hiking Keyword
A View from the Top
A few days ago I ventured to the east of Oahu and went on a little hike up Diamond Head Crater.
The crater is actually the cone formed from a volcanic eruption. Seen from Waikiki beach Diamond Head looks like a mountain. It is not until you enter the cone through a tunnel that you realise the actual shape of the land formation. Inside the bowl it is dusty and dry and the fairly easy walk up the inside of the cone to the lookout on the lip feels much more difficult in the heat.
Reaching the top rewards hikers with a ridiculously beautiful view of Oahu. While the summit is only 230 or so meters to the west you can see Waikiki and Honolulu, to the east the coast of Oahu with it’s bays and beaches. To the south the great expanse of the Pacific seems to disappear forever over the horizon. Looking back over the crater facing north gives you a good idea of just how big the volcano must have been.
After sweaty and hot climb back down from the lookout I headed to Hanauma Bay. This bay is a Nature Preserve giving visitors access to some spectacular coral formations. While a little costly (an entrance fee of $7.50 is required if you don’t live in Hawaii) a visit to the bay is a must. The beautiful sheltered bay is like paradise and snorkelling in the bay is easy, safe and the sea life is amazing. I ended up going twice to Hanauma Bay I enjoyed it that much.
The end of my adventure is fast approaching, something that is filling me with a huge level of apprehension. I am not looking forward to leaving my travelling life and going home to debts and work but I’ll enjoy my last few days while I can.
Arthur’s Seat
Yesterday, I climbed Arthur’s Seat. The Seat is a portion of an exinct volcano that rises above Edinburgh. Interestingly, as was pointed out multiple times during the walking, Arthur’s Seat has nothing to do with King Arthur, and the name is believed to be a bastardisation of Archer’s Seat, which seems much more logical. There is a heap of history associated with the Seat both geographically and socially, but I’ll let you find out more yourselves. While normally quite an easy climb especially when done in certain directions, I set myself the challenge of climbing the road less travelled. The climb took me from one side of the Seat, along a gentle slope onto the windward side, where I scaled the steepest part of the hill which didn’t require climbing equipment.
The view from Arthur’s Seat is amazing allowing you to see Edinburgh proper and the surrounding regions. It was quite beautiful. At the top I was able to drop my whole body weight against the wind that howled around me and remain standing. Rain was pelting in sideways, so hard that I felt that my face was being cut with glass with each drop. It was great. I spent about 3 hours casually strolling the Seat, taking in the sights and generally being proud of myself.
Soaking wet I sauntered back into the hostel at about 4pm. I got changed, hung up my gear and retired for a brief nanna’s. The Edinburgh night was calling me and I had to be ready.