Pearl Harbor Hawaii

On November 27, 1998 we both flew on Delta Airlines to Oahu, Hawaii.

Staying at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa.

Will show more later about that part...

On December 2, we were ready to go on the bus for E NOA Pearl Harbor Tours by 8:45 AM.

A very interesting tour with a movie of December 7, 1941.

We went with a Navy boat to the USS Arizona Memorial which is placed on top of the sunken wreckage.

Over 1,100 names on the wall; all from this ship.

The captain's name was Franklin Van Valkenburgh (a Dutch name!)...

Also a Father and his Son...

Many Brothers...

A chilling experience to stand there!

The USS Arizona Memorial is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.

Every American ought to visit here...

It is mind boggling to read the history...

The Visitor Center is open every day from 7:30 A.M. to 5 P.M. 

Only on Memorial Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's day it is closed.

Day of Infamy... 7 December 1941

USS Arizona as she appeared before destruction, December 7, 1941.

May PEACE prevail as this is so devastating...

Has any of you ever visited the USS Arizona Memorial in Oahu, Hawaii?

Related links:

Our Vacation at Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa | post by me about our stay

Oahu Hawaii Majestic Circle Island Tour | post by me about yet another tour we took

Exploring Banff with Brewster Sightseeing

Our Rocky Mountaineer journey is completed, so now we enjoy exploring Banff with Brewster Sightseeing.
Banff National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel sits right in the center of it!

Here, husband Pieter is seen left from the bench at 7:55 AM in the morning. It is nearly impossible to capture this enormous hotel!

Yes, we did rise early as this was our breakfast at 7:08 AM.
At STOCK Food & Drink, I'd ordered Avocado on Toast without salt added.

We got picked up at our Fairmont Banff Springs hotel by coach and started our 4.5 hour guided bus tour.

At 8:54 AM we arrive here at the Gondola Base, but it is raining...

Okay, we will start our 8 minutes trip up on Sulphur Mountain...

It is what it is, the weather is NOT good, no view at 9:09 AM.
We see hardly the Gondola Base to the right of husband Pieter...

Here I am standing at the Summit in front of a nice 'clear' photo of what this Bow Valley should look like from upon high!
Cold too, I'm enjoying my down filled Escada hand muff!
Both our down filled jackets felt great here in Banff!

A strong wind as well and a white world...
Nobody is using the board walk where you can get to Sanson Peak.
Just click here on: Brewster Sightseeing for exploring it all under excellent conditions!

This COULD be viewed on a clear day and you see the board walk.
See more here at Banff Gondola just click it and scroll down.

At 9:20 AM I at least can read why so blue? The brilliant turquoise color of glacial lakes appears due to 'rock flour', or tiny grains of rock ground up by moving glaciers.

Leaving husband Pieter inside at the Summit with a hot coffee, I go outside again.
Very windy and no view!

Husband Pieter captured me outside, after he finished his coffee.
My hair is wildly blowing in the wind and it was COLD!
Oh sure, I enjoyed a hot cup of tea as well; felt great inside my cold hands.
Too bad we completely missed this spectacular 360º view from the top of this Summit. No use for even getting there...

This is where I stand in the snow...

Such a small world...

At 10:09 AM we're back down at the Gondola Base

While we wait for our bus to continue our sight seeing tour, we admire the bearings of the gondola!

My hand on top of such a sturdy steel cable...

At 11:00 AM we're outside near Bow Falls and noticed these spectacular fall colors, even if the light was not good.

Here Pieter is standing at Bow Falls.

This is where Pieter is standing, near the edge of the Bow River and the very rough falls, no rafting possible due to the rocks.

Next stop is #3 - Surprise Corner

The site of our hotel, is in the lower part, center as seen from Surprise Corner.

The driver brings us across the Bow River now where we capture our Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel.
No mountains visible... Surprise Corner was a very limited view for us!

Across from the Bow River now.

Pieter standing next to the beautiful fence made from bright orange Douglas fir.
Uhm, my husband is not related to Micky Mouse... just one snap on the flap of his hat came loose!

Explanation about DOUGLAS FIR

Even these posts seem to be made of Douglas fir!
Excellent directions though, everything looked so meticulous and clean.

Here we are near the Hoodoos at 11:55 AM.
A unique sight that is as impressive as it is awe-inspiring: hoodoos. Formed from volcanic rock over 200 million years ago, these wonders were created due to erosion, rain, frost, and snow. Legend says that the hoodoos are actually giants that come to life at night to protect the region, but because you will be traveling through the hoodoos during the day, you will never know!

The Hoodoos, seen at center...

At 12:00 noon, the Hoodoos

The beautiful fall colors at the edge of Lake Minnewanka where part of the group got off for a cruise on the lake.

Lake Minnewanka...

That was our 4.5 hour guided bus tour... We only did the Banff Gondola and not the Lake Minnewanka Cruise!
Back to our Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel where for the first time since 5 days, poor Pieter was able to take a nap!
At that time I could work a bit on my MacBook in our cozy room.

By 16:00 it was 4ºC or 39ºF and it will go down to -4ºC or 25ºF

Around 18:00 we enjoyed a cozy early supper... Pieter liked a soup and I know that it would be too high in sodium for me so I ordered something different.

The fluffy puff pastry with arugula and fresh veggies inside proved to be a good choice!
Also my salad was good.

Since they earned a positive review on TripAdvisor, that's what I did.
Excellent for Breakfast and for a Quick Supper! click link.
Their very courteous reply shows that the Fairmont Hotels have the highest courtesy!!!

When I looked out of our window at 19:30 the mountains were almost entirely visible!
We enjoyed our down duvet and the lovely pillows and had a good night sleep for our 2nd night here.
Once again, the special bargains you get when booking through Canada Rail Vacations makes you feel like Royalty! They only select the BEST!

Enjoy below my short 55 second video from Relive:

Relive 'EXPLORE BANFF TOUR INCL GONDOLA'

        

Thanks for your visit and comment and stay tuned for more...

Related links:
Our Kamloops to Banff Trip Aboard the Rocky Mountaineer via Canada Rail Vacation | previous post
Our Canada Rail Vacation Aboard the Rocky Mountaineer Vancouver to Kamloops | previous post
Vancouver British Columbia, Canada in 1996 and back again in 2018 | previous post by me
BANFF GONDOLA - Sulphur Mountain Gondola | Great Youtube video on a clear day!

Fairmont Banff Springs Vacation Travel Guide | Expedia | short Youtube video showing the hotel

My 1st Trip to India - Consulting Together with Husband Pieter

On March 2, 1990 we both traveled from Atlanta, USA (yes we had moved back from Italy) to Amsterdam, The Netherlands in 8 hours on a KLM Royal Dutch Airline flight.
There we had a layover of some 8 hours.
On days like that it is priceless for having an airline courtesy card with access to their business class lounge. For reading, writing and relaxing. We also did make phone calls (old fashioned coin machine) with the family in The Netherlands.
We left again on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines for Delhi, India and on Sunday, March 4 we arrived early morning in Delhi at 6:00. 
Through customs and checking in for the flight to Madras (now Chennai), the capital of the state Tamil Nadu.

A representative of Pond's India Ltd. did meet us and drop us off at the Trident hotel in Madras. 

We were exhausted and slept till 19:00 and had some room service as food and by 22:00 in bed for the night.

On Monday March 5, we got up at 3:30 and re-packed our suitcases for an early flight at 6:15 to Coimbatore. We would be going on to Indonesia for living and working there. So we packed only our work clothes for the job here and the other suitcases stayed behind with Pond's.
In Coimbatore we were met by a person from Pond's India mushrooms. 

A very dusty but interesting ride up into the Nilgiri Mountains, to our destination in Ooty.

The first time that I saw an elephant in one of the villages, donkeys, buffalos and lots of monkeys alongside the road.
Passing palmtree woods and eucalyptus tree woods.

We arrived at the Mushroom plant by 11:30 and we got garlanded as a traditional welcome.
We filled that first day till 18:00 - we were very tame by then...

It had been a long day, since we got up at the Trident hotel in Madras...
Waking up at 3:30 in the morning in order to go to work!

Just to show you the luxury of hotels in India. Elegant setting in a garden; indeed!
But we hardly could indulge as we were there only for 1 short night.

So here we are now at the Savoy Hotel Cottages in Ooty.
For 11 nights, so we have now a base to start from and don't have to pack every day...
The Taj Group's Savoy is one of Ooty's oldest hotel with parts of it dating back to 1829.
These 19th century cottages are surrounded by 6 acres of landscaped gardens.

Such lovely garden and this huge Orchid cactus lived in a tree.
We took a starter home from this...
Ooty is called the Queen of Hill Stations, a former British Resort area and it is nestled in the Nilgiri hills (can be translated as The Blue Mountains). Eucalyptus trees grow in this area and also the Neelakurinji flower turns the hills blue, every 12 years! Click on link that shows the Neelakurinji in the bordering state of Kerala.
Ooty Udagamandalam (also known as Ootacamund and abbreviated as Udhagai or Ooty (click link for more and for photos).
Just to give you an idea how we traveled to our work during those 11 days.
There is a famous Botanical Garden and they have thousands of Roses...
So much to see and explore but as usual, we were not there as tourists! 

~
One morning in our 2nd week, we did ride the Nilgiri Mountain Railway from Ooty to Ketti station.
Actually a Toy Train...
It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since July 2005. Click the above pink hyperlink to learn more.
Nilgiri Railway was made famous through cinema first in 1984 with David Lean's 'A Passage to India'.

This is a short video about Nilgiri Mountain Railway and at 10:44 you can see the Ketti Station where we got off.
Quite an experience!

Ketti station is at 2,109m or 6919 feet altitude and it goes till Fern Hill at a height of 2,193m or 7195 feet, the highest point on the railroad. Shortly before Ooty, the line dips downhill.

Now you also know why the Palace, where husband Pieter dined during his solo trip, is called Fernhills Palace, once the Maharaja of Mysore's summer residence. (see post below about Husband Pieter's ADVENTUROUS 2nd Trip to India).

We both worked with pleasure at this mushroom plant high in the mountains.
Very nice staff and also my group of harvesters and supervisors with whom I worked rather intense.

Stay tuned for more in my next post and thanks for your visit and comment!

Previous post:
Husband Pieter's ADVENTUROUS 2nd Trip to India | previous post by me