Happy Luau

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Back from Vacation with Aloha



Our vacation to Maui was shorter than usual, but it was lovely all the same. It was unusual in that we did almost nothing except read, sit, sleep, and watch the sun rise and set. We played cards a bit and visited with friends. Very few activities, yet still several adventures, some of them internal...which I'll write about in upcoming days. 

The above picture is me on the first day we arrived. We initially stayed in Wailuku at the Old Wailuku Inn, an historic bed and breakfast in a non-touristy inland part of Maui. It is near my favorite restaurant, The Haili'imaile General Store. I ate sashimi pizza there regularly. To the left is a picture of the pizza, which doesn't look like or taste like regular pizza at all. It is made with sashimi grade ahi tuna and has almost no crust. Fresh spouts, a sauce made from edamame--heavenly!

We only stayed in Wailuku for a few days to acclimate to Maui, then moved on to our timeshare in Ka'anapali. Each morning the sun would rise about 6:30 and set 12 hours later. I don't think we missed too many sunsets or sunrises. We watched them outside on our balcony. 






This is the most fun I can imagine having, and I don't miss entertainment or other conventional types of vacation activities. Not one bit.

We ate lots of fresh seafood that we prepared in our timeshare, which has a kitchen.




When we went out of the unit I generally wore Hawaiian mu'umu'u's like this one. Every day the timeshare would make a different type of water by putting ice water and fruit together without sugar. The water would subtly taste and smell like the fruit--lemon or lime or green apple or pineapple. We would walk down to the lobby and get some amazing water, then sit and sip it and watch the koi swimming in the adjacent pond. This was a real thrill for me.






During the trip I read a great deal about mindfulness. I also began to meditate and do yoga. I read a lot of fiction. My favorite book was called "House Rules", a Jodi Picoult novel about a teenager with Aspberger's--I highly recommend it to everyone.

We arrived back to cold weather, a huge snowstorm, and now blankets and blankets of snow unusual for the Pacific Northwest. LoveHubbie has not yet returned to work, instead taking a breather before re-entering the frenzy of his normal life. I had many plans for this first week of being home that I discarded with the strange weather and got to practice letting go.

I missed all of you and am so glad to be visiting you on your blogs again.

~Photos by LoveHubbie Mark

12 comments:

patti said...

I feel rested just reading about your vacation and gazing at those sunsets! The pizza looks amazing! I look forward to hearing about your explorations with meditation/mindfulness.

Great to see you back here O, I missed you too! :)

Angie at Home said...

Your time sounds heavenly. I can imagine sitting by the koi pond, sipping my flavored water. I love watching fish, it's so relaxing.

And the pizza sounds amazing. They don't have anything here in little Ohio like that. Actually Hawaii is on my list to visit (I've never been).

Can't wait to hear about your adventures...

*hugs*
EB

Suzie Ridler said...

I absolutely love that vibrant and fabulous photo of you! You are glowing and in that environment, who wouldn't be? What a wonderful escape, I envy you and know what it is like to be attacked by storms. Thanks for sharing the photos, you helped me escape for a little while!

groovysabrina said...

You are positively glowing, Olivia, I was going to say the same thing. Thanks for sharing about your trip, it sounds like it was wonderful.

Kate Robertson said...

Welcome home, Wonderful pics. Your trip sounded wonderful and so relaxing.

Olivia said...

Patti, yes, I'm so glad you understand. Many of my adventures were internal and I learned so much. I will be writing about them.

EB, I do hope you get to go. We don't have food like that here, either, although our food is very good for the mainland. Everything we ate was fresh, local, creative, and tasty. I too like watching fish, anywhere, in a tank, a pond, on tv!

Suzie, yes my feelings are all over me and the effect of the light enhances them even more. I, like you, am so influenced by place, and my heart lives in Hawaii in a special way. It makes a big difference in being able to tolerate harsh and cruel weather just to have a respite. You are in my thoughts, my dear.

Thanks, Sabrina :) It is weird to glow, and you don't know it at the time because you're so unselfconscious--just like you on your wedding day--glowing with love!

Thank you Kate, My Queen, it was. Maui is the perfect place to do nothing--smell the flowers, smell the fragrant air, feel the sun, hear the ocean. I am renewed!

It is so, so good to see you all here...thank you for commenting, xoO

Unknown said...

Welcome back!
It looks like it was such a peaceful time!

Olivia said...

Thanks, Kristine. It was indeed peaceful. Good to see you, my friend, xoO

CrystalChick said...

Welcome home, Olivia. :)
Lovely pictures. Glad you had an enjoyable time.

Olivia said...

Thanks Mary. I'm glad you came and commented. Peace and love, xoO

Jane said...

It looks like a wonderful trip! Thank you for the book recommendation. That's a subject near and dear to my heart.

Olivia said...

Jane, I know it is, and you will really love it. Good to see you here, Love, xoO