Relaxation in Paradise

One day behind……

We both awoke early as we slept with door completely open, no curtains. The birds are chirping and those waves are starting to sound like pretend. So dreamy! They are non stop, its become an addiction. This was not planned, I think we both fell asleep listening to Deepak. The Birthday girl was happy to be up early as today is her day. She loves that Im The Birthday Fairy! 8 years of friendship created by fate bringing us together as roommates.  And now the 2nd birthday I have actually spent with her, lucky! Serenaded her by song and a gift thrown on her bed by 6:30 am 🙂 Her phone buzzed, rang, all day just like it should be on your special day! We truly planned this trip perfect, last day for seriously Nothing except relaxing.  We go down in PJs to grab coffee, bring it up to our balcony to relax and do todays meditation. I find it necessary to complete and especially surrounded by this scenery it helps me get calmer. Todays topic was enlightening. I enjoyed it, discussed  generosity is spirit- so u should try, like the act of paying it fwd. All this grace and gratitude is being felt by me for sure!

We decide its time to go workout, gym clothes in place , were off. Again in this Gym that is surrounded by water, waves, surfers, you get the picture. We jump in the lil convertible to go to our favorite lil town 25 min away, Haleiwa. Learned its an old fishing village. It reminds me again of being in the movie, Soul Surfer. Which I did confirm was filmed in the North Shore. Every time a fire truck or ambulance goes by I think of Bethany. Thankfully all cars know to move over as these island streets are narrow and only 2 lane. One way in/out. Say a prayer for a guy we saw on the ground with fireman helping what looked like a scary situation on an island rd near the water. The Soul Surfer story reminds me that All is for the good, all the life lessons that beautiful spirited girl gained from her horrific experience. Crazy concepts when bad things happen in life. I have convinced Sari to rewatch the movie.  None the less we get to the Cafe Haleiwa, waitress reminds me of roommate Sue.  Chill, laid back with a happy free-spirit vibe. We got another mediocre breakfast but so enjoyed the atmosphere. Great way to start another day of perfection! The tunes on the drive, Tom Petty– Free Falling, One Republic-the good life, which was Sari and I’s song when we met in Mexico. We sing and smile, life is glorious and the weather could not be any better. Thank you Jackie for the maroon one piece bathing suit, I wore it for the drive to keep getting a tan and also to be comfortable in the sunshine. Mornings in Hawaii are breezy yet the humidity is so moist you can cut the air. It feels good again driving in the convertible! Ha ha Im gonna miss this car. Loving it and this view!

Not to bring up work, heaven forbid on vacation, but i need a phone that has a “text away” message like email. Is that an invention? We all know I don’t use apps and am not in the know technologically. I have had 2 clients deliver while away, thank you Stephennee for making my escape doable. I have had to attend to a few things and will have a beyond full week starting tomorrow morning at 7 am. I purposely left my phone in the room when we went down to the pool/beach to start our day of pure relaxation in paradise. 

Sari wanted a special spot for her birthday that we rented a Casa Bella, its like a cushioned bed-like lounge chairs- cabanna that you can put a baby shade like over. Its super comfortable and directly in front of the beach, elevated near the pool area still. Our view from this location could be filmed in a movie. True paradise, with a blow hole in front of us that constantly shot up water from the turbulent waves coming towards us while making the sound a whale blow hole makes. Everyone sits on benches around this spot to watch the many talented surfers, paddle board surfers too- that was interesting to watch and looked challenging. Our server for the day Kjersten was such a doll. Actually she looked like a barbie doll. I love learning everyones life story as its interesting to know what brings someone to Hawaii to live. No one we met was from here, all transplants. Funny small world, her sister lives on Shea and FLW, only 20 min from me and works at Gray-hawk country club. Kjersten came here to go to college, and loves it! She studied marine biology. She wants to end up in San Diego, was originally from North Dakota, has lived in CA , MT, and CO too. We chatted it up, she was 21, has an entire life to live. Im always inspired by others stories. Danielle- you would have asked more questions than me and loved this girl. I bought an entire box of those Macadamia Caramels so I will send you one 🙂 

It was now Spa time, I know how much can a girl spoil herself?! Remember its Saris bday so the day was planned for a Princess. I have no problem being her partner in crime., lol. Although she is fancier than me hands down, and opts for the 80 min as I get the 50 min. We both get a Coconut Lava Massage. Holy heaven!! I enter the locker room and change into the most buttery terry cloth like rob, it was heavy and hot for this climate but SO soft I welcomed being wrapped up in it. We head outside to their relaxation area, day beds staring at the waves/ocean covered by a roof, peace and quiet while served fresh coconut water and dried fruits with banana chips. Pinch me now please 🙂 my name is called by Michelle to escort me to my thatched roof garden/beach casita to experience this luxurious treatment. The sounds of waves fill in for music, natural serenity awaits. This massage was wonderful. She soaked my body up in coconut oil and was a perfect amount of pressure. My head is too noisy with thoughts but I was quite relaxed and loving it SO much. When it was over I was sooooo filled with gratitude for my masseuse. My burnt shoulders loved the moisture and sucked up the oil. I’m ready to lay around all day and do nothing. 

Back to the Casa Bella Chair set up, jump in the Jacuzzi with a caramel and a grapefruit margarita, time to start new book and take in the Hawaii scenery on this last day. I highly recommend my new book Tattooist of Aushwitzs. I cant believe how vivid this book is for me after actually walking the grounds of this place with my mom so recently. Its a story about love and survival and a powerfully written book! Crazy that we are 2 jewish girls living like this spoiling ourselves and what happened to jewish people in the 1940’s. I truly go deep in thought when given a chance to take in a day, breathe and not be so consumed by the mundane everyday life. So good for the soul to rejuvenate and become centered again. 

The clouds go from stormy to sunny and back. When cloud cover is near its almost dark, full black and blue clouds which make the green island that much greener. I start reminiscing about Gilligan’s Island and we learn it too was filmed and derived from Oahu. So many movies and TV shows take place here. The color of the water changes as the sky continues to fluctuate. The palm trees are blowing as this Turtle Bay is windy! A tiny sprinkle and then the ball of fire sunset starts to approach. This sunset was again magnificent! The clouds with the crashing waves filled with surfers. Watching a sun fall into the water is one of my favorite moments in time. Again the crowds are around to watch natures beauty in this show. It was beyond what my words can paint. I have lots of photos and videos to remember it and share with all of you. I get to have a live Face Time with Macey, which made my day 🙂 We pack up after having laid in this spot for 6 hours, just relaxing! 

Its Saris birthday, ha like you didn’t know…..I constantly tell her happy birthday as does the rest of the world, shes got a pretty big fan club 🙂 Its time to pack our luggage and get ready for a nice dinner to celebrate. We put on our nicest outfits and walk to Roy’s Beachouse, the restaurant at the hotel. Its again an open air restaurant by the water, we had a 9 pm reservation. This was the best meal of the trip, yummy!! Plus we again have a great waitress whom’s  life story we learn. She was from NY, grew up in NJ, went to college in NY and is a school psychologist now in Hawaii. Got a great job offer and moved here a few years ago. Such interesting stories. Her family is still on East Coast and she was a fabulous waitress. We shared yummy-sweet  Brussels sprouts, a light north shore salad and the famous sweet Butter Fish. I thought of hillary as she would have ordered a second. Lol We than got the chocolate lava cake with vanilla ice cream, yum yum! They brought out a candle on a tiny olive oil cake, I sang for the last time and we walked back to our room to pass out. Was too tired to write thats how i got so behind, ha ha

All packed up, checked out and I’m again the driver. Super excited for this drive back to the main town as this drive was both of our top 3 of the trip. You know me we did at dinner top 3, bottom 1 question and answer of the adventures. We jump in our white bug, top down, tunes on, and take in the lush dense green tropical landscape for the last time on our hour drive to airport. Phone/email is blowing up and I’m trying so desperately to still ignore it. My eyes are on sensory overload as i stare at the water to my left and gigantic green mountains to my right. We stop for coffee at a food truck that made homemade donuts, roosters are walking around, its super remote feeling and again dreamy for a vacation spot. 

Return car in the nick of time, shuttle to airport, im on the plane as I write this maybe last entry. I always like to do one more once home, we shall see. We board plane, lucky Sari goes left, im back to normal and go right 😉 Sitting in 32 F, my usual seat for any flight. Grateful to have had this entire journey and break. 

Next countdown is for our Miss Rachel Hurvitz college graduation and a weekend trip to Tucson. Holy cow, how is that possibly happening one month from today?! So proud of our girl!