Maui My Way

Breakfast time should have been a good time to get to know other guests. However, a lot of guests staying there were German (as the hostess is from Germany), and they mostly spoke German to each other. Some American guests and I felt a bit left out. I did not think they were unfriendly, as speaking German might be easier for them. When we were alone and spoke one on one, they were very friendly and offered great travel tips.

The host, hostess, and even their friends were very friendly. We wanted to borrow a wine opener, but the one at the B&B was broken. Their neighbor who happened to there went back to his place and brought one over. We felt very welcomed and really enjoyed our stay.

One of the mixed plates was the Hawaiian Plate, which consisted of Kalua port and cabbage, Lomi Lomi salmon, poi, macaroni salad, and rice. I grew up in Hong Kong, and this place reminded me of small diners back home. The Aloha Mixed Plate is located by the beach, and diners can enjoy a great ocean view while enjoying their food. No wonder the New York Times described this place as "paper plate meets million-dollar view."

Perhaps I was spoilt by the water in Southeast Asia, as I did not find the snorkeling at Molokini too impressive. There were some beautiful fishes and carols, but they were far from spectacular. The boat took us to a second snorkeling site where I saw several sea turtles. They were resting at the bottom of the sea at first, and some travelers grew disinterested and went back to the boat. I stayed in the water, and my patience paid off. Several sea turtles ascended to the surface to breathe and swim around. At one point, I was so close to one sea turtle that I almost bumped into it. Seeing these gentle creatures made my day.

Maui Downhill, the tour operator I used, did a great job ensuring our safety. The bike leader was in the front and the van driver following us constantly watched out for the traffic, so I felt pretty safe.

The only complaint I had with the tour was the breakfast. The website said we would enjoy breakfast at the "upcountry’s finest restaurant." The place they took us to, however, was a little bit better than a Denny’s. Anyway, I was so hungry, I did not care if the breakfast was gourmet or not. I would suggest travelers pick the less expensive tour that does not include breakfast. Save the money to spend on a better breakfast.