Volcanoes, Turtles and Coffee
Trip Start
Nov 16, 2009
1
16
20
Trip End
Dec 16, 2009
Where I stayed
Honolulu, Hawaii
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
a small problem as the flight out to the big island of Hawai'i was delayed for an hour, but once we arrived the tour company (Roberts tours) were brilliant!
first stop - the kona coffee plantation for free coffee and to look at the place where Captain cook landed and was eventually killed. The driver had an interesting story handed down from his family (who was allegedly there) is that as a god, the bones of captain cook had to be hidden so no other chief could control him after death - so they dismembered Captain cook and took his bones back to his ship.
after the Kona plantation we went to black sand beach, where sea turtles come to rest and the 'sand' is fragments of volcanic glass. I saw a Sea Turtle! (at long last).
Then onto the Volcanoes - due to the fact that these are the most active volcanoes in the world and today they were quite active we were kept well back. At the observation platform the air was full of C02 & sulphur it was quite difficult to breath. we had lunch overlooking the volcano's caldera.
After looking at the volcanoes we walked through a lava tube - fortunately empty of magma. Then into a tropical rain-forest with tree ferns.
we then went to an orchid farm where the world most expensive orchid is raised - $18,000 per plant!
after a visit to a chocolate factory - lots of freebies :) - we went to Rainbow Falls to see the 80-foot waterfall as it rushes into a large pool below, almost 100 feet in width.
we then drove around the island and back to the airport and finally collapsed into bed around 22:30.
A long but very enjoyable day!
