TravelswithCharie

Lagoon 1  (open to the public) There are four inviting lagoons in Ko Olina, on the western shores of Oahu, about 30 minutes from Honolulu International Airport.  If you prefer to be far away from the madding crowd, the Ko Olina resorts are an option. Each resort has its own private lagoon, which, even on the weekends is uncrowded.  While first time visitors flock to Waikiki and locals congregate at Ala Moana Beach, Ko Olina remains off the radar screen except to those who belong to the Marriott Vacation Club. The Marriott Ihilani Ko Olina Resort and Spa and the Ko Olina Beach Club are open to non members. Lagoon 3 As of this writing, there is construction going on for more units which will surely impact the peace and quiet of this area. For now it is a great place for lazy days on the water, for energizing walks through all four lagoons, for rejuvenating mind and body, for watching the sunset, and for being grateful for yet another beautiful day in paradise. Secret Lagoon Among ot

Waikiki  Beach . While many visitors to Hawaii complain that Waikiki is way too crowded, there are many others who love to be in the thick of things. Waikiki is the place to walk on the beach, people watch, have a sunset drink, try surfboarding for the first time and shop, shop, shop. ABC Stores . Speaking of shopping, you'll find most of the things you need and more at the ubiquitous ABC Stores.  Aloha shirts . The most trendy aloha shirts are sold by Tori Richards and Reyn's. Reyn's made the faded look chic with its reverse printed shirts. You can also buy aloha shirts for a good deal less at the Flea Market at the Stadium. It's open on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. The Hula . The hula tells a story so the dancer must be a good storyteller. This song tells it all, "Lovely hula hands, graceful as the bird in motion".  Ukelele . The hula is only complete when the dancers are accompanied by a trio of singers, one of whom plays the ukelele.  Duk

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As a child growing up in Capiz, I was not impervious to taunts about the nocturnal forays of fellow Capiceños. When prodded I would turn defensive and point to an obscure town in a neighboring province as the true home of the “aswang”. If I had met one, perhaps I would not be writing this article as these creatures have wings and could easily outpace their victims. According to local lore, they often travel in groups making it difficult for anyone to escape alive. The Philippine movies have done a superb job of perpetuating the legend of the half-bodied aswang they call “manananggal” in Tagalog (it means “natatanggal sa katawan” or detaches from the body). It seems these creatures are just like you and me during the day but by night, they emerge, just torso and wings, and fly away in search of human appetizers. Like Dracula, they bite the poor victim and suck his/her blood. Then before light breaks, they return to their lower half and become whole again. Fascinating tales of the as

At the mall in Roxas City, the Kreyativo gallery is without peer. There are any number of unique things to choose from to furnish an elegant house. I've dreamt of owning one of their beautiful dining tables made of rich and heavy hardwood that probably weighs a ton. I can picture myself seated in one of those chairs with a straight back it seems uncomfortable but so aesthetically exquisite. I was pleased to see a Kreyativo booth at the recently concluded 2nd Annual One Visayas Culture and Arts Festival. There were paintings and an assorment of furniture on display. The canvases were framed in Kreyativo's signature dark, distressed wood. I wasn't able to get the names of the painters as the lunch hour attendant didn't have much information. But this can be verified at their gallery where the works of art on display have been thoughtfully selected. Kreyativo also has a factory in town where they create their unique furnishings as well as custom made orders. Kreyati

Gawad Kalinga homes in Bacolod I don't know much about Gawad Kalinga (GK) but I've seen tangible results of their works. My masseuse first told me about GK in 2006 and I was impressed that she was able to get a house through the GK organization. She showed me her home in the outskirts of Roxas City.  It has two tiny bedrooms, a living room, a toilet with shower. The dining room and kitchen share the same space. Her house was built with the help of other GK residents which is a requirement in the construction of these homes. Anyone with a GK home must put in his time to help build his own house and those of others in the neighborhood. The property is usually donated as are the materials used in the construction. My masseuse's only complaint was that the title to her property had not been transferred to her name because there was a problem with the payment of real estate taxes pertaining to the entire GK project in her neighborhood and at the time we spoke, it had not been a

In between flights at Narita Airport recently, I walked into this shop with interesting displays of origami art. The word, origami, derived from oru and kami means fold and paper respectively. But there's more to this than merely folding. I tried to follow the instructions on basic folding and couldn't get past the reverse inside and outside fold.  Imagine the work it entails to do the pond with the bridge and foliage seen below! Or the temple and garden.  There are thousands of tiny pieces of colorful folded paper in these works. Only an artist with an eye for detail and loads of patience can achieve these results. How much time it takes to complete one of these displays is anyone's guess. But it's a treat to see these well thought out displays of origami art. This is not just for children to enjoy but for big kids as well.   For help on getting started in origami, try http://www.origami-instructions.com/ .   *  *  * Images by Charie