Hello everyone!

I am sorry to have disappeared for a few weeks – it’s been hectic! I’m working on a website for a fantastic new local business here in Columbia, and I can’t wait to show it to you!  Unfortunately, my cats never came back – I am still hoping and praying – but Otman adopted a new little kitten from the no-kill shelter to cheer me up. He is so cute. We named him Sunnie, inspired by my friend Annette, because he “sure did brighten up my day!” Also, he’s an orange tabby and oh-so-cute!  Stay tuned to the blog for a huge post on our new family member!

In the meantime, I wanted to post more of the Hawaii photographs that I finished editing. I am editing these photos in batches for a few reasons. First, there are so many, and I can’t possibly do them all at once! Second, every time I go through the photos, I relive those beautiful days, and I am able to feel that trade wind and remember the sights and smells as the images scroll in front of me! It’s tons of fun, and I LOVE sharing them all with you!

You can see the first three posts of our Hawaii Honeymoon here: #1 #2 #3 Please feel free to comment!

We rented a car for a few days in order to enjoy the rest of the island. We would wake up early, walk the strip along Waikiki, and then take the car to the rest of the island for the other parts of the day. For the rest of the time we were there, we mostly walked or took the bus to where we wanted to go.  It’s the preferred mode of transport for pretty much everyone, including the locals.

A sweeping view of a section of Honolulu:

The view from our hotel room looking down from the 31st floor balcony – I was terrified I was going to drop my camera! I wrapped the strap around my wrist about a million times before attempting this shot! 🙂

Have you ever seen a double rainbow?

I was obsessed with this tree. The roots hung from the branches! There were trees like this scattered along the boardwalk.  I just love how they look.

We feasted on the delicious, fresh pineapple almost every day.

These are some of the photos from our visit to the Valley of the Temples Memorial Park. This park is located at the foot of the Ko’olau Mountains on the windward side of Oahu. The cemetery’s gardens honor many faiths including Christianity and Buddhism.  I was blown away by the beauty of this place, and can’t remember being so overwhelmed with such a sense of complete peace. It was breathtaking. I only wish my photographs did justice to the magnificence of the park.

The gravesites accomodate the extreme, rolling hills by creating a flat surface for flowers and remembrances.

Here is the description of the Byodo-In Temple straight from their website:

“It was established on June 7, 1968, to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the first Japanese immigrants to Hawaii. The temple is built entirely without nails. It is a scale replica of a temple in Uji, Japan, that was constructed over 950 years ago.

The Byodo-In Temple is a non-denominational Buddhist temple which welcomes people of all faiths to worship, meditate or simply appreciate its beauty. The temple grounds are often used for wedding ceremonies for Hawaiians or visitors from Japan.

The Temple grounds are a lushly landscaped paradise nestled in a cleft of the pali and are home to wild peacocks and hundreds of  Japanese koi carp. The beautiful grounds include a large reflecting pond, meditation niches, and small waterfalls. Visitors describe this destination as beautiful, peaceful, and restful.

The TV series Hawaii Five-O and Magnum, P.I. featured several episodes where the temple is incorporated into the plot. The temple and its gardens also appeared in an episode of the ABC series Lost, “House of the Rising Sun” in season one as the home of Sun’s father.”

Bon-sho (Sacred Bell)

“The Bell House, called kanetru-ki-do, contains a five foot high, three ton brass bell, called bon-sho (sacred bell), cast in Osaka, Japan, from a mixture of bronze and tin, by permission of the government of Japan. It closely resembles the bell hanging in an identical Bell House at the Uji Byodo-In. The original is said to be more than 900 years old and to have come from India. It is revered for its distinctive shape, and the tone of the bell sounds a message of deep calm and peace, cleansing the mind of evil and temptation.

The resonant sound of the bon-sho creates an atmosphere of tranquility for meditation that travels for some distance. A soft wooden log called the “shu-moku” is used to strike the bell.

The bell is customarily rung before one enters the temple to spread the eternal teachings of Buddha. Ringing the bell will purify the mind of evil spirits and temptation. It is said that ringing this bell will bring you happiness, blessings, and a long life. It is customarily rung before entering the temple.”

Unfortunately, I didn’t get to see any wild peacocks, but there was a gorgeous black swan that I couldn’t stop photographing!

The gift shop sells fish food for the GIANT koi fish in the pond!

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South Carolina Wedding Photographer, Portrait Photographer and Boudoir Photographer
For more creative and interesting photography, please visit http://www.stephaniesnyderphotography.com!