Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, known for its awe-inspiring volcanic landscapes and rich biodiversity, offers visitors a unique opportunity to explore its wonders after dark. Beginning in September 2022, the park started allowing visitors to experience its mesmerizing beauty and mysterious allure under the cover of night.

During the daytime, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park captivates visitors with its striking vistas, active volcanic craters, and lush rainforests. However, as the sun sets and darkness descends upon the park, a whole new world reveals itself. The park transforms into an enchanting realm illuminated by the glow of lava, twinkling stars, and the mesmerizing dance of volcanic activity.

Visitors who venture into the park after dark are treated to an unforgettable experience filled with wonder and discovery. Guided night tours offer the chance to witness the mesmerizing glow of lava flowing from the park’s volcanic vents, creating a surreal spectacle against the night sky. The air is filled with the sounds of nature, from the chirping of nocturnal birds to the distant rumble of volcanic activity.

Exploring Hawaii Volcanoes National Park after dark presents a host of benefits and opportunities for visitors. Not only does it offer a unique perspective on the park’s natural wonders, but it also provides a chance to escape the crowds and experience the tranquility of the nighttime environment.

One of the highlights of nighttime exploration in the park is the opportunity to witness the mesmerizing glow of lava. Depending on volcanic activity, visitors may have the chance to see lava flowing from the park’s active vents, creating an otherworldly display of light and color. Guided tours provide expert insight into the park’s geology and volcanic history, enhancing the experience for visitors.

For those interested in stargazing, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park offers some of the clearest and darkest skies in the world. Away from the light pollution of urban areas, the park provides an ideal setting for observing the night sky. Visitors can marvel at the countless stars overhead, learn about constellations from knowledgeable guides, and even catch a glimpse of passing meteors or the Milky Way.

Before embarking on a nighttime adventure in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, it’s essential to come prepared. Dress warmly and wear sturdy footwear, as temperatures can drop and terrain may be uneven. Additionally, bring a flashlight or headlamp to navigate the trails safely, and be sure to respect park regulations and guidelines for nighttime activities.

In conclusion, exploring Hawaii Volcanoes National Park after dark offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity to witness the park’s natural wonders in a new light. From the mesmerizing glow of lava to the brilliance of the night sky, the park’s nighttime environment is filled with magic and mystery waiting to be discovered. So, pack your sense of adventure and prepare for an unforgettable journey into the heart of this captivating wilderness after sunset.

Meet Svetlana, a blogger originally from Saint-Petersburg, Russia. Her hometown or city also happens to be the very place where she met her now-husband while he was on vacation there. Now living in Istanbul for over a year, Svetlana has humorously nicknamed herself, ‘the wife of a Turkish Sultan.’ Through years of documenting her life through photos on Instagram, Svetlana has revealed what the life of a Russian woman in Turkey looks like on a daily basis. Prepare for a culture shock…

After Svetlana met her beau during his vacation in Russia and the two fell in love, they decided to get married. Although their families were supportive, other people around Svetlana tried to scare her. According to the blogger herself, “everyone tried to scare me, telling stories about the consequences of marrying [a Turkish man].” Despite these negative and unwarranted opinions, Svetlana listened to her heart and went on to marry her now-husband. And she’s definitely happy she did…

Unfortunately, these uncalled for suggestions and opinions didn’t end after Svetlana got married. Even after a year of marriage, she would continue to hear awful things like, “Don’t have children, if you decide to get a divorce, you’ll never see them again.” The couple now has two kids and according to the Russian blogger herself, their relationship has changed but only for the better. “I truly realize that I’m married now…. My husband works and provides our family with everything we need. I genuinely feel his support and protection.”

We’ve all been to homes where hosts have asked us to take our shoes off but in America, it’s not a must or rule. In Turkey, however, it’s a known cultural rule to take off your shoes before you even enter someone’s entry hall. Turkish people don’t wear shoes at home at all so it would be considered inappropriate or disrespectful to leave your shoes on in someone’s home. It’s also a must to take off your shoes before entering a mosque, as this place of worship is considered to be a common home in Turkey.

As far as good education in Turkey goes, it’s “either for clever or wealthy people,” according to Svetlana. “Your child will have a chance to go to a public kindergarten only after they turn 4 years old” and it’s only for four hours a day. “If you want to leave your child for longer, there are additional groups that you’ll have to pay for.” Parents are required to pay for everything if they choose to send their child to private school (i.e. food, school and sports uniforms, tuition, iPad), which comes out to around $3,316 per year.

In Turkey, “women give birth to children in private maternity hospitals.” According to the mommy herself, the prices vary from $165.82 to $3,316 and only some of the expenses are partially covered by obligatory health insurance. “C-sections are really common here for a couple of reasons. It’s more convenient for the doctor, and many women are afraid of labor, so they ask for this surgery. You’re allowed to go home the next day after giving birth to a baby if everything’s fine. If you’ve had surgery, you have to stay at the hospital for 24 hours.”

In today’s society, there are many different types of couples that don’t feel the need to hide their relationships from their loved ones. Some travel together, others rent an apartment together, “but in some small towns, there are strict traditions that must be observed,” says Svetlana. “In the Eastern part of the country, cousins even have to get married at their families’ discretion. By the way, they don’t even get to go out together before the wedding.”

Something you probably didn’t know about Turkish medicine is that all the best hospitals are equipped with the same technology and equipment that American and European ones have. The best part? The prices are 20-30% lower! According to Svetlana, “in most cases, people travel to Turkey to undergo plastic surgery: breast augmentations, body contouring, and nose or lip surgery.” You may also spot men with bandages on their heads as they have just undergone a hair transplant procedure. Another popular procedure that people get done is stomach botox.

In another Instagram post, Svetlana discusses Turkish cuisine. According to the blogger, she doesn’t like “the local breakfasts.” In fact, “I used to worry about this and think, how can I be a blogger from Turkey and not even like their breakfasts?” A typical Turkish breakfast usually consists of cheese, butter, olives, eggs, tomatoes, cucumbers, jam, honey, and spicy Turkish sausage among many other types of foods. “But why on Earth do I have to eat sausages, olives, and jam in the morning,” Svetlana asks in her post. “This is not breakfast food!”

“Speaking of food, almost all desserts in Turkey are covered with sugary syrups,” Svetlana continues to write in her post. According to her, “main courses are prepared using tomato paste and huge amounts of oil. And each street cafe sells something called shawarma,” a Middle Eastern dish that consists of meat cut into thin slices, stacked in a cone-like shape, and roasted on a slowly-turning vertical rotisserie. “Turkish people call it döner, which means ‘rolling.’ Thanks to an unusual meat roasting technique, all the fat drops off of the meat.”

According to Svetlana, it’s not uncommon to exchange presents. In fact, every year on January 1st, “my husband and I go to our local mall with many other Turkish people to exchange our New Year’s presents. The thing is, people often give clothes as presents because they’re cheap and made in Turkey. This year, we bought our mom’s pullovers and they gave us sweaters. Not all of the presents fit, but that wasn’t a problem — a person can exchange an item in any store belonging to the chain it was purchased from.”

After years of living in Turkey, Svetlana is now acclimated to the culture. With that, she understands that Turkish people can “say nice things, treat you with their goods, and give “huge” discounts, but they’re really sly. So you should always open and check thoroughly wrapped bags that vendors give to you. At the market, pick fruits and vegetables on your own — choose the best ones, it’s your right. Locals always pick fresh products and sometimes even throw rotten ones at the vendors.”

Svetlana is no stranger to comments and messages whether it’s about her husband, her kids, her lifestyle choices, or even her fashion. Of course, her husband understands who she is and the fact that if he begins to press her, “I will begin to protest. I cannot stand the prohibitions and restrictions.” Even with that understanding, though, Svetlana’s husband still “gets annoyed when I go around the house in a long t-shirt” because neighbors will end up staring from their windows. To appease her hubby, Svetlana wears comfortable dresses around the house instead.

Although Svetlana and her hubby love each other, there’s no doubt that there are some cultural differences within the relationship. Pork is a common food in Russia but according to Svetlana, her husband “doesn’t like when I cook pork” and feed it to the children. Her husband, a Turkish-native, “says that it’s not healthy at all and that it smells bad.” Mutton — meat from a sheep that’s older than a year, ideally three years old — “sometimes smells much worse!”

This next one may come as a shock to you. People in the streets have actually called Svetlana’s children names like “freak, donkey’s child, froggy…” What does the blogger-mommy do? She responds with a smile because “it’s not the first time.” Svetlana’s eldest child, a daughter, has been called “ugly or witch” in the past. It turns out that the reason why people address Svetlana’s children this way is that in Turkish culture, it’s not customary to praise children with words of affection but rather, “it’s customary to insult them.” Hmmm…interesting.

According to Svetlana, you can consider yourself Turkish: if you take off your shoes before even entering someone’s home; if you drink at least 3 cups of strong black tea per day; if after drinking your morning coffee, you flip your cup upside down to see your destiny (a Turkish fortune-telling ritual); if uninvited guests show up to your home, you show them that you’re incredibly happy to see them and attempt to persuade them that you’ve cooked this cake for them; if you’re never in a hurry and always late because who needs time frames?

Consider yourself Turkish if you’re at a cafe with friends and you fight for the bill — you try to take it and prove why it’s you should pay this time; if you like to honk the horn when you’re driving, and also shout things out of your car window; if you’ve started eating yogurt as an addition to any main course rather than a dessert; if you kiss a person on the cheek even if you’ve just met them for the first time.

When planning a trip or journey, it’s important to consider all your major expenses. Together with other Turkish bloggers, Svetlana put together a list to help travelers with their budget, using the Avjilar district of Istanbul as an example. According to the mommy-blogger, renting a villa costs around $1100/month while an apartment costs around $220/month. Renting a car costs approximately $34/day while a bicycle costs around $17/day. As far as living and transportation expenses go, that ain’t half bad if you ask us!

According to Svetlana’s post, it looks like food expenses aren’t too shabby either! In fact, if you plan to shop at a supermarket while visiting, food for the week will cost you around $33. A cup of coffee will come out to around 78 cents while a cup of tea is half the price of coffee. An average meal out with a sea view will set you back at about $48. At a local pizzeria, you’ll spend about $7.

In a different Instagram post, Svetlana writes about the different places to see and explore during a trip to Turkey. She emphasizes the fact that although her head usually hurts after a visit here, you should definitely take a trip to a hammam, or a Turkish bath and place of public bathing. The most famous and expensive hammam of Istanbul is called Haseki Hürrem Sultan Hamamı and was built in the sixteenth-century by decree of Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska herself.

One of the most extremely historical hammams was built in the fifteenth-century by order of Sultan Bayezid II. According to Svetlana, this hammam “was also visited by John Travolta who is famous for tipping $100 for a cup of tea.” Another hammam, called Çemberlitaş Hamamı, was built in the sixteenth century and is distinguishable for its architectural design and spaciousness. Part of the stairs are now below street level due to the sinking of its foundation. Svetlana also notes that every hammam is divided into male and female sections.

The blogger continues her Instagram post by discussing the different ways to travel between cities. The most convenient form of transportation to get from city to city would be by train. Svetlana explains that both the first and last carriages of the train are first-class. She suggests that “it’s better to buy seats there since they’re only around 50% more expensive. There are only 16 seats in these carriages, and there is free Wi-Fi, dinner, and free drinks every 30 minutes.

Although it may have been a culture shock for Svetlana to move to Turkey from Russia, it seems as though this blogger has acclimated quite well to her surroundings. It’s clear that she has gotten used to certain cultural traditions and rules that she may have not grown up with. She has learned to embrace everything about her life in Turkey from the people to the food to the customs. After reading about Svetlana’s experience, can you see yourself ever traveling or living in Turkey?