La Cucaracha Mexican Bar & Grill

4/30/2009

After 13 hours of hard work today, the tradeshow was finally over. Celebration time for all of us! Yeppi!

Tonight was the last night we will be staying in Honolulu.

It was after 8pm and my stomach was playing a crazy symphony!

We were not in the mood of driving, looking for parking, and all that crap. So, we looked for a restaurant nearby in walking distance.

There was one restaurant that caught my eyes the other night. It was the La Cucaracha restaurant. I mentioned this restaurant to Radim and he immediately started laughing!

La Cucaracha literally means the cockroach in Spanish!!

The restaurant is located just one block across from our apartment, so La Cucaracha that is!!

La Cucaracha Mexican Bar & Grill
La Cucaracha Mexican Bar & Grill (photo by Radim)

We reached there after the rush hour, so the waitress was able to seat us at the outdoor patio. It’s always nice to enjoy fresh air while eating a good meal.

La Cucaracha Mexican Bar & Grill
The atmosphere was festive, happy and clean.

The service was quick and friendly.

We were served the usual chips and salsa to start off our night.
Note: There’s extra charge for second basket of chips.

Then, I spotted a giant COCKROACH on our table!! Can you see it?

La Cucaracha Menu

It’s right there!! Look Closer!

La Cucaracha menu
Did you see it? A giant cockroach chilling under the palm tree? That’s sooooooo cute!

Pina colada & Margarita
My virgin pina colada and Karan’s margarita (photo by Radim)

Cheers
Cheers! (photo by Radim)

Kalua Taco
I ordered today’s special – Kalua (Hawaiian style pork) taco.

IPuka fish with olives and grilled artichoke
Radim ordered Puka fish with olives and grilled artichoke.

Burrito
Karan ordered some kind of burrito. I forgot which burrito, but it was yummily yummily good.

We all enjoyed our dishes. You should know that Radim has had many Mexican dishes before (thanks to his lovely Mexican wife, Clara) and he found the dishes that we ordered very authentic. He especially loved the Kalua taco.

Kalua Taco
Kalua Taco

hot sauces
Hot sauces (photo by Radim)

After the delightful meal, we couldn’t resist having some desserts!

Flan & Fried Ice Cream
Dessert: flan (oven-baked caramel custard) & fried ice cream (photo by Radim)

Radim was taking photos here and there. After taking a look at his photos, I felt like tossing my little point and shoot camera into the ocean (yes, blame the tool) T_T. We were in such low light situation and his camera performed so well without the flash! See for yourself! Radim’s photos are the ones with (photo by Radim) in the caption.

See this one. I had to use flash. But still, can you tell that the ice cream was yummy? 🙂

Fried Ice Cream
Fried ice cream

Our friendly and pretty waitress lend us some Mexican hats for our amigo shot.

3 amigos
3 Amigos

The waitress (I forgot to ask for her name) suggested a good bar for us to go to after our dinner. But the outdoor was so great that why would anyone stay indoor, in a bar? In fact, I wouldn’t have any blog entries on the nightlife here. Although the nightlife here supposedly to be decent, we were so pooped out everyday with our 6am to 10pm schedule that we just didn’t feel like going to any clubs or bars or karaokes!

Before heading back to our apartment, we did stroll along the busy Waikiki beach streets. 🙂

La Cucaracha Address:
2446 Koa Ave
Honolulu, HI 96815
(808) 924-3366

Chilling at Waikiki Beach (Part 1)

4/29/2009

I chilled at Waikiki Beach in the late afternoon. This was the same day when Karan took his surf lesson. When I wasn’t boogie boarding, I went people watching. 🙂 I wish I had better zoom lens!

This was my second Waikiki sunset (why do women always count?). Although the sky was very cloudy and gloomy, the sunset was still as breathtaking and mesmerizing as my first Waikiki sunset.

[flickr album=72157617857963372 num=30 size=Thumbnail]

Three Amigos Go Surfing

4/29/2009

After work today, the three amigos (Karan, Radim & Kim) wanted to go surfing.

I don’t know how they could go surfing after a full day of work (6am – 3pm). But I guess that was their way of unwind after a long day.

We just walked to Waikiki beach from our apartment since there was no need to drive.

My carrying my boogie board
Me carrying my boogie board

Boogie Board

What is boogie boarding (bodyboarding)?
– Boogie boarding is where you ride a wave on a much shorter surfboard that is made of foam. It’s a real blast! 🙂

Radim and Kim paddled into the waves and started riding while Karan get a surf lesson (see previous post).

I just chilled on the beach. I tried to take some surf photos of the three amigos, but my little Canon point and shoot camera could only do so much … See photos below.

[flickr album=72157617755666693 num=30 size=Thumbnail]

Visiting Transcendental Meditation Center (Oahu)

4/28/2009

We drove to Transcendental Meditation Center to meet up with Kim.

If you want to know more about Transcendental Meditation, check out these websites:

http://www.tm.org/ and

http://www.meditationfornaturalhealth.com/index.php

Oahu
On our way

Oahu
Beautiful mountains with low hanging clouds

Oahu
More driving

Oahu
Almost there

Transcendental Meditation Center, Oahu
Peaceful & quiet – Transcendental Meditation Center, Oahu

Exotic Plants, Oahu
Lots of exotic tropical plants in the garden, like this one

Exotic plants, Oahu
and this one

Bamboo, TM Center, Oahu
and this one

Exotic plants, oahu
and much more!!

TM Center, Oahu TM Center, Oahu

Checking out the exotic plants

TM Center, Oahu
BOO!!

TM Center, Oahu
Walking barefoot in the garden

Meditation, TM Center, Oahu
What an amazing location to meditate!

TM Center, Oahu
Refreshed

TM Center, Oahu
TM Center. Kim, did you say you work here???? So envy!

Wild Chicken, Oahu
Wild chicken outside TM center

Location Scouting in the Rainforest (Oahu)

4/28/2009

Late afternoon, we met up with Kim to do a little location scouting at Judd Trail near where Kim lives.

Karan and Radim are suppose to bring back amazing footage of Oahu for their SkyV. See The Sky Factory (http://www.skyfactory.com/).

Finally we were getting out of Honolulu and I got to do some hiking! I was so excited about it.

We hiked high and low to look for the perfect location.

Judo Trail, Oahu
Entering the trail. Karan, Kim & Radim

Judo Trail, Oahu
Little rock hopping to cross a creek

Judo Trail, Oahu
We walked through bamboo forest.

Judo Trail, Oahu
A pic for mom

Do you know that the popular TV series Lost was shot in Oahu? as well as the movie Jurassic Park?

Judo Trail Scene from Lost

Judo Trail Scene from Lost

(Photo taken from http://www.lostvirtualtour.com/lost/filming_locations/juddtrail/index.html)

This scene from Lost was shot at Judd Trail! I didn’t know about this when I hiked the trail. But look at this:

Judo Trail, Oahu
Same trail, if not the same spot!

I certainly was not crazy enough about Lost shows to look for their film location on Oahu. But it was somewhat cool to stumble upon a film location like that. 🙂

Judo Trail, Oahu
Potential spot? yes? no?

Judo Trail, Oahu
Radim looks for a good spot.

Judo Trail, Oahu
Kim is having fun exploring.

Judo Trail, Oahu
Kim & Radim checks out their captures.

Judo Trail, Oahu
And me, didn’t forget to take a pic for my mom and dad. 🙂

I forgot to take insect repellent spray with me and thus reluctantly donated lots of blood to the bloody mosquitoes! Ouch!

Directions to Judd Trail:
From Honolulu/Waikiki, enter H1 west, then take the Pali Highway exit. Turn right onto Nuuanu Pali Dr. (last major stoplight). There is an other small fork (Old Pali Rd.), take the right side to stay on Nuuanu Pali Road. The trail will be to the right near a small bridge.