夏威夷 可愛島 Kauai

夏威夷 大島Hawaii Big island

 夏威夷-大島三日遊

大島是夏威夷中最大的一個島也是一個適合上山下海的旅遊景點，我們這次去了最熱門的Kea Summit,火山爆發、 夜潛看manta ray, greenway coffee farms, black sand beach、Kahalu’u Beach。夏威夷的海灘真很棒，已經榮登我最愛的美國海灘-水很清澈、沒有什麼浪很平靜，可以在岸邊很淺的地方輕鬆浮潛看到很多魚和海龜和珊瑚。白天水溫也很合適、不會冷。還有救生員駐點，感覺很安心。

近日落的Mauna Kea Summit 天文台	夜看魔鬼魟魚 (這是我們參加團在viator的照片)
剛好遇到火山爆發	黑沙灘看海龜

所有的行程（包含租車）我們都是透過Rakuten 拿折扣然後連接到Viator 和Expedia。

歡迎使用我的推薦連結唷加入(新加入還可以拿$30USd 且此link並不會增加您的費用): Rakuten

夏威夷大島的地圖,標示我們這次去的主要的景點

我的Google map list 分享給的大家

從Kona出發到Mauna Kea Summit 大約2個小時，中間需要中停visitor center 至少30分鐘適應高海拔。自駕的話、尋山員還會確認開的車沒有四輪驅動、剎車是否有效、還有檢查是有13歲以下乘客不能上天文台。上山看雲海和落日一部分山路是彎曲的石子路，開起來很刺激。據說一般的租車保險是不涵蓋Mauna Kea Summit 因為風險太大、太容易出意外。所以我們果斷的參加了單日旅遊團。山頂海拔約4000公尺,已經超.過雲海，我們站在山頂俯瞰著連綿的雲海和火山岩光禿禿的山坡，還有各國設置的天文觀星臺，看起來就像在火星。晚上我們還停留在山頂下5分鐘的停車場觀星，因為海拔很高沒有雲的遮擋和其他光害，看到很多星星。還好我們參加的ㄧ日團，旅遊公司還提供了雪衣和雪褲，因為即使是盛夏7月山頂一樣很冷、風很大。Mauna Kea Summit 是夏威夷人的聖地，除了夏威夷當地人可以登頂，一般遊客是禁止進入的，所以我們都是在旁邊天文台的高處看雲海和看日落。這真的是一個很難忘的經驗！來到大島一定要來Mauna Kea Summit! 

火山爆發，剛好我們去火山國家公園的時候有火山爆發，從Kona 往東南開約2個半小時可以抵火山國家公園。我們從很遠的地方就可以看到火山灰和煙往上噴發像一朵大魔菇。進了國家公園可以直接看到火山熔岩噴發、還有火山灰、可以聽得噴發的聲音和熱度。從一進去的steam vits旁的trail 可以從較遠處看到個巨大的火山坑和完整的火山噴發。這次火山熔岩最高可以噴到1200feet 高。很壯觀也很難得。據說上次這麼大規模的噴發是在2024年12月。看完火山繼續往chain of craters 開，沿路上從侏羅紀綠植物漸漸轉變到墨黑沒有植物的火山岩和冷卻的火山口。最後可以看到一條一條巨大冷卻的火山岩漿流過入海的痕跡。石子路就從中間切過去，我們開車穿越一道道的火山岩圍牆。最後一路開到公路的盡頭就是最後岩漿入海的海岸線。大部分的人都聚集在最前頭的火山噴發，所以最後的sea arch 人很少，我們開的很緊張，一直擔心是不是開錯路了。漆黑的火山岩岸和好藍的天空與大海，真是太美麗了。火山噴發現場YouTube 影片

 

背景是Sea arch 

開車去火山國家公園的路上、我們還順路去有名的黑沙海灘，看到好多海龜在岸上休息。然後不知道為什麼，公路上的好幾間加油站都沒有廁所、旁邊的餐廳和超市也都沒有廁所，（就算我們都有消費也不能使用），還好在一間麵包店+休息站終於找到廁所。這家麵包店剛好是當地有名的bakery-Punalu'u Bake Shop，好多人排隊。他們有賣好好吃的夏威夷甜甜圈(Malasadas)和麵包、冰淇淋⋯。我們試了原味和百香果的甜甜圈。後來在機場還看到有賣他們家的餅乾。喜愛百香果、芒果、芋頭、鳳梨和Ube 的人來夏威夷有福了！每天都可以吃/喝百香果或者其他熱帶水果飲料和食物❤️❤️

一個$2的夏威夷甜甜圈,鬆軟香甜

路上經過Manini Beach

夜潛看manta ray, 我們是透過topcash back 連結到Viator選了一家保證可以看到魟魚 的船公司（我們去check in 的時候就遇到有人昨天沒看到manta ray船公司就讓他們免費今天再看一次），因為他們是使用較小的橡皮艇，而且沒有提供防寒潛水服和救生衣（可以付費組美金$15），所以較便宜。我們這次下水看到大約5只manta ray，他們離我們超近的，還看到他們張大嘴巴吸浮游生物的樣子，看起來像一個巨大有鰓的口袋在海裡游泳。每只都超大，看起來都比我高/長，在燈光版的照射下，他們好像海裡的精靈，在海裡優美得穿梭。看manta ray 都是在晚上，太陽下山之後海水就很冷，就算我穿了防寒衣過了20分鍾也是冷的發抖。不過我們在水下的時間也不長大約30分鐘就很足夠了。船公司帶我們去看manta ray 的地方離港口只有5分鐘，還是在沿岸，我還可以看到岸上的旅館和路上的紅綠燈、還有很多其他船公司的團也在同一個區域看，所以雖然是在晚上還是在開放海域，我個人是沒有覺得很害怕。推薦自帶/租用救生衣和防寒潛水服。

大島自然資豐富，還有名的Kona coffee。我們去了Greenwell Farm 參觀咖啡種植和加工的過程(免費,個人遊客不需預約)除了咖啡豆,這裡還有其他熱帶植物-胡椒,香蕉,可可豆,香草, 這裡的工作人員還會特別準備帶大家導覽整個農莊詳細講解所有的過程,我們還試吃了生的胡椒豆,綠色的外皮一入口有類似柚子皮的精油味,咬破之後有非常嗆鼻濃郁的胡椒味,非常有趣的經驗!

GreenWell Farm Tour 網站裡面有列出免費導覽的時間

在海邊山坡上的咖啡果園

住宿我們是住Kona coast resort, 是飯店式公寓，有完整的廚房、客廳、陽台、兩間衛浴和洗烘乾機。走路可以到旁邊的超市和餐廳、藥局。也可以看到海岸，開車到可以浮潛的海灘也只要5分鐘。夏威夷因為是海島，據說島上有較多蟲其中包含蟑螂。我本來擔心我們住的旅館會有，不過可能我們很幸運都住到高樓層所以都沒有看到蟑螂。

我們還去夏威夷的花園-可愛島,不愧是夏威夷的花園真的是非常漂亮,拍了好多漂亮照片,之後也會再下一篇文介紹

紐澳良 聖誕4天三夜

 聖誕節前夕突發起想想去歐洲，但是實在太遠，也太冷，後來決定去紐澳良。因為紐澳良曾被法國和西班牙殖民過，還是有濃厚的歐洲聖誕風情，到處都是很漂亮的聖誕裝飾。有時候有種在歐洲的錯覺。紐澳良可以說是個文化之都，在這裏可以看到、聽到、嚐到法國西班牙和美國原住民文化結晶。

The Roosevelt New Orleans 的聖誕燈裝飾

這次主要去了French quarter、 蒸汽船遊密西西比河、橡樹莊園、沼澤尋鱷、Burbon street、博物館。吃了很多海鮮、Beignet (法式甜甜圈，但沒有圈）。旅館住了凱悅Hyatt Centric、 Hyatt House、The Roosevelt New Orleans, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel，每一間都各有特色。下一遍文章分享三家旅館和餐廳

French quarter 的建築物都很有歷史，走在路上就感覺漫步在歐洲。最有名的是Burbon str, 波本酒的發源地，一路上有很多餐廳和酒吧、脫衣舞吧和旅館。十分燈紅酒綠，早一點晚上9點多的時候，各個酒吧前面都會有人招攬人去他們的酒吧。晚上9點夜生活才正要的開始呢，不過我們走了一天只想回旅館睡覺。第一天聖誕節幾乎沒有什麼人，隔天晚上就人潮洶湧，街上還有警察、騎警來回巡邏。偶爾會聞到刺鼻的麻煙味。

相對於Burbon Str,我更喜歡隔壁街的Royal Str，街上有好幾家早午餐、咖啡店、博物館和古董店、畫廊。在這裡可以感受到19世紀的種種。我們無意間發現了在街上的博物館The Historic New Orleans Collection，外面看起來小小的其實有三層樓，介紹了很多紐澳良的歷史文物和自然環境。理面還有個小巧可愛的咖啡廳。我最喜歡的是在三樓有個環繞式的劇院播放紐澳良的影片，走累了可以坐下來欣賞紐澳良的古往今來。環繞式的設計讓人感覺自己就身處歷史的洪流，從美國原住民開始的巫毒信仰、看著黑白影片裡的19世紀的小男孩，到French Quater 找爸爸，然後爸爸在酒吧裡喝酒聊天。然後轉換到現在Mardi Gar 大家戴上五彩繽紛的羽毛面具，在French Quarter 狂歡遊行。

往南走幾個街區，就可以到大教堂、傑克森廣場。

廣場上有街頭藝人表演、還有好多個靈媒、水晶球或塔羅牌算命。 大教堂平常沒有開放，只有彌撒的時候才短暫開放入內。若想參觀內部，就要好好計畫一下時間。大教堂旁邊也有路易絲安娜州博物館。

往西走一點就有燈塔、搭蒸汽船的碼頭、還有有名的Cafe Du Monde。除了 Cafe Du Monde, Cafe Beigents 也有賣法式甜甜圈。Cade du Monde 本店十分熱門，常常都是大排長龍，如果不想排隊，可以試試看River walk 分店或者是機場分店，價格一樣，比較不需要排隊。我吃了兩家的炸甜甜圈，我比較喜歡Cafe Beigent 的甜甜圈，麵體比較蓬鬆。糖粉看起來很多，但是因為糖粉很細，其實沒有很多，也不會過甜。

大大最喜歡的就是沼澤尋鱷，這次冬天看到幾隻鱷魚，其他的野生動物：野豬和浣熊倒是看到很多。我們的導覽也很分享很多相關的沼澤知識。他自己也有獵鱷魚的執照，家裡也養了幾隻小鱷魚。這次也帶了他的小鱷魚和他的小龍蝦給我們看看。

紐澳良地處低窪，有些地方甚至在海平面以下，所以卡崔娜颶風帶來的暴雨造成很大的災害。紐澳良基本就是一個大沼澤地，高速公路都是蓋在沼澤地，泡在水裡。

之後順道去了橡樹莊園，見證曾經的甘蔗種植和奴隸史。吸血鬼電影也是在這裡取景的。以前路易絲安娜州以糖業為主，在南北戰爭解放奴隸後，部分農場主宣布破產（例如橡樹莊園的家族）。現在仍然有種植甘蔗和產糖，不過增加了旅遊業和煉油等相關產業。

這次的沼澤尋鱷和橡樹莊園是跟Klook買的一日遊搭配聖誕Topcashbak 返利，總共約促6折。Klook也可以用來訂日本韓國等旅遊行程，我已經訂好了明年的日本當地旅行團。非常期待呢。以下是Topcashabck 返利推薦連結。https://www.topcashback.com/ref/yupan001/?source=App-iOS-TAFPage

Seattle city day trip - Space needle and Chihuly Garden and glass

 If you have a day in Seattle, where would you go?

I choose to go to Chihuly garden and Space needle. Generally speaking, these two places are amazing. However, we had to wait in line for 1.5 hours to get into the top of Space needle.

南加州必吃古巴麵包店Porto’s Bakery

 Porto’s bakery 每天一早6點就開門，每每都大排長龍，大家一次都買大包小包，好吃得恨不得包下整間烘焙坊。 Google review 光單一間分店就有21k 4.5星以上評論。生日節慶、sales 拜訪客戶也會帶上一盒Porto’s  bakery 麵包。我第一次吃到是6年前我們廠商帶來cheese roll, 舒脆好吃，同事還跟我說：這可是要排隊才能吃到的呢！

這次6年後回到南加州，特別再來嚐嚐這好吃的古巴麵包甜點，也見證美國夢。烘焙坊的創始人Rosa Porto 1976 年從古巴剛來美國的時候，一貧如洗，身無分文，僅有身上的衣服。現在已有6家成功的連鎖店，還有冷凍食品可以線上訂購，能夠運到全美國。

我們這次車早上8點到，已經從外面繞了一圈又一圈。但是裏面有三個分開的麵包結帳櫃檯，我們只等了40分鐘就結帳拿到麵包了。

Porto’s bakery 有名的有Potato balls (原味/起司辣味）、芭樂起士strudel, 古巴三明治。同時也有賣蛋糕、咖啡、早晚餐。

他們的馬鈴薯球好好吃，外酥內軟，現做剛出爐，還熱熱的。原味的裡面包肉、另外一種包彩椒和起士。大大說他比較喜歡起士，我則是都很喜歡。看看這馬鈴薯球多麼的酥軟，裏面還有包餡，當早餐、午餐都好適合。我吃兩球就好飽。

大大則是吃了古巴三明治，他也說很不錯。古巴三明治是由火腿和切片美式烤豬肉交疊、中間抹美式酸甜芥末醬、再配幾片酸黃瓜和瑞士起士，最後最外層夾上兩片古巴麵包。

店內也有內用的座位，裝潢設計很舒服，環境也很整潔明亮，有店員持續來清潔,還有很大的免費停車場。和朋友相約一起來喝個咖啡吃早午餐也很不錯。（除了要排隊😅）

店內也放了創始人的照片，當初麵包店最開始的照片。

我們去的麵包店就在迪士尼樂園附近，開車15分鐘可到。8233 Firestone Blvd, Downey, CA 90241

官網：https://store.portosbakery.com/

Carnival cruise with my 6.5 month old baby

 This Spring break, my parents-in-law took us on a Carnival cruise. It was a wonderful experience. I would like to share my personal experience of cruise and tips for taking a baby together. Some people like cruising, and some don’t. For me, this cruise reminds the old days when I lived in downtown apartment which was convenient, fun, and close to everywhere but the living space was limited.

. (information updated as of 03/24/2024)

Mardi Gras is the second newest and largest ship, with a capacity of 6500 passengers as of March 2024. It offers diversified entertainment and food. They have water slides, roller coasters, pools, shows, classes, casinos, spas, specialty restaurants, and shopping.

Roller Coaster and Water Slides	Grand Central Stage, selecting King and Queen
The ultimate pools	Cooking Class (very popular) sold out 3 months before the cruise date

Voodoo Moon 

There are always things to do on the cruise, even get off the ship. We were continually busy. There are magic shows, comedy shows, games, and parties. They hosted good shows; one of our favorite shows is Voodoo Moon. It is a 45-minute musical. I enjoyed the scenery, costumes, sight gags, and dance. The singing was tremendous and absorbing. Surprisingly, our baby sat still and stayed quietly during the show. Also, the show was hosted in the open theater, so you can leave anytime you are not sitting in the front seats.

We saw Atlantis Resorts during the boat trip.

This cruise line went to three ports: Nassau, Amber Cover, and Grand Turks. We choose different excursions in these three ports: the glass button boat in Nassau, waterfall hiking in Amber Cove, snorkeling, and watching stingrays in Grand Turks. Long story short, all the excursions we participated in were fun. 

Snorkeling in Nassau

We purchased a glass button boat trip, a stingrays-watching trip from Carnival, and waterfall hiking from Viator. Don't forget to use Rakuten to get 10% cash back; the promotion might change. (We forgot to use the promotion although.) The pros of purchasing outside the cruise company are that you can save more (it was $50 lower) and jump into the waterfall (the cruise company won’t allow you to do that due to the insurance liability). The cons are that you might miss the cruise, and you will need to walk all the way to leave the port and go to the pickup location. The walk was approximately 30 minutes for me.

Pricing of water equipment rental in Amber Cove

There are pools (free access) and other water equipment available to rent in Amber Cover.

Overall, grand Turks are my favorite beach. The water is so clear, and the white sand is so soft. The beaches are everywhere, so they are beautiful and not too crowded.

Grand Turk Beach

One of the rooms in the Kids' Club

Carnival Cruise provides baby crib and distilled water upon request and free of charge. However, we would have to independently prepare the diapers, formula, wipes, and baby food. (See Carnival Infatn policy)They also have a daycare service, around $8 per hour (free for kids above certain ages). We never use the service but talked to the kids' club front desk to get the details. So once you register your child under a certain age, they will give you a phone to contact you in an emergency. The kids' club looks really lovely. We took some pictures before the club officially opened. My niece and nephew had fun at the kids club and made friends.

The food is excellent, with wide selections. We can also get food for our baby; for example, they can provide steamed white rice, steamed vegetables, and fresh fruits upon request. During breakfast, I either went to Palm restaurant to get my smoked salmon broken egg sandwich or to the buffet area on the 16 floor, which has a hot breakfast. When mentioning lunch, my go-to places are Big Chicken (fried chicken)and Chibang (Chinese and Mexican). As for dinner, we always go to Palm restaurant, except for the first night when we went to Pigs and Anchor(BBQ). Last night, we had beef brisket, salmon, and Lobster as entrees and baked Alaska as dessert. My favorite dish is BBQ salmon. The Palm restaurant has vegetarian and gluten-free menus too. Last but not least, only some of you can style restaurants anymore; they will charge you $5 for the third or more of each entree. I also cruised with Royal Caribbean in 2022; I prefer their food to Carnival. For example, Carnival served us only a slice of baked Alaska and already glazed the meringue. Royal Caribbean served us a whole baked Alaska and toasted meringue with a torch in front of us; I was amazed by this beautiful show and dessert.

Lido (buffet area) and Palm restaurant have some baby-friendly options for our baby. Our 6.5-month-old baby had fried eggs, omelets, bananas, grits, salmon, steamed white rice, vegetables, and vegetable soup. I smashed the food, spoon-fed my baby, and gave her small pieces on the higher chair for her to practice eating independently.

Baby sat on high chair

Lido (Buffet Area)

The service is generally excellent, and everyone is accommodating and proactive. Our head waiter remembers our names and what we need and provides them very quickly. For instance, I was feeling under the weather, so I asked for hot water for tea for one dinner; he gave me a pot of hot water for the next dinner and the following dinner. Additionally, he shared some of his personal stories with us. He is from Indonesia, and as a crew member, he can take 4 hours off every week. Our stew is also accommodating; they always put cute towel animals on our bed. One of the towel animals was a sea lion, and our daughter happily played (destroyed) with it.

Baby played with Towel Sea Lion.

As for the rooms, there are different room types- suites, rooms with balconies, and rooms with windows interior. The interior is so small that you can only open one suitcase, and there is no more space to walk. But, if you plan to be busy and enjoy all the fun activities, the room size won’t matter. If you like the luxurious resort, their Havana suite is the right choice. The 8th-floor suites have spacious rooms, a balcony, and exclusive access to Havana lunge and glass infinity pool. The following article will introduce transportation, other baby cruising ideas, and some fun facts about diamond members.

Havana exclusive pool