Sacred Sands
A Sustainable
Luxury Bed and Breakfast
by Kathy Arnos

Meet Scott Cutler and Steve Pratt, artists extraordinaire who have created a truly enchanting sustainable Bed and Breakfast just 2 hours outside of Los Angeles. The Sacred Sands Bed and Breakfast is located in the high desert at the base of Joshua Tree National Park's west entrance and is a stary night, tastey delight experience.

As you drive up the main road into the park, the rich warm beauty of the Sacred Sands B + B captures your attention. It isn't until you are just past the structure that you see their humble little sign and realize this is your destination, and take a sharp right. We arrived just before sunset, and the vista reminded me of a past sunset experience in New Mexico – the color filled sky, and nighttime magic that awaits you.

Steve, a massage therapist and antique dealer, and Scott, a marriage and family therapist have created an amazingly warm and cozy strawbale retreat, well worth the stay. While they both practice the art of meditation (in their private meditation room) – the creation and daily operations of the retreat are the true expression of a moving meditation. The two purchased the 10-acre property in 2004, and opened their doors in April of 2007. The structure is the design of well-known sustainable architect Janet Johnson-Armstrong and constructed of strawbale, natural clay and sandy wall coverings, wood and corrugated metal walls.

The detail to respecting the desert's sacred nighttime essence is clearly apparent in the Sacred Sands tasteful lighting that is all faced back into the structure, sustaining the magnificent nights sky, not to mention it's romantic ambiance. Choose from two fabulous showers – an indoor one with four nozzles – which I am told you need two nights to master, or an outdoor one, located on your own private patio with a pebble rock permeable ground cover. Also located on the patio are lounge chairs, a hardwood yoga deck and a chemical-free hot tub – the water is used to water the landscape after each guests stay. We soaked in the tub and then enjoyed a shooting star extravaganza that would beat any other show on the airwaves (that's right, no television on site).

I can't think of a better reason to get up at sunrise, than experiencing a (another) hot tub soak and breakfast at this sustainable B + B. When we booked the room, Steve and Scott inquired as to whether or not we had any special dietary restrictions, and what time we wanted to have breakfast. Ninety percent of their produce is organic, and while neither has ever had professional training, they love to cook, and are quite good at it. Coffee, herbal tea and fresh squeezed orange juice were the morning beverages of choice. We were served in a main dining/living room area, which has exquisite views in three directions, a fireplace and French doors opening onto different patios. The breakfast cuisine starter was cantaloupe covered with chopped bananas, a sprinkle of cardamom and a raspberry on top. That was followed by steel cut oats )with real maple syrup on the side), chilaquiles – a vegetable, egg and tortilla dish with Oaxacan mole negro sauce, cilantro and feta cheese. Yum! While it sounds like a lot of food (it is), oddly enough you don't feel stuffed and are ready for your day of hiking in the Joshua Tree National Park. They stocked us up with water and off we went. There is a two-night minimum so you are sure to experience all the magic the retreat has to offer.

Contact: Sacred Sands, HC1 Box 1071 A, 63155 Quail Springs Road, Joshua Tree, CA 92252. (760) 366-4859, www.sacredsands.com

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How I Spent My Summer Vacation – Hawaiian Fun
by Kathy Arnos

Our adventure began on Kauai – We rented an amazing oasis on a piece of property that housed a two-story five bedroom main-house that accommodates up to twelve people; has a fully stocked kitchen, poolside shower and Jacuzzi, a playground for children; and a salt-water swimming pool. We stayed in the guesthouse, which was equally fabulous – with a kitchenette, outside Jacuzzi bath and a small waterfall koi pond. It truly is one of those spiritual vortexes that we search for in life. We ate breakfast at dawn, and dinner at dusk on the upper deck of the mainhouse surrounded by lush vegetation and mountaintops caressed by clouds and rainbows. If you are looking for a spiritual retreat or just an amazing vacation experience, this is the property to rent to fulfill your dream. – www.namahanaplantation.com

The house was central to two heath food stores, which helped make healthy eating easy, enjoyable and affordable. However, if you do feel like dining out, the best place on the island is clearly "Postcards", where reservations were a must – make them early! (808-826-1191) The food was geared both for vegetarians and fish/poultry lovers alike. We ordered a vegetable samosa drizzled with a raspberry sauce and fresh fish, both dishes were up there as all time favorites for me. For tips on other great places to eat – ask the locals and follow their lead. It is sure to be better than those over priced tourist traps, which we were lured into more than once.

Survival note: If you are allergic to mosquitoes, be sure to bring appropriate provisions such as – vitamin B-1, topical natural bug repellants: sprays and towelettes – Buzz Away, All Terrain, Burts Bees, etc., lavender oil, sting stop and baking soda, Immuskin cream; and several homeopathic remedies i.e. graphites, rhus tox, apis mell, etc. in 30C potencies.

The next day we felt adventurous and scheduled a kayak trip up a river, courtesy of Island Adventures. We arrived at 7:50am ready for our 4 1/2 hour trip up the Hale'ia River, surrounded by 241 acres of national wildlife refuge. We were greeted by one of the natives of the island, Kelly, and his sidekick – 18-year-old Louis. Kelly promptly handed us a liability waiver to sign, just in case they were to loose us on the river – for those who made it to the end, lunch would be served.

The 16 thrill seekers were given a quick-witted orientation of the kayak river rules and navigational techniques. Bigger and stronger in the back, which in most cases meant, a male significant other. This persons job is to steer and turn the kayak as per the front seat rider's instructions. The person in front is also responsible for setting the paddling rhythm – right … left strokes and has to be able to surrender easily, communicate with grace and be able to forgive in case you end up in a bush on the side of the river. Thirty seconds in the water revealed that the adventure was going to be more than a test of physical strength, but also a test of patience and communication with your partner. When we were still in the harbor getting use to the navigational process – and learning how to work as a team with our partner – Kelly announced that some couples never make it past the harbor.

As a native of the island, Kelly was our perfect tour guide. He shared his vast knowledge of the lush vegetation, Hawaiian legends and movie-filming trivia with us. His improvisational skills were also quite entertaining.

Editor Note: Be sure to take your natural bug repellant survival kit along – warning: When you get out of the kayak to begin your hike to the waterfalls, watch out for the deet spraying chemicals used by the other bug fearing travelers. The trip was somewhat strenuous, but well worth the journey – www.kauaifun.com

On the shopping front – heads up ladies – there is a great clothing shop on the island with one of a kind pieces guaranteed to put a dent in your pocket book called Tropical Tantrum. The shirts look great with jeans and dance pants. www.tropicaltantrum.com/

Next stop Maui:

If you are going to stay on the island for any length of time, renting a condo is the way to go. We rented a one bedroom in Kihei right across the street from the beach, which proved to be a perfect home base for the second phase of the vacation. We had a fully stocked kitchen, washer and dryer, lanai, swimming pool, tennis courts, etc. ­ www.crhmaui.com/maui-condo-hale-kai.html

Our first adventure on Maui was a deep-sea snorkeling trip to the Molokini crater. We boarded the Pacific Whale Foundation's Eco Adventure Catamaran like little kids filled with anticipation. We made our way across the somewhat choppy water to the Molokini crescent shaped crater in the middle of the ocean. (Sea goers caution: If you have a tendency towards ocean sickness, sit on the front of the boat – not the back – in the open air and stay put, don't wonder around and invest in Sea Bands acupuncture wristbands, they work like a charm.) On board that day was Carol Berk, one of the Foundation's marine naturalists. She was a wealth of information about the mysteries of the ocean. She explained that sharks are the garbage men of the ocean. Their job is to make sure that the ecosystem stays intact by eating all of the carcasses and immune deficient inhabitants of the sea. Other naturalists on board gave an amazing class to the rest of the curious sea goers to help educate them about sea life, the ecosystem and the importance of it's balance.

When we arrived at the crater, it was all feet off deck and into the crystal blue water. The water was so clear that we could literally see 150 feet in all directions. Once in the water the breath taking visual of the abundant diversity of fish species, was mesmerizing – vibrant colors, shapes and sizes. I personally find snorkeling to be one of the most profound meditations – breath work can unconsciously take us to some of the deepest aspects of our being. A few minutes into the water, while in this meditative state – 20 feet below me appeared a shark. It was one of those surreal moments where you are not sure if what you are experiencing is reality or illusion … a shark … I took a deep breath in … and on the exhale thought, oh wow, a shark. It was simply cruising through the area with grace and authority. I gently picked up my head up out of the water to see if there were other people in the area. I felt somewhat reassured with my relaxed state by a family of three within 30 feet on me who were obviously seeing the same, often feared visitor. They too, were equally hypnotized by this amazing experience. In the past, I had always had a major fear of sharks, yet I found myself at total peace with the experience. I gently and cautiously put my head back into the water and continued to be part of this special moment when life hands you a gift – to realize your fears are only as big as you allow them to be – and for that moment I was one with the ocean and life.

Once the shark disappeared from sight, I swam over to John, a marine naturalist and said … let's talk shark … his response, junior or senior? He explained that the white tip sharks were common to the area and fairly docile unless provoked, at which point they have a 365 turning radius and will attack. This was one trip I will always remember … what an amazing experience.

The Pacific Whale Foundation's conservation programs are based on over 25 years of whale, dolphin and coral reef research. Their marine education program serves over 12,000 school children annually. They truly walk their talk as pioneers of the island in using a blend of bio-diesel fuel on their boats, biodegradable cutlery, plates, cups and shopping bags; and the proud owners of an eco-truck, which allows them to help do their part by not dumping waste into the ocean – with a catchy motto – "We pump it and don't dump it." The work that the Pacific Whole Foundation is doing is so important please support their efforts – next time you are on Maui, step/swim outside the box and have some real fun and amazing life experiences. www.pacficwhale.org

The next day was a trip to the backcountry. Nestled in the mountains of Maui's Haleukala "House of the Sun" dormant volcano lies a hidden (so hidden, allow time to get lost) treasure of aromatic and visual beauty – Ali'i Lula's (8.5 acre) Lavender Farm. From the time we arrived at the farm this eminent sense of relaxation and well-being embodied us. We arrived late (because we did get lost) and joined the tour already in session guided by none other than the creator and purple/green thumb himself ­ Ali'i. The view of the dramatic Maui coastline was spectacular. In 2001 Ali'i, a native of the island was given a gift – a token of appreciation – of a lavender plant. He had never seen the plant before and was so taken with its aromatic magical properties decided he wanted to grow a garden of his own full of lavender – that is when he teamed up with Lani, a friend, and the Farm's property owner – and from one gift, the Ali'i Lula's Lavender Farm was born.

The tour leads you on a journey over a hillside draped with more than 30 varieties of lavender as you learn about their medicinal and therapeutic properties. At the end of the road is a little gift shop that offers bath and body care products; culinary and aromatherapy products all made with lavender grown on the farm.

When we reached the studio gift shop we were greeted by one of the farm's gracious chef helpers who escorted us up to the main house garden area where we where introduced to Lani, the Farm's owner, "Welcome, please join me for tea." The patio area and table were elegantly dressed in a purple, lavender and white motif – with fresh lavender, cloth napkins, fine china and a squeeze me pillow/drawer pouch. We were served fresh baked lavender scones, lavender and chamomile tea and lavender jam – simply put, pampered like royalty by natives of the island. Lani later explained that one of the Farm's goals was to make every visitor feel very special, and that we did.

The Farm has partnered with 25 other businesses to support the locals and has become one of the popular community events for senior citizens. One of the Farm's partners includes the Surfing Goat Dairy Farm (which I hope to visit on our next trip,) together they have created a luscious goat milk lavender soap among other aromatic body delights. www.aliikulalavender.com/

We made our way back down the mountain to a scheduled flight aboard the Blue Hawaiian's ³Eco Star², the islands first eco friendly and quietest helicopter. The owners, Dave and Pattie Chevalier have made service, safety and environmental responsibility top priority at Blue Hawaiian. They personally helped orchestrate the creation of the Eco Star,( by searching for a company/companies that would help design and manufacture more responsible helicopters) and along with a few others, took a major financial risk by making a commitment( to the environment) to buy the first Eco Star's brought to market. Their efforts have truly paid off – according to Maui Magazine they are the most successful helicopter company in the state. They are also known as Hollywood's first choice for providing transportation to aerial photographers for movies such as Jurassic Park, Crimson Tide, Pearl Harbor and many more.

The flight would be my first time in a helicopter, and since joy riding in big whirlybirds has always seem a bit intimidating, I was really glad I had just had an afternoon lavender tea party and was totally relaxed – in a euphoric state and ready for adventure.

First course of business was a thorough briefing (video and Q and A) on flight safety procedures – 5 passengers and a pilot. We marched out single file to a designated area and were instructed to stay put, then escorted one by one to the helicopter and buckled in. I was last in and sat behind Mike, a 30-year seasoned pilot. We put on headsets with microphones so we could communicate with the pilot at all times. Our destination was west Maui and Molokai. Take off was a breeze with a little flight humor as we listened to Bobby McFerrin's Don't Worry, Be Happy. There was plenty of leg space and I was very comfortable in the plush seats as we made our way over the Pailols Channel. It was just beginning to rain and there were some strong wind gusts, but Mike was very respectful with all his aerial maneuvers and never took any chances. As we flew over the Molokini crater I observed an absence of boats where we had been snorkeling just the day before, as the rough surf thrashed the crater walls, reminding me of nature's powerful and changeable force. Molikai had one of the most amazing waterfalls I have ever seen – nestled deep in a canyon of richly scenic forest. It felt like we were literally 20 feet from the mountain. Mike, as many other tour leaders we met on our trip, was a wealth of information about the history and culture of the island. If you are going to go up in a helicopter you should do with a company that is respectful to the environment. www.bluehawaiian.com



A Romantic Hide-Away In Paradise
by Kathy Arnos

When you have children, many times the intimacy of a relationship between husband and wife can get lost. That is why it is so important to plan special romantic getaways. One of my favorites is the island of Hawaii. Where rainbows, lush rainforests and exotic tropical fish are an everyday occurrence. One of the most magnificent treasures of the islands is Lana'i.

Part of the adventure is getting to this secluded island via the Expeditions Ferry. We crossed nine miles of crystal blue-ocean escorted by the joyous dances of the spinner dolphins aboard the Ferry. Just passed Sweetheart Rock, up on the hill was a breathtaking view of our romantic weekend hide-away, The Manele Bay Hotel.

The island of Lana'i, is sixth largest in size with a population of 2,800 full-time residents. The Manele Bay Hotel opened its doors in May 1991, with its 250 luxury rooms and suites. Some of the suites even come with traditional British butler services, but no matter what room you are in, you are always treated like royalty.

The Manele Bay Hotel over looks the Hulopo'e Beach, where some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving in the world can be found, sights of the spinner dolphins and giant rare sea turtles add to the hundreds of other sea life visuals. The Hotels ambience incorporates five themed courtyards, Italian marbled floors, oriental artifacts, murals and the works of local talented artists.

The aromatic flowers, and gentle trade winds also offer a mesmerizing sense of romance to this grand seaside villa, captivating the aloha spirit of Lana'i. The dining specialities under the reign of CIA-trained executive chef Mark Tsuchiyama offer distinctly different cooking styles. With fresh fish caught daily by the islanders, the chef utilizes the island's two-acre organic gardens for its vegetables and herbs, adding to the finest in dining experiences. Ordinarily, I am not much of a sugar or chocolate eater, but I couldn't resist (nor should you) the desserts of this outstandingly creative chef. Inspired by chocolate from Hawiian grown beans, my favorite was the layered dark and white chocolate mousse' garnished with fresh strawberries and a guava puree. They also bake their breads fresh daily, which might explain why their French raisin toast was one of the best we had ever eaten, topped with fresh coconut syrup, what a magnificent taste delight.

Lana'i is also known for its secluded beaches. The fine white sand delivers a texture as if walking on clouds. The Hotel offers "picnic basket" lunches to go. For the perfect romantic escape to even more remote areas of the island, to explore beaches and roads, via Dollar rent-a-jeep's four-wheel-drive extravaganza. Dollar's jeep safari drive guide and a sense of adventure is all you need.

The Munro trail is nine miles of rugged unspoiled road through densely lavish rainforest and terrain, taking you to the Lana'ihale (highest peak) of the island at 3,400 feet above sea level. With spectacular views of different islands around every bend, the ride sets any limiting thoughts free.

If golf is your pleasure "The Challenge" at Manele is for you. Designed by famed golfer it is built on natural lava outcroppings. The course's dramatic signature 12 hole plays from a cliff 150 feet above the crashing surf and requires a demanding 200-yard tee shot across the ocean.

But for those who fancy a romantic ride up mountain sides of rich red dirt, over plateaus and through towering Norfolk and Cook pine tree forests, courtesy of the four legged friends, the hotel will arrange an equestrian dream ride, with views of Molakai, Maui and a large portion of the southern part of the island. Our guide was a native of Lana'i, Vivian. She told us about the legends, history and development of the island, which was quite interesting and a special treat.

Most of the books define Lana'i as "a swelling" or bulging mountain top, but Vivian describes it quite differently: "La" means day, and "nai" means to bring or welcome in. I wouldn't mind welcoming in the day, everyday in a place as magical and beautiful as Lana'i. What couple in love could resist romance in paradise.

For more information call (800) 321-4666 or visit http://www.manelebayhotel.com/