The mud fight at Wailua Falls

On vacation, it is known that you should do something for your relaxation, and where can you relax better than on a beautiful canoe tour through the breathtaking nature of Kauai. Add to that a relaxed hike to the waterfall and nothing stands in the way of a beautiful day, we thought.

Unfortunately, it should turn out a bit differently. But one thing at a time.

In the morning we pack our things and set off to Wailua Falls. I booked a canoe tour and a hike with a guide at Kamokila Hawaiian Village on the Internet.

We stop at the Opaeka'a Falls and are immediately greeted loudly by the chickens that live wild here and are something like the national bird of Kauai.

During a hurricane in 1992, they escaped from a chicken farm and since they have no natural enemies in Kauai, they thrive in the wild. The residents of Kauai claim that if you cook a lava stone and a Kauai chicken in a pot, the lava stone will be softer in the end.

After the photo stop we embark on our adventure. Already at the registration of the canoe station, we are informed that no guided tours are offered on Sundays. OK, but booked is booked and reluctantly the young lady provides us with a guide who can take us to the hiking trail and pick us up again. So this is what a guided tour looks like. A bit strange, I think. But since I don't want to spoil the others' joy, I swallow this pill. The canoe tour takes only 10 minutes and already now I feel strongly taken for a ride. Then we go to the hiking trail that is supposed to take us to Wailua Fall. The guide doesn't accompany us. He shows us the way and warns us that it might be slippery. OK slippery is not so bad, I think.

The path to the waterfall is beautifully embedded in nature, a rushing river, birdsong, beautiful flowers. In short, a little paradise. If only there wasn't this mud. A bit slippery is a huge understatement. With every step we sink into the slippery mud.

Not enough that we have to concentrate on where we step, trees in the forest also fall or break branches due to the wind. Relaxation is different.

When we finally arrive at the waterfall, I seriously wonder if the waterfall was worth this hike? I come to the conclusion that it wasn't. But the atmosphere in the group is good and so we set off on the muddy way back in good spirits. I put on some Rambo make-up, then nothing can go wrong.

And then it happens. I take a wrong step and start sliding.

In my attempt to catch myself, I twist my foot, hear a loud cracking sound in my foot, and immediately feel a strong pain. Please, please let me be able to walk, I think.

Walking, yes, but with great pain. Now I am almost grateful for the mud because it cools a little bit.

At the river where our canoe is, I immediately cool my foot, but the pain gets stronger and stronger.

Our so-called guide picks us up in a good mood. He seems to have enjoyed our 'guided tour' very much. Thank God this trip is over.

Now we also want to go to Waimea Canyon with the others. That could be fun.

Now we have to grit our teeth and not spoil the others' day.

We go to the Waimea Canyon Lookout and are rewarded with magnificent views.

Waimea Canyon is also called the Grand Canyon of the Pacific because it strongly resembles its big brother in the western United States. It is beautifully overgrown and shimmers in all imaginable colors in the evening sun. Absolutely beautiful.

We end the evening with a dinner and a postcard view.

When we arrive home, I look at what used to be my foot. It seems to have taken on the colors of Waimea Canyon and the ankle resembles more a tennis ball than a human bone.

Then we try to cool it down, because the next day the highlight is waiting, the one I was looking forward to the most. A helicopter tour over Kauai. Dear God, please make my foot better again, after all, you already annoyed us on the lava tour.