Aloha from Hawaii: Day One
Aloha! Welcome to the recounting of my recent trip to Hawaii, courtesy of my boyfriend's wonderful parents. After seven days of sun, sand, and adventures, it's hard to acclimate back to life in Beijing (as I'm writing this, it's raining and cold). But armed with a fresh tan and photos, I plan on savoring the memories as long as possible.
We departed for Hawaii super early Friday morning (around two am). After a ten and a half hour flight (with a bit too much turbulence for my liking), we landed in Honolulu where we took another short flight to our final destination, Maui! Due to the time difference, which never ceases to puzzle me, we arrived to our resort around nine in the evening on Thursday. We time traveled...no big deal.
Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort was our home away from home for the week. I was absolutely obsessed with the architectural style and decor; I took so many pictures, ranging from the gorgeously open and modern lobby to my bathroom. The resort was nestled just steps away from the ocean and was flanked by golden buttery sand and tall majestic palm tress. I woke up everyday proclaiming we were living in a tropical dream.
Our first full day started slowly. We slept as long as possible with our inevitable jetlag and savored the first of many breakfast buffets (a personal highlight). Between the coffee, newspaper, and breathtaking view, I could have happily spent all day at breakfast alone. But the beach was calling and we had to answer. With contentedly full bellies, we made our way down to the water, magazine and sunscreen in tow.
Blue umbrellas dotted the sand and snorkeling masks bobbed up and down in the water. We lounged on the beach for a bit before taking an outrigger for a spin and then joining the sea of snorkelers. Between the water and sun, we worked up quite the appetite and walked to the upper pool (one of four) for lunch.
After spending the rest of the afternoon sunning by the pool, we freshened up and took a short ride to Monkey Pod (named after a cherished tree), a popular restaurant in Wailea. While the food was good, the Mai Tais were by far the best part of the meal. As essentially a nondrinker, even I could appreciate how amazing they were.
Back at the resort, we concluded our first day in paradise by listening to live music and indulging in some dessert. A sweet ending to a relaxing day!
We departed for Hawaii super early Friday morning (around two am). After a ten and a half hour flight (with a bit too much turbulence for my liking), we landed in Honolulu where we took another short flight to our final destination, Maui! Due to the time difference, which never ceases to puzzle me, we arrived to our resort around nine in the evening on Thursday. We time traveled...no big deal.
Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort was our home away from home for the week. I was absolutely obsessed with the architectural style and decor; I took so many pictures, ranging from the gorgeously open and modern lobby to my bathroom. The resort was nestled just steps away from the ocean and was flanked by golden buttery sand and tall majestic palm tress. I woke up everyday proclaiming we were living in a tropical dream.
Our first full day started slowly. We slept as long as possible with our inevitable jetlag and savored the first of many breakfast buffets (a personal highlight). Between the coffee, newspaper, and breathtaking view, I could have happily spent all day at breakfast alone. But the beach was calling and we had to answer. With contentedly full bellies, we made our way down to the water, magazine and sunscreen in tow.
Blue umbrellas dotted the sand and snorkeling masks bobbed up and down in the water. We lounged on the beach for a bit before taking an outrigger for a spin and then joining the sea of snorkelers. Between the water and sun, we worked up quite the appetite and walked to the upper pool (one of four) for lunch.
After spending the rest of the afternoon sunning by the pool, we freshened up and took a short ride to Monkey Pod (named after a cherished tree), a popular restaurant in Wailea. While the food was good, the Mai Tais were by far the best part of the meal. As essentially a nondrinker, even I could appreciate how amazing they were.
Back at the resort, we concluded our first day in paradise by listening to live music and indulging in some dessert. A sweet ending to a relaxing day!
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