Notes from Paradise, pt. VIII: North Shore

I noticed I never finished my travel post series on my trip to Hawai'i way back in 2012 and we're already 26 days into the new year - two years later, though. Maybe because it was getting too much for me to write and for you to read, but before I continue my Asia series, I'd like to finally wrap this up and tell you about my favourite place on O'ahu: the North Shore, the infamous spot that makes Hawai'i the birth cradle of surfing, which is one of my biggest hobbies and inspirations. I had the opportunity to go back to Hawai'i this year, but I noticed there's so many things I've left unseen in Japan that I decided against the beautiful pearl of America's Polynesia. In case you wondered where I've been: I'm trying to figure out where I wanna go with this blog. At this point I'm pretty much over dolling up for photos that all look the same, I still enjoy taking product pictures, though, but my lifestyle has changed a lot over the past two years and I'm just not into spending money on make-up anymore unless I'm on vacation (and that's when I go all-out), which is what I mainly focus on: Work and afford amazing trips. I'll be redesigning Fenua Beauté soon and there will be a lot of changes to the name, the style and the appearance. There will still be beauty posts, equally as much as travel posts.

Back to the North Shore. I got to cruise around with my dear friend Erin whom - at that time - I barely knew over the internet for a little less than a year. She was about to have her second baby and in the process of moving back to Washington state, nonetheless we hung out and she introduced me to the places I've only known from surf magazines and travel agency window displays. It was a magical day and we got along so well, typing this up really makes me miss her. In fact, it makes me miss all the people I met on my travels. I don't want to be too philosophical in this post, but once the new Fenua Beauté is up, I'll elaborate on why travelling is all I live and work for.

We had moody weather that day, from one minute to another it would start pouring on our heads, next thing you know there would be double rainbows and glassy waves. You can't get the real Hawaiian experience in downtown Honolulu, I know what people are looking for in Hawai'i when they go there for the first time cuz I've been searching for it as well and that paradise feeling you're hoping to experience you'll find on the North Shore and even on the East Coast.

After touring Haleiwa, Turtle Bay, the infamous Sunset Beach and all the incredible surf spots I've been dying to see in person for the longest time, we went for the obligatory shave ice at Matsumoto's. Shave ice was basically all I've lived off throughout the entire trip and I'll refuse to eat it anywhere else than in Hawai'i cuz it's a classic there. Same goes for poke. Oh my, what I'd give for poke now.

I have another Hawaiian food post coming up for you, but this is the end to a series whose writing I enjoyed the most and I hope y'all got to see a different side to the Hawaiian islands. Next time I go, I'll make sure to stop by Kauai and the Big Island, too.



Related Tales of A Glorious Globetrotter
• Notes From Paradise, #01: Aloha
• Notes From Paradise, #02: Diamond Head
• Notes From Paradise, #03: Hanauma Bay
• Notes From Paradise, #04: Waikiki
• Notes From Paradise, #05: Maui
• Notes From Paradise, #06: Lana'i
• Notes From Paradise, #07: Kailua
• Notes From Paradise, #08: North Shore