Aloha!
Another weekend has come and gone, and just like the last, it was filled to the brim. We found ourselves all over the island, snapping photos along the way. Dinner and drinks in Waikiki, The Punchbowl National Memorial Cemetery, the Pali Lookout, Valley of the Temples, and the North Shore at Haleiwa Beach for a surf lesson and some paddle boarding. Life is soooo good, friends!
Sometimes it seems there are not enough adjectives to describe the natural beauty that abounds on the island. The Punchbowl National Memorial Cemetery is at the top of a ridge, overlooking Honolulu and Waikiki. The view is outrageous, with Diamondhead sitting proudly off to the left, keeping watch, and the bright blue waters fitting snugly underneath the horizon, wrapping the coastline. Contradicting the busy city below, the cemetery is a place of serenity and peace, birds singing an endless tribute to lost loved ones. Gnarled arthritic trees seem to bow in gratitude, flowering bushes offering their delicate blooms as gifts to the souls of the deceased.
The Valley of the Temples was next, and inside this memorial park under the protection of the strong Pali Mountains, lies a Buddhist temple. A replica of a 900 year old Japanese temple, housing a magnificent 18 foot g
old leafed Buddha. The ceiling is hand carved, and the entire building was constructed without the use of nails. What an amazing feat! Humbled by its grandness and beauty, you can't help but feel the spirituality resonating in the air. The enormous coy beg at the surface of the pond as tourists toss out feed, their reds, oranges and golds exchanging places, swirling about. A handsome black swan delicately drifts between little turtles pushing their way through the water. Tiny pink blossoms decorate the ground like confetti, hibiscus float the surface like jewelry.
old leafed Buddha. The ceiling is hand carved, and the entire building was constructed without the use of nails. What an amazing feat! Humbled by its grandness and beauty, you can't help but feel the spirituality resonating in the air. The enormous coy beg at the surface of the pond as tourists toss out feed, their reds, oranges and golds exchanging places, swirling about. A handsome black swan delicately drifts between little turtles pushing their way through the water. Tiny pink blossoms decorate the ground like confetti, hibiscus float the surface like jewelry. I have taken
so many beautiful pictures, it's hard to decide which ones to post. I try so hard to share with you the magnitude of the beauty here. The vibrancy of the colors around the island are hypnotizing, the sweet smell of flowers, intoxicating. I breathe the beauty into my body and mind, and feel as if it is painting the endless walls of my soul. I move slowly these days, taking in every inch, cataloging each detail. I carry you all in my heart and am thankful for this opportunity to share my journey with all of you. Mahalo!Love,
Courtney
[Things that made me smile today: My private tour of the USS Arizona Memorial on Pearl Harbor, playing tourist with my aunt, hitting a few buckets of balls at the driving range.
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