Japan 2025

Arrived and stayed our first night in Narita so we could get local currency and download money on our Suica card app, used for train, subway even purchases at some stores. Decided we would like to get to Tokyo after a night of sleep! Our first breakfast was from 7-11, sandwiches, rice ball, chips, bananas, we also had 7-11 for dinner, it’s a thing here!

We then walked to a Buddhist Temple.

We took a 1 hour train to Tokyo station, biggest and busiest train station we have ever been in, it’s like a whole city with tons of people!

After finding our way out and checking into our hotel we headed out to walk around the Imperial Gardens. Had late lunch at an upper level in train station, our hotel is across the street.

We wandered around the neighborhoods and ran into a fancy department store we had read about, they have white gloved elevator attendants check out the prices of the fancy fruits!

We ended our first Tokyo day with a beautiful sunset and a delicious small plates dinner :)

Kauai April 1

I joined Dave in his morning ritual of watching the parrots fly off just after sunrise.  Then he joined me for my morning walk to Spouting Horn. Love the little cardinals. 

Cute shaved ice stand by the condo

We decided to pack up and walk to Baby Beach for some beach time. We were not there long when high winds came, blowing the umbrella out and inside out while Dave was on a walk down the beach, he noticed me struggling with it and came and helped. Then he attempted another beach walk, suddenly there was a torrential downpour and wind. I kept hold of the umbrella with one hand and grabbed our phones and kindles trying to get them somewhere to stay dry. Dave again comes back to help! We were soaked as well as everything. Dave was ready to go but I said let's stay and dry off a bit as the sun was coming out. We finally gave up on the beach  time, but I did get one picture of another cardinal!

We then decided to head into the little town of Koloa to shop around and have lunch at the Fish Market. 

Monkeypod tree

We got our lunch to go from the fish market and took it to Poipu beach park to eat. Dave got a Poke bowl and I got kalua pork and rice, which also came with broken rice, which was a really fishy slimy clear noodle thing. We chatted with a couple of women who were also having a picnic lunch who recommended we do the rum tasting at Gaylords Plantation and get a rum bar cookie. We planned to go there for lunch the next day so decided we should check it out. 

Dave's poke

We wandered around Prince Kuhio Park which is right at our condo.

Since we had such a great  time at Merrimans we decided to go there for happy hour, but first we went into a couple of shops in the mall area. 

View out of the window at Merrimans

Looking back to the bar area at Merrimans

We just had a drink, mai tai for me and a whisky sour thing for Dave. Unfortunately we left before the music started. We decided to get take out Mexican bowls from Da Crack, which had been highly recommended. We enjoyed our dinner back at the condo on the lanai. 

Later we walked across the street to enjoy another beautiful sunset.

                       

Kauai March 31

 I had prebooked a morning Wailua river kayak and hike to Secret Falls for the day. After breakfast we headed to Kapaa where we met up with the tour guide and the others guests, we were a group of 12, Dave and I were the oldest of the group. Kapaa is a great place, they have a very long thinking 12 mile paved biking/walking trail the runs along the ocean. I think if we ever come back we would stay in this area. 

We were all transported to the marina where we then got into our 2 person kayaks and paddled for over an  hour solid to reach the falls! Dave and I were not last, but middle of the pack, go us! 

We then arrived to the start of the hike to the falls, we passed through tall grass, had some areas that were a board walk and climbed over some rocks, and crossed streams, but all in all an easy 1 mile hike.

Our guide has made friends with this little bird, I can't remember what it is.  He actually call for it and it came then he hand fed it a worm.

We all had packed our own lunches which we ate at the falls, then I went for a quick swim!

Then we hiked and paddled back to the marina. It was a good work out day!

We had dinner reservations at Keokis Paradise, where we enjoyed a yummy dinner along with live music.

It was a great but tiring day!

Kauai- March 30

 After a quick breakfast at the condo we drove over to Poipu to get a coffee at Starbucks then on to walk around the Hyatt and along the beach trails.

Giant snail on the condo grounds

Lovely grounds at Hyatt

One of the Hyatt Pools 

Beach trail

We then went back and packed up a cooler with sandwiches and beverages and headed off to drive to Waimea Canyon.

I had read about a hiking trail that claimed to be an easy 2 mile hike. We had our lunch then found the trail. The trail head sign said it was a moderate hike, 2 miles in and 2 miles out, not the same info as my book! Since I had read  it was any easy 2 mile round trip trail we headed off without any water, we don't need water for an easy 2 miles!  After about 1/2 mile in and after seeing emergency personnel arriving at the trail head setting up a stretcher, and deciding this is a hard hike and we don't have water, we run into the man and his hiking group who are waiting for the medical help. Injured man is about 30 and seems to have fallen and broke his leg. We let them know that the medical help is right behind us. They have obviously been waiting a long time for help, someone had fashioned a great splint on his leg. We then realize this a a tough hike, us and a few other people gathering at that time decide we are heading back. We don't want to be the next medical evacuation! 

On the drive back we stopped for shaved ice at Jo Jo's in Waimea. 

We ended our day at Merrimans with drinks and food at their bar enjoying the amazing live music. We had the most enjoyable evening!