Kauai Paradise
This last week of vacation has taught me that spending a week in Kauai will probably add a few years to your life. Not only is Kauai one of the most beautiful and serene places in the world, it's also the perfect place to go on adventurous hikes, drink the freshest fruit smoothies, and get complete rest and relaxation.
I stumbled into this vacation as a stressed out zombie and am leaving feeling like a completely different person. Taking a break from work and technology - plus getting 10+ hours of deep sleep each night - has done wonders for me, both mentally and emotionally.
This vacation has also taught me the importance of slowing down. When I stop and spend time with the person I love most, I find myself feeling the most fulfilled.
We started the vacation by going on two gorgeous hikes: Sleeping Giant in Kapaa and Hanakapiai Falls in Kalalau. Sleeping Giant felt like a hike through a magical, tropical forest while the 8-mile Hanakapiai trail hike felt like a hike through Jurassic Park with views straight out of a movie.
At the end of Sleeping Giant, the view over the island was breathtaking. We sat at the top of Sleeping Giant for awhile, just soaking in the silence with the only sound consisting of the ocean's waves from the far off distance.
The next morning, we got up at 6am and drove 1.5 hours to Kalalau. Driving along the one-way road around the island is an experience in and of itself - I've never seen so much lush greenery. The hike itself was pretty grueling; it took us just under five hours to complete the whole 8 miles. Our legs and shoes were covered in mud by the end, but we managed to cross all of the streaming rivers and safely arrive at the gorgeous waterfall which was so rewarding. The hike was one of the coolest and most fascinating experiences we've had together - definitely one for the books!
The rest of the time was spent exploring Poipu Beach, swimming in the resort pools, reading tons of books, and soaking up the sun. In other words, my idea of the perfect vacation :-)
"I have found the one whom my soul loves" has always been one of my favorite quotes and something I always wanted to be able to feel and say about the person I'm with. It's safe to say that I have truly found my person, the one whom my soul loves - someone so kind, generous, and warm; someone who can always make me smile; someone who is truly the best person I know. Looking back on this past week spent with the love of my life, I'm reminded of just how lucky I am to be loved by him, and how excited I am to continue exploring the rest of the world together.
Xoxo
