primarily hana, maui.

This is the last Hawaii post (I know I know, finally!). I felt badly dragging it out, but Mike and I always love looking back at old posts and reminiscing. I knew if I didn't edit these photos, they would just end up on an external hard drive somewhere and we wouldn't look at them very often. It reminded me of the dual purpose of this blog - to provide little snapshots of our life to all of you out there reading, but also to function  as valuable journal of memories for Mike & I. 

So thank you for putting up with all these posts. I'm excited to start sharing more about our newlywed life here in Winnipeg!

sunrise at 10 000 feet.

directions: wake up at 3.30 am. stuff as many blankets & sweaters as you can into the car. (optional: pack snacks you don't end up eating). drive for an hour until you reach an altitude of 10 000 feet. shiver for an hour, but marvel as the sky slowly turns pink, lighting up the clouds below you. suddenly, that hot fiery ball of sun pops up over the clouds and the clouds disappear. the sun lights up the crater below you and instantly warms the air. and then be amazed, because it's really one of the most beautiful things you've ever seen.

la pérouse bay

Yes! I'm back after a brief unintended hiatus. And yes! More Hawaii photos. Here's why: It's been a long, cold, rainy day filled with university classes and these photos (when accompanied with a warm blanket & a cup of hot chocolate) make me feel nice and warm.

ps. I'm just going to say it - I love love love being married. Heaps of laughter & silliness before 8 am is a fabulous way to start the day.

The Lonely Planet guidebooks make lovely travel companions*. The books provided us with top notch restaurant suggestions, interesting anecdotes about each region, and (best part!) directions to a sort of dangerous an absolutely dangerous, rugged path - one false step could send you sliding down the sharp drop off into the ocean.

(That photo of me trapizing down the trail does not accurately portray the sheer drop offs. I was scared.  But then I saw people with babies on the beach, so clearly I am less fearless than Hawaiian locals.)

You follow the twists and turns and good old LP eventually leads you to the most beautiful and startling red sand beach. And then you wonder, how the heck is Hawaii allowed to be so devastatingly gorgeous?



*Be careful not to speak too adoringly of LP whilst on your honeymoon. Mike made me a few comments about me loving my Lonely Planet books more than him. Untrue!

Shave ice eating, photo taking, people watching, and boardwalk strolling in Lahaina, Maui.

While in Kihei, Maui, our condo was across the street from a beach. Occasionally we crossed the street, just in time for the 6.30 pm sunset. There's nothing really like a sunset over the ocean, and inevitably we would begin plotting ways to live close to an ocean and in a warmer climate.

We usually discuss: Vancouver (still too cold in the winter and not enough sunshine), California (sunny, but tricky with visas), Australia (free healthcare!, but very far away from our families). We'll see where we end up in coming years, but it really would be most ideal if California or Hawaii simply became part of Canada. Pourquoi pas? ;)

little bits from our hawaiian honeymoon.

(oahu&maui)

many more to come.

*check out the flickr album for descriptions of each photo*

hanauma bay, ohau | waimea bay, ohau

Our honeymoon to Hawaii was the best trip I have ever taken. It was the perfect combination of complete relaxation (napping, reading, lying on the beach) and uncharacteristic spurts of athletic activity (surfing, snorkeling, scuba diving). Two weeks was also the ideal amount of time to be away - we were well rested and eager to re-connect with family and friends.

Unfortunately we came home to a very messy house. It looked like a hurricane had hit it - wedding stuff, my stuff from moving in, suitcases from our honeymoon - a veritable disaster! We've been busy trying to give it some semblance of order, but I seem to have hit a roadblock with our bedroom. It's been sitting there for a few days, crying for attention, but I keep finding more pressing things to do... Hopefully I'll attack it this afternoon!

Thanks for being patient with the blogging break & for all your sweet comments on the last post. More photos will be coming soon! In the meantime, check out our fuji instax shots from Hawaii here (this one is my favourite!).

(all photobooth images available here)

We're married! It was beautiful, hilarious, laid back, and the happiest day of our lives. But we are more than ready to say good-bye to wedding to-do lists and hello to Hawaii this evening! While out there, we'll be taking a facebook/blogger/twitter two week break, so we'll see you on the flip side, friends!

Love, Mike & Janis

*Check out a few wedding instagrams on my twitter.

This past week, Mike & I booked our plane tickets to Hawaii for our honeymoon! Neither of us have ever been & we are deliriously excited. We plan to be on the island of Oahu for 4-5 days (Honolulu, Waikiki, the North Shore) and then on the island of Maui for about 10 days (road to Hana and then the west coast, most likely staying in Kihei & Lahaina).

Honeymoon planning has been a welcome diversion this semester. I've already devoured Lonely Planet: Maui and Lonely Planet: Oahu and pestered Kylie quite a bit (she has been extremely helpful!). We have a tentative itinerary plotted out, but we would love to hear any suggestions you might have. Places to visit, spots to avoid, where to stay, where to eat... anything!

Thanks so much!
 
*Postcard seen here. Design by Mike.