Zip-lining
March 29, 2009
Lisa really wanted to go zip-lining so we booked this activity well in advance of our trip. This turned out to be a good call, because apparently zip-lining is one of the most popular activities on Maui, and slots fill up fast.
We went with a company called Eco Adventures, and choose the more expensive Kaanapali Skyline Adventure tour in West Maui. I'm don't like heights, so the thought of gliding down some cable that, for all I knew, could conceivably snap at any moment and send me flailing to a crater below, didn't sound like a great time. But, I also didn't want to just hike with everyone and watch everyone else experiencing amazing, life-changing thrills, so I decided to just try it out and conquer my fears.
Unfortunately, due to high winds, half of the 8 ziplines were closed for our session. The first four ziplines were open for business, though, and Lisa was the first one to go. She jumped off the platform with no hesitation at all and screamed her way excitedly across to the other side. I still wasn't too comfortable about going, but I was next and there were fearless little kids behind me waiting to go, and I didn't want to come across as a complete wuss, so I hooked in and jumped off the platform.
I don't know what I was expecting, but it turned out that the sensation of zip-lining wasn't too crazy after all. It was fun, no doubt, but it wasn't as much of a life-threatening, visceral thrill as I had imagined. You kind of just hold on to the strap, lean back, and glide across. Overall, it's seemed very safe and effortless, and this is coming from someone who typically gets naseous when looking down from a tall building. Once the initial thrill of the first jump wore off the successive jumps weren't as exciting. So I'd rank zip-lining as one of those things you can be happy with doing only once in your lifetime ;)
We went with a company called Eco Adventures, and choose the more expensive Kaanapali Skyline Adventure tour in West Maui. I'm don't like heights, so the thought of gliding down some cable that, for all I knew, could conceivably snap at any moment and send me flailing to a crater below, didn't sound like a great time. But, I also didn't want to just hike with everyone and watch everyone else experiencing amazing, life-changing thrills, so I decided to just try it out and conquer my fears.
Unfortunately, due to high winds, half of the 8 ziplines were closed for our session. The first four ziplines were open for business, though, and Lisa was the first one to go. She jumped off the platform with no hesitation at all and screamed her way excitedly across to the other side. I still wasn't too comfortable about going, but I was next and there were fearless little kids behind me waiting to go, and I didn't want to come across as a complete wuss, so I hooked in and jumped off the platform.
I don't know what I was expecting, but it turned out that the sensation of zip-lining wasn't too crazy after all. It was fun, no doubt, but it wasn't as much of a life-threatening, visceral thrill as I had imagined. You kind of just hold on to the strap, lean back, and glide across. Overall, it's seemed very safe and effortless, and this is coming from someone who typically gets naseous when looking down from a tall building. Once the initial thrill of the first jump wore off the successive jumps weren't as exciting. So I'd rank zip-lining as one of those things you can be happy with doing only once in your lifetime ;)
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Beautiful view, bland food, worse service
Mala is a snazzy restaurant located in a beautiful, partly outdoor setting, in the Marriott. However, it seems like one of those restaurants that are all flash, little substance, with poor service and barely better food.
Let's start with the positives. It's in a beautiful outdoor setting, and during sunset there are spectacular views. It's prices, although still too expensive by any other city's standards, are relatively cheaper than many other nice restaurants in Maui. Which means you'll be paying $30 an entree rather than $40 or $50.
Now the negatives. The service was terrible, among the worst I've experienced. First off, the waiter forgot to bring our drinks. I had to get up and find someone to remind them. He came back, apologized, and said that it was really someone else's job to bring the drinks over, and that they had simply been left at the bar. He said he'd remake a tropical iced drink for Lisa (because it had probably melted by then), but apparently he forgot to ask them to pour me another glass of beer, because by the time it arrived it was lukewarm.
When another server brought our appetizers, I mentioned that my beer was warm, and asked for another one. I saw him approach our waiter at another table, inform him of the situation, and he returned to tell us that the waiter would be right with us to get me another drink. Unfortunately, the waiter just left without stopping by our table, and after I few minutes I had to get up again and find someone to get me another drink. At this point I was doing more walking than eating.
When the entrees came, at first I liked my entree (the hawaiian special fish, `Opakapaka ), but then Lisa had a bite and mentioned it tasted kind of bland. Maybe by this point I was sufficiently frustrated enough where I was just looking for more faults with the restaurant, but for whatever reason the fish started tasting flavorless to me at that point too.
I could go on but it would probably just bring up bad memories. Maybe you could have a good experience at this restaurant if you received better service, but given that this is your vacation, I'd highly recommend checking elsewhere and avoiding the risk entirely.
Let's start with the positives. It's in a beautiful outdoor setting, and during sunset there are spectacular views. It's prices, although still too expensive by any other city's standards, are relatively cheaper than many other nice restaurants in Maui. Which means you'll be paying $30 an entree rather than $40 or $50.
Now the negatives. The service was terrible, among the worst I've experienced. First off, the waiter forgot to bring our drinks. I had to get up and find someone to remind them. He came back, apologized, and said that it was really someone else's job to bring the drinks over, and that they had simply been left at the bar. He said he'd remake a tropical iced drink for Lisa (because it had probably melted by then), but apparently he forgot to ask them to pour me another glass of beer, because by the time it arrived it was lukewarm.
When another server brought our appetizers, I mentioned that my beer was warm, and asked for another one. I saw him approach our waiter at another table, inform him of the situation, and he returned to tell us that the waiter would be right with us to get me another drink. Unfortunately, the waiter just left without stopping by our table, and after I few minutes I had to get up again and find someone to get me another drink. At this point I was doing more walking than eating.
When the entrees came, at first I liked my entree (the hawaiian special fish, `Opakapaka ), but then Lisa had a bite and mentioned it tasted kind of bland. Maybe by this point I was sufficiently frustrated enough where I was just looking for more faults with the restaurant, but for whatever reason the fish started tasting flavorless to me at that point too.
I could go on but it would probably just bring up bad memories. Maybe you could have a good experience at this restaurant if you received better service, but given that this is your vacation, I'd highly recommend checking elsewhere and avoiding the risk entirely.
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