The Most Inspiring Place
[Crystal]
Living in Los Angeles, we have always enjoyed all that Southern California has to offer from the beautiful beaches, to our snowy white mountains, incredible museums, restaurants, and city scapes, to our theme parks, botanical gardens and simplistic rural areas. But when we poke our heads out of LA, we are exposed to some unbelievably inspiring locations that simply take our breath away!
There are two spots in particular stand out to us when we are asked the question:
“What is the most inspiring place you’ve been?”
So my first inclination is “Kauai!” We visited there in 2015 with friends who’s family had a timeshare. Poipu beach was phenomenal with stunning white sand beaches, crystal clear ocean water, the perfect temperatures in the month of May, unbelievable rainbows, epic caves and jungles, kind people, a rich culture, super delicious food and pure magic for the eyes at all vantage points around this island. It’s as if we were in a tropical dream that I never wanted to wake up from!
Poipu, Kauai HI
[Crystal]
So this is paradise… wow!
This unexpected trip offered many surprises along the way including an all-women Rodeo, a delightful array of wild chickens and roosters, underwater reef fish and sea turtles, a lovely bicycle ride, a crazy long kayak trip and an unforgettable hike to Secret Falls, a landmark and hidden treasure.
Secret Falls
[Crystal]
As we explored this charming island we fell more in love with it every single day! Jurassic Park was filmed here, and while on our kayak trip our tour guide pointed out all of the cinematic backdrops that are iconic on this plot of land.
[Mike]
Mike here.
Kauai isn’t called the garden isle for nothing. It’s a lush jungle landscape with tons of unspoiled wilderness and beaches. There are some suburban neighborhoods and resorts but it’s the tropical Hawaii of your imagination. I couldn’t help feeling amazed and astounded by the stunning natural beauty.
In fact, Kauai is so jungly and beautiful it’s caught the eye of numerous filmmakers. Kauai’s forests and canyons have played other exotic locales around the world. In Raiders of the Lost Ark, it was the jungles of Panama where Indiana Jones gets chased by hostile natives and escapes on a small plane after the iconic giant boulder scene. The island has been in numerous other films like the various King Kong movies, Tropic Thunder, Pirates of the Carribean, Jumanji and a lot more. But Kauai’s most famous alter ego on the big screen is that of Isla Nubar of the Jurassic Park films. Almost all those movies have something filmed on the Island including the latest ones. So it’s no wonder that when we were hiking I was almost afraid a dinosaur would leap out from behind a bush.
The most dangerous creature you’re likely to run into is a wild boar though. There are no snakes on the island and way less creepy crawlies than you expect in your average jungle. I guess to me, Kauai seems like an imaginary place that exists in TV and the movies; a backdrop for stories of adventure, the far off and exotic. But it’s not imaginary. It’s real despite seeming like it’s in full technicolor. Even though we were still in America, I felt like I was in some far exotic place. To come across a roaring waterfall and sparkling pond in a lush green jungle is a magical feeling I’ll never forget.
Click below for a quick video we made of this awe inspiring trip:
Press play.
[Crystal]
The second most awe-inspiring place we’ve been is Venice, Italy. While visiting family in Germany and Europe we took a day trip to the Venice canals. The history, architecture, food, music, transportation and culture of this place was simply overwhelming! The gorgeous buildings that have stood here for hundreds of years, the picturesque waterscapes, iconic sculptures and friendly business owners happy to see incoming tourists, it was like a dream come true!
Venice Square
[Crystal]
I’m not sure we were fully aware of the history held within these narrow walkways, crowded canals and old fashioned brick structures. I’ve heard this square in particular goes underwater each year and I’m not even certain if future generations will get the opportunity to visit and snap a picture like the one we have (above.)
Gondolas
[Crystal]
I remember listening to the songs sung by the gondoliers as they paddled by, and the many different languages being spoken by the thousands of tourists wandering the streets.
[Mike]
Ah, Venice. In college, we learned a lot about Venice. From starting as a refuge from hoarding barbarians at the end of Roman times; to being the center of trade from the east during the Renaissance to its current state of beautiful ruin, Venice is no stranger to history.
After years of studying art and seeing paintings of Venice in books and museums, it was such a trip to see it in person. In fact, I remember going to Italian restaurants as a kid and they had pictures and maps of Venice and seeing the canals and thinking how magical it was. It just seemed amazing people still live in this medieval city with watery streets. I wondered what it would be like to go there someday, and here I was.
Venice was a bit overwhelming at first because it can be crowded and touristy. We went back in 2011 and heard stories about it flooding. It’s only gotten worse with global warming and whatnot. I don’t know what the future holds for Venice, but I feel fortunate to have been able to see it.
I guess what stands out the most to me though is seeing this lion statue on a column in the main square with the date 1340-something (I can’t find the actual date.) But I thought of the things that the statue has been present for. How things have changed since 1340-something and how many other travelers over the years have looked up at that lion and thought the exact same thing.
The sense of wonder I feel from thinking about something like that or seeing a landmark that we’ve been to in paintings or movies is exciting and enriching to me. Venice is no stranger to the silver screen but unlike Kauai, it always plays itself.(Where else could it be?) Who can forget the boat chase in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade? More recently it was in the latest Marvel franchise film, Spiderman Far From Home. Venice isn’t just the background for a story it’s a character in and of itself.
We were only there a few hours, but I can’t help but feel a connection to the history of the place. We were travelers looking upon St. Marks square like so many before us throughout the years. Every time I see it somewhere or learn something new about it the memories of really being there help paint a vivid picture and give me an understanding that I really value. I guess that’s the true beauty of traveling to any inspiring place. To have an understanding of whats it’s like and to look back in wonder that you were really there.
Thanks for reading!
-Crystal and Mike O.
