Category: Parks and Recreation

Mauna Kea Summit

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Back to Hawaii

Back to Big Island

Mauna Kea is a dormant volcano in the center of the Big Island, and is about 14000 feet high. Due to the easy access to the summit, taking about 2 hours from sea level, several observatories are set up at the top. It also attracts scientists and astronomy enthusiasts from around the world.

But before venturing into the wild, precautions are necessary to drive up to the summit –

  1. Altitude sickness can sneak in any time because of quickly changing altitude and thinning oxygen content of the air.
  2. Only 4 wheel drive cars are allowed to travel beyond the Visitor Center (at 9000 feet).
  3. It can be extremely cold with heavy winds. So layers are important. Also staying hydrated and warm are key to enjoy the surreal beauty of the night sky.

We took the Mauna Kea summit adventures tour with stargazing (cost ~$450 for two). Although we hate conduced tours, especially the ones that deal with science and nature. With slightly above average knowledge about the geology and science of volcanoes, this tour seemed a little below par in providing intriguing information.

We were picked up from the Kailua-Kona market area around 2:45PM. The pickup spot was conveniently located, and the driver was on time. We took the longer route to reach the park visitor center to pick up other guests. En route, the driver did give out some information that was interesting but being jetlagged, we got into intermittent slumbers (so it was not that interesting after all. ;-)).

Once up to the top visitor center, we were given out Parkas and gloves. For the ones who bought the dinner, warm lasagna was served here as well in aluminum foils. We did not get the dinner option and instead carried sandwiches (which I’d strongly recommend since we heard the food was not palatable enough).

It gets really windy and starts getting low on oxygen. So it is normal to feel dizzy, and the best way to beat that is the breath slowly and walk/eat at a moderate pace. Staying warm is also important so take opportunity to grab coffee, hot chocolate or tea.

After spending ~45 minutes here, we hopped on to the bus and headed to the peak. The drive up was slow and adventurous. Once up there, just before the sunset, it got dark

quickly, wind picked up, and the cold was borderline unbearable. But having set up the tripod in time, I was able to grab some stunning sunset pictures.

Due the altitude, it was not advisable to stay up there for long. Therefore we headed down in the dark and could slowly see the stars above shining bright. We stopped near the visitor center and parked somewhere empty so that other cars’ headlights don’t spoil the mood.

There was a large telescope setup in the visitor center and there was a long queue for stargazing. Our private tour had two telescopes set up and we could take turns in seeing the Milkyway, Venus, Saturn, Proxima-Century and a supernova. The guides were patient enough to explain what we were seeing. There was hot chocolate/coffee and snacks as well for everyone to stay warm.

We started our descent around 9pm when the stars of interest started going below horizon. After an exhausting day of excursions, we were back to the hotel and ready to hit the couches by midnight.

In conclusion, we do want to state that it is one of the very few places in the world where regular visitors can climb that kind of an altitude, driving. The amount of stars you can see in the darkest of the nights is surreal. Walking in the summit would make you wonder if you are still on Earth or suddenly teleported to Mars or the Moon. Definitely a MUST do in Big Island.

Check out my TRIB review here.

Isla Mujeres

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Just north east of Cancun, Isla Mujeres, is a tiny island literally translates to ‘womens’ island’. Not sure what the origin was, but it is as beautiful as a loving woman. With a wide variety of water sports options including but not limited to snorkeling, scuba diving, and swimming in the turquoise waters, this is a must visit for Cancun vacationers. Abundance of beaches, humming streets, and plenty of bars/restaurants will keep a tourist busy for an entire day.

How to get there:

We hopped on a cruise (err party) boat from Playa Tortuga at the north west corner of Zona Hotelera. Company details here – Caribbean Funday Adventures.
We paid ~$65 per person for a return trip and bunch of activities including food and open bar. Although it seems high, given that one way transfers from any of the three ports (Playa Tortuga, Playa Linda, and Playa Caracol) would cost about $20 p.p., we thoroughly enjoyed our trip that lasted about 8 hours.
TIP – At Playa Tortuga, if you need to park, find the parking attendant (which might be tough during busy times) and pay $5 for all day. But get there early as the parking lot is small, and getting a spot can be tricky. Best bet is to catch R1/R2 buses @9.50 pesos p.p. which stops right next to Playa Tortuga.

In Isla Mujeres:

If you are staying back for a night in Isla Mujeres, you can hail a cab to go to the hotel zone for ~$5. If just for a day, it is best to plan the day ahead at least in the busy seasons, as the attractions/activities fill quickly.
With the party boat, we docked at a beach area south of the Playa Norte where they had a bunch of activities including a small turtle farm, dolphin feeding area, kayaking, water slides etc. We had breakfast/snacks and lunch after going out to the sea for snorkeling. The snorkeling experience was fantastic. We spotted a ton of colorful reef fish, the reefs themselves, and underwater flora/fauna.
If you can plan ahead, definitely work out a plan to visit the MUSA Underwater Museum. Details can be found here. But you may not be able to explore the full view of the sculptures from the surface, so Scuba is a better option if you want to see the structures up close.
Although there was not much to do after eating a sumptuous lunch, we could have taken a scooter/ATV to explore the nearby area. Instead we headed to the Playa Norte, which is also close to the El Centro (downtown Isla Mujeres). The beach is typically crowded, but can get an ATV or golf cart (costs about $50 for an hour, but definitely haggle and shop around to get the best price). It is probably the best way to look around the El Centro in the scorching tropical sun.
After a fun day in Isla Mujeres, we headed back to Cancun and boy! was that fun. With free booze on board the catamaran, and a ton of activities, dancing, and games on board, it was a blast. We returned back to the Playa Tortugas right after sunset.

Cozumel and Playa del Carmen

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Cozumel

Bright and sunny beaches, coral reefs, and island tours, Isla Cozumel is home to a ton of tropical activities. We drove down to Playa del Carmen and parked in a parking lot next to the ADO bus station (X of Av. Benito Juarez and Calle Quinta Avenida). The ferry to Cozumel leaves from Playa del Carmen dock. There are two agencies (Ultramar and Water Jets) who run ferries within 30 minutes interval. We planned for a day trip to Cozumel, so we hopped on to one of the early ferries. Check the details here.
Tip – there is no need to bargain if you are buying tickets from one of these agencies. Just make sure to not get a return ticket, because a, it costs the same and b, you won’t have flexibility in choosing the return ferry.
After getting sun bathed atop the ferry, while enjoying the serenity of the Caribe mar, we ventured out to the island. Multiple tour operators and agents flock the dock at Cozumel for tourists. We managed a deal with one of the operators for Snorkeling for about ~$20 per person. Snorkeling took 3 hours and we got to see a ton of fishes, corals, and underwater artifacts. Some cruise lines stop at Cozumel too, which can be distracting some times. We snorkeled at around 5 locations around the island. They had water, cerveza, and some snacks which kept us entertained.
Tip – The west side of the island has nice beaches while the east is rocky. But the best snorkeling experience will be on the eastern side. Also, if you do not have reservations with a snorkeling company, feel free to arrive and bargain a lot.
Tip – We think the best way to go around the island is in a scooty or motorized trikes. There are car rental companies too but they are expensive and lack supply. Taxi rates are reasonable if you ask for the rate before hopping on to them.
We did not have much time to explore the park but there are some ruins in the north side of the island. Also check out the sandy beaches in the west side.
Food and Nightlife
Definitely check out Money Bar near the south west side. If you can time your visit, you can catch amazing views of the sea as well as catch a glimpse of the sunset. It takes about $10 to come back to the dock by taxi.

 

Playa del Carmen 

Playa Del Carmen

We took the return ferry to Playa del Carmen to reach the dock around 7pm. The dock and the vicinity was flooded with people. We had been to Playa del Carmen a few times before, so did not have much to check out. We tried the beaches in Playa del Carmen twice, and both times we found seaweed galore making the water dirty. The sandy beaches are good, but the ones in Cancun trumps these to me. Locals though love to visit these beaches. We have had good times in the beach shacks though.

The street parallel to the beach has a ton of shopping and restaurants. Most of the restaurants on Calle Quinta Avenida and 10th Street are moderately good and expensive. We found it hard to find authentic Mexican fare in this part. Although we did stop for a drink or two at a local pub and had some street side tamales, food experience is not that great for us. So during our visit in 2015, we tried a place a tad north of the downtown and was not disappointed. Details below-

Food and Nightlife

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TIPS:

If you do not have a car, don’t panic. The public transportation, though is time consuming, is cheap and reliable. We had once taken the local route: took the R2 bus to the ADO station in the downtown. Cost 9.50 pesos per person. From ADO, we took the second class bus to Playa Del Carmen. Cost 30 Pesos per person. It took about 90 minutes, compared to the 40 minutes promised by the local people. (Note: Mexico is so much like India, in so many respects such as sense of time, respect for others, and intention to cheat foreigners! LOL). The return back to the hotel was eventful. We ended up paying 60 pesos per person for the return trip to Cancun downtown in a first class coach, and 200 pesos for a cab to the hotel.

 

Kennedy Space Center – NASA

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Trip Date: June, 2013

“one small step for man one giant leap for mankind”. This is where it all started. In the midst of white sand Atlantic beaches, there lie a facility beaming with the brightest scientific minds of the world, and towering rockets and shuttles ready for deep space voyages. 
 
Kennedy Space Center (KSC), home of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, commonly known as NASA, is strategically located in the eastern shore of Florida at Cape Canaveral. Earth’s rotational direction and availability of such large landmass governs the selection of the East Coast as the home of NASA. Driving into the facility, one cannot miss the Rocket Garden with replicas of multiple voyages have been erected for the pleasure of the visitors. Starting from the Apollo 13 to the Voyager, it all can be experienced in the garden. The sheer sizes of the rockets would amaze the visitors, even before the structural intricacies are disclosed. Then the awestruck visitors are told that about 5% of the entire volume of the rocket is generally occupied by the passengers. We start to question our existence in front of those giant structures. But wait, this is just the beginning of the humbling experience in KSC.
 
140,000 acres of land would require a bus tour, which is exactly what KSC visitor center has to offer. The tourists enjoy the guided portion of the bus tour, narrated by none other than the retired space program employees. You’d hear mesmerizing stories about space travel, hazards of rockets, and intricate details of the facility right from the horse’s mouth. The distinctive building where all the monitoring of the launches are done, and where the designing, planning, and testing of the technology is performed, stands tall in the middle of two launch pads, 39A and 39B. For easy transport of launch-ready rockets, and millions of gallons of fuel, NASA developed a ginormous vehicle, called Crawler. The path for the vehicle is about 300 foot wide, and is leveled with gravel and has a strong foundation underneath the ground. The structure of the launch pad is such that the enormous heat generated from burning liquid hydrogen do not kill the wildlife around it. Storing 2 million gallons of water under the launch pad acts as a dampener for the heat and tremors. The viewers’ gallery is generally set up about a mile away with stands for media and VIPs. 
 
The history of the American moon mission is widely known, but the inside stories behind the success of Apollo 13 is perilously heart wrecking. The loss of lives, money, and support coupled with international political pressure of successful launches of Sputnik (Russian space craft), required a bold decision maker like John F. Kennedy to step up and pull fresh blood into the crown jewel of American space missions. It took 10 years of tireless efforts from NASA scientists, after Kennedy announced his goal of reaching the moon. Sadly his assassination in November 1963 did not allow him to witness the successful launch of Apollo 13 with three astronauts. A Purdue University graduate Neil Armstrong was the first to land on the moon, and his fellow travelers described the view of Earth as the most amazing one of their lives. They said they had to step out of the planet to know it better. 
 
A walk on the moon might be an achievement of a lifetime, but who knew that it was just the beginning. From that point, multiple countries, often led by the USA, have ventured into the space and neighboring planets. The next adventure in the KSC took us exactly where space missions found new dimensions. The ‘Hubble Telescope’. The 3D movie on the topic, narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio takes viewers to a whole new level. Makes the most arrogant of humans humble when their existence in the ‘bigger scheme of things’ become questionable. You take a virtual tour from the Earth, and go farther. Pass the planets one by one, and into the galaxy – Milky Way. Once you start looking back, the Sun and the Solar System starts to fade out as a tiny dot in the body of the Milky Way. That’s just a few hundred light years away. Travel a little farther, and the Milky Way starts to look like a dot in the ocean of Nebulae and Galaxies and Black-holes. Hubble has seen many stars born, age, and die. All at the same time. That is space travel to you. Stars are born with a bright spot and a dark smokey crown around it, and as they age, they turn yellow. Around that time multiple solar systems are formed. Who knows an Earth-like system must be there somewhere, millions of light years away. Crazy fact check – Imagine an alien with extremely high powered telescope is looking at Earth from his planet 60 million light years away. Guess what he will see on Earth. Dinosaurs.
 
Anyway, enough of science and boring space talk. We forgot to point out one of the break through discoveries of the last couple of decades. When it was required that the space craft or Rocket can be reused. Not only to save resources, but also to make multiple safe round trips for humans into space. In about 8-10 years, a team of dedicated scientists and engineers created the first space shuttle – Columbia in 1981. This is a vehicle that launched like a rocket, and landed like an Aeroplane. This enabled NASA to lead another breakthrough project into fruition – International Space Station (ISS). Till date, multiple trips to the Hubble, ISS, and other satellites have been made possible with the space shuttle technology. 
 
Trivial as it may sound, the efforts KSC has made to encourage and attract children to be involved in the scientific activities make this an admirable institution. Infusing the interest in space travel, answering naive questions from adults and children alike, NASA has proved its worthiness. A walk in the park for a day will surely bring a smile, and curiosity to the visitors, whatever be their background and exposure to science. And kudos to KSC, in the maintenance and innovation displayed in the park that constantly educates people without sacrificing the entertainment facet of the abstruse thing called ‘Rocket Science’!

Florida Mariana Caverns

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Trees, stately giants beyond imagination. Rocks, boulders, and majestic mountains, living tapestries of light, shadow, and color. Streams, rivers, lakes, waterfalls; shimmering serenity, purity, and excitement. Endless, flowing plains; pathways to the sky. Flowers, leaves, needles, grasses, mosses; a kaleidoscope carpet. A billion snow diamonds, softer than baby feathers. Heavenly air; purified and sweetened by the birth, life, and death of beauty. What is the best alternative to the National and State parks in USA, to experience all of the above together? It is admirable how the national parks and state parks has stepped up to retain the natural beauty and to maintain the wilderness Mother Nature presents us with. From the Grand Canyons to Niagara falls to the redwood forests, nature is preserved to the extent that human beings can appreciate the beauty without painstaking hikes or treks. 

The same holds true for the small state park containing the Florida caverns. Normally, a cave that has stalactites and stalagmites in it, should be inaccessible for a common man. To view those splendid creations, one has to wear scuba gear or have expert hikers limbs generally. Thanks to the US National Park Service, we could watch and admire the formations deep inside the surface of the Earth in the Jackson county, Florida. The park is located in the northern Florida panhandle, near Mariana. Drive from Tallahassee took an hour and a half. It is located in the Central Time Zone of USA. Directions and location of the park can be found here. On a warm weekend in April, 2011, a group of eight ventured out to the Florida Caverns. The time difference between Tallahassee and the park made our drive look incredibly quick. 🙂

Stalactites

The entry fee is $5 per vehicle and $8 per person to enter the guided tour inside the caverns. Caves are generally unusual for the state and moreover, caverns with such formations are strange indeed. Stalactites and Stalagmites are formed inside the caverns with time when water filled with minerals dissolve local bedrock. Now Stalagmites are formed when mineralized water drips from the roof and calcium carbonate is deposited, forming a structure that rises from the floor vertically. Stalactites are the opposite of stalagmites and they hang from the roof vertically and are formed by dripping of mineralized water. When these two formations meet midway, they are called ‘columns’.

A bulky Stalagmite
Generously lit formations

The caves in here were pretty dark (as it should be), but the park authorities had installed lightings in such a way that they make the crowd lure towards specific features inside. Several types of formations, rather various types of combination were available for display. Some were tall and thick, some smaller ones, some combination of stalactites and stalagmites made it look like a bed of arrows or some kind of trap. Floor of the caverns were slippery and we saw water dripping from the roof, making the caverns ‘live’. Formations were still in the process of developing and more and more areas of the caves were yet to be discovered. Bats, rats and other geeky nocturnal animals. The caverns had several rooms and some rooms were much lower than others, making tourists bend down and walk several feet hunched over. The slippery floor and low roof along with pitch black darkness can make people wary. All in all, apart from watching the eye candies, e.g. stalactites, stalagmites and flowstones, inside the caverns were a good break from the scorching Florida sunshine.

Column Structures

Outside the cave, the park is equipped with camping and picnic areas. The scary wilderness can call for big hearted people in the dark. The eerie feeling just before sunset, the silence, the sound of wind flowing through open crevices, the soft light just before complete darkness felt so pure. The feeling of being alone in the middle of everyone was enough for me to be lost with myself. Thanks to my sweet soul mate to select the exotic location so nearby. It may not be a place worth visiting again, but for the open minded traveler who cannot afford to get into large underwater caverns to relinquish the serenity of the limestone monuments, Florida state caverns may prove to be the hidden gem. Back to Home

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