Picking fresh blackberries at Volcano, and fresh raspberries in Aspen...in the same week

I spent most of August in Hawaii and Colorado. Now that I'm back in Santa Barbara, looking at photos, I am in awe thinking about the variety of breathtaking scenery I saw during the 18 days I was traveling.

I spent a few days on the Big Island. I appreciate more and more how special the area up there at Volcano is. I enjoyed seeing my friend Heather and her eight month old son, who looks very different than he did at three weeks! And as always, I indulged in delicious local food, such as Kozo Sushi, Yummy's Korean bbq, and various and assorted plate lunches.

I spent just one night with my old roommate, Shannon, in L.A., before taking off for Colorado. I went a few days before my parents and sister did, to spend a few nights with a college friend, Nichole. She picked me up from Denver airport, showed me money trees, eggshell art, and durian, and then drove us to Aspen, stopping at the Continental Divide along Independence Pass. Aspen is a very cute town, but my family really enjoyed the charm and "happy air" of Breckenridge, Colorado. We went horseback riding in Keystone, where we stayed most of the days, river rafting in Frisco, eating/hiking in Breckenridge, shopping and pilates in Boulder, and a lot of driving around Denver. Saw a lot of the state but there is surely much more to see...it's a bit larger than Hawaii is.

As the durian fruit "smells like hell and tastes like heaven", the fresh blackberries and raspberries remain my personal favorites.

Hawaii

As soon as I arrived, driving from the airport, there was a beautiful double rainbow.

Hiking with Cousin Jeffrey, Uncle Joel, and Dad

Big Island House from far away. I think it looks more like the South than Hawaii.

My friend Heather and Baby Perry Joseph Kamalani Castellano. I love how he's just lounging as his mom cooks. If you're wondering, it's just a seat, not a potty.

Colorado - Continental Divide, Maroon Bells, Breckenridge Hike with old mining cabins

December 4th Not the Only Day to Celebrate Santa Barbara

Since returning from Asia, I've been staying with my boyfriend in Santa Barbara, looking for jobs, thinking about my volunteer abroad experience, and most of all, just enjoying spending time with Adam in beautiful Santa Barbara.

I took a tour of the Santa Barbara Court House downtown - one of the activities offered during Santa Barbara's "Fiesta", which took place last week and this weekend. One of the many decorations in the beautiful Court House shows the tower that Saint Barbara's father locked her in to stop her from becoming Christian. Despite being locked up, she converted, and when her father found out he beheaded her. As the story goes, he was immediately struck by lightning and died. The guide at the Court House thought that Saint Barbara is no longer recognized as a saint. However, December 4th is still celebrated as Saint Barbara's day. And now for the reason Santa Barbara got its name...the Spanish navigator, Juan Cabrillo, landed here on December 4th and chose to name the spot after the patron of that day, Saint Barbara.

Other than tours and fiesta food, I've been doing a lot of hiking, as can be seen in the photos below. Last Thursday we hiked about 11 miles up to East Camino Cielo, the spot of the last photo. It was so steep going up; I had to stop a few times to catch my breath, I was breathing so hard. But it was worth the challenge for the magnificent views...and to see the cool snake skin that Adam is holding in one of the photos!

This Wednesday I'm going to Hawaii for a week and then to Colorado for another week. I'm excited but sad that my last round of adventures is almost here.

Santa Barbara: Hikes, sunset, court house & snake skin