In Search of Pele (and red hot lava)

If you want to get a glimpse of Pele, the goddess of fire who dwells in the craters of Big Island’s Kilauea Volcano, you will have to sail by during the night. Seeing lava flow into the sea is on every tourists’ mind when visiting the Big Island in Hawaii. To get close to seeing red hot lava, most tourists flock to the Volcano Park, hoping to catch a glimpse of sputtering lava from Kilauea.

We were among these tourists and had the same goal, which is to see red hot flowing lava. Our adventure began with a drive to the Volcano Park from Kona. The park is not very far from Kona but because the highway winds through several small towns, the driving limit is below 55 mph at times. After an hour drive, you reach the Volcano Park. From the visitor center, you drive the Chain of Craters road, which circles the entire park and traces around the rim of a large crater. There is a lot to explore around the rim, such as the Volcano House, an old establishment that has a commanding view of the crater. You can also drive around the crater and see vents where poisonous fumes rise high up into the air. 

To access the coast, you continue on the Chain of Craters road, passing by lava flows from past years. You know you have reached the end of the road when you see the 2003 lava flow and how it crossed and buried the road. Street signs can still be seen buried in the lava.

Park your car on either side of the road, knowing that there is no parking by the ranger station.  Plan on bringing plenty of drinking water and hiking gear which includes long pants (ie. jeans), warm clothing, a waterproof jacket, umbrella, a flashlight and gloves. I know it almost sounds like you are preparing for winter but when you descend 3700 feet on the Chain of Craters road to the coast, the temperature drops a few degrees. It’s as though another weather system takes over. Flash rain can occur at any time and lava becomes extremely slippery when it is wet. Wearing gloves will protect your hands in case you slip. The lava field is not a very friendly environment. The best way to describe the lava field is to remember back to the hit movie, Armageddon starring Bruce Willis. The meteor they landed on, had a sharp jagged landscape and any contact to edges will easily slice through any exposed fabric. 

The first half hour would be easy. I had to watch every step and was very careful not to walk into or slip into a skylight. Skylights are exposed holes that lead into a lava tube below. Some of the skylights were large enough that it could hold several cars in it. The ranger warned us that it would take at least two hours to hike to a spot where we would safely view lava as it flowed and entered the ocean. Obviously, we would still be a mile or so away from the actual flow. We were also warned not to hike near the coast because a whole section of the coast had slipped into the ocean a few weeks back.

After an hour into our hike, we could see the white fumes caused by lava entering into the ocean but we were still too far away to see any lava. As we turned to resume our hike, the clouds over us opened up and poured buckets on us. Suddenly, the lava was too treacherous for us to navigate. The lava had become slick and was like black ice. Our best hiking boots had no traction nor grip. Disappointed, we had to turn back and make our way to our car. Pele was not going to allow us to go further.

Three weeks later, my brother-in-law took to the sky on a helicopter ride to circle the Kilauea Volcano. Weather was harsh and prevented the helicopter to hover over the crater. The pilot decided to follow the flow to the ocean, hoping that his passengers can get a glimpse of the lava as it entered the ocean. But there was too much whiteness from the rising fumes to clearly see anything.

That same evening, the cruise ship that my brother-in-law was on, sailed into the night past Kilauea. From a distant, passengers onboard their cruise ship was rewarded to a show they would never forget. Red hot lava was flowing down the mountain and was quickly engulfed once it hit water. The reddish glow from the lava lit up the clouds. Few knew that another island was being formed.

There are some very good resources on flowing lava from Kilauea on the web. Before this blog was published, Kilauea was once again threatening the Royal Gardens subdivision on the Big Island. That’s how unpredictable Pele can be. 

If you are interested in cruising the Hawaiian Islands and having a chance to see Kilauea up close (and personal), please look at the article where to find the best travel deals to book your cruise.

Cleans after yourself

If you had lived on a remote island for a year without a radio, television, newspaper and the internet, you would be amazed at all the technological advancements that we have in our world today. I am just looking at my iPod Touch as I connect wirelessly to the internet using the built-in WIFI. 

 

On the music front, I like how I could use a device from Anycom to send music to an iPod speaker system wirelessly. At a party, I can keep my iPod safely tucked away in my pocket (where it keeps it from disappearing). I can control the music that is playing and skip over a song that is alittle too lame for the party. This device is really an extension from having Bluetooth earbuds where I can enjoy listening to music on my iPod without having wires dangling from my ears. Panasonic has a nice set of earbuds that are comfortable and has a range of 33 feet. With the success of Apple’s iPods, everybody under the sun has come out with their own accessory and docking station. Bose who builds some of the best sounding speakers and lifestyle components have a portable SoundDock for your iPod. It uses Bose’s proprietary acoustics and waveguide technology to ensure high-fidelity sound. It’s sure an improvement from the weak bass that you get from the earbuds and its portable unit can be brought outdoors to a patio or car without a power outlet because it has rechargeable batteries. If listening to the radio is more your bag, be sure to add Sharper Image iBeam Stereo Universal Dock to your iPod. This speaker system adds a digital AM/FM tuner and SRS WOW technology that is also found on Toshiba televisions. And if you read my earlier blog and responded to the free offer on our site, you could send music from your iPod to your FM radio in your car. The FM transmitter sells for as high as $70 but was FREE on our site. That offer has since expired, otherwise I would urge you to get one for yourself. It pays to check our site every so often, or everyday if you can.

 

Around the home, I want to bring your attention to the greatest invention of all time – a robotic vacumn cleaner. The iRobot Roomba is the perfect companion for an occasional picker-upper like me. You can schedule the newer model to automatically wake up at a designated day and time, and vacumn the place. I set mine to tidy up the place twice a week and it does so every time. It has the smarts to return to the charging station when it gets tired and it avoids falling down stairs, backing up and turning around from danger.  Every week, I just empty the dustbin and clean off the debris off its wheels. I highly recommend a roomba for any house. It is perfect for aging parents who don’t want to lug around a heavy vacumn or to push it around. For dirtier areas such as your garage or basement, you may want to get the dirt dog which is a more industrious model. They even have one that dives into your pool and cleans the bottom of your pool. The Verro is its name to remember. And for floor washers, they have the scooba that washes and scrubs floors. Check out some hot deals on roomba’s on our site. 

 

I was joking with my wife last night that I am waiting for them to create a cooking robot that prepares meals. Perhaps, I need to go away on a long cruise and return to hear that dinner is on the table. 

 

All of these items mentioned in this blog are available on our site. 

Sail Nowhere or to Seattle for $68

If you’ve followed our cruise blogs this week, you might be tempted to sail on a transatlantic cruise for $34 a day. That is, if you can afford to take off for 13-nights but if you could, then I would urge you to book right away because it is selling fast.

 

Today I want to talk about FAM trips. FAMiliarity trips are strategies that travel suppliers provide to inform travel agents and promoters about their product and service. A hotel for instance, would discount their best room in the house for travel agents to come visit and to take in the amenities. The hotel does this in hope that the travel agent would recommend travellers to stay at their hotel in the near future.

 

Recently, cruise ship operators decided to offer FAM trips to people like you and me. FAM trips are usually short and sweet, giving you just enough time to experience the service and amenities. To classify a sailing as a FAM trip, cruise ship operators will offer nowhere cruises or coastal cruises. Nowhere cruises start and end from the same port, usually for an overnight sailing or for 2 nights. Coastal cruises sail between two cities, possibly three ports for longer sailings. An example of a nowhere cruise available is one that leaves San Diego and returns to San Diego on an overnight cruise. A coastal cruise is one that leaves from Los Angeles and sails to Vancouver, Canada. 

 

If you visit our site, you will see a list of FAM cruises that I have compiled. Note that you will not find the word ‘FAM’ anywhere but it is there behind the scenes. It is a travel term and marketing ploy used to provide familiarity to their offering, but it does not matter to us since we can benefit from FAM trips because they are affordable.

 

One of my favorite deals can be found on our site which leaves from Vancouver, Canada and ends in Seattle, Washington. If you live in either places then I recommend you to take your mom along for the ride and a night of pampering. This would be a great Mother’s Day gift in May. She would enjoy it and so would you.

 

If I lived in Vancouver, I would take the cruise and sail to Seattle then take a shuttle bus back. If I lived in Seattle, I would take a bus to Vancouver and sail back. But I would not rush it because there is so much to see and do in either places.

 

If you are not from the area then you can fly into Vancouver, BC (site of the next Winter Olympics in 2010) and take in the sights before departing on your cruise. If you live in Canada, WestJet flies between your airport to Vancouver. You can book WestJet from our site and check if there are any air specials. Last week, our readers took advantage of a saving of 50% off airfare when they booked WestJet from our site.

 

Sailing from Vancouver, you will see the majestic North Shore mountains on one side of the ship and the serenity of Stanley Park on the other side. The ship will sail under the Lions Gate bridge before making a left turn towards the Gulf Islands where you can experience a romantic sunset. When you arrive in Seattle, you will see the Space Needle along with Seattle’s skyline. There you can disembark and explore the city. Visit the famous Pike Fish Market and see “flying fish” as fish mongers hurl their prized catch across the room and over the heads of curious tourists. Visit the Science Center and ride up the elevator at the Space Needle to get a commanding view of the city.

 

Other 1-night and 2-night cruises leaving from more exotic places such as Hong Kong can also be found on our site. If you have not been on a cruise before, this is an excellent time for you to try one. One more thing I should tell you, these FAM trips are only offered when cruise ship operators are preparing for a season of sailings. In this case, cruise ships are getting ready to serve the Alaska cruises that usually begin in May. If you miss this opportunity, you will not get your chance again until late September.

Cruise One Day at a Time

If you’ve followed our cruise blogs this week and want to try cruising but is still unsure then take a day off and take a sample cruise for 1-night. We have found and compiled a list of last minute and economically priced cruises that you can try out. How cheap you may ask? For as little as $68, you can sail from Vancouver to Seattle. You can take off from work on Friday, May 9th and board the Golden Princess ship and enjoy a night of pampering before arriving in Seattle the next morning. 

If you are not from the area then you can fly into Vancouver, BC (site of the next Winter Olympics in 2010) and take in the sights before departing on your cruise. Sailing from Vancouver, you’ll see the majestic North Shore mountains on one side of the ship and the serenity of Stanley Park on the other side. The ship will sail under the Lions Gate bridge before making a left turn towards the Gulf Islands. When you arrive in Seattle, you will see the Space Needle along with Seattle’s skyline. There you can disembark and explore the city. Visit the famous Pike Fish Market and see “flying fish” as fish mongers hurl their prized catch across the room and over the heads of curious tourists. Visit the Science Center and ride up the elevator at the Space Needle to get a commanding view of the city.

Not in Canada? How about Hong Kong? Hop on board the Rhapsody of the Seas on April 1, 2008 and sail to Shanghai for only $149. Or take a 2-night “nowhere” cruise from San Diego for $218. Nowhere cruises take you out to the open ocean where you cannot see land for miles before returning back to the port. 

This is an excellent way for first-time cruisers to try out a cruise or for anyone curious about a certain ship and its amenities. This is the time to try out a cruise if you have not been. Who knows? You might get hooked (like the rest of us). 

Cruise for $34 per night

 

For less than staying in a 1-star hotel along the Monterey coast, you can cruise to Europe and eat like a king (or queen) for 13 nights. Cruising the Atlantic on a TransAtlantic cruise is the most economical cruise vacation you can ever go on. Ken who worked 7-nights straight on a graveyard shift with CN Rail says, “…this is perfect for me because I can go to sleep and not wake up for days..or at least, to the sound of the dinner bell”. 

A TransAtlantic cruise isn’t for everyone. If you enjoy visiting ports and think sailing is a waste of your vacation time then don’t sign up for a transatlantic cruise. Other travellers who enjoy the ship’s amenities don’t care if they don’t see land for days. They get involved in activities that the ship’s social director arranges such as exercise classes, aerobic, dancing, morning walks, rock climbs, surf lessons, horse races, casinos and more. To them, it is detox period where they can recharge their batteries. Sailing calms them and allows them to relax and sit out their day. “Touring can get tiresome and expensive if you go to port everyday.” says Tamara, a 3-time cruiser. 

Another advantage of sailing for such a long period is the “unpack-once” concept where you unpack your clothes at the start of your cruise then you don’t have to repack for 12 nights. A nice dresser and closet in your cabin allows you to put up those nice threads you brought along. And did I mention formal nights? I know it sounds like a pain to bring a tuxedo or most guys just bring their best suit and the ladies bring an evening gown, but how many times do you get all decked out and go out for a nice dinner? The cruise people make it easy for you that night because they hire professional photographers to take studio portraits of you. That’s an added plus which is optional, but do take the pictures before you enter the dining room.

Royal Caribbean has a transatlantic cruise leaving on April 27, 2008 for 13-nights, from Galveston to Barcelona. If this date does not work for you, check it out anyways because there are other cruises on other dates.. There will be 8 days at sea and visiting 4 ports, with 2 days spent in Miami, Florida. The cost is only $449 for an interior cabin which comes out to about $34 per day. You cannot beat that (ie. where are you going to find a 4-star hotel + 3 meals vacation?) And that’s not counting the calories nor the free entertainment around the ship.

If you have not been on a cruise before then I urge to try it. Otherwise if you have sailed before then welcome back. 

Cruising is for Everyone

Going on a cruise used to be for the rich and famous. Now, it’s so affordable that anyone can go on one.Finding a cruise that you can afford is easier than ever. With prices as low as $34 per night, you can get a night of accomodation in a cabin furnished with a dresser, bed and television and get served at least 3 times a day. And no cafeteria food neither, you the full meal deal at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Some ships have a pizzeria that serves pizza in the afternoon and late night, ice cream parlors that offer sundaes and ice cream cones throughout the day. The larger ships have select restaurants for those who want a bit of privacy and is willing to pay tips to a waiter. And unlike any restaurant on land, menus onboard your cruise do not have prices.I’ve been on 7 cruises in the last 10 years and have a lot of tell. I’ve been on some real dives (and that’s not scuba talk) and lucky for all, those ships have been retired or are lying in the scrapyard. Most of the ships that you see sailing around are only a few years old. If they’re not brand new, they have been completely stripped down and the interior rebuilt.First myth, don’t believe it when they say cruising is for old folks only because it isn’t. There are certainly some ships that tend to attract the older crowd but you’ll find a full range of ages onboard, from the very young to the very old.Second myth, don’t believe it when they say cruising is boring because it’s not. Once you get on, there are activities for you to do. Everyone explores the ship (like Leo and Kate did on Titanic), checking out the lifeboats, running track, spa, shops, casino, movie theatres, swimming pools, jacuzzi’s, etc. After the lifejacket drill, everyone relaxes and starts enjoying their cruise. Some head straight to the bar and dunk one down before they start to relax. Others head over to the pizzeria or buffet and eat away their concerns.The last myth I am going to bust in this article is the price. People say cruising is expensive and is for the rich and famous. No it’s not, if you know when to book, what to look for and where to go. Just stick with us here and we’ll let you in on all the best deals.A great way to see if a cruise is worth going to, other than if it’s a must-see-before-you-die destination then do alittle math. Divide the price with the number of nights and if the number comes out to less than $140. If it falls between $150 to $200 then wait a little for it because it’s not quite prime. The reason this works is because you’re looking for a hotel stay + 3 meals. It’s hard enough these days to find a decent 3-star hotel room + 3 meals for $140. If it’s less than that then grab it before it sells out.

Buying Preowns (aka Used) Equipment

Some people rather not buy used. If you feel the same way then you may be paying 2 much. Now get over that and start saving some money. We all have heard that when you drive a new vehicle off the lot, we automatically lose $1000. Just try making a U-turn back into the dealers’ lot and asking for all your money back. Suddenly your new vehicle is considered used.There is an added cost to buying things new. Some people like the smell of a new car, an undented box of a cellphone, a blemish-free golf club or a unwrinkled shirt or blouse. Open boxes often make its way to clearance piles, even if the piece of equipment is in full working mode.Retailers have reinvented the wheel by calling it something else. Instead of a used BMW, it is now known as a Preowned BMW. Certain models that meet specifications such as low mileage, excellent condition, maintenance-free are known as Certified Preowns. To further entice the buyer, BMW will sometimes add warranty to the vehicle. Smart buyers will often look for 2-3 year old preowns that still have existing warranty and additional warranty because it is certified. This gives them up to 7 years of warranty on a vehicle which is sometimes more than what a new vehicle comes with.Another market where preowns are popular is with the Callaway brand of golf clubs. Here, Callaway owners can buy, sell and exchange their clubs. They have devised a quality ranking system and prices their preowns according to its condition and popularity. This makes it quite affordable for any golfer who wants to own a Callaway club. Sometimes, you cannot tell a good club from another, until you put it into your bag. After a few rounds, it either stays put or it is up for sale. Alot of people will put their club for sale on ebay but seasoned buyers will now look to Callaway Preowned for their future Callaway purchases. They like seeing what they can afford. Sometimes they will go down in the condition of a club, just to buy two clubs.There are advantages in buying a preowned club from Callaway such as not worrying to blemish a new club. Sometimes a player will alter his or her swing, just to avoid making a mark on it. Instead of giving the club a chance, the player sabotages his or her own game. A preowned club comes with its own blemishes and experience. Playing with a preowned club, a player isn’t worried about scuffing the club like with a new club.So, the next time you are in the market for Callaway golf clubs, give Callaway Preowned a chance to bring your game to a new level.

And the Oscar goes to…

And the Oscar goes to… I hope because of the Academy Awards that none of you who read my earlier blog on ‘Saving Money with Coupons” had noticed that I missed mentioning the code to saving 60% off restaurant certificates.And the answer is… EXTRA. Enter this word in the discount code box and press Recalculate.Thank you very much for not catching my boo-boo. 

More Freebies for the Asking

Everywhere you turn, there’s a free offer for movie tickets, iPods, airfare, $500 gift cards, trips of a lifetime, a new car but are any of these offers for real? Some are legitimate while others are scams. Before acting on your instincts, find out if the terms & conditions of the offer is reasonable before you take action. Alot of free offers accompany a purchase. Recently, Shiseido gave women a cosmetic pouch with 2 creams and a lifting formula with a $43 minimum purchase. If you cruise around the cosmetic and fragrance counters at department stores, you’ll be bombarded with offers for an athletic bag, robes, beach ball, gloves, etc. In time for the Oscars, Oscar de la Renta has a free movie offer if you go to a Sears Canada store and purchase the new Oscar de la Renta Fresh Vanilla fragrance for $49 retail between February 14th to March 7th, 2008, you’ll get a free Cineplex movie ticket.Also for Canadians, get a free box of Kashi’s Chewy Granola Bars for signing in and giving them some basic information. I have 2 freebies for the guys. First, Hugo Boss is giving away a free sample bottle of their new Pure fragrance. Second, Lacoste-Essential is also giving away a free sample bottle of its new fresh cologne. Both offers require you to be at least 16 years old. (I guess they’re scared some of you will drink it instead of wear it.) Now for our four-legged friends, Greenies is giving out free samples of their dental chew. Remember, dogs need good dental hygiene too. This offer is good for both US and Canada so go for it before they run out. These offers are great, especially when you can get a free sample bottle of cologne because Hugo Boss and Lacoste are expensive labels. I personally like freebies with no strings attached. If you travel, you’ll like this one. Cathay Pacific Airways is offering arrival guides for places like Amsterdam, Beijing, Brisbane, Dubai, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, New York, Rome, San Francisco and many more. These guides are written by local journalists that know their city and tells you about the essential things to see and do when you arrive in their city. These guides are fantastic because they contain maps and information about how-to get around. If you’re interested in this free offer, you can go to Cathay Pacific’s website and download what you need. For all the free offers in this blog, please go to uPay2much freebie page before they run out of samples.

Get it at a Steal of a Price

If you’ve ever been at a doorcrasher sale then you’ve experienced utter chaos. Others take their chances, choosing to waltz in than to line up for hours. Obviously, these items are extremely limited in quantity and sell out quickly. Only those who have lined up and fought their way in are rewarded to big savings.

 

Retailers know how to bring in sales. Anything sold in limited quantities will sell out. Especially when only one per customer applies. People will find ways to grab two or more to increase their savings or to share it with family and friends.

 

My job at uPay2much is to find interesting websites that save consumers like you, money. It requires a dedication from me to find merchants online and research their offerings and prices. If I think there’s a story to their success then I recommend it to my boss. Today’s pick is eCost and if you’re in the market for electronics with doorcrashing prices then go there now and join in on their countdown to savings.

 

How does it work?

You can find details at their site but I’m going to briefly tell you. They list a product at a discounted price, tell you how many items they have to sell and give you a time period to buy the item. Every 60 seconds, their page will refresh and show you the remaining quantity. This may sound similiar to you like the home shopping network. That’s right! After the item sells out or time runs out then the item is removed from the list.

 

eCost has several countdowns, the Bargain Countdown and the Clearance Countdown with very limited quantities on a variety of clearance items. It’s an interesting way to pick up hot electronic items for doorcrasher prices without having to spend the night in a lineup.