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It’s finally time to recap the last two days of our January trip—five months later… oops! 😅 Since I wasn’t the trip planner (more on that in a sec), and we packed so much into the nearly four weeks we were away. I had to go back, retrace my steps, and piece it all together. I wanted to make sure I didn’t miss any of the details. Most days, we managed to squeeze in more than one amazing place. And we didn’t slow down at the end either—with snorkelling (we went with Living Ocean Tours and they were brilliant), a visit to the Nuʻuanu Pali Lookout, dinner at the iconic Duke’s, and a surprise stop at Hanauma Bay. Turns out, I was exactly like that person from those funny Instagram reels — you know, the one who just shows up because someone else did all the organising. If we had a script, it would go something like: “Hi, I’m my cousin J. I organised the flights, booked the accommodation, sorted the car hire, planned the road trip, booked the snorkelling adventure, secured our movie tour, mapped out hikes, and figured out which amazing places we’d visit—every single day.” “Hi, I’m Ruth.” So today, I’m covering our snorkelling trip, dinner at Duke’s, the Nuʻuanu Pali Lookout, and that surprise visit to Hanauma Bay. Let’s go! Snorkelling with Living Ocean Tours This was only the second time I’d ever been snorkelling. The first was on my honeymoon, where I stayed safely near the edge of a beach on Lord Howe Island, with both feet firmly planted in the sand. Before this trip, I’d never actually been out snorkelling in the open ocean. So yes, I was a little bit terrified. But since we’d booked it before leaving Sydney, I had time to mentally prepare. I listened to plenty of guided audio that helped me move past the fear and enjoy the experience. Instead of worrying about you know, things like drowning, getting lost in the ocean, or being eaten by a shark. Why Living Ocean Tours Was a Win Living Ocean Tours was absolutely fantastic! The crew were friendly, welcoming, and clearly passionate about marine life. The boat was clean and well-maintained, with a restroom on board. There was also plenty of space to relax, and good shade for when the sun was too much. All the gear was in top shape, and they even provided snacks and drinks! Everything was laid out and ready to go when we boarded—clean, clearly labelled snorkel gear, and crew helping everyone get fitted. Nothing makes my heart sing more than when I see a setup this perfectly organised—haha! Our Deluxe Waikiki Snorkeling and Wildlife Cruise We did their Deluxe Waikiki Snorkeling and Wildlife Cruise, which took us out from Kewalo Basin, cruising along the coast of Waikiki toward Diamond Head. We stopped at a stunning coral reef (nicknamed Turtle Canyon), where we spent over an hour in the water. It was such an incredible experience to see schools of colourful fish and vibrant coral. We also spotted a Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle. And because we were there during winter, we were lucky enough to see a humpback whale! One of the crew members even brought up an octopus for us to see up close. Thoughtful Extras That Made a Big Difference Living Ocean Tours also did all those thoughtful little things that made such a big difference. Like providing anti-fog spray for the goggles and offering a whole range of floating devices. I stuck to the bright yellow banana float that wrapped around under my arms as if my life depended on it. Because it really and truly did! For the super adventurous souls, there was a very fast, fun slide — my cousins who went on it told me all about it later. As well as pink mats (lily pads) to lounge on. Living Ocean Tours also run whale-watching cruises and sunset sails—and I’d choose them again in a heartbeat. I can’t recommend them enough! Duke’s I’m pretty sure we were all riding on a huge high after getting off the boat—what a spectacular day! And it wasn’t over yet. We walked along Waikiki and ended up at Duke’s, which was absolutely buzzing with so many people. We had drinks and shared some chips and guacamole while we waited for our table. Before long, we were called and sat outside, enjoying the band playing fun cover songs in the background. The sun started to set, so I went out onto the beach, right at the edge of the restaurant, to take it all in. It was one of those soft, golden Hawaiian sunsets you see in a movie—except it was real, and we were in it. I stayed until the buildings along the shore began to twinkle. The tiki torches were lit, and I made my way back to the table for dessert. Our Last Day We began our last day at Nuʻuanu Pali Lookout on a very windy, cold, and foggy day. From there, we saw panoramic views mainly of Oahu’s windward (eastern) side—hence the strong wind! As well as lush valleys, cliffs, and the Kaneohe Bay area. All over Oahu, we saw cats and chickens just roaming around–so interesting and unlike anything I’ve ever seen over here. A lot of the time, the poor cats only had one eye—maybe the chickens were responsible… who knows? They were right there to greet us at Nuʻuanu Pali Lookout. Ha! Hanauma Bay Hanauma Bay was on our list of maybe places to visit. We’d heard it was stunning for snorkelling, but since we already had our tour booked with Living Ocean Tours, we didn’t think we’d actually make it there. It’s a protected nature preserve and only allows a limited number of visitors each day—plus, it’s ticketed, so you usually need to book well in advance. Still, we thought we’d go and chance it—just in case. We didn’t expect to be able to walk

During our recent trip to Oahu, we made a special stop at the Byodo-In Temple in Hawaii, tucked away in the beautiful Valley of the Temples. It wasn’t originally on our must-see list — in fact, I hadn’t even heard of this peaceful gem before. But my wonderful cousins kindly took us there, and I’m so glad they did. As I’ve said before, they should quit their day jobs and go on Travel Guides (an Australian travel show) or The Amazing Race — they know all the best hidden spots! Byodo-In Temple in Hawaii But wow, this place was incredible! The temple is a beautiful replica of a 950-year-old Japanese temple and sits peacefully beneath the stunning Koʻolau Mountains. When we arrived, we could hear a bell ringing softly in the distance — dong, dong, dong — and it sounded almost mesmerising. Later, we learned it was the sacred bell at the temple entrance. Visitors can ring it to bring good luck and clear their minds. I got so distracted by the incredibly peaceful surroundings that I missed the chance to line up and ring it! Oh well, I guess I’ll just have to go back again someday. Inside the Byodo-In Temple, there was a large golden statue of Buddha. Outside, the gardens were stunning. They reminded me of what I imagine a huge version of Mr. Miyagi’s garden would be like — peaceful and carefully cared for, with little paths, koi ponds, and bridges. In the gift shop, you could buy food for the koi fish, so of course, we did. The koi would follow you as you fed them. Then we ran out of fish food. But my son and cousin M discovered that the koi fish would still follow them whenever they waved their arms over the water. The fish were clearly well-trained — waving arms meant food. The koi followed them across a good stretch of the big pond, back and forth for ages as the boys waved their arms like koi masters. Their arms got sore, but the koi were persistent (or just really hungry). It was so funny to watch — a real memory and a hilarious moment all rolled into one. If you’re visiting Oahu and want to see somewhere special, the Byodo-In Temple is the place to go! It’s such a peaceful oasis — a real contrast to the usual busy, touristy spots, which are, of course, also incredible. It was so good to experience both! Ho’omaluhia Botanical Gardens Continuing with our peaceful and serene theme of the day, we headed over to the Ho’omaluhia Botanical Gardens after visiting the Byodo-In Temple in Hawaii. There’s a small Visitor Centre near the entrance where we popped in briefly to look at some displays. After that, we had a look around one of the open grassy areas nearby. We didn’t explore too far; it was just a quick visit to admire the breathtaking views. Lanikai We ended our perfectly peaceful day with a swim at Lanikai. I couldn’t believe that all this amazingness was happening to me – like I was in a movie or something! The water was so clear, the breeze was calm, and the whole place felt so soft and quiet. I’m used to the beaches in Sydney being windy and a bit wild, so this felt completely different — in the best way. Dreams really do come true  🥰 Many of the photos are by my cousin J — she really is an amazing photographer!

Hi friends, I’m back today with a recap of my trip to Melbourne. My lovely cousin and I did an overnight stay—we flew in from Sydney early Thursday morning and packed the whole day with exploring. And when I say packed, I really mean packed! So if you’ve ever wondered whether you can see Melbourne in a day, the answer is yes, you absolutely can. Here’s what we got up to and all the amazing sights we saw. What’s Melbourne Like? If I had to sum up Melbourne in one word, it would be cool — it’s just so full of character. There are coffee shops everywhere serving the best coffee I have ever tasted. It was smooth, silky, aromatic and oh-so delicious! The streets are alive with colourful art, and I especially loved the laneways. They were full of quirky little cafes, unique shops, and colourful murals. Everything was—well, it was just so cool! Something that really stood out to me was the fashion. Melburnians are so well-dressed. Walking around, it felt like I was in some artsy magazine shoot. People seemed to wear mostly in neutrals — black, white, earthy tones — and they absolutely nailed the accessory game. Just the right touch, never over the top. It was as if everyone secretly agreed to follow Coco Chanel’s advice: take one thing off before leaving the house. So cool and so elegant. Can You Really See Melbourne In A Day? Most of what you want to see is within walking distance, but if you get tired, the trams are there to save your feet. Did you know there’s a free tram zone in the city centre? We walked over 24,000 steps that day, but we also made good use of the trams — they just seemed to magically appear when we needed them, and we barely had to wait. I was seriously impressed with Melbourne’s transport system! So, can you really see Melbourne in a day? Ummmm… I’d say yes and no. You can definitely tick off a whole lot of the main attractions because the city is super compact and easy to navigate. But if you want to wander, soak it all in, and maybe sit in a cute café with a coffee (or two), then a few extra days would be the go. That said, if all you’ve got is one day, go for it. You’ll still get a great taste of what makes Melbourne so special. Melbourne In A Day Bourke Street Mall If you love shopping (like I do), then Bourke Street Mall is where it’s at! You’ll find all the big-name stores, such as Myer, David Jones, Zara, and many more. But what really impressed me was how many of the buildings around the mall have been carefully preserved. Everywhere you look, there’s beautiful old heritage architecture. I loved how Melbourne keeps that historic charm mostly intact, with a touch of modern style mixed in and not the other way around. And I have to say, the H&M store completely blew me away! It was stunning and looked incredibly high-end. State Library of Victoria What an impressive building! I said to my cousin that if I’d had a place like this to study, I might have considered doing a master’s degree. The minute you step into the reading room, you just feel smarter. Chinatown So many bright colours and plenty of delicious food options. Hardware Lane Hardware Lane was full of bars and restaurants. Such a great atmosphere! Hosier Lane Hosier Lane was one of my favourites because there’s street art everywhere. I had to laugh when I saw my older son’s name so big and bold. Could he be a secret street artist?? Flinders Street Station We stood up at the top of the station and looked out over all the platforms — there were so many! From Flinders Street Station, trains head to suburbs all over Melbourne and even out to regional areas. The moment I saw it, I knew I’d seen this station before. Then I remembered — it was featured in an episode of my favourite (but sadly short-lived) series, The Time Of Our Lives. Ha! Yarra River We walked over the Princes Bridge, and right underneath was the Yarra River. National Gallery of Victoria Right inside the entrance of the NGV, there’s this amazing glass wall with water cascading down it. You can see it from the outside too. We wandered through all sorts of incredible displays. We saw everything from paintings and sculptures to fashion and furniture — some of it modern, some of it historical. All of it was beautiful. Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Melbourne Gardens The Royal Botanic Gardens is so peaceful and lush — you’d never guess you were still in the middle of the city. I knew I’d have a great time in Melbourne, but it blew me away more than I ever expected. Seeing the city in a day was fantastic, but I’d love to go back and really soak it all in over several days. Melbourne definitely stole my heart on this trip!    

Today I’m taking you along on our Kualoa Ranch movie sites tour. Aloha! It’s time to recap another amazing experience in Oahu and share why, if you’re ever there, this spot should definitely be on your must-do list. Before I wrote this recap, I was scrolling through my camera roll, feeling nostalgic. (Yep, it’s been around four months since we got back from our holiday, and I still can’t shake that nostalgia!). As I was scrolling, I stopped on a video I took at Kualoa Ranch–those views were incredible! And you can hear me saying, “Oh my gosh, this is the most epicest holiday ever!” Haha — EPICEST isn’t even a word, and my school teachers would be horrified. I was horrified! But I guess that just shows how, by the time we got to Hawaii, I’d run out of real words to describe our trip. I’m happy to report I didn’t completely massacre the English language with words like bestest and amazingest. I had to draw the line somewhere! The Kualoa Ranch Movie Sites tour and our snorkelling adventure (a recap is coming soon) were two experiences we planned and booked before leaving Sydney. My superstar cousin J organised both, and we had the best time—even better than we could have ever imagined. Quite a few of the photos in this post were taken by my cousin J. Not only is she amazing at organising our adventures, but she’s also a brilliant photographer. Lucky me to have a cousin like her! Welcome to Kualoa Ranch Arriving at Kualoa Ranch We left our hotel in Kapolei at 7:30 AM and pulled into Kualoa Ranch around 8:20. Luckily, we left early enough and seemed to avoid the worst of the morning traffic. Our tour was booked for 9 AM, and they recommend arriving at least 30 minutes early, so our timing worked out perfectly. The Visitor Centre and Mini Museum The ranch has an open-air visitor centre with stunning valley views and horses roaming about. There’s also a small Hawaiian History Hall mini-museum full of information about the rich culture and history of both the ranch and Hawaii. I did a quick zoom around and snapped a few photos so I could read everything later. So glad I did! Tours You Can Take Kualoa Ranch offers all sorts of tours, such as E-Bike Tours, UTV Raptor Tours, Zipline Tour, Horseback Tour, and the Kualoa Movie Sites Tour — which is the one we did. There are many more options, and you can check out all of them here. Kualoa Movie Sites and Ranch Tour The official name of the tour is the “Kualoa Ranch Movie Sites and Ranch Tour.” So it wasn’t just about movies—it was a proper ranch tour too, even though the movie spots were definitely the highlight. There was so much to take in, and I wish I could remember every little detail. Thankfully, I filmed a lot of what our guide said during the drive, which really helped me piece it all back together for this post. We rode a vintage bus that was so rattly, bumpy, and probably older than me, but it was perfect. I felt like I was on a real Jurassic expedition! Our Tour Guide and a Peek into Ranch Life Our tour guide (I think her name was Elsie, but I’m not 100% sure) was incredible. She was enthusiastic, funny, and full of knowledge—not just about filming locations, but also the history and daily operations of the ranch itself. We learned that Kualoa Ranch isn’t just where they have filmed blockbuster movies. It’s a massive 4,000-acre private nature reserve and working cattle ranch that’s been owned by the same family since 1850. The ranch still runs as a working farm, and they grow tropical fruits like coconuts and mangoes. Our guide also said that sometimes, the ranch workers even appear as extras in the films shot there. Sounds like a fun place to work! Kualoa Ranch Movie Sites and Ranch Tour Experience Jurassic Valley First stop: Kaʻaʻawa Valley, better known as Jurassic Valley. We drove past the spot where the original Jurassic Park gates stood. It was our first glimpse of all the movie magic, and it was so exciting. I had no idea there was still so much more to come! WWII Bunker Turned Movie Museum Next, we rattled up the hill in the old bus to the old wartime bunker. Our guide told us all about how back in the 1940s, the army built a string of these lookouts along Oahu’s coast to keep an eye out for enemy ships after Pearl Harbour. Kualoa’s bunker was carved straight into the hillside, hidden by jungle and reinforced with extremely thick walls. Fast forward 85 years, and now inside this bunker, you’ll find a gold mine of film sets! There were walls of posters, prop weapons, and behind-the-scenes photos from Lost, Kong: Skull Island, Jumanji, 50 First Dates, and Hawaii Five-0. There was a photo from The Karate Kid Part II (the one where Daniel and Mr. Miyagi go to Okinawa) that was filmed right here at Kualoa Ranch. I had no idea until I saw it! If you’re a huge Lost fan like me (that is, until the later seasons when it went downhill), hold onto your geek hats–because this is the Dharma Initiative’s tempest station–woah!! I got to touch the actual computer where they typed in the numbers—4 8 15 16 23 42—every 108 minutes. Goosebumps!! I used to know those numbers off by heart, but I had to look them up to jog my memory. From there, we headed to one of the most impressive sights on the tour. Kong’s Skull and Bones Right next to the massive Kong skull, there are these huge bones scattered around — all movie props from Kong: Skull Island. The Jurassic Park Chase Scene Nearby, there’s a Jurassic Park sign, and this is the exact spot where the characters ran and hid to escape the dinosaurs. Our guide told