A Birthday Recap

As you all know (and are probably sick of hearing), my birthday was Tuesday, but we actually celebrated it yesterday.  First thing in the morning we decided to go to Leonard's Bakery and get Malasadas...yummy!

{image via leonard's bakery}

Then we took our son to the Honolulu Zoo (per his repeated request from the moment he woke up!) for a couple hours. 

{little baby Nene's (Hawaii state bird) at the Honolulu Zoo: photo via 1GS}

After that (beautiful weather, but hot and zero trade winds) we went back home to get ready to tour Shangri La.  We left our son with one of our friends and headed to the Honolulu Academy of Arts.  For some crazy, unknown reason we've never been inside and toured the Academy???!!!  IT IS FANTASTIC and beautiful and interesting!  I can't wait to go back and take our time and look at every piece of art and soak in the gorgeous building and grounds!  We walked around looking at as much as possible for about 30 minutes and then had to meet up with our tour group.  We watched a short video about Doris Duke and Shangri La then piled into our tour bus and headed over.

{me in front of The Honolulu Academy of Arts: outfit: shirt, Kenneth Cole; skirt, Calvin Klein; belt, vintage; shoes, Dolce Vita}

{one of the beautiful courtyards inside the Academy}

{pond in the courtyard at the HAA}

We kind of had an idea of where the estate was, but actually didn't realize how close we've been to it everytime we drive in that area!  You can't see any of the estate from the road.  There is a steep, winding, private road that takes you to the house.  It is absolutely stunning.  The home is a courtyard style, so from the outside it looks small and unassuming, but is grand and spectacular upon entering.  I don't want to give too much away, in case any of you plan to tour Shangri La, but I will add that the property, home and views are like a dream!  Doris Duke was one lucky and interesting lady! 

{front of the home, but an entrance into the side garden}

{one of the many great views from the back balcony}

{didn't plan to include photos of myself, but wanted to prove I was indeed on the tour...HA!}

{the kids you see on the sea wall are not trespassing!  All beaches are public in Hawaii and there is a public beach entrance on either side of the property....so you too can swim over to Shangri La's "beach"....I plan to do just that soon!}

{another fabulous view, upon exiting the dining room}

{an entrance into another part of the yard and more antique Islamic Tile...it's everywhere! I think this courtyard leads you to the tennis courts?}

{same tile with the view}

{perfect view of Diamond Head}

{this is what Doris Duke called the "Playhouse".  We didn't tour it.  The Doris Duke Foundation was having a private party/meeting at the moment...must be nice!}

{courtyard off living room.  the large glass window to the right actually drops down hydraulically into the basement, to open up the entire living room to the courtyard, pool, playhouse and Diamond Head view beyond.  this is considered the axis of the house and also provides a direct view of the most important piece of art in the house...the mihräb.}

{view of the Playhouse (adult playhouse) from the courtyard off the living room}

{just stunning isn't it!?}

{view of master bedroom.  the marble screens and the glass in front of them slide into the walls}

{another view of the courtyard...wouldn't you just love to sit on this outdoor sofa and look at the pacific views!}

{back at the front main entrance to the home...I just adore those camels! that is the private drive down to this front entrance.}

{a peek inside another private courtyard}

{Mughal Garden....very impressive!}

{entrance into the Mughal Garden.  This is at the front of the house when you drive up...the house forms an L shape and the front door (main entrance into the home) is on the left wall and the entrance to the Mughal Garden is on the right wall.  Doris Duke would have most of her guests enter through the doorway that brought you into the Mughal garden, rather than the one that brought you into the main house.}

{another view of the front entrance into the Mughal garden...the entrance into the main house is directly behind me.}

After arriving back at the Academy we only had another 30 minutes before it closed, so we ran around trying to see a bit more of it and rushed through the gift shop and grabbed the Shangri La book...only $15 and the tour gave each of us a bamboo and paper fan.

{goofing off back at the Honolulu Academy of Arts....in the Banyan Courtyard}



{going to sit down and read this book today!}



{images via amazon.com}

After the tour was over and the Academy closed, we picked up our very tired son and headed over to the Old Spaghetti Factory Honolulu for an early dinner.  The only reason we chose to eat there is because we thought it would be fun for our son to eat in the train car.  However, he fell asleep in the car and slept in his stroller all the way through dinner. It was a really nice meal (we actually got to discuss the tour).... a great end to the day....we'll just have to take him back so he can eat in the train another day!