Can’t believe it is almost the end of 2017. Looking back, I was so incredibly lucky to have visited the last two states that joined the union – Hawaii and Alaska back in January and September. When Hawaii and Alaska are mentioned together, words in much contrast are used to describe them: sunshine verse overcast, warm tropical weather verse cold snowy winter, beautiful beaches and plentiful vegetation verse snow covered mountain and bare landscape…
When sorting through thousands of pictures from my visit, I realized it was quite interesting that while there may be much contrast between Hawaii and Alaska, there were actually some similarities or I should say, their own unique characteristics from the wildlife they foster to the history of these two magnificent states full of wonders of nature.
Here are some of my favorites…
(Pictures on the left: Hawaii. Picture on the right: Alaska)
The view from above: Although Hawaii consists a group of island while Alaska is mostly a peninsula, the view from above already gives a taste of what they are all about. (Left: Flying into Oahu. Right: Flying out of Anchorage)
Vegetation: There are plenty of green in Alaska! Just a little different size and shape. (Left: Maui. Right: The Yukon Territory)
Rock formation: Layers of lava and layers of ice. (Left: Big Island. Right: Glacier National Park)
Culture: There are definitely signature cultural activities that belong to each state. (Left: Luau Festival, Kauai. Right: Dog Sledding Ride, Sitka.)
Wildlife: This is kind of obvious, isn't it? (Left: Sea Life Park, Kauai. Right: The Yukon Territory.)
Ocean VS. Valley: There are plenty oceans in Hawaii while the valleys in Alaska are just as magnificent! (Left: The Pacific Ocean, Honolulu. Right: The Yukon Territory.)
History: Both the Native Hawaiian and Native Alaskan have their way of communication. (Left: Marking/form of pictorial language, Big Island. Right: The way these rocks were arranged translate into messages, The Yukon Territory.)
Landmark: Waterfalls are very common in both states. However, many of the ones in Alaska become interesting icy landscape when the water freezes over. (Left: A waterfall in Kauai. Right: A waterfall at Glacier National Park.)
Humpback Whales travel between both states. They are incredible creatures! We were told that scientists can identify them by their tails and track a pattern of their behavior by observing their diving and the motion of their tails. (Maui)
On a much smaller scale, Salmon from Alaska is just too tasty to not have it everyday!
