WATCH OUT THAT'S A GREAT WHITE!...Oops, Nevermind It's Just Shark Cove!

     We have been preparing for this day for a Whole Week! 

     Towels?Check! 
                         Water Shoes? Check! 
                                                        Swimwear? Check! 
                                                                                    Sunscreen? A Must!

     Adventure is calling the Kling Family as we head towards sand, wind, and water! (Yipee!)

Preparations are a GO!

    
     We packed all our gear on a not so early Sunday and made our way to a spectacular place called Shark Cove on the North Shore of the Island of Oahu. 

     It is known for its snorkeling, powerful undertow, and shark tours! (The Husband and my Oldest Yatniel did the tour but that's another adventure...)

We made it to Shark Cove!

    
     It seemed that everyone had the same idea to be a beach goer that Sunday! 

     Ugh...it was extremely difficult finding a parking spot but My Ookie (Husband Joe) never gave up and he found a spot pretty close to the beach entrance! (YAY!)

Breathing in the salty air!

     
     As we placed everything on the sand I started to put sunscreen on all the kids (to include the Husband) so that no one would feel the sting of the Hawaiian sun later...

     When I reached for the 9 year old I noticed something strange! Yorick had put on his swim shorts wrong! (HA!) After we teased him three of us held three towels and made a makeshift tent so he could fix his shorts...smh...

Shark Cove is Fierce!

     
     We rolled around the waved, on purpose and sometimes not so on purpose (lol), collected many rocks and corals (which are now in my gravel), and got bumped on the rocks (Yatniel and Yared still have the scratches to prove it!) . 

Buen Provecho!

   
     Ofcourse we had to finish the day at Shark Cove Grill (where else?)! 

     I had to wait more than 15 minutes for someone, anyone, to appear from the Shark Cove Grill food truck. I was told rudely, by the cook, that they were no longer serving breakfast.

     I had my heart set with eating breakfast on the beach but I finally settled for a hamburger. They got my order wrong and Yorick asked for a PB&J, which they gave him deconstructed. 

     The good news is that there were many other places to eat and we enjoyed some local cuisine. 

Wish you were here...

   
     We had a great time even if the ending left a lot to be desired. We are definitely going to see more of what North Shore has to offer in the years to come...

     A happy and tired Kling Family made our way back home...All in all it was a perfect beach day! 

Mother's Day Never Looked THIS Good!

     Mother's Day came in 2016 with a slow yawn...lol...the children, Yatniel, Yared, and Yorick let me sleep in (how lovely) and I did!

     After my morning of sleeping in (again yay!) my Loving Husband (my Ookie) Joe took me to "The Ward Warehouse" in downtown Waikiki!
     

"The Ward Warehouse"

   

     I had received a notice on my FB Page that "THEFACESHOP" was having a Mother's Day Special! Sooo...being the Loving Husband he is he sacrificed himself and went shopping with me (whee!). 

Ready, Set, GO!

     I had a great time looking though "THEFACESHOP"! As you guys know I'm in love with Korean culture especially KDramas and KPop so going to a Korean beauty shop was a true treat.

Look what I got!

     The Mother's Day Special was an interesting promotion. Once you got all the products you were going to buy you scratched a ticket to uncover what percentage you would save. Some people even got 100% off their purchase! 

     I was not so fortunate...I got 10% off...lol...

KIM SOO HYUN

          ...but I did get to see a CELEBRITY!!! 

     KIM SOO HYUN from "MY LOVE FROM ANOTHER STAR" and "DREAM HIGH". (HA!)

Look what I GOT!

     I also had bought face masks for both my Husband and I at "THEFACESHOP". I had always seen them in the dramas and was curious as to how they would feel. 

Leading Lady...?(LOL)

    All in all it was a great Mother's Day... and I'm looking forward to Father's Day to see if my Ookie will make me go golfing with him?!? (Ugh...)

ComiCons a Way of Life!

     Whether it was partnering and solving crimes with the Dark Knight, running through the forests with Wolverine to kick some butt, fighting the denizens of hell with Daimon Hellstrom or discovering the mysteries of the universe with Sandman I love and have grown up with a great love for all things comic!

     What better way to celebrate my comic affliction with my family than The Amazing Hawaii Comic Con!

Made it!

    
     We hadn't even left the parking area when my son, Yorick, spotted his first cos-player! (people who dress as their favorite characters/superheroes) 

     These mighty cos-players were dressed as Rose Quartz and Greg Universe from the "Steven Universe" animated series which was created by Rebecca Sugar and it was the first show Cartoon Network produced in which the creator was a woman! (Yay!)

Rose Quartz and Greg Universe

   
     LOL..."I Ain't afraid of no Ghost!" ran through my head as we found this childhood memory (for me...sigh) as we took another step closer to the Comic Con.

Who You Gonna Call...?

   
     As we made our way into the Comic Con we saw familiar faces and a variety of story lines. Yatniel and Yared spotted the Storm Trooper and ran over to grab a photo.(I asked if they were looking for new recruits but they just laughed...I was serious...!)

Off to Imperial Storm Trooper Academy...

     
     Seeing so many fellow comic enthusiast was amazing! Being able to share the experience with my children was unforgettable...making my 8 year old, Yorick, stand next to Ghost Rider...PRICELESS! (ha!)

Hawaiian John Blaze...?

    
     The highlight of the day was meeting and taking a photo with the Legend himself...Stan Lee! Even if my kids don't realize how much of a historic event it was to meet him we will always have this photo and the incredible adventure of the The Amazing Hawaii Comic Con!

The Great Stan Lee!

The Wheels on "Da Bus" go Round!

     I'm finally getting the hang of traveling around Oahu! Especially in downtown Waikiki which has great stores, scenic beaches, and scrumptious places to eat! What it lacks is parking space...(ugh)!

     I have taken part in the Hawaiian community (since August of 2016) and I have tried to immerse myself with my surroundings. 

The best way to achieve that? ...to get around on "Da Bus"!

   
     This app has come in handy while maneuvering the public transportation system in Hawaii. It uses GPS, real time tracking, and maps to help coordinate which bus stops are nearest you and how to get to your destination!

Da Bus App

      
     The whole bus system connects all of Oahu and the buses run consistently and frequently. You can go from Downtown Waikiki (which has a lot of museums, the zoo, and plenty of boardwalks) to North Shore (where the best surfing in the world is happening!). 

It's amazing how far you can go for $2.50!

Traveling!

     Island life may be cramped at times (highway lanes and parking spaces are much narrower than on the mainland) so if you have a place to go and want to stretch your legs (and you cents) then riding on "Da Bus" can give you freedom from your vehicle!

                                                              Happy Travels!

Confessions of a Karaoke Addict!

     I absolutely LOVE to sing! My family has always had a grand affair when it comes to music and I am no exception... (Edwin "Haviken Hayes" Guerra and David "Still Diligent" Jimenez).

     I have been singing since I was 3 years old (entertaining my Abuela mostly) and have been participating in choirs all throughout my school life.

     Although I am not classically trained I have a great ear and I am definitely my own harshest critic (sometimes I sing songs I like not that I do well..HA!). 

     I have a lot of friends who enjoy singing (WannaB's Karaoke Family), teach music (LaJuan E. Lee), or are professional artists (Don Green, Brent Charles, Diaz Mussalimov, and Tiffa G.). 

     I especially love to hear the voices of those who can sing what I cannot (Crystal Frazier...those damn high notes!).   

Hispanic Heritage Month Performance

     Since coming to Hawaii I've been hitting all the local karaoke spots! I've been to Karaoke Hut, Blue Ribbon, Shorebird Restaurant, Above Ultra Lounge, The Spot Karaoke, Bronco Cafe, and a few others... (heehee)

Blue Ribbon

     Yet...if I can't get my fix I let my fingers do the walking and open up my Smule App on my Iphone (yay!). It's a great way to practice and sing with people from all around the world. 

     You can sing by yourself, as a duet, or in a group and the talent you find on Smule varies from the amateur to the professional...plus it has all these cool effects!

SMULE

Back to Black

Creep!

Preparing...

     Now, I'm narrowing down a list of songs for a Karaoke Contest at the end of April! I'll let you guys know how it goes! (Wish me luck!).

Fine Dining with a French Twist!

     My Husband walked into our bedroom and announced, "our reservations are at eight p.m.! We should leave at seven if we want to beat the traffic." He raised his eyebrow and walked out of our room with a flourish.

     Ever since we started dating we would surprise each other with small adventures and date nights. We have been married for almost 15 years and that has not changed. So, when he made his grand announcement I giggled at him and started to get ready.

Date Night

    
     We drove down to Waikiki and stopped at the Halekulani Hotel on the beach.  As we walked through the hotel the night breezes brought the sweet tropical scents that encouraged the palate.

   We had arrived. My Husband's surprise was a restaurant called: 

"La Mer" 

    
     We were seated by french windows looking out over the ocean. The scenery was beautiful and the atmosphere subdued.

Our View

 
 Menus had come and gone and we waited with high anticipation for the food to arrive!

     I started with the Beef Tartare, Heart of Palm, Watercress Purée and Aquitaine Caviar. While my Husband tried the Pork Trotter Ravioli and Artichoke Velouté. 

Appetizers

    
     Both were exquisite! The Beef Tartar was tender and spicy. It had a well-rounded flavor which played well with the Heart of Palm and Watercress. The Pork Trotter Ravioli was zesty and the Velouté was creamy.

     For my main entree I chose the Filet of Beef, Foie Gras, Truffle Mousseline, Pommes Soufflés, and a Sauce Périgueux. My Husband ordered the Seared Lamb Loin and Spiced Shoulder Confit, Chickpeas Purée, with a Raisin Lamb Jus.

Main Course

     
     I had never had Foie Gras before and I could not really appreciate it. Regardless my Filet was tender enough to cut with a fork and the sauce and mashed potatoes divine! The Lamb was spicy and I fell in love with the Au Jus.

     As we were finishing our entrees the waiter came by with the dessert menu...Oh My Goodness!!!

Dessert!

      
     I had the Souffle! But it wasn't a normal Souffle it was a Hawaiian Vanilla Soufflé with Makaya Dark Chocolate Chips, Coconut, Mango, Spiced Rum Sauces! (three different sauces for my dessert!) and my Husband chose the Peanut Butter Mont Blanc with a Raspberry and Hibiscus Essence and Blackberry Gelato.

     One word...YUM! My Souffle was lighter than air and melted in my mouth! My Husband's Gelato was good but the Raspberry packed a punch (I am not a fan). All in all it was wonderful ending to a fantastic meal...Oh! and not to be outdone they brought us an assortment of after dinner sweets to send us off with full bellies and warm hearts. 

Live! On KPRP Pinoy Power 650 AM...Who knew?

     Since I landed in Oahu I have felt a great sense of ohana with all my island brothers and sisters. 

     Learning the local culture and cuisine, the Do's and Don'ts of island living...even the bus routes on "Da Bus" has been a tremendous learning experience...yet, what better way to get more info on the happenings around and about Hawaii than KPRP 650AM Pinoy Power!

Entering the Station

      I am very fortunate to have met Sunny Aloha who is DJ Personality extraordinaire, fountain of Oahu information, and a great person to talk to. It was on Sunny's show that I learned who she was and I was overjoyed to share who I am with her and all the viewers on UStream around the world!  

That's Sunny!

     We had tremendous fun on Sunny's show and I shared about my blog, that I'm a freelance writer, my addiction of KDramas, and how I love to immerse myself in the culture that I'm in. 

Funny Moments

         We spoke about the traveling that I have done (and continue to do) throughout the interview and that I am fully bilingual (Spanish/English) which took Sunny by surprise!

     I told Sunny that I had already made it to a couple of Salsa and Bachata dance nights here in Oahu! (Sunny says that she can't get to them too often but she might go with me!) 

Really?

     As the program came to a close Sunny encouraged me to say goodbye to everyone (local and worldwide) for the wonderful hour I was able to talk about who I am and what I can do. I am grateful to Sunny and KPRP 650AM for the privilege of being on air and I hope to do much more in the future.

Tune in and find out!

This is Sashily Kling signing off.