eatpraylove #theworld #explore #ramoncrater #love #backpacking #journey #wanderlust #hippie #globetrotters #negev #peaceofmind

[backpackersdiary]

Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony. #zurich #lakezurich #switzerland #wonderland #lake #travel #wanderlust #free #bird #alps #mountainview #explore #happy #autumn #lucky #romantic #dreaming #backpacking #journey #adventure (at Zürichsee)

#autumn #bird #alps #dreaming #journey #happy #zurich #adventure #wanderlust #wonderland #free #explore #lake #travel #romantic #lucky #backpacking #lakezurich #mountainview #switzerland

[backpackersdiary]

If you really want something. Go and get it. #haleakala #volcano #maui #hawaii #travel #wanderlust #wanderluster #globetrotter #journey #backpack #backpacking #hiking #crater #pacific #island #moana #bluesky #adventure #explore #wild (at Haleakala National Park)

#backpacking #bluesky #island #journey #hawaii #crater #hiking #backpack #pacific #moana #haleakala #wanderlust #globetrotter #adventure #wild #explore #maui #travel #volcano #wanderluster

[backpackersdiary]

Costa Rica 10.05 - 01.06.2017

Susi and I decided to catch the slower but cheaper public Transport to cross the border and head to “La Fortuna” Costa Rica. And it was easier as we thought. First we took a Shuttle from the Hotel to San Juan del Sur and then from there we could make a very good deal with a taxi driver because we had some time pressure and saved about 2 hours this way. It only took us about 1 hour to cross the border and the customs. From there we could easily take a local bus driving us to “Liberia” where we had to take another bus to “Cañas” and from there we changed to a bus to “Tilarán” where we finally could grab a very cheap and delicious “tico” lunch only to hop on our final bus for that day to ‘La Fortuna”. I think that last drive through the hilly side of Costa Rica left me in awe. I felt like I found myself in “Jurassic Park” again and only waited to see something big jumping out the wet Jungle. After about two hours of driving, the majestic “Volcán Arenal” finally showed himself in its most beautiful side just decovering from the mist and rainy clouds. Situated at the edge of a man-made lake “Volcán Arenal” may be a sleeping Giant but plenty of adventures awaits you here. First thing we did was booking a hiking Tour for the next day before checking out our lovely “Howler Monkey Hostel” which was found up the road about 10 min drive away from the village and surrounded by the jungle! My favorite place in whole Costa Rica.

The next morning, we got picked up by the awesome hiking guide “David” who took us to the first base of the volcano and from where we started our little hike. I really enjoyed walking through the jungle even when it was raining cats and dogs. Visiting a little pond, I could see my first little “blue Jeans” frog and also plenty of the famous “Red eyed tree Frog”. After that very wet hike we went to have a dip in a “wild” hot spring which was the perfect end to our little tour. Later that day we went out to get some Pizza’s with David.

Our next adventure was a bit more turbulent as the hike. Again, we got picked up early in the morning by a bus from “Arenal Rafting”. It took us to the “Toro River” just 15km away from La Fortuna where our Class 4 White River Rafting began. Packed with adrenalin and scare we got washed away by waves and rapids within the Costa Rican Jungle. We stopped along the way for a little fruit break before the adventure continued. Our Guide even thought we are fit enough for a surprise roll over!! I will never forget that moment of panic! But after all I really enjoyed that day. On our last day we hiked all the way to the “Fortuna River” and the spectacular Waterfall. It was nice cooling down from the hike and get some nice photos. We then took a bus/ferry/bus to Monte Verde.

The tiny Monteverde has its name from the just next door “Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve”. It is a lot cooler up here than at the coast of Costa Rica and I found myself wearing a hoodie and some long pants since a long while. There are trails to hike, birds to spot and adventures to be had everywhere you turn. We bravely signed in for at “Monteverde Extremo Park” for Zip lining. Everyone who knows me knows that I am super afraid of heights! Although, it was a great experience to see the Jungle from the perspective of a bird. The next day we went to the Reserve for doing the very famous “Bridge Walk”. For the night we planned a 2 hour long “Night walk” to explore the jungle and its animals most vivid moments. And we were very lucky, we could spot our first wild “Sloth”!

I really enjoyed travelling with Susi but that was our last stop together as she was heading to South America. I still smile thinking back of everything we experienced together! Thank you Susi for being such a wonderful Travel companion. After saying our goodbyes early morning, I caught the bus slowly driving downhill to Puntarenas and the heat of the Costa Rican Sun finally had me back! The next bus took me all the way to Manuel Antonio.

I convinced myself that it was a brilliant idea to stay for a whole week at the brand-new and resort like Hipster Hostel “Selinas” on top of a hill just a short drive to the entrance of the smallest but most popular national park “Manuel Antonio”. And I wasn’t disappointed at all when I spotted the big Pool on the roof and enjoyed the picturesque view down to the lagoon! As this was my second last week I started to slow down and relax more and more. But a good hike shouldn’t be missed so I went with 2 other people from the hostel to explore the national Park and I am glad we did it! Besides of seeing wild Howler Monkeys and other kinds of Monkeys we could also spot some Sloths and even a Racoon. Another day I’ve met with a friend from Basel who lived in MA for a couple of months. To soon I had to pack my bag again and leave great friends and head back to San Jose for a one night Stop over before arriving in Puerto Viejo back on the East Coast and the Caribbean Sea.

This little Caribbean seaside settlement is more or less a sweet party town with many tourist activities: street vendors ply Rasta trinkets and Bob Marley T-Shirts, stylish eateries serve global fusion everything and intentionally rustic bamboo bars pump Dancehall and Reggaetón. Despite that reputation, Puerto Viejo nonetheless manages to hold on to an easy charm. Straying a couple of block off the main commercial strip I found myself a nice a calm little Hostel “Playa 506”. Spending most of the days at the beach trying to get a nice tan before my final flight back home I also walked to the nearby “Jaguar Recue Centre”. Named in honor of its original resident, this well-run wildlife-rescue center in Playa Chiquita now focuses mostly on other animals, including raptors, sloths and monkeys. Founded by a zoologist and a herpetologist, the center rehabilitates orphaned, injured and rescued animals for reintroduction into the wild whenever possible. The next day I headed north for my last hike in a national Park.

The small but beautiful national Park “Cahuita” is one of the more frequently visited national parks in Costa Rica. The reasons are simple: a wonderful white-sand beach, coral reef and a coastal rainforest are bursting with wildlife. I walked about one hour in the bush along the coast without seeing any other guests so started to feel worried because of wild snakes. And just when I wanted to turn around and head back to the entrance I’ve met the Australian hiking addict Rob and I was glad to notice that I wasn’t the only one getting nervous all alone – so we had a silent agreement to walk together. We even spotted 4 of the 5 national and venomous snakes of Costa Rica. It was really nice to have someone like Rob as a hiking buddy for my last hike. Before leaving the park we had a nice little cool down in the Sea and I was sad that our meeting was only half a day. Rob was continuing his trip the next morning to Panama.

After one week of living on the beach, I left the seaside for good and drove my third and last time back to San Jose. Before coming home, I spent 2 nights in my favorite Hostel and went shopping on my last day in Paradise. Costa Rica left me in awe and I am more than looking forward to come back to this Wonderland.

[backpackersdiary]

Nicaragua 27.04 - 10.05.2017

Because it might be dangerous to take the bus from Mexico to Nicaragua (crossing El Salvador and Honduras) I decided to catch the much shorter flight. Unfortunately, as there is no direct flight to Nicaragua I had to stop over in San Jose, Costa Rica but this was perfect to catch up with my new German Friend Susi who I have met in Cancun 2 weeks before. And because we got along so well we headed to Nicaragua together the next day.

We took a morning Bus to Rivas, Nicaragua with “Tica Bus” which was awesome as we even had our own WIFI until the border. I was really happy with that company as everything is looked after and you just have to sit back and enjoy the ride. Although, I would recommend to cross the border to Nicaragua by yourself as the “Tica Bus” charges you an extra fee.

Nicaragua offers so many things such as volcanic landscapes; colonial architecture, sensational beaches and pristine forests that range from breathtaking to downright incredible.

Susi and I stayed one night in a little guesthouse in San Jorge – a good spot to cross over to Isla de Ometepe our first big destination. Ometepe never fails to impress. Its twin volcanic peaks, rising up out of Lago de Nicaragua, have captured the imagination of everyone from precolonial Aztecs (who thought they’d found the promised land) to Mark Twain. The island’s fertile volcanic soil, clean waters, wide beaches, wildlife population, archeological sites makes it a perfect place to explore. After arriving at our Hostel we went straight to the lovely beach of the lake and enjoyed the impressive sunset with the Twin Peaks in the back. Lucky me- I got a very bad food poisoning during the first night and I was pretty much locked inside a hot cabin without Air Con. Well at least Susi and I shared our own room and I didn’t have to share the bathroom with 10 other people. After the second night I felt a little bit better and we and 2 other girls organized a private taxi to explore the Island. We ended up going to a Butterfly House and later enjoyed swimming in a really nice cool swimming hole “Ojo de Agua”.

The next morning, we took the ferry back to San Jorge and got picked up by a private driver who drove us to Granada – what a lazy way to travel but also nice once in a while… We arrived in Granada and I fell in love with its colorful houses and little designer cafes and restaurants. Granada drips with photogenic elegance, a picture postcard at every turn. We were spending the rest of the day bopping along cobblestone roads from church to church in the city center, wandering around and ended our day in a nice bar! The next day we took a taxi to drive to the “Reserva Natural Laguna de Apoyo”. Set in a picturesque valley brimming with wildlife, the lovely Apoyo crater lake is another on of Nicaragua’s many natural wonders. Dry tropical rainforests along the surrounding slopes contains much biodiversity, including howler monkeys and many species of bats. But the real attraction is the pristine water of the lagoon, a massive, mineral-infused pool that is without doubt the best swim in the country!

We continued our adventure on a Chicken Bus to the north west Part of Nicaragua. Intensely political, buzzing with energy and, at times, drop-dead gorgeous (in cumbling, colonial kidn of way). León is what Managua should be – a city of awe-inspiring churches, fabulous art collections, stunning streetscapes, cosmopolitan eateries, fiery intellectualism, and all-week, walk-everywhere, happening nightlife. I fell in love with Granada, but left my heart in romantic León.

Chicken Bus it was again which took us to the revolutionary town Estelí. It’s surrounded by beautiful Hills set on the Pan-American Highway close to the Honduras border. We used this place as a base to go to the Somoto Canyon. The idea of swimming a river exploring the caves and canyons that the water forms on its way down sounded too good to miss this travel adventure. We decided to go on a guided Tour with “Somoto Canyon Tours”. With the particular aim of working with a group of young people in the local communities surrounding the canyon they set about the training and development of local guides to provide them with regular employment above and beyond the subsistence farming many rely on to support their families.

They provided 2 guides, swim vests and shoes (so that our own didn’t get wet). We booked the 6 Hour "Long" Grand Adventure Tour, and we got what was promised! Jumping down cliffs, swimming, body rafting and a lot of adrenalin and a sore body.

Because we like Granada so much we went back for another night and enjoyed the buzzing nightlife. The next day we moved on to our last stop in Nicarague and back close to the border to Costa Rica. Easygoing San Juan del Sur is the hub for exploration of Nicaragua’s toned-and-tanned southern Pacific beaches. As we didn’t want to stay in a Party town we chose to treat us a little bit by booking 2 nights in a nice Resort located at Playa Maderas – a good-time-vibes backpacker and surfer hangout with a great beach.

[backpackersdiary]

Yucatan Penisula Mexico : Cancun, Merida and Tulum 16.04-24.04.2017

After having such a great time in Mexico City with my friends, I was more than excited to see the rest of this amazing country. I caught a cheap flight with „volaris air“ to famous Cancun which is located in the Yucatan Peninsula. Cancun is a tale of two cities. There’s the glitzy hotel zone with ist famous white-sand beaches, unabashed party scene and sophisticated seafood restaurants. Then there’s the actual city itself, which gives you a taste of local flavor at, say, a neighborhood taco joint or a nearby, undeveloped beach. As for me – this is one of my least favorite places I’ve visited during my travels, as its just packed with tourists! Besides of the stunning Caribbean coast the only good thing about Cancun is that it is a cheap way to fly to the Yucatan. I only used it for a Stop-over to reach the rest of the Peninsula. However, I’ve stayed two nights at the new established Hostel “la morena” and met some great people within the first 10 minutes. We decided to escape this busy place the next day and took a ferry to the nearby island “ isla Mujeres”. As much as I want to lose a good word about this island – it is very difficult to forget about the millions and millions of other tourists.

I was more than happy to leave Cancun behind and took a bus to Merida which has been the cultural capital city of the Yucatan since the Spanish conquest. Besides of being a beautiful little (and also touristy) town with its colorful houses and museums – it’s also a good place to start some tours going to the Maya ruins of “Uxmal”. I booked a full day tour and I was really satisfied. My tour included a visit to the “cenota cembula” a beautiful waterhole – the ruins of Kabah, the famous ruins of “Uxmal” and we ended the tour with a nice walk around in the chocolate museum which surprisingly was not only a tourist trap but a very interesting “live” museum with music and actors.

Next stop was Tulum. With its spectacular coastline – with all its white sugar sands, jade-green water and balmy breezes – makes Tulum one of the top beaches in Mexico. Where else can you get all that AND a dramatically situated Maya ruin? There’s also excellent cave and cavern diving, fun cenotes and a variety of lodging s and restaurants to fit every budget. The city Centre looks like a truck stop situated next to the high way but is more like the Chiang Mai of Mexico with its Hippie like Hostels and Atmosphere. And that’s why I liked it so much! The ruins of Tulum preside over a rugged coastline, a strip of brilliant beach and green and turquoise waters that’ll leave you floored. It’s true the extents and structures are of a modest scale and the late post-Classic design is inferior to those of earlier, more grandiose projects – but, wow, those Maya occupants must have felt pretty smug ach sunrise.

After returning to Cancun for another night I went out for one last Mexican dinner with a German traveler I’ve met in the Bus. I must say, that the Busses and the public transport of Mexico is pretty good if not even better than in Europe – It was super easy to travel around as a female solo Backpacker and I always felt save.

[backpackersdiary]

Coming home. #passport #stamps #ontheroad #cominghome #vacation #wanderlust #travel #backpacking #journey #explore #adventure #lifegoals #travelgoals #passportgoals #breathofthewild #wild #flighthome #switzerland (at Juan Santamaría International Airport)

#passport #wanderlust #flighthome #adventure #passportgoals #travel #explore #breathofthewild #switzerland #wild #backpacking #lifegoals #travelgoals #vacation #ontheroad #stamps #cominghome #journey

[backpackersdiary]

This is it. Tomorrow at 7am i am going to board the first flight out of three that brings me home to switzerland... Reflecting this adventurous year brings tears in my eyes and i want to take this moment to say a big THANK YOU to all the wonderful people who crossed my way! you will always have a home in switzerland! #costarica #puertoviejo #centralamerica #latinamerica #wanderlust #travel #journey #backpacking #explore #adventure #beware #coconut #beach #palmtrees #happy #cominghome #switzerland #ontheroad #vacation

#costarica #travel #journey #beach #adventure #palmtrees #vacation #wanderlust #backpacking #cominghome #switzerland #coconut #beware #puertoviejo #happy #explore #centralamerica #ontheroad #latinamerica

[backpackersdiary]

Enjoying my last day at the beach! i'm gonna miss my tanned body!! 🐠🌴☀️💃#puertoviejo #costarica #latinamerica #centralamerica #wanderlust #travel #explore #adventure #backpacking #fitgirls #tannedskin #tanning #relax #beach #sea #sand #love #happy #enjoying #sun #beachbody #beachbum (at Puerto Viejo, Caribbean Sea, Costa Rica)

#travel #puertoviejo #happy #sea #love #tannedskin #wanderlust #centralamerica #latinamerica #enjoying #sand #sun #beach #costarica #tanning #adventure #backpacking #beachbody #explore #fitgirls #relax #beachbum

[backpackersdiary]

Mexico City  10.04-16.04.2017

I’m all about surprises, but this time 2 Mexicans really managed to surprise me! After a long and exhausting flight from Hawaii to Mexico City my two good friends Eduardo and Mauricio who I have met in Japan back in July 2016, picked me up from the Airport and I didn’t know they would! They packed me in a car and drove me to their apartment, where they prepared a room for just myself! How nice to have some privacy again after so long – I almost forgot how this feels! After a delicious home cooked meal from Eduardo I had a long nap and appreciated a real bed. When I woke up we had one more guest from Japan and I loved her the minute I’ve met her! Mizuho is the Japanese teacher and also a very good friend of Eduardo. The 4 of us went for a very good Mexican dinner and I couldn’t believe how good my first day in Central America was!

The next day, Mauricio took me on a Sight Seeing tour through Mexico City and we didn’t miss a thing! We started off with the eye-catching “Castelo de Chapultepec”. We enjoyed a short walk to reach the Castle, which was the imperial palace of Maximilian of Habsburg and the presidential residence during the 19th century. Today it houses the National History Museum and is the home to the Siqueiros, Orozco, O´Gorman and Gonzalez Camarena’s murals. One of my favorite sight is the Socallo Cathedral which is located at the historic heart of Mexico City overlooking the Zócalo, more properly called Plaza de la Constitución, which has marked the city center since it was founded in 1325. We participated a walking tour which took us to the top of the cathedral! Wow walking around on the roof of Socallo Cathedral is breath-taking! We then took the subway to the “monument a la revolucion”. The star attraction of the monument is the 65m-high observation deck, accessed by a glass elevator. The vertigo-inducing lift opens to a spiraling staircase that ascends to a wide terrace with a panoramic view of the city.

Underlying the plaza and monument, the recently spruced-up Museo Nacional de la Revolución covers a 63-year period, from the implementation of the constitution guaranteeing human rights in 1857 to the installation of the post-revolutionary government in 1920. After a long day of sightseeing we went back home to pick up hard working Eduardo for some delicious Tacos around the corner.

One of the days Eduardo, Mauricio and Mizuho took me to the holy city of Teotihuacan ('the place where the gods were created') which is situated some 50 km north-east of Mexico City. Built between the 1st and 7th centuries A.D., it is characterized by the vast size of its monuments – in particular, the Temple of Quetzalcoatl and the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon, laid out on geometric and symbolic principles. As one of the most powerful cultural centres in Mesoamerica, Teotihuacan extended its cultural and artistic influence throughout the region, and even beyond. After walking around the whole morning my favorite Mexicans surprised me again with a delicious lunch in “La Gruta” a Restaurant set in a vast, cool cave.

And as Mexico City is all about food we went to a traditional “Cantina”. The rules are as following: with every alcoholic drink you can order one meal. That means a lot of drinking and a lot of eating too!! No wonder I felt sick the next day after so much food... a day off was needed.

What is not to be missed is the mind blowing “Museo national de antropologia”. This world-class museum stands in an extension of the Bosque de Chapultepec. Its long, rectangular courtyard is surrounded on three sides by two-level display halls. The 12 ground-floor salas(halls) are dedicated to pre-Hispanic Mexico, while upper-level salas show how Mexico’s indigenous descendants live today, with the contemporary cultures located directly above their ancestral civilizations. The vast museum offers more than most people can absorb in a single visit – we spent around 3 hours only on the ground floor. We then went for lunch to “Coyacan” or ‘the place of coyotes,’ in Nahuatle, a relatively quiet neighborhood in central Mexico City. Formerly a rural village, over the years Coyoacán has become a rich pocket of art and history in Mexico’s capital. “Coyoacán” also hosts one of my favorite market places - the “Mercado del artesano”.

On my last day in Mexico City, Eduardo and Mauricio took me to see the “Frida Kahlo” Museum. Unfortunately, there was a huge line as it was still Easter break and we decided to go to the “Palacio Nacional” instead. Inside this grandiose colonial palace you'll see Diego Rivera murals (painted between 1929 and 1951) that depict Mexican civilization from the arrival of Quetzalcóatl (the Aztec plumed serpent god) to the post-revolutionary period. The nine murals covering the north and east walls of the first level above the patio chronicle indigenous life before the Spanish conquest. The Palacio Nacional is also home to the offices of the president of Mexico and the Federal Treasury. We proceeded to walk around the Old city and ended up being in a more “criminal aread”. Of course I was super excited to take picture of this part of the city while Eduardo and Mauricio where concerned and walked like bodyguards next to this blond, western, naïve and happy girl showing around her expensive camera… Lucky me, nothing happened. We walked back to the more safer streets and with the relief we started to feel a little bit hungry and ended up buying delicious sweet treats in the most famous and biggest bakery in Mexico City – I had no idea that places like this exist. This is Food heaven!  

Music is a very important part of Mexican culture and is always part of a celebration, whether big or small. The music of Mexico sings of love, country, passion, history, legend and oppression, among other things. Mariachi music is the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of Mexican music. The term Mariachi is believed to be originated from the French term “mariage” which means marriage, as this music was often played at weddings. The band usually consists of violins, trumpets, a classical guitar and a “vihuela” (a five string guitar). Musicians wear a traditional silver studded “Charro” suit, including a sombrero. Every night the city’s mariachi bands belt out heartfelt ballads in this festive square. They toot their trumpets and tune their guitars until approached by someone who’ll pay for a song. Like we did.

As it was my last night Eduardo and Mauricio took me out for a very special dinner to “las delicias”. During the dinner there was live Ranchero and a dancing group. Ranchera music draws on traditional folklore and its songs are usually about love, patriotism or nature. “El Grito Mexicano” a yell that is done during instrumental interludes either by the musicians or by members of the audience is common in Ranchera music. The word Ranchera was derived from the word “rancho” because the music originated on the ranches of rural Mexico. We ended the night with dancing salsa and lots more laughter.

Thank you Lalo, Mau and Mizuho for making my stay in Mexico City an unforgettable experience. I can’t put in words how much I loved my time with you!

[backpackersdiary]

Today was a good day! floating through the somoto canyon with all its rapids and 5-7m cliff jumps!! Loved every second! 🤙🏼💦 #somotocanyon #nicaragua #honduras #latinamerica #centralamerica #adventure #river #explore #cliffjumping #globetrotter #journey #wanderlust #travel #journey #happy #enjoy (at Cañon de Somoto, Nicaragua)

#journey #somotocanyon #globetrotter #latinamerica #enjoy #river #honduras #explore #nicaragua #happy #adventure #wanderlust #travel #cliffjumping #centralamerica

[backpackersdiary]

"and yet i love you" #granada #cathedral #yellow #nicaragua #centralamerica #latinamerica #colonial #city #color #love #happy #hurt #wanderlust #travel #explore #journey #globetrotter #bluesky #religion #latina

#centralamerica #happy #explore #latina #colonial #granada #yellow #color #love #latinamerica #nicaragua #globetrotter #religion #cathedral #wanderlust #city #travel #hurt #bluesky #journey

[backpackersdiary]

my head is like a jungle- my spirit as wild. my heart is like the sea - my love as deep. #nicaragua #ometepe #island #isla #sunset #waves #sea #lake #lagodenicaragua #backpacking #wanderlust #travel #lifeisgood #volcano #blacksandbeach #photography #sun #love #jungle #wild #breathofthewild (at Isla de Ometepe)

#nicaragua #lagodenicaragua #photography #wanderlust #travel #sea #waves #backpacking #volcano #breathofthewild #wild #blacksandbeach #sun #jungle #love #island #sunset #lake #lifeisgood #isla #ometepe

[backpackersdiary]

Hawaii the Big Island Part III

Erik who I’ve met on Oahu joined me for a little adventurous holiday on Big Island. We spend 4 nights and 5 full days on the Biggest and youngest island of Hawaii.

Remember the four classic elements: wind, water, earth and fire? It’s rare to see all four occurring naturally at once but when they do, creation – of the island itself – quite literally takes place in front of your eyes. And yet, the Big Island, which is as large as the other Hawaiian Islands combined, isn’t just where raw creation occurs. It’s where the fruits of that process are presented in dizzying diversity. Eight of the world’s 13 climate zones exist here, encompassing Martian-like lava deserts, emerald jungle, paradisiacal valleys that front black-, white- and even green-sand beaches, snow-capped mountains, coral forests and an enchanting population of locals, hippies, transplants and more. You can easily laze away your time, but the Big Island really shines for adventures. Its beauty is astounding, and for a little effort you’ll get enormous rewards.

As Erik is just amazing he already rented the car and even picked me up from my Terminal at 7 am. He even managed to get Water and some Food. We then had a quick coffee stop and discussed what we want to see and do. Of course we started off with a “as google maps” would say “short and easy 20 min hike”. And just as people know how “unprepared” I can be sometime I of course didn’t bring enough water and the hike “Captain Cook Monument Trail” was mainly downhill and definitely not just 20 min one way. So the time we were at our destination: A little Bay we realized that the way back is going to be tough and we will run out of water. However, we decided not to think about it and had a nice rest with Erik’s nice and “old” hammock. Speaking of which, I experienced my first backflip hitting the floor stunt and that with Erik together as the fabric burst. I think this was the most hilarious moment from the my trip.

I didn’t want to believe that Big Island was that Big… in 4 days we drove about 900K which is the same distance from my Hometown Basel to Spain!! Most of the time we were looking for good and picturesque places for photography. Erik also serves the U.S Airforce and like Cole also works as a Photographer! Every night we stayed up late for Stars hunting.

One of my favourite places on the whole island was definitely the Hawaii volcanoes and national Park. The first time in my life I got to see actual liquid Lava flowing down the crater and into the see. If each Hawaiian island has a representative element, the Big Island, people will tell you, is defined by fire. Fire, after all, creates and destroys and, most of all, is active. For all that it can be as laid-back as its archipelagic siblings, the Big Island is an active, energetic place, where creation’s drama is played out against the stunning backdrop of a microcontinent. It was just magical to drive over the lava fields with a rented bike with the perfect night sky full of stars watching the lava taking its time to find the sea.

Another highlight was the mighty Mauna Kea. If measured from the sea floor, you are 13,808ft in the air, on top of, technically, the tallest mountain in the world. Massive observatories rise around you, shining silver on the stark terrain, like a human colony on an alien planet. These observatories comprise the greatest collection of telescopes on earth: the summit is above 40% of the earth’s atmosphere and 90% of its water vapour, resulting in many cloudless nights. Be sure to bring long pants, a thick coat, a warm hat and gloves. It gets cold up here. We made it only to the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Centre which is at 9,200ft. If you want to go to the summit you can either book a tour or rent a 4WD. Free public stargazing programs happen from 6pm until 10pm nightly, weather permitting.

Thank you Erik for making my Big Island experience a very unique one.

[backpackersdiary]

Hawaii Maui Part II

As Hawaii is a rather more expensive travel destination, I decided to work in a Guesthouse on Maui in Kihei for 2.5 months. Dominique the owner of the Guesthouse and Anja, a Swiss Girl who worked for him for 6 months, gave me a lift from the Airport and I felt like very welcomed from the first minute. In Kihei I then met Berna, a German Girl who also worked for Dominique. So there we were, 3 Girls and we became good friends from the first day on. While Anja was sleeping in one of the Apartments because she was expecting her good friend from home, Miriam, who came visiting her – Berna and I shared a little very cosy Garden Shack with a nice little Kitchen and a very Hawaiian Outdoor Shower. That was my home for the next 2.5 months.

Maui is located east of Oahu and just next to Hawaii, the Big Island. With its beautiful Beaches and Maui’s most iconic adventures – all of them flanked by once-in-a-lifetime backdrops. Road to Hanna, it is one of the top destinations for Tourists. Along the Road, lofty waterfalls plunge into shimmering pools and a black sand beach and also a red sand beach want to be discovered. Hikers have it darn good too, with trails winding through lava flows, and bamboo forests, Along the coast, surfers barrel through waves, windboarders skim across whitecaps and snorkelers glide besides green turtles.

Berna and I got close very quickly and besides of work we spent a lot of time Hitch Hiking around the Island and explore beaches and adventurous lava hikes. The best thing were the surprises after each hike when we came across a secret lonely black sand beach or a stunning Waterfall at the end of a bamboo forest. We also made it to the National Geography Gallery. When Miriam arrived, the 4 of us also did accomplish the 7-hour long hike through the Haleakala Crater. It wasn’t as easy as we all barely slept during the night and had to get up at 3 am for making it to the top of Haleakala for the Sunrise in time. That mesmerizing sunrise is something everyone has to experience at least once in a lifetime! The Hike was one of the most beautiful hikes I have done so far and with those 4 Girls it was a lot of fun too! Often referred to as the world’s largest dormant volcano, the floor of Haleakala is a colossal 7.5 miles wide, 2.5 miles long and 3000ft deep – nearly as large as Manhattan. In its prime, Haleakala reached a height of 12000ft before water erosion carved out two large river valleys that eventually merged to form Haleakala crater. Technically, as geologists like to point out, it’s not a true “crater”, but to sightseers that’s all nit-picking. Valley or crater, it’s a phenomenal sight like no other in the US national park system.

After a couple of weeks one girl after another left and a new German Girl, Julia, arrived. I also was really lucky with this amazing Person as we got along so well and this time I could even show her around a bit. With her I did the Road to Hanna and the Sunrise on top of Haleakala the second time. We also discovered the Beaches and Bars in Lahaina and enjoyed a Acai Bowl in my favourite Village on the Island: Paia. An eclectic mix of surfers and soul-seekers cluster, also known as Maui’s hippest burg. Once a thriving plantation town of 10000 residents, it declined during the 1950’s when the local sugar mill closed. Then, like some other well-known sugar town, Paia successfully reinvented itself. First came an influx of paradise-seeking hippies attracted by low rents. Next came windsurfers attracted by Ho’okipa Beach. Then came the tourists. Today the town’s aging wooden storefronts, splashed in bright colours, house a broad array of shops facing a constant stream of traffic. It still feels like a dusty outpost at times, but that’s all part of the vibe.

And as time was flying also Julia left again and again a new German Girl, Jacky, came to this Guesthouse. I can’t explain how I kept being this lucky but also with her I spent a wonderful 10 days working and having fun in Maui.

My 2.5 months in Maui was full of surprises, adventures and new friendships who are going to last a lifetime- Thank you to Berna, Anja, Miriam, Julia and Jacky for making my time in Maui so freaking wonderful!!

[backpackersdiary]

Hawaii 20.01-09.04.2017: Oahu

My time in Waikiki Beach on Oahu, Hawaii started not as planned. The Hostel I’ve booked didn’t wait for my late arrival and closed the gates before I arrived around 1 am. First I thought that it was something like a hidden camera or someone making fun of me. But I found myself sleeping in front of the Hostel in a side street. Being a Backpacker sometimes brings you into unusual and uncomfortable situations however, it’s important to never lose your humour and positive mind set. I was lucky enough, that it wasn’t rainy nor too cold. The next day I could at least Check in early and enjoy my bed without paying for it.

Oahu is much more than just a transit point en route to the Neighbour Islands. It’s the thrill-of-a-lifetime adventure. Here you can surf the north Shores giant waves, hike atop knife-edged cliffs, dive into Hanauma Bay’s outdoor fishbowl, go windsurfing or kayak to uninhabited islands off Kaulua -  and still be back in Waikiki for sunset drinks.

I stayed in Waikiki Beach for about 6 days before moving on to Maui. And another 10 days at the end of my Hawaii adventure before moving on to Mexico. In my first week I’ve met Erik through another friend I have met in Korea. Erik and his friends showed me the night life of Waikiki and the American Beer pong culture. During the days I went on hikes with people from the Hostel for example we climber Koko Head. This nerve-rattling trail is not for anyone with a fear of heights! The fully exposed route leads for almost a mile along an abandoned wooden-tie rail bed to reach the summit of Pu’u Mai (1206 ft.) There’s no shade, but don’t worry the panoramic views from atop the extinct crater’s rim are worth your sweat.

A dramatic backdrop for Waikiki Beach, Diamond Head is one of the best known landmarks in Hawaii. Ancient Hawaiians called it Le’ahi and at its summit they built a luakini heiau, a temple dedicated to the war god Ku and used for human sacrifices. Ever since 1825, when British sailors found calcite crystals sparkling in the sun and mistakenly thought they’d struck it rich, the sacred peak has been called Diamond Head. The trail has been built in 1908 to service military observation station located along the crater rim. The trail, which passes through several tunnels and up head-spinning staircases, is mostly open and hot. The windy summit affords fantastic 360-degrees views of the southeast coast to Koko head to Waikiki Beach.

Thanks to my friend Cole who works for the U.S Air Force I got the chance to also visit the US Military Bases in Oahu. As an outsider who only knows this kind of World through movies and TV it was really interesting to see how it really is. After looking behind the scene we also went to Pearl Harbor: World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument. The WWII-era rallying cry “Remember Pearl Harbor!” that once mobilized a nation dramatically resonates on Oahu. It was here that the surprise Japanese attack on December 7, 1941, hurtled the US into war in the Pacific. Every year about 1.6 million tourists visit Pearl Harbor’s unique collection of war memorials and museums, all clustered around a quiet bay where oysters were once farmed. One of the USA’s most significant WWII sites, this National Park Service monument narrates the history of the Pearl Harbor attack and commemorates fallen service members. The monument grounds are much more than just a boat dock for the USS Arizona Memorial Be sure to stop at the two museums, where multimedia and interactive displays bring to life the Road to War and the Attack and Aftermath through historic photos films, illustrated graphics and taped oral histories. If you want to visit this place, make sure to be there early as there will be a limited amount of free tickets.