Aloha,

Today turned into the best day ever!

I thought I was supposed to work today (because I was) but Corine offered to take my place in the office so that I could go out and "get off the Mill". Coincidentally at the same time Clarissa offered to take me into Kihei/anywhere/out with her and I accepted. Within fifteen minutes I was changed, packed, had snorkel gear, contacts were on and I was ready to go with Clarissa. Honestly, I think they conspired to get me off the property because I think they feel bad that I can't get around...until I get a car. Which I think I have to do. I might actually go crazy if I don't. Anyways.

So, Clarissa and I first head into Pa'ia to Des Amies (that amazing little creperie) and share a basil, tomato, parm & mozarella crepe and a nutella one. The day is already amazing. Not to mention we were having breakfast with her friend, Cindy, and her husband who are both pretty awesome. They have two dogs and have adopted FOUR elephants. The elephants live in Africa...basically they send money every year and they provide for an elephant whose parents were poached, etc. They had pictures. SO FREAKING ADORABLE. I love elephants...but I am scared of them. But I love them.

Cindy's husband has two sleeves of tattoos. This was my favorite one!

So the day is good. Hell, it might even be great at this point. The air is clean, I am happy, I am out. NO COMPLAINTS. Then we realize it would be too late to go to Kihei to go snorkeling (which I was kind of stoked for because I was going to see a part of the island I haven't been to yet and apparently the snorkeling is awesome there) so we just end up going to the beach to lie out and get some sun. We went to "Baby Beach" which is titled rightfully so because it is protected by the coral and is perfect for families to go with children. The tide comes in over the coral but it never gets too deep and you can't drift out to the ocean because of the reef that is blocking everything off. We hit the beach, got in the water, tanned a bit, and took some photos. Really relaxing. Something about the beach here recharges you and clears your mind completely of everything else going on. I think it has to do with the waves and the fact that none of them are the same, they are coming at different times, the sound of the water, breeze, etc. Its really cathartic actually. Anyways, Clarissa got some AMAZING shots of me (again) on my iPhone. She knows my password so really its just she picks up my phone and starts snapping. 

 What a home. I saw this while we were walking to the beach and I HAD to have a picture. Unreal. Those are the West Maui Mountains in the background.

 At this time, start listening to this: moooood music

 So cute.

 Kitesurfer!

How perfect are those clouds?!

"Some people have personal assistants, you have a personal photographer" -Clarissa to me. Hysterical.

I wave at you guys at the end. Miss you!
 

 Anyways, after about an hour or two on the beach we decide to go to the Boo Boo Zoo. It is part of the East Maui Animal Reserve (EMAR) and is a collection of adopted and orphaned animals. We get to the Boo Boo Zoo, which is hidden in the rainforest-no joke, and there are chickens, peacocks and birds right at our car. Literally, I was terrified. I don't like animals. I like the zoo (kind of) but I am scared of all animals. Oh goodness. I really am though. Anyways, so Clarissa is out of the car and I am in the car being a baby and decide to sprint out up the hill to the zoo. THIS ZOO IS AN OPEN ANIMAL CONTRAPTION PLACE. THERE ARE ANIMALS EVERYWHERE AND I AM FREAKING OUT. I literally was about to run BACK to the car. Anyways, after much coaxing I go in and freak out at the animals walking up to me and such. It's not like a petting zoo. It is a collection of animals that have just acclimated to human interaction (which is terrifying). So we go into the office and a deer follows us in and is in the office with us. No joke. 

 SERIOUSLY. HELP.

 Sylvan, our guide.

 Apparently cats gravitate towards people who are standoffish. I had no idea. I had about 5-7 cats following me around while I was nervously trying to run away. Seriously. 

 I am not touching anything with horns. It could kill me. I was so scared. Goodness. Don't even take me to the petting zoo. Ah, I thought this was a zoo with cages and things or at least they were at a distance! Oh my god. Another fear overcome.

Anyways, I am clutching the tour guide named Sylvan the entire time trying to protect myself from the animals. We went into the cats cage, there was a blind cow, two horses, loads of deer, goats, sheep, toucans, birds, roosters, pigs, boars, peacocks, tons of chickens, a couple dogs, and a billion cats not to mention other things I probably didn't see...just walking around. Doing their own thing. I was freaking out. Just so everyone knows, do not put me in the nature or around animals unless you want to see me freak all the way out. I am not used to it. I also do not like to camp. I live in luxury so help me God, I hope I can maintain this lifestyle I live inside of my brain.

OMG! I saw a REAL cockfight. They scream so loud. Oh goodness, running around literally like "chickens with their heads cut off". So ridiculous. Screaming and doing whatever they do during cockfights. 

So Sylvan, as I leave the zoo (because I still have not adjusted to seeing animals just walking around and into me because they can), tells us that he has one last surprise for us. I am outside the gate watching trying to get pictures still and he comes back with a baby fawn. OH MY GOODNESS, SO ADORABLE. Clarissa is holding the fawn and Sylvan goes "Is Molly going to be a big girl and get a picture?". 

 This photo took a LONG time to get.

 Probably about right. This picture is how I looked the whole time. And I was making noise, yes. And the two week old fawn pooped on me.

Survived the zoo!

I tried. The fawn has SUCH long eyelashes. So beautiful. And the eyes were the same of a baby. You know blue-ish around the middle. So cute. He said that the fawn nuzzles him at night and the deer are allowed in the house. Wouldn't work for me, but it is so amazing that he does what he really loves and takes care of these animals. I think that is SO amazing and I have so much respect for anyone who does exactly what they want with their life...especially if it is at the good of others! 

 Peacocks by the car!

Chickens following us to the car. Obviously I ran.

After that, we drove on the road towards Hana. AMAZING. Seriously, if you can imagine the most beautiful thing you have ever seen multiply it by ten and then you still haven't even got a clue of what this road looks like. The best way to describe it would to say that the road is luscious. It is so green, there is shrubbery everywhere, tall sugar cane leaves, rock walls, tropical plants and all things beautiful on this amazingly 'luscious' road. The road was made by crazy people though because it is only really big enough to fit one car at certain points and you have to pull over so that others can pass. Its absolutely incredibly and utterly gorgeous though. However, we didn't go all the way to Hana because we only were trying to get to the "Princess Pools"...which was a trip within itself. We didn't end up finding it, but we got lost for 20 minutes down a dirt road which was literally having overgrown grass touch both sides of the car down a STEEP hill. It was a crazy, windy, rocky road that had high green plants, red tropical leaves, tall trees and whatnot surrounding everything in sight. The whole time Clarissa was talking positively outloud like "We're going to make it out", "no risk, no fun" and "The car won't stop". I obviously was laughing nervously the whole time. Honestly, we really tried and Clarissa was really gun-hoe about finding it. Moral of the story: Don't drive in Ulalena Loop.

That's the road. SERIOUSLY. THAT IS THE ROAD. 

We got to the Twin Falls, which is one of the more famous stops on the way to Hana and parked the car. We were pretty much the ONLY people really in the place...which is a real treat considered its usually packed with tourists.  I wouldn't say that it is a hiking trail necessarily, but it definitely is a walk to get to the Twin Falls...and it's BEAUTIFUL. Imagine different shades of green, thin branches that seem to dance with one another, muddy roads (yuck lol), moss overgrown on tree stumps, bamboo growing wild, lilikoi and guava trees littered with hibiscus and ginger flowers and an intoxicating smell that changes from spicy to sweet and floral. It's almost like Indian food, in terms of the layers and the strength of each layer...and the fact that it just seems to keep getting better the longer and more you're in it. 

 This was the ginger Nakota gave me!

 First waterfall on the way to the Twin waterfalls!

 BamBOO. Hahahaha, I'm so corny.

 Clarissa calls this plant "elephant ears" because the leaves are so big they can cover you...or they are big enough to be "elephant ears".

 Unbelievably gorgeous. Seriously, this was jaw-dropping beautiful.

 Made it to Twin Falls!

 Twin Falls.

We found some hibiscus and Clarissa wanted to take some photos of me. Apparently behind the left ear means you're single, and the right means you're taken. HEY.

Clarissa and I made a "Molly in Nature" series...get ready. 

 LOL. Hope you're laughing already...

 Hi Mom & Dad. I'm in the bush.

 Clarissa having a good ol' time. Genuine smile. I love this picture!

 Got a little into it. Can't get a little crazy without getting a little naked.

 ahha okay, so I was in swimsuit bottoms. Mostly because there were maybe five people in the whole place and I mean, I don't want to be THAT naked girl. But whatever. LOL. Do you see how big this leaf is? ...halloween costume 2012.

 Bamboo! I seriously did not position myself in all these places. Clarissa told me where to go, but I was totally game for it. 

 This is so me it's ridiculous.

 I am such a joke. Seriously. Such a joke.

My elephant ears! "Hidden in the land of Dumbo"

We left and drove back towards Pa'ia to grab some dinner. Haleakala (the volcano) was completely clear and you could see the top of it which was such a beautiful surprise and perfect ending to this perfect adventure filled day. The sky was absolutely unbelievable. Literally the most beautiful sky I've seen EVER and most certainly the most beautiful since I've gotten here. It was blue with mostly pink and purple which reflected into the ocean with gold, yellow, blue and white clouds in the sky. Absolutely unreal.We also so a man riding his bike with no shoes. And a girl pumping gas in her bikini...at 8pm when it is PITCH BLACK dark. Anyways, we headed to my new favorite spot PA'IA FISH MARKET. I am a changed woman, I tell ya. Anyways, I had the Obama burger which is Cajun rubbed Ono steak on a bun with wasabi butter. Delicious. I ATE IT ALL. OH GOODNESS, I AM LEARNING TO EAT FISH. PRAISE JEEEZUS.

I got some gelato afterwards too. And it is a perfectly clear starry sky, which would be excellent for a Big Bernie like myself. LOL. Hi Cindy. Hope you rocked the jumpsuit at the wedding tonight. See ya soon Bernie-bernz.

....OH, and I woke up this morning feeling like THIS. Seriously. Today was just a good day. And it was finally a REAL day off. I think I really needed it. I feel better. I still need a car, but today was SO refreshing. I'm off tomorrow too, but no one but me is off. And I have no car. So I really might as well be working because it's not like I can go anywhere. When I get a car, I'm about to be ridin' around and gettin' it all over Maui. Brown girl sensation rockin this little island for certain. First stop: Four Seasons. I can't wait. GET YA GIRL SOME WHEELS.

With warmest aloha,

MJ