Hawaii & Farming

It's hard to believe that I've only been on the Big Island since Wednesday evening, it seems like it has been much longer from all the beauty I've seen and what I have learned. I'm staying in Ninole, which is a little town 30 minutes outside Hilo one of the bigger towns on the island. Here in Ninole we are surrounded by rainforest and the bluest ocean I've ever layed eyes on, which I can see every day from the farm, which is pretty incredible. There is also a waterfall in my new backyard which I can hear all day but is especially nice at night to lull me to sleep. I've been to some beautiful black lava sand beaches already and have taken a swim in the ocean which is quite warm and refreshing from the 80+ degree heat and high humidity. I'm living in what I would call paradise and I feel incredibly lucky to call the Big Island home for the next five weeks. I'm volunteering on a farm called Everyone Grows and the head farmer Drean is very kind, warm, and happy to show me my fellow 18 year old wwoofer (world wide opportunity for organic farming) his home. Drean created this food share in Hilo where people from all over can come and exchange for food or just take what they need for no cost. How incredible is that? I think its pretty special and something I'm oh so happy to be a part of. I've done a lot of gardening in the past two days and helped transplant different types of lettuce, tomatoes, zucchini, and peppers. There is something really meditative about having your hands in the dirt and helping something to grow. I've also had some delicious mango and lychee, did you know that there are over 50 different types of mango and avocado grown on the Big Island? Pretty awesome! Being here is just what I need to recharge and to have some time for myself and I can't wait to see what these next weeks are like and what I've learned from them. For now, hope you enjoy these photos and you can feel like you are here with me!

Lychee! 

Me and my headlamp! 

My gardening work of art

My home 

The farm!

My view from the farm!

Akaka Falls

California

Sorry to be a little MIA lately fellow readers, have had a wonderful week spending it with my California loves before I head to Hawaii.  Before I got to San Diego, I went to Sedona and what a red rockin' place that is!  I didn't know that it is such a spiritual/mystical place, something I'd like to experience next time I visit. On my way to California I stopped in Dateland, Arizona for a date shake (all that is there are date farms) and it was delicious. I also drove by huge cactuses that could have swallowed me whole and sand dunes which is something I wasn't expecting so see at all, I mean, did I get transported to the Sahara?! I saw dust tornadoes in the desert and signs for Mexico which was pretty neat and boy was it hot. It was an indescribable feeling, crossing the border of California, having the first part of my road trip come to an end. When I reached San Diego I had travelled 3.5 weeks totaling 6,100 miles and it felt so damn good to have reached my friends after such a long journey. San Diego is beautiful made even more beautiful staying with my lovely friends Sarah and Jarod and their cutie patootie little guy and getting to reconnect is just what I needed. I then drove up to Newport Beach  and got to walk along the pacific and soak my tired feet in the ocean before I met my old friend Beth for some In and Out, which I had been giddy about since I landed in California. This past weekend I was lucky to witness the wedding for one of my dear friends Sneha and it was my first time attending an Indian wedding. All the events were so hugely colorful and musical and an incredible experience and I got my first henna which other than celebrating was a highlight! It was also so nice to reconnect with grad school friends and to share in the love filled weekend together. We were also able to go to some of my favorite spots in the LA area and imagine the lives of the rich and famous. I couldn't have asked for a better week before I leave for Hawaii!

Sedona 

Sand dunes!

Hiking in San Diego! 

Newport Beach

Hiking in Griffith Park

Beverly Hills 

Santa Monica Pier

Laguna Beach Wedding!