2006 Industrial Design Excellence Awards

Ito-Design
Tricycle Design
Seymourpowel
Marmol Radziner + Associates
Royal Phillips Design
Eva
New Deal Design
Cesaroni Design
Stuart Karten Design
Fuseproject
Altitude Inc.

Nevada Falls II

Top of Nevada Falls, spring 2006

Nevada Falls

Top of Nevada Falls, spring 2006.

 

Vernal Falls

These pictures were taken from the top of Vernal Falls in Yosemite National Park in the spring of 2006. There was still snow on the ground and the water flow from the falls was impressive but it was not at it's maximum flow.


 

Cabins - Volcano National Park Hawaii

If you don't need the creature comforts of a hotel room, then I highly recommend staying at the cabins in the Volcano National Park. The cabins are run by the Volcano House Hotel and you check in at the hotel. You will be given sheets and a key to the cabin. The cabin is a short drive away and is off the main road. There are approximately 10 cabins and appear to be of the same size. The cabin we stayed in had a queen sized bed and twin bunk beds. It can easily fit a family of four. There are shared bathrooms and showers in the cabin area. We loved our little cabin! I don't recall the price but you can call the Volcano House for more information. btw, it was not crowded and it seemed that it was mainly used by locals. Aloha!

Ferns - Volcano National Park, Big Island Hawaii

I was intrigued by the ferns growing in Volcano National Park on the Hilo side of the Big Island. The ferns start out as a purple strand shown in the first two pictures. As they open up and grow they turn into what you typically think of as a fern.

UCC Plantation on the Big Island

If you like coffee then I highly recommend taking the coffee roasting tour on the UCC (Ueshima Coffee Company) coffee plantation on the Kona side of the Big Island. The coffee roasting class takes about 1 hour and you are able to roast one pound of Kona coffee. The coffee is smooth and delicious. BTW, if you like Kona, a derivative of the Jamaican Blue Mountain, then I recommend trying the New Guinea and the Guatemalan, a bean also from the JamaicanBlue Mountain. Be sure to buy your beans from a reputable source. These roasters are next on my list to try:
1. Blue Bottle - SF
2. Stumptown - OR
3. Counterculter - NC

Aloha

One of our favorite trips. We miss you Garrett!


 

Hetch Hetchy

Hetch Hechy damn is less crowded than the valley and I recommend the detour. There appears to be a lot of hiking and backpacking available and as soon as we get a chance we will head that way. Beware of the Federal police. We were pulled over for going 7 miles over the limit and were given a warning. The roads are empty and the rangers know how to spot so called speeders.

BTW, there is an alternative way out that will take you to Prechers Grade. It's a desolate windy road but has beaiful views of the backside of the Sierras.

High Tide at the Barn Hill Marina

Half Dome

If you have not done the hike to Half Dome and you are in good shape then I recommend it. If you've done it once don't do it again. It's crowded, the rock face is slipery (melted rubber soles), and the trail is worn. Yosemite falls is less crowede I hear and more challenging.


 

Hats Designed by Flo

Eels Monterey Bay Aquarium

I was facinated by the eels at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. There is also a nice display of large eels in the lobby of the Mirage hotel. If I ever have the space, time, and money, I think that I would construct a large aquarium of eels.