The World Is My Oyster: 2009

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Fountains at the Hilton Grand Wailea

The Hilton Grand Wailea Pool

This morning. It's our last day in Hawai'i. d=(
Awesome swimming pools at the Hilton Grand Wailea.
They have a chain of several swimming pools that connect
to each other via waterslides. This hotel has the only known
water elevator where you ride a pontoon from the lower level
pool to an upper level pool!

To Bee A Tiger

A piece of art I liked at the Wailea Shops gallery.

Happy Chanukkah!

Friday, December 18, 2009

Hilton Grand Wailea Bar

We made it to the other side of Haleakala!
Read more about the Hilton Grand Wailea in The Ultimate Maui Guidebook.

Sunrise on Friday 12/18/09

We leave Hawai'i tomorrow. d=(

Thursday, December 17, 2009

What a view!

Hana Hotel.

Ahi (yellowfin tuna) sashimi

Awesome fresh ahi sashimi at the Hotel Hana Maui
served with natural ground wasabi, grown locally.

Gary relaxing at the Hana Hotel Bar

Aaaaaaaahhhhhhh! Finally off my darned feet!

David slipped here!...behind the camera is a cliff!

The hike to the red sand beach.

Red Sand Beach

Hana's well-known red sand beach. Also a nude beach, I might add! LOL! Ya' know, some people were just meant to wear something...ANYTHING...puh-lease!!! ROFL!

Sunrise on the East side of Haleakala volcano

Oooooooh, aaaaaaaaahhhhhhh! d=).

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Koi pond at Hotel Hana Maui

David at Lunch, Hotel Hana Maui

David at Lunch, Hotel Hana Maui.

Sunrise on Hamoa Beach

Sunrise on Hamoa Beach this morning.

Closeup of Hamoa Beach Sunrise

Hamoa Beach this morning.

After sunrise

Hamoa Beach.

Sunrise on Hamoa Beach

Sunrise on Hamoa Beach this morning.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

David at Ho'okipa Beach Park

Ho'okipa Beach

Ho'okipa Beach Park. Lotsa' windsurfers & surfers come here to the North shore of Maui.
Just west of Ho'okipa Beach is Mama's Fish House Restaurant. Awesome food, but a bit
expensive! We did dinner for 2 with two drinks and one dessert for $230! If only for the
atmosphere, it was worth it.

Pa'ia Fish Market

Lunch at Pa'ia fish market at Baldwin Rd. & the Hana Highway.
I had the Ahi tuna burger & fries and David had the Mahi fish & chips.
Good prices and both were meals to enjoy!

Monday, December 14, 2009

Sunset over the island of Lana'i

Sunset tonight over the island of Lanai. Tomorrow we leave for Hana in Maui.

Humpback whales are awake at 6:30AM!

Whale ho!

Molokini Crater at 6:30AM

On our way. Even G-d isn't awake at this hour!!!

David, on our way to Molokini Crater

David, semi-conscious, headed to snorkeling at Molokini Crater at 6:30AM.
Suggestion if you are going to go snorkeling or scuba diving...shave your
moustache before you go out. A lot of men complain of having a leaky mask
while diving, and they invariably have a moustache which is letting water
flood into their mask during the dive. Nothing ruins your diving experience
more than not being able to enjoy the swim!

Sunday, December 13, 2009

The Whaler's Shopping Center in Ka'anapali

Shopping at The Whaler's in Ka'anapali.
Very nice shopping area in the Whaler's Village. You can find
all sorts of T-shirts, Sarongs, knick knacks, jewelry, Hawai'ian
quilts, suntan oils, sunglasses, beachwear, diving equipment, and food.
Great dining at The Hula Grille!

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Dining at the chef's table at the Hula Grill

The kitchen at the chef's table at the Hula Grill. Awesome wood-fire grilled Ono tonight!
Chef Bobby Masters does an awesome job in the kitchen here.
Little known secret: Ask to be seated at the chef's table. If there's room, you'll
bypass the 45-minute waiting line out in front, and be seated with this view at the bar
or at one of 3 tables, set back a little bit from the bar. If the chef does more
for you than just conversation, then remember to tip generously! These guys are
hard workers and they really perform in the kitchen!

Sheraton Black Rock Resort

The view looking South on Ka'anapali beach from the Sheraton Black Rock Resort.

Boats moored off the beach at the Sheraton Black Rock Resort

Ahoy maties! They be boats off shore!

View of the island of Lana'i from Maui

The view of the island of Lana'i this morning from Ka'anapali, Maui at the Sheraton Black Rock Resort.

The Island of Moloka'i seen from Ka'anapali, West Maui

Waking up to this view of the island of Molokai from our 3rd floor balcony at the Sheraton Black Rock Resort on Maui.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Pho Noodle Soup for lunch!

I love Vietnamese Pho Noodle Soup!
This is served very well at the Pho Danh Restaurant at Braker Lane and Lamar Blvd. in Austin, TX.

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Former First Lady Barbara Bush thanks the Texas A&M Choir.

Presidents Obama and G. H. W. Bush leave the podium with Defense Secretary Gates.

President Obama arrives at the podium to speak.

The arrival of Former President George H. W. Bush at the podium.

The 44th President, Barack Obama at the podium. Former President George H. W. Bush seated at left and Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

Former President George H. W. Bush (Sr.) at the podium and defense Secretary Robert Gates, seated.

Left, the moderator of the forum.
Center, US Trade Ambassador Ron Kirk. He is also the former mayor of the city of Dallas, TX.
Right, I don't recall her name, but she is President Obama's appointee Public volunteerism.

Former Senator Sam Nunn of Georgia speaking during the forum.

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (blocked by the cell phone! Aaargh!) and Jan Forney at the Points of Light event.

A group photo at the Points of Light event

From left to right, Jan Forney representing her charity from Waco, Gary Davidson Point of Light Award winner #1830, and A charming lady from McAllen TX who won Point of Light Award #138, I think her name was Bianca.
This is the best picture of the set form my camera...probably because someone else took the photo!!! d=)