Solstice Lunar Eclipse

This was the lunar eclipse to watch. Hasn't happened like this in over four hundred years. Full Moon, Elilpse, and Winter Solstice, all rolled into one. What a gorgeous sight it was going to be. Except for one tiny problem.

Clouds covered us. At the beginning of the eclipse, we hardly saw the outline of the Moon. And by 11:15pm I gave up and went inside. While on the computer my younger son came over to let me know the clouds started parting, and the eclipse was, indeed, visible. What serendipity. 

I rushed outside to see cloud cover, but at least I could see the shadow of the earth starting to cover our lunar orb. I rushed back inside for my telephoto DLSR, tripod and cable release. I set up everything and tested for exposure. My exposures were on the money, as I had two other, rather miserable, attempts in past years. But this year, as my older son reminded me, was different. Not only was it a soltace lunar eclipse, it was just after a rain storm in winter. There would be hardly any particulate matter (dust) in the air. The clarity of the shots might be the best I would ever see. He was right.

And then the clouds parted. I didn't have to raise my hands like Moses to part the heavens. It just happened....

The above picture is not astronomically correct. I took about 200 images, and picked the best to sequence. The sequence is not correct by time, and neither is the trajectory of the Moon. Not with a 200mm. The image is just a digital collage that shows the sequence of the moon entering, and then remaining in earth's shadows. I was too cold, nursing a cold, to remain until the moon would come out of its neighbor's shadow.

I'll tweak the images later, but I wanted to share the wonder I had with this sight of a lifetime.

What a Great Deli

 

We're at our all-time favorite deli.

Brent's sign on Sepulveda in Northridge, CA.

 

Brent's delivery truck are brightly designed with their delicacies. You just want to take the deli items off the truck and start eating.

Even if you're hungry, there still seems to be items still on the plate after you've finished the humungous sandwiches. See the next post on the 3" high Black Pastrami Reuben.

Beauty in an Office

I'm fidgeting in a dentist's office, waiting my turn. The time passes by sooooo slowly. Fortunately there are some peaceful, comforting scenes that occupy me. 

Sent from Wei's iPhone

Autumn Leaves

Summer's gone. And Autumn's about to go. But not without letting us know there's gorgeous color just before cold rain pelts down on us.

Downtown Clayton, CA

Sent from Wei's iPhone

Olomana

We spent a relaxing evening with a favorite Local Hawaiian group last week at the Hilton.
No matter how many times we sit in their performances, we never tire of them. We just look forward to the next time.
Sent from Wei's iPhone

Kai Market

If you wish to splurge on a high-end buffet in Waikiki, Kai Market in the Sheraton is just the place.

Wonderful dishes, including this steamed fresh Onaga. Demand for this delicacy was high, but the chefs quickly put out new offerings just before running out. Nice to see a classy place that would not compromise the moist freshness of seafood.

Sent from Wei's iPhone

Soft Waikiki Sand

As we walked along a Waikiki beach, the soft sand beneath our feet reminded us again, we were home.

Waves gently washed the sands with endless ocean water.

Sent from Wei's iPhone

Rainbow Tower

The tile rainbow on the side of the tower is the largest in the world. On the other side is another like rainbow.

We took a leisurely walk on the beach--from where I took this picture.

Sent from Wei's iPhone

Hilton in Honolulu

We moved our digs to the Hilton on Thursday. It's nice to be back "home."

This lobby is near the front desk. Usually there's a large round table filled with flowers displayed with lots of flair. We miss that, but the area now has an open feeling.

Sent from Wei's iPhone

Our Last Evening at Ko 'Olina

Couldn't resist the sunset again. This time through the cocoanut trees, over the lagoon.

Sent from Wei's iPhone

Surprise at Tanioka's

Lest I forget, my older son spied these wonderful morsels. No, they did not have any ingredients from the sea. Just chocolate chips, Arare (rice crackers), flour and butter. A real find. Make sure you pick up a bag when you're there.

Sent from Wei's iPhone

Tanioka's Seafood

Found another good Japanese seafood/rice plate/poke local lunch place one the Ewa side of Oahu.

A bewildering number of dishes whetted our appetites. We now have a good alternative to Poke Stop (See a few posts back.). Both are on Farrington Highway, which is one of Ewa end's commercial thoroughfare.

Sent from Wei's iPhone

Ihilani Hotel

We visited the Ihilani Hotel, one of the resorts in the Ko 'Olina complex.

These ponds featured ocean water tropical fish. One of the species was baby hammerhead sharks. Not quite 30 inches, these sharks leisurely patrolled the ponds. Most other fish gave them wide berth. Tiki torches reflected on the surface ripples like magic fires.

Sent from Wei's iPhone

Right Outside on our Condo's Front Lawn

Not a bad view, is it? Actually, this is from the left side of the Condo's Lagoon 4. I

t was really this nice. Weather was 85 high (with ocean breezes) and 74 low--all week, honest....

Sent from Wei's iPhone

Our Condo

Our condo is the Hale Naia (dolphin) tower at Ko 'Olina. You'll see some sites from the outside in the next couple of posts.

Sent from Wei's iPhone

Did I Say We've Been Eating Well?

Oh yes! Here we sat in the condo, devouring manapua from Chun Wah Kam in Kapolei.

The first dish held five types of bau. Charsiu (baked), duck, spicy thai pork & two others. Each bau had coded colors placed there with the end of a chopstick dipped in various food colorings.

The second dish featured desert. Hawaii 9-layer rice cake, with eight white layers topped with a special brown sugar delight. And the gin dui, big as a man's fist. 




Yummmmmm.

A Simple Hedge

While I walked to a store in Mililani Town near Waipahu, I notice sunset clouds on the mountains. Out of the corner of my eye I spied some vibrant hibiscus bushes. Their yellows screamed fri a picture to be taken. So I obliged.

A simple scene, otherwise not noticed. A slice of life reminding us that what you find along your journey many times rewards more than what lies at the end.

Sent from Wei's iPhone

The Malolo

At the entrance lobby sits a replica outrigger canoe. Carved from a single trunk, The Malolo (Flying Fish) reminds us of the wayfaring nature of the Polynesians.

Sent from Wei's iPhone

Painting at Ko 'Olina

At various alcoves you can be surprised at the peaceful art adorning the walls. Here is a typical Hawaiian beach scene with some real anthuriums surrounding a protea.

Sent from Wei's iPhone

Traditional Hawaiian Cuisine

Not often can you experience a local restaurant that was part of your youth. My parents took me to Helena's when I was very young.This past Friday was one lunch that I'll always remember. I revisited that past at this wonderful institution.

What you see above is fried butterfish (sable) collar in the foreground and pipikala ribs in the background. The waitress served us like kings, and the kitchen staff was most accommodating to me when I wanted to photograph the pipikala hanging above the stove. The cook swiped the delicious morsels from the rack and quickly transform them into devourable pieces.

Wish I could return there every day.

Stopping for Dinner

Our first dinner was here at this specialty take-out. Great food. Mostly poke sides with Ahi & Moi mains. See the next picture to see what I mean.

Mm mm mm mm mmmmmm.

Lagoon 4 This Morning

Just a wonderful view, now that morning has risen.

Picture from Wei' iPhone.

Lagoon 4

Here's looking out on Lagoon 4, straight westward. This pucture was taken yesterday in the late evening The vast Pacific stretches my mind across the horizon. Not bad, eh?

Sent from Wei's iPhone

Ko 'Olina

For those of you unfamiliar with Ko 'Olina, this resort is on the west (Ewa) side of Oahu. There are four lagoons in the resort, and we're in Lagoon 4.

Picture sent from Wei's iPhone.

I'm Back again

I've been away from posting for some time now. Been on a travel bent to China, Hawaii, Washington, Reno, Eastern Sierras and now back in Hawaii. I started a blog about my China trip, but I confused some who thought I was now there.

Nope. I'm in Hawaii. So I'll restart the blog with where I am now. Which is not a bad place to be.

Flower in Our Garden

The purple-streaked petals called out to my photo instincts. I just had to bring out my iPhone camera. There would be no waiting for the Macro lens, tripod, flash, and diffuser. Now would be the moment. Flowers don't wait for the calendar spring to arrive. They seem to explode from the ground as quickly as they recede into withered pieces.

........Wei, from his iPhone

Morning Has Broken

Like in Cat Steven's sweet song about breaking open the day, I felt positively uplifted by my mini daffodil rising to meet the sun.

Photographically the iPhone lacks much of the sophistication I'm used to. But the lens flare worked perfectly. And the image worked for me, despite the over-exposed blossom. Winter rains could not slow the energy of this daff. A daff that just blared "Good Morning to You."

........Wei, from his iPhone

Coming Spring 2010

Ducks in Alameda knew Spring was drawing near. They paraded on the inlets like they owned the water. Some expressed annoyance that humans would dare enter their space.

They tolerated me because I was on the bank, not crowding the deserted place near sunset. And I remained quiet and still. Enjoying some moments of solitude.

........Wei, from his iPhone

Shopping - Asian Market

One can always expect freshness and variety from this market we visit. Sometimes composition of found objects is easy. No, I didn't arrange these squashes. The color and volume just worked out.

........Wei, from his iPhone

Is Spring Around Our Corner?

On a brisk weather walk around our neighborhood, we spotted these flowers pushing upwards towards an unforgiving gray sky.

I think the flowers offered us hope that bright days are coming forth! I'm glad we're not on the East Coast.

........Wei, from his iPhone

Red, White & Blue

Here are some mailboxes near my neighborhood--simple but graphic patriotic colors. 

It makes for a wonderful stop along my walks through the friendly streets of Concord.

           ...... Wei, from his iPhone

100 Years and Counting

Not often do you come across a small--or for that matter--a big business that has been in existence for a century.

So here I was, standing on Grand Street in South San Francisco (about a couple of miles north of San Francisco Airport), when I spotted this bakery. It was Galli's Sanitary Bakery. And yes, the proudly bragged they had been around for a hundred years!

My question to you is "What's the word "Sanitary" doing on their name?" Any ideas

.........Wei, from his iPhone