Our Top Achievers Club (TAC) trip this year was to the beautiful island of Maui. As I've mentioned before, Maui is one of my favorite places in the world, and the Grand Wailea (where we stayed) is the premiere property on Maui. So it would be pretty difficult not to have a good time - even though technically I WAS working - and I did.
The first thing we did upon arrival (well, after sleeping the first night) was a drive to the beautiful Iao Valley. Almost completely perpendicular mountains that are green from top to bottom, amazing flowers, and some pretty cute birds. Gene and Kristine (company founders) went with us, and we ended our trip with dinner at Bubba Gumps.
This is the view from my balcony. It's not a great picture, and you can't tell that the white area is actually the ocean.
After a formal welcome to the participants, we went to the Maui Tropical Plantation, where we also had a helicopter ride and received Maui Jim sunglasses. These are friends from Mexico.
We had three helicopters going in and out of the MTP field (a special arrangement - you usually have to go to the airport). Everyone seemed "wowed" by the helicopter ride.
When not on the helicopter, getting sunglasses or eating lunch, participants went on a tram tour ofr the Plantation grounds.
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.
Because Gayle is on my team, I now actually get to have "off" time during an event (we alternate on that, as well as getting up early to make sure the breakfast is set up and going). So on Saturday, Andrew (UK General Manager) and I took the Road to Hana. We left at 10 am and returned at 8 pm, and definitely didn't stop at all the stops. In fact, there were only a couple that I had stopped at before - the rest were all new to me. This wasn't the main black sand beach, but pretty nevertheless.
This picture was taken with a flash in a pitch black underground lava tube. It was pretty cool.
One of many waterfalls.
We continued on the road, rather than turn around as most people do. The road wasn't too bad, though it narrowed even further. At one point, I wondered if we had made a wrong turn somewhere and ended up on a bike path. And I almost hit a goat. Goats and cows wander the road everywhere. We stopped here to take a few pictures of the rainbow.
What a view ... no matter where you were.
Here's Gene in his funny hat that he bought in Lahaina.
My new boyfriend. At least he's tall!
A longtime TAC participant and friend, Cecilia from Ecuador. We don't speak the same language, but we understand each other.
One of my most favorite friends of all, Maria Sara from Ecuador. She is an absolute angel.
And of course, we have to end with a beautiful sunset, taken at the Old Lahaina Luau on the last night.
