Day 10 - Leaving Maui

I don’t know when I will be able to post this as the Maui airport doesn’t have free wireless and we have a very quick jump in Los Angeles.  Still, I’m writing it on a Word document before boarding so that I can have it out of the way once I’m on the plane.  I’m sad to be leaving as this place is beautiful and there is still so much to do but I’m not dreading it either.   I feel ready to be back at home and officially begin married life.  I want to get the process of changing our names finished so I’m not doing this weird in between thing anymore.  Although I’m not ready to go back to work (I doubt I’d ever be ready to go back) I need to begin making money again as opposed to spending it.

When booking our flights I chose the latest flight I could out of Maui to ensure that we would have one more full day.  I find that it tends to be a good plan though I think I’m going to be exhausted by the time tomorrow comes around since we are flying overnight and I sleep horribly on planes.  Hopefully it won’t be as bad as I think.  As we had a good portion of the day before us we decided to make our last activity one of leisure and complete self-indulgence by spending a few hours at the Grand Wailea Spa.

I’m not exactly a newbie when it comes to getting a massage anymore but this was not just a massage but an entire experience set in luxury.  Up arriving Dave and I were separated into the gender specific sides of the spa to begin indulgence.  I can’t speak for Dave but it sounded like his experience was a lot like mine.  Walking into the spa, I was given a locker, spa sandals, and a towel.  When I was ready they took me on a tour showing me both the dry and steam saunas, one cold pool, two hot tubs, a waterfall like contraption that would give a water massage on your shoulders, and finally 5 seawater baths filled with bath salts from each of Hawaii’s islands.

A brief shower later where they provided the shampoo, conditioner, and body wash and it was like I escaped to paradise within paradise.  Initially I made my way over to the dry sauna and realized that saunas really aren’t for me.  At least not when I’m alone with nothing to do but sit there and stare the walls wondering if someone else will join and what I’d say and whatnot.  Not the most relaxing so from there I made my way to the saltwater baths.  These were far more my style as I am a bath person 100% and can sit, relax, and let my mind wander in the warm water.  Each of the baths were different colors and big enough for one or two people at the absolute most which ensured a bit of privacy.  Filled with different types of sea salt and aromatherapy fragrances, the different baths provided specific benefits to the body and mind.

Alternating between the baths and the showers was how I spent my initial hour at the spa stepping out to have an exfoliating scrub treatment and to cool down.  The woman who did my exfoliating treatment was incredibly nice.  She and her boyfriend have been living in Maui for two years now and she was asking all about when she should travel to the east coast as she’s never been there.  The second time I stepped out of the bath it was too cool off.  Too much warm water dehydrates me and makes me light headed so I got myself so water and a red delicious apple they had set aside and reclined on lawn chair for a few moments. 

When our massage appointment arrived, they gave me a bathrobe and showed me to a beautiful lanai where I met Dave.  Looking out at the gardens of the hotel and the blue, turquoise ocean in the distance we sat and discussed how much we enjoyed the beginning part of the spa.  Eventually we were met by our massage therapists who showed us into our shared room.  Side by side we received massages and bother were absolutely wonderful.  For me, I don’t think I’ve ever been so relaxed going into a massage and he only commented once on the tightness of my shoulders and back.  He was excellent and Dave said the woman he had was amazing too.  After it was all over we separated back to our areas where I showered again, brushed my hair (with the plastic hair brushes they provided), dressed, and applied lotion (provided by them as well).

I must say, I’m so incredibly glad that we decided to save this for the last day of the trip.