Getting better at life through traveling

On October 13th 2012, I got on a plane to Hawaii to save my relationship. The past 6 months had been really bad so we decided to head to our dream location for one last chance. However, a few days in Honolulu, it was clear that it was already over... So began the most awkward trip with the ex for the next 3 weeks!

The goal was to spend a week in Honolulu, a week in Maui and a week in Kauai. It felt great to change locations after the breakup. Landing in Maui was a bit complicated as no public transport would take us because of the huge luggage my ex was dragging so we settled for a cab. We quickly realized that our lodging choice was a good one when the driver said he didn't need an address for the Banana Bungalow Hostel!

This very affordable and cool hostel is nowhere close to any beaches but its modest location has a lot of gems around, including cheap tacos and a fantastic fresh fish counter at the closest grocery store! One thing that makes the BBH such a great place is the free daily trip offer. Seven days a week, the hostel's two vans will take as many guests as possible to a different Maui location for free (other than the tip to the great guides).

The first activity we booked was the famous Road to Hana. We made a first stop at a lovely beach. However, our guides skipped on it to lead us to a freshwater cave. We were all enjoying the sight and took a few photos until the guide asked who would jump first? I don't know what went through my mind but I just jumped in! It's only then that he specified that people who weren't fit or who were scared of darkness shouldn't go in. GREAT! I can't say I was in the best shape of my life.

And so started the most exciting cave crawl in the darkest and smallest spaces I was been in with seven other people. We climbed, slid and held on to unidentified objects (including some guy's head in my case). The adventure went on for about 10min but it probably felt like 1h at the rate my heart was going. The last step to get out of there was to climb a very wet vertical stone wall. It was straight up 5-6 steps up relying on arm strength. It was quite scary knowing that falling would mean hurting people swimming below me... It might sound easy to some but it was one the hardest thing I have had to do in my life and I DID IT!

On my walk back to the van, I couldn't stop shaking but I was also overwhelmed with a strange feeling of power. I knew at that moment that all would be ok for me and my new life started then.