ramblings of a Seattle travel, food and photography hound
You might have seen it on an episode of Lost, a stand-in for a temple in South Korea. It is the temple of Byodo-In, a half-size replica of its namesake in Uji, Japan, built in 998 AD and considered a national treasure and a UN World Heritage Site. The temple here is built mostly with... Continue Reading →
A spectacular way to get from Honolulu to windward Oahu is State Hwy 61 (Pali Highway) through a pass over the Ko'olau mountain range. There is an overlook near the ridge where you can get a sweeping view of the northeastern side of Oahu. The winds are strong up here, sometimes so strong that you... Continue Reading →
Serving since 1966, Zippy's is a fast-food chain restaurant that operates mainly on Oahu and has a reputation for having solid, if not memorable Hawaiian food. Our local Japanese supermarket in the Seattle area (Uwajimaya) carries its chilis in the freezer section. A friend of ours who has a condo in Waikiki tries to purchase... Continue Reading →
A hike through lush rainforest is the one to Manoa Falls, about 1½ miles from the bus stop to a viewing area of the falls. At the foot of the trailhead is a parking lot where a snack shop also was selling mosquito repellent. We decided to take our chances. As soon as we started... Continue Reading →
Korean-Chinese restaurants have their origins in the 19th century when Chinese immigrants immigrated to Inchon. The evolution of the food makes it a distinct cuisine within Korean cooking. The highly popular chajangmyun (or jjajangmyun) is among its creations, made from roasted black soy bean paste, caramel and meat and/or seafood (except fish), typically topped with shredded... Continue Reading →
All over Hawaii, the zebra dove is found in abundance, scurrying along grassy areas and pecking at things on the ground with their beaks. Originally from Southeast Asia, they have become adapted to the islands. They have a very distinctive staccato-like coo of short but pleasant bursts. Although their plumage is brownish gray with striping... Continue Reading →
Keo Sananikone was one of the first restauranteurs to introduce Thai fine dining to the islands. Since I have his cookbook at home and since Keo's was within easy walking distance of where we were staying in Waikiki, we came here for dinner tonight. Depending on weather, the restaurant opens its windows to the street... Continue Reading →
Like so many restaurants these days, Chart House offers a happy hour menu. Here, you can order from 7-10pm daily. It's a prime spot overlooking the water on Ala Moana Blvd, an unbeatable ambience when sipping tropical cocktails and partaking of Hawaiian pupus. A friend of ours from Seattle joined us. There was a small... Continue Reading →
There is a hiking trail to the top of Diamond Head, accessible from a parking lot not too far from the Saturday Market. Diamond Head itself sits on the edge of a large volcanic cone. The trail to the summit follows the steep interior slope of the crater wall, ascends over many switchbacks 560 feet... Continue Reading →
In a standalone building that used to be occupied by Turkey House many years ago, it has since changed hands and become Greenwood Mandarin, a Chinese restaurant with an extensive menu. It has changed hands twice itself, although the name has been retained. It doesn't appear to draw much of a Chinese clientele, mainly supported... Continue Reading →
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