Hammock in Paradise » Islands

Mexico Delights; Fruit Smoothies

Lisa Overman - Hammock in Paradise — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 15:32:08 +0000

Last week I visited the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. While I was there I learned a great deal about Mexico, the Maya culture and surprisingly about what makes a great fruit smoothie.

Mexico offers an abundance of fresh, delicious local fruits and vegetables. Restaurants throughout the Yucatan region put these to great use by offering possibly the most delightful smoothies I have ever tasted. These were some of my favorites and they were all excellent!

A Black Velvet Smoothie at Blue Diamond Resorts Aguamarina Restaurant

My Black Velvet Smoothie was a happy breakfast accident, and it became one of the my favorite funny moments of the trip. We had a big day ahead of us and I hadn’t given myself a lot of time for breakfast so I scanned the menu quickly while talking to Dian Emery from GirlsGetAway and Dan and Audrey of Uncornered Market. Dian and I both wanted something nutritious and quick, so we each ordered what we thought was a bowl of granola cereal with berries, cherries, grapes and nuts. It was after all listed under Cereal World.

Imagine our surprise when the glass above was put in front of each of us minutes later. We looked at each other and burst out laughing. Our granola breakfast had been blended into the most delicious and filling breakfast smoothie I’d seen. It tasted great, it wasn’t lumpy or crunchy as you might expect. It was smooth, with the perfect combination of flavors and was so filling as we both felt satisfied until lunch. What we realized later was we were reading the fruit juices and smoothie menu.

A Detox Smoothie overlooking the beach at Blue Diamond Resort

I opted for the Detox Smoothie on my last morning in Playa del Carmen. We’d had multiple days of exceptional food and I wanted to start my day with something exceptionally healthy and fresh. The Detox smoothie at Blue Diamond Resort is made with fresh peach, orange, strawberry and red grapes and is a great choice for breakfast.

A Tulum fruit juice smoothie at Yaxche Restaurant in Playa del Carmen.

Yaxche is a five star diamond award wining restaurant which offers traditional Maya specialties with a cosmopolitan twist. Everything I tasted on the sampler menu was exceptional. With my dinner I enjoyed the Tulum, which was made with fresh orange juice, strawberries and mango. It was both refreshing and enjoyable.

Special thanks to the Mexico Tourism Bureau and Ogilvy PR who provided this trip. The opinions of my experience are strictly my own.

Bites and Sights on Oahu

Lisa Overman - Hammock in Paradise — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 02:28:05 +0000

Oahu is one of my favorite islands simply because I know it well. Living on the island gives you an insider’s perspective and allows you to find little spots and special views that as a visitor you might overlook, when you are pressed for time or have only a few days.

Oahu Sights

Photo Credit Craighton Miller

Punch Bowl

Punch Bowl is a wonderful place to visit to honor our veterans. The view from Punch Bowl is simply beautiful. You are on a volcanic crater overlooking the city of Honolulu and the island. If you are lucky enough to visit on a holiday such as Veteran’s Day or Memorial Day make a point to visit, but come early. There are terrific ceremonies, fly over’s, musical presentations and a deep feeling of honoring those who’ve served and those who’ve given their lives in service. I was fortunate to visit during one of the above ceremonies and I treasure my memories of that visit to Punch Bowl National Cemetery.

When preparing for your visit, please note that Punch Bowl National Cemetery is open from 8 am to 5 pm Sept 30th thru March 1 and 8am to 6:30 pm March 2 thru Sept 29. Driving directions can be found on the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific Veterans Affairs website.

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Diamond Head

This Hawaii State Park remains another treasured memory of my time on Oahu. Diamond Head State Park is a moderate hike with many switch backs and many steep steps. There is a little portion of the hike that goes through a small tunnel so a flash light is helpful. Wear walking shoes and bring water and sunscreen. The official website states that you should give yourself 1 1/2 to 2 hours for the hike. Consider bring binoculars, especially in the winter as Whales migrate to Hawaii during the winter and there is a possibility of seeing them from the summit of the crater.

Visitors to Diamond Head can enter the park from 6am to 6pm, but the last entry to the trail up the crater is at 4:30 pm. Within the park you will find restrooms, vendors and sometimes food trucks. If you want packable snacks for your hike I suggest bringing them along. Entrance into the park is $5 per car. Pedestrians enter for $1.

Oahu Bites

Photo Credit: Jefferyw Flickr

Liliha Bakery
One of my favorite discoveries on Oahu was Liliha Bakery. They make, hands down the best cream puffs (called coco puffs). In fact, they are so popular that they sell between 4,800 and 7,200 EVERY DAY! It’s an insane number of cream puffs, but they are fantastic. When I was a teacher on Oahu our staff often ordered desserts from Liliha Bakery. They are located at 515 Kuakini St. In addition to desserts and pastries they also have a diner. The hours are from 6am Tuesdays, 24 hours a day through 8 pm on Sunday. Liliha is closed all day on Mondays.

Ono Hawaiian Foods
This little gem is an island tradition. Ono Hawaiian Foods is located at 726 Kapahulu Ave, Honolulu. A friend recommended this restaurant to me 15 years ago, long before I lived there. Ono Hawaiian Foods is still going strong today and continues to be a local favorite. This is where you will find Hawaiian dishes such as Kalua Pig and Haupia, which is a coconut based pudding dessert. They only accept CASH and offer street (metered) parking.

Oahu offers many island delights, these are a few of mine. Stop back again to discover more about the islands.

Bites and Sights of Maui

Lisa Overman - Hammock in Paradise — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:01:42 +0000

The Hawaiian Islands are on my list of favorite places to escape to. Maui is an island I was late to discovering, yet I may have saved the best for last. I found Maui’s beauty creeping to the top of my Hawaiian favorites. Today I’m sharing two favorite bites and sights I loved on the island of Maui.

Maui Bites
C J’s Deli and Diner, located at 2580 Kekaa Drive off of Honoapiilani Road offers a selection of local favorites including fresh caught fish and coconut prawns. In addition they have ribs, burgers, salads and sandwiches. Lunch selections start at $7.75 at C J’s Deli and Diner and on Maui that’s a deal.

Fish Market Maui located at 3600 Honoapiilani Road in Kaanapali offers island fresh Mahi and Ahi as well as Lobster salads for $12.99. 16oz chowders made with fresh shrimp or lobster go for $6.99.

Maui Sights
These are two sights that I loved while visiting Maui.

Wailua Falls
is located at mile marker 45 on the Hana Highway. You can enjoy seeing this waterfall without hiking to reach it. If you choose to make the hike you’ll enjoy the pool at the bottom of this 80 ft waterfall.

West Maui Photo Credit: maveric2003

The View of Kahakuloa In my opinion this is one of the most beautiful views on Maui. Kahakuloa is found when making the drive up over the top of West Maui. This small village is surrounded by cliffs and sits in the midst of lush tropical valley. The view of the Kahakuloa church and this Hawaiian village is one I will never forget. In order to get a photo you’ll need a passenger. The drive is well worth the effort required. There are hair pin turns and the road requires concentration.

There are many more bites and sights to enjoy on Maui and throughout the Hawaiian islands. I hope you will join us again to discover more about one of my favorite island escapes.