Day 6: Life's a Beach

My last full day here in Maui and if you know me, you know I’ll be eating up a storm.  This place is packed with good food that is fresh, organic, and as healthy as I would want (or trick myself into believing it has great nutritional value).  Since I was coming down from Huelo, I HAD to stop by Makawao and have my fresh catch of the day with eggs benedict at Market Fresh Bistro.  It was a purposeful breakfast as I was accompanied by Greg from Lumeria.   I’m seriously considering this place for my retreat.

Mix these ingredients together and you have a very happy, certified organic Nikki

Then it was off to film my video… again on a full stomach.. there just isn’t enough time to digest and wait… time is running out.

Of course all that shooting made me hungry so off to my next favorite place for lunch:  Mama’s Fish House.  

First course: lobster guacamole with local chips (taro, bread fruit, plantains)

Second course: Opakapaka ceviche

Finally, a trio of sashimi with various black, red, and macadamia sea salt

Well the whole thing wasn’t just about eating… Mama’s has an Inn that is attached to the restaurant and sits right on the beach.   Possible retreat option… of course!

Imagine yoga on this lawn that faces the ocean and then a quick dip in the water afterwards... or nap in that hammock works for me too

What a day!  Another round of video making (yes my belly is full so I gotta work it off).   Then off to check in the last possible retreat place at the Blue Tile House.  It’s another property that sits right on the beach.  

My head was starting to spin trying to decide which place would be best for my retreat so I decided to go scout out some snorkeling places and where my next meal was gonna be.  I ended up at the end of  Makena at La Perouse Bay where a local friend told me had good snorkeling.  Saw many varieties of fish but it was cloudy and dark… so back towards the Makena resort area to just chill and watch the sunset.   

Off in the distant I see something bob up and down… it looked like a head.  There were no swimmers or snorkelers around so it couldn’t have been a person.  I ignored it.  Then up it came again and again.  Perhaps it was seaweed or some other debris drifting in the waves.   All of a sudden two people come running on the beach with their snorkel masks and shouted towards me, there’s two turtles out there.   What?!  I look closer and it was!  

Oh my!  My heart pounding.  My snorkel mask was way at the other end of the beach so I ran.  I hate running and hate even more running on sand in a hurry.  But when you need to do something, you just do it.  I’ve always wanted to swim with a sea turtle but could never do it because you have to go out far and deep into the sea (you all know the lack of my swimming skills).  These two turtles were about 15-20 feet off the shore at a nearby rock. 

I jump in and WOW!!   Jaw dropping or in this case, teeth biting my snorkel moment.  The two honus (green sea turtle) were feeding on the seaweed growing on the rock.  They were massive!   Their shells were probably about 3 feet across.  They didn’t mind us at all.  I was so close I gently touched her shell and for a moment I stopped breathing.  It was such a magical moment.  

The hono's I saw glided just like this one that was taken by a photographer I know, Adam A. Palmer

I spent over an hour swimming with them and watching them eat.  They didn’t leave and I didn’t want to leave either.  I didn’t want it to end.. until I couldn’t feel my fingers anymore because it was getting cold as the sun was setting.

So I listened to my own belly that was growling.  Next order of business… FOOD!  

Drove into Kihei and decided to try a Japanese restaurant that everyone raves about, Sansei.  Yes, more fish!  

Their award winning, mango crab salad roll.

Poke Duo: ahi and hamachi

Finally, spicy lobster ramen to warm my belly

What a day!  I could not ask for anything more.  My last day could not be more perfect.  Sea food, sea turtles, and a beautiful sunset!  I am in awe at how this whole week turned out.  Nothing planned.  No rules.  No expecations.  It all started with just one mantra:  “Life’s a Beach,” (day 1) which inspired, “I will let my heart fall to the ground and let it be my foundation,” (day 2) which inspired, “Don’t lose your breath in challenging situations but find things that take your breath away,” (day 3, day 4, day 5 and all the way to the last minute).

Maui, I will be back!

I always leave another piece of my heart with you, Maui.

About these ads