6th April 25 - Lahaina - Kapalua.

Bus route #29 The West Maui Express, takes you all the way to the top of the island. Today was a really amazing day. 

I thought I'd go all out and head to the end of the line. I've been to the end of the line a few times in life and never had any regrets, so why not? 

At the risk of sounding a bit neurospicy (quoting Donna Mac) this bus route stops at The Cannery, Sunset Beach and Whalers Village. 

First stop was Whalers Village, the deaths of many whales are commemorated with a skeleton and statues. In fairness, this happened across the globe many years ago when 'men were men', women were considered unlucky when on board a working ship and harpoons were the weapons of choice. Now it's a golf course resort. 

Whalers Village.

Humpback whale skeleton. 

Then on to Kapalua. 

Also a golf course. 

I'd read that there was a beautiful bit of coastline up here (SPOILER ALERT: it's all beautiful). So I did a little coastal walk. 

Came across the Kapalua Labyrinth in an area called the Dragon's Teeth.

The labyrinth is just so clever, you follow a little path and it takes an age. I found it such a spiritual experience, with the sea, the rocks, the breeze, the need to focus. 

The mother of the family who were there at the same time apologised profusely for her noisy children, but that didn't matter,  it was part of the journey. 

At the same place is a blow hole, where the waves get forced up through a small eroded (nod to Geography teachers) funnel in the rocks. To be honest, it's was less of a blow hole and more like Crash Corner, there were waves funnelling everywhere. 

Dragons Teeth. 

Noisy. Windy. Impressive. 

And the scenery wasn't bad, either. 

Then I walked the coastal path. Reading the signs:

Admiring the coastline:

Taking photographs of volcanic rocks for the Geographers in my family. 

Rock on. 

And observing the wildlife:

Like a good tourist. This bird bit was hysterical, because as I walked away it caught and ate a frog, which made the woman behind me start retching and proclaiming 'OH mY gOD. (Retch) Oh. OH (Retch) It like, it AtE a FrOG (Retch).' 🤣🤣

Then I stopped at Kapalua Bay for a dip where turtles bobbed in the waves, nibbling whatever they eat and popping their heads up. They didn't seem to mind the swimmers. It was magical. 

After that: lunch. 

Its a thing here to have Food Truck Parks. Basically, a load of food tricks in a square. Yesterday's was in Kehei, today in Honokowai. A Philippino truck, called Isla Chibugan. It was immense. 

To be honest, I can't really get my head round the names and it's giving me an understanding of how people feel when they go to Wales and are faced with a load of Llans. 

I ended the day at the most amazing place called Baby Beach. So called, due to the flat, swimming pool like nature of it. It was just perfect. Plenty of shade too, so made this pale-skin happy. 

Then home to watch the sunset.

5th April 25: Kihei - Wailea

Right, don't laugh at me here....but...

When I booked my flight over here, I didn't realise Hawaii wasn't just one big place. 😬 It's actually an archipelago (Thanks Laura Walker for that). So, here I am, sitting on an Archipelago, in the sun, realising that when Americans say they're 'popping to Maui', it's part of Hawaii. 

Every day's a school day. 

Anyway, woke on Saturday (just a regular 24 hour Saturday), to a beautiful sunrise. 

View from the balcony.

I decided to use the local buses on Maui. For all you bus map officionados out there, here is a route map..

So, I'm at Ma'alaea. Day 1 I decided to use the brown (#15) and red (#10) routes. Buses run on the hour, every hour. They are clean, well organised and bang on time. Whoop. I invested in a day pass ($4) and took on a hop off - hop on approach. The routes are limited but every edge has a beach and it's just so easy. 

This was basically my day:

Bus

Breakfast.They do this thing called an acai bowl. Acai is a fruit which is very bitter, so you have to freeze it, apparently. Not sure how the ancients discovered that. Anyway,  they freeze it and cook it and stick it in a bowl. Then top it with fruit and granola and other lovely stuff.  Mmmmm. 

Beach

Swim

Walk

Bus

Beach

Bus

Posh mall and golf complex in Wailea, where I sat in the shade cracking sunflower seeds and waiting for another bus because it wasn't my scene.

Bus

Market

Plant nursery, a sort of tropical lushery, where I saw (pet) parrots and tortoises

Bus

Supermarket, where I discovered macademia heaven. HEAVEN, I tell you. 

Bus

Bed 

A bit of culture. 

Shrine to the sea god. 

Shrine to breakfast. My acai bowl.

At an outdoor food court. 

Next to the tropical nursery. 

Which has (you guessed it) tropical plants. 

And then the beach. 

Which looks (a la Instagram) deserted. So, I thought I'd also take a photo eyes right 😂 Nothing is ever quite as it seems. 

Nuts about the macadamia. 

I did not realise that they grow macademias here. I thought was just an Aussie thing. But oh my! What they do with them. 

You can buy them salted. 

You can buy them dipped in chocolate. 

You can buy them flavoured. 

You can buy them a bar. 

You can buy them in dinky packets. 

Just made my day. 

Aloha Hawaii

Soooo, flew from Heathrow on the longest Friday of my life. The UK is 11 hours ahead of Hawaii, so I was literally going back in time. 

I left London at 13:25. Flew for about 8 hours, landed in Seattle at 13:35. 

Left Seattle at 15:55. Flew for about 6 hours, landed in Kahulu, Maui at 18:45. 

By the time I landed it had been Friday for almost 30 hours and Friday STILL had another 5 hours left in her. 👀

Mind. 

Boggled. 

Anyway, took a Lyft (first time ever, strangely easy) to near Ma'alaea Harbor (respecting the spelling, though it makes me shudder), where I am staying. 

Went for a swim in the pool, next to the ocean, with the breeze rustling the palm trees. Oh the bliss. After HOURS in the same clothes, what more could I ask for, except a comfortable bed, which was beautifully so. 

Fell into my bed. On still Friday night.  Already in love with Maui.