hawaiian beach smoothie

This is the third in a series of tropical drink recipes.

There are times when we need a creamy tropical drink to transport us to the islands. Right now with much of the Midwest, east coast and Europe freezing a tropical break is the perfect get away. Maybe you have a tropical escape planned, if so this is the perfect drink to rev up your island mood.

 This smoothie recipe is island inspired and delightful!

Serves 2

1 1/2 cups pineapple juice

1/3 cup coconut milk ( I opted for the thicker coconut cream)

5 1/2 oz vanilla ice cream (I opted for Edy’s coconut pineapple limited edition)

1 cup frozen pineapple chunks (these are an awesome snack, even without the drink.)

2 Tbsp fresh grated coconut

2 scooped out coconut shells

Pour pineapple juice and coconut milk into a food processor or blender, add ice cream and process until smooth. Add frozen pineapple chunks and process.  Pour mixture into coconut shells and garnish with grated coconut. This smoothie is all about island pleasure and will transport your taste buds to the islands.

Recipe credit Smoothies and Juices by: Christine Ambridge and Sarah Beettie 2004 Parragon Publishing

Photo credit Lisa Overman

This smoothie and juice cook book is excellent and contains several other island inspired drinks.

 

We all face moments when we wish to escape to the tropics but have absolutely no way to leave our responsibilities behind. I faced that very challenge for the last two weeks, so I write this post from a place of empathy for others feeling the need to escape without the means to do so.

 Health issues and serious tests kept me from the escape I wished for. For some it is a job that demands too many hours, young children or lack of vacation time. Whatever it is we still need to find ways to take a mental break and allow the waves of peacefulness to flow over our souls as we strive to move through our challenges.

 

 For me creating a mental break to the tropics takes different forms depending upon my mood or available time. Some days just reading a travel adventure book such as Beth’s Wanderlust and Lipstick is enough to give me the mental break I need. Other times I need a more sensual reminder of the tropics, island scented bath products are an immediate boost to my senses and bring me a quick, beautiful reminder of the islands I love. Another favorite mental escape for me is listening to the music of the islands, my favorites include IZ, Keali’i Reichel, and Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar music. For further ideas check out Travel Tracks with Anne Stewart she gives readers a glimpse at music from around the globe to relax with.

 Another wonderful little boost is to enlarge and frame pictures or postcards of your favorite tropical escapes. I delight in seeing my special photos of the islands throughout my home. They allow me to take a deep a breath in difficult moments and remember with joy being in that special spot on the islands.

The foods I’ve enjoyed on vacation take me back to those special places when I can’t get there in person. Once in a while I will go online and order my favorite Hawaiian cookies as a part of a trip down memory lane. Think of a special food you love from a vacation past and order it or cook it at home. For some outstanding international food ideas check out Myscha’s World Eats and Reader’s Treats.

 We all have moments when we need to escape and I hope I’ve given you something to inspire a mini break to the tropics. 

Photo credits Flickr photos

Pierre Lesage aerial Tahiti Hotel Novotel Beach Club

 and Jules_1200r Fiji Waterfall

Photo Credit: Merriman’s Market Cafe Website

Merriman’s Market Cafe is an offshoot of Merriman’s Restaurants found on Kauai, Maui and The Big Island. Merriman’s Big Island location is now celebrating 20 years of service. They are known for excellent food, 90% of which is grown locally and much of it grown organically. They have been awarded Best Big Island Restaurant for 12 years in a row by Honolulu Magazine.

During my stay on the Big Island of Hawaii I had the opportunity to eat lunch at Merriman’s Market Cafe in Waikoloa. They have created an atmosphere of comfort and relaxed style with the addition of this new Market Cafe; a bright and airy casual island dining stop. The food is diverse, fresh and interesting. I found a wonderful menu selection during my visit and had a lovely corner seat overlooking the window. My choice for lunch was a Pomegranate Salad which I found light and fresh. I felt for lunch it was a little pricey at $15, but reminded myself meals in Hawaii are expensive in general, and I was getting the creative creations of a wonderful chef in the islands. Merriman’s Restaurants and Merriman’s Market Cafe makes a wonderful stop during any Hawaiian island adventure.

 

For many around the world dark, cold, short on sunshine days are the norm right now. So what can be done with little expense to create some tropical delight while counting down to your vacation escape?

1. If you already have a destination selected then start with a screen saver of your soon to be escape. You can do a google search for screen savers. Just find a photo that soothes your soul until your flight departs.

2. If your next escape is a tropical one consider bringing home an exotic plant such as an orchid or anthurium. Place it in a prominent location where you see it often. The gorgeous tropical foliage and flowers will be a visual reminder that you are soon going to be on your way to paradise!

3. Make a special meal that includes foods from your destination for a travel companion or for friends. Sharing your excitement helps builds the pleasure and anticipation of your upcoming adventure.

4. Listen to music that originates from your destination.

5. Begin to create a folder of research on your destination. Print off internet articles, photos and magazine features that give you something to focus on in the challenging moments when all you want to do is escape to the airport!

Check back for more tips on escaping the dark days of winter….

Photo Credit; Mexico Lisa Overman

During my years living on the island of Oahu I had many opportunities to discover island delights. One of my favorite finds on the islands is a perfume and bath product line by Terra Nova called Island Escapes. I’ve continued to love and use this line for a decade. Using these products with their island scents immediately fills my senses with the flowers of the islands I came to love.

The Terra Nova product I originally feel in love with was the Pikake perfume essence, which in Hawaii is known as the Hawaiian wedding flower and is used for wedding and special occasion leis. I later expanded my love of this line to the shower gel and body butter. The scent of the pikake flower is intoxicating and delights the senses. The shower gel is an excellent product which allows you a decadent sense of being surrounded by this Hawaiian flower. The body butter is a rich and deeply moisturizing product that is excellent for those with dry skin.

Recently I contacted a Terra Nova representative to expand my knowledge of their product lines. They were kind enough to send me a variety of their products to sample. They’ve expanded their product range with a line of island inspired products.

Their Island Song  line was new to me. The packaging drew me in reminding me of a 1940’s style Hawaiian travel poster with a ukulele and Hawaiian leaves and blossoms.  The Coco Mango Perfume Touch I tested is a small roller style bottle containing a light coconut mango perfume oil.  “The scents of luscious mango and creamy coconut are mixed with a splash of pineapple, vanilla, jasmine and orange blossoms.” This product blew me away. I thought nothing could touch my love of the pikake perfume essence, but this one quickly delighted my senses with it’s light tropical island scent. Their Island Song Coco Mango body butter was an equally delightful discovery. It offered great coverage and a rich island scent.

I had the opportunity to try several other Island Escape products including a Tuberose perfume essence, Gardenia bath salts, Gardenia lotion  and Tuberose shower gel. The Tuberose is another flower often used in Hawaiian leis and is a scent that immediately reminds me of the islands. This shower gel and perfume essence are from the same line as the Pikake and are equally as wonderful. The Gardenia scent was quite nice, but for my taste the lotion didn’t offer the coverage I needed. It felt thick but didn’t over the necessary moisturizing that drier skin requires. The Gardenia bath salts were better. They left my skin feeling silky in the bath and the Gardenia scent I remembered from Hawaii was light and beautiful. With the Terra Nova lines of bath and perfume products your senses can be touched by the sensual pleasure of the islands of Hawaii anytime.

This is the first in a series of Day Escapes. 

These days it seems everyone is overscheduled and wishing for a day of tranquility and escape. Is this sounding familar to the theme running through your head? I know my thoughts touch on escaping from my daily grind several times a week. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve considered packing a bag and heading for the airport to see what international flights are available and where my escape could take me. Tahiti would be very high on my list at the moment.

 Okay I can’t head for Tahiti yet and you probably can’t either so what options do we have when our schedule is kicking our butts and we need real peace? I opt for day trips when I have no time for a longer get away. Even a day gives you a sense of space to reflect and recharge a little bit. Those hours away bring you a calm that hopefully carries through the rest of the week or month when your life is going full throttle.

Madison, WI Botanical Garden

 One day trip that brings me a great deal of calm and peace is a visit to a botanical garden. I can spend hours wandering the gardens enjoying the natural sounds, the scents of the flowers and the views of small ponds. In the winter I love the climate controlled glass green houses of fabulous tropical flowers that give you a glimpse of another world with their exotic beauty. One particular garden comes instantly to my mind; The Botanischer Garten in Berlin, Germany. This garden became my haven in the dark cold Berlin winters that drove me crazy.

 In my search for botanical gardens I found this handy list of gardens, state by state on Wikipedia. That way no matter where you live in the US you have a list of options. If you live outside the US then this is the list for you, International Botanical Gardens. Botanical Gardens are just one option for a day escape. Check back periodically and I will add another day escape to my list of quick adventures!

Photo Credit Lisa Overman

The desire to kick back on a beautiful patio is pretty much universal. With these plant ideas you can give your patio the tropical twist you’ve always desired. Michigan Bulb Co is one option for ordering plants and gives you the ability to search for plants by growing zone. The Orange Candle Flower  is one particularly beautiful plant that grows in several zones of the country. Plants like this one give you an opportunity to create a tropical feel to your patio even in the colder climates. Northscaping is another company with a selection of tropical looking plants for those growing plants in the less tropical portions of the country. I uncovered several other tropical style plant options that can also be grown in colder climates. These include the  Hibiscus Sub Zero Mix, Bleeding Heart, Honeysuckle Vine and the Pink Flamingo Plant.

 In my research for this article I discovered a book I hadn’t seen before called Hot Plants for Cool Climates; Gardening With Tropical Plants in Temperate Zones. With the combination of all these delightful treats you will be on your way to creating a tropical haven wherever you live!

 Flickr photo by: Mondomuse

I’ve been intriqued by the idea of outdoor showers since a trip to Bali where my bungalow had an outdoor garden shower. I enjoyed the tropical flowers, warm fresh air, star filled skies and the decadence of a private walled garden shower. The memory of that experience and several similar experiences since then have convinced me that outdoor showers are indeed a treasure.

 I hadn’t put a lot of thought into creating my own outdoor shower until I had friends visiting my place near the beach. When they returned from the beach they worried about dragging sand into my home from their suits, towels and belongings. It was during their visit that I began to consider ideas for an outdoor shower. There are many choices in outdoor showers and the options really come down to the uniqueness of your particular home or situation. This outdoor shower link has some elegant and simple options. I particularly liked their footbath option for simplicity and the fact that it could be hooked to the hose. This option could work for every family!

In my case I need something easy, which doesn’t require installing outdoor plumbing and can be removed in a pinch. My best option for this living space is an outdoor portable solar shower. It is something that can be used with little fuss and solves my problem of visitors bringing sand into the house after a  day at the beach. I have a large outdoor patio off my garage and this is the perfect spot for a solar shower. Visitors can get out of their car, walk through the garage, hang their beach things on hooks and enjoy a few minutes of tropical escape surrounded by plants and flowers while washing off the sand of their beach visit.

Finding a vacation spot that touches our soul is precious and finding more than one is simply a gift that resonates within our heart always to be remembered. There are many wonderful spots in the Hawaiian islands, but three in particular touch my heart and keep me returning again and again.

 

The first is Byodo Temple in Kaneohe, on the island of Oahu. This gorgeous temple is located at the foot of the Ko’olau Mountains which just adds to the serenity and beauty of the temple and grounds. Byodo Temple was built as a replica of the Byodoin Temple in Uji, Japan, which is on the southern outskirts of Kyoto.

Oahu’s Byodo Temple has a lovely Japanese garden, wandering peacock, a koi pond and a peace bell which visitors can ring when they enter the grounds. Ringing this bell is said to bring peace and prosperity; the sound of the bell is lovely and resonates through the gardens for others to enjoy. Visitors can walk, feed the koi fish and take time for silence. Visitors to the temple are asked to remove their shoes before entering  and to enjoy the temple in silence. Here you can take time for reflection in front of a beautiful nine foot tall Buddha statue that sits on a lotus flower.

  Pu’u O Mahuka is another of those amazing places that everyone should experience while in Hawaii. It’s tucked away so I only discovered it through a friend. Since then I have returned many times for the peace of the sacred grounds and the stunning view of Waimei Bay. Pu’u O Mahuka is registered as a historical site on Oahu. This heiau (temple) site is considered a sacred site to most Hawaiians so objects on the grounds of the site should not be disturbed; but the peace and beauty of the place will be memorable long after you depart.  

The third spot is Pu’uhonua o Hanaunau or Place of Refuge. This is an ancient and sacred spot on the Big Island of Hawaii.  Ancient priests were required to offer shelter and forgive wrong doing if a person was able to swim and reach the heilu before their pursuers caught them. This sacred spot remains a place of serenity and beauty; the energy of the area enfolds you with it’s calm and draws you to explore the grounds and enjoy the replica buildings showing what ancient life may have been like. Another treat is the unexpected visits of  sea turtles which are protected and can only be watched from a distance in the park.  The park falls under the Hawaii State Parks system and park rangers can be found on the grounds as well as a visitors center.

Byodo Temple Photo by: Lisa Overman

Pu’u O Mahuka Photo by The Queen of Subtle flickr photo

Maui is one of those heavenly destinations that’s gorgeous from almost every spot; but one in particular keeps visitors focused in the moment, the drive over the top of west Maui. This drive is not the one visitors generally hear about when planning a trip to Maui. Many visitors focus their attention on the drive to Hana, which makes this particular drive that much more fun as there are few cars, stunning views, cliffs, hair pin turns and delightful beach stops. Along the way you’ll even discover the tiny village of Kahakuloa with it’s charming church overlooking the ocean.

 Realistically you want to give yourself four hours or more for this drive. This gives you plenty of time to make little stops to explore beaches, views and the reality of driving on winding west Maui roads. The drive it’s self is about 25 miles and the road is quite good; I used Maui Revealed as my companion guide for the drive. I made the drive alone, so taking pictures was pretty much impossible except at pull out stops or beach stops and overlooks. If you want pictures of the most stunning views then a companion is necessary.

The drive is incredible, hands down it is one of the most memorable days I’ve ever spent on a vacation and this is probably due to the fact that this drive requires you to live completely in the moment. The roads are narrow, curvy and have hair pin and blind curves. There are two small one to two mile sections of the road that narrow to one lane. One is going into and out of Kahakuloa so visitors need to drive extremely slowly and be ready to pull into a turnout to allow a vehicle to pass. Maui Revealed recommends making the drive from west to east in a clockwise direction. They say the sights are better from this direction and that visitors rarely discover the drive from the other direction so traffic would be flowing with you. Also they note that driving from this direction allows you to be on the inside lane, which is always more comforting when passing a car on a narrow stretch. Their guide book devotes nearly seven and a half pages to this drive and it’s gorgeous sights.

One of my first stops on the drive was Mokule’ia Bay or Slaughter House Beach. I know, it sounds disgusting but let me assure you, it is worth the stop. The beach received this unflattering name  in the 1960’s due to the fact that a slaughterhouse used to be in operation on the cliff overlooking the beach.  Today there is only a gorgeous beach which  is accessible with concrete steps down to the shoreline walkway. The day I visited there were only a handful of people on the beach and the waves were those rocking surf waves that Hawaiian beaches are famous for. This was not a swim beach; only a well versed surfer would want to handle the undertow and waves I watched. Yet the wild beauty of the waves, and the rocky cliff make it a great stop on your journey.

Another must see is the Nakalele Blowhole. The view and amount of water you will see shoot into the sky varies with the tides and the surf. I saw a pretty amazing view but my Maui Revealed guide said it can shoot as much as 70 feet in the air! This is a spot you can enjoy viewing for some time. The rugged and treacherous lava and rocky coastal view here are quite breathtaking.

 One of my stops was one recommended by Maui Revealed. Panini Pua Kea Fruit Stand is located outside of Kahakuloa and feels pretty much in the middle of no where. You notice it as you are passing the large pull off and you can easily pull right in. This is a must stop break from the intense driving and for the homemade cookies and banana bread she sells. I chose the cranberry oatmeal cookies that she sold and they were the best I’ve ever tasted. I have wished many a time to be back at that tiny wooden stand to enjoy those cookies with a view of the water! According to Maui Revealed the banana bread is made by a woman named Julie, and  is the best on the planet. I have to say I give the same rating to the Oatmeal Cranberry cookies!

One of my favorite aspects of this drive is the fact that it takes intense concentration. You are livin in the moment. There is no worrying about anything besides what you are doing on that road and the beautiful sights you are seeing out the window. It is probably the closest you can get to a focused meditation without meditating I have ever experienced. It is just you, the road and the beauty of west Maui surrounding you.

The view down on Kahakuloa town is to die for. It is this tiny village in the middle of a lush green valley, surrounded by cliffs. There is a tiny, charming church and a water view. I will never forget that view or the hairpin turns and curves with no guard rail! Memorable doesn’t begin to describe it! 

Kahakuloa area  flickr photo by: y etonces

West Maui Hawaiian Congregational Church flickr photo by: Mozul