“With heartfelt gratitude to you, Ena. Your spirit has touched my heart, and your experience remains a source of insight for me. Your work is significant and inspiring. 💖✨🙏🌿”

Meaning:

Deep gratitude, your soul - Ina - has touched my heart, your actions remain as light/insight.

Whirinaki – The day nature found me again

There are travel moments that are just beautiful. And then there are those that open you up inside, stir you, bring silence – and connect you with something greater than yourself. That is exactly what happened to me today. Something I last experienced during my training as a mental coach: that feeling that everything is interconnected. That you stand in the midst of life and at the same time are a part of nature, without separation, without distance. A feeling that cannot be explained if someone hasn’t experienced it themselves. Yet I try here – for this day deserves words.

Our guide was Ina. And Ina is not just a guide. She is a person who tells about her culture with so much heart, warmth, and dedication that you immediately realize: This is not a job. This is a calling. This is love. This is life. From the first minute, she took us along – into her nature, her story, her world. She spoke of plants, of trees, of animals, as if they were her own siblings. And when you hear her talk, you immediately understand this sentence:

If you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life.

Ina lives this sentence. And we were fortunate to witness that.

The first hours in the forest were already extraordinary – powerful, interesting, beautiful. The Whirinaki Forest has something awe-inspiring. You see a lot, you feel a lot – and yet this was just the prelude for me. The real climax came later.

Because when we were allowed to enter the private area, the family-run part of their operation, something began that deeply moved me. Ina told us why her family does this work: to show people – children, teenagers, adults – how deeply their culture is intertwined with nature. They teach young people how to live with nature, not against it. What she explained, shared, and conveyed there was exactly what people like our Stephan Wiese in the chapter always long for: genuine connection. Real life. Real values.

And while she spoke – with this incredible passion, with shining, radiant eyes – I had to think of my younger daughter. Of that childlike enthusiasm when she talks about things she loves. Of that glow that warms the entire room. Ina had that. This pure, unfiltered burning for something greater. And it struck me right in the heart.

After the tour, we cooked. Traditional food, in a very primitive way. I tried everything – of course. It was honest, warm, loving. The whole family put in incredible effort. And then there was the little dog, who immediately reminded me of our Mali, who is waiting for me at home to take her long walks again.

In between, there were two rain showers that I had never experienced like that in Germany. North German rain fronts feel like light drizzle compared to this. Here it is a real deluge: water falling from the sky in sheets. And the amazing thing is – often a second wave comes afterward, which is even more intense. But all of this was part of this day. Pure adventure.

And then, to conclude, a moment I will never forget: Ina took a photo of us. I had told her before about my daughter – about that very glow I recognized in her. And she understood immediately, without many words. Perhaps she could have said it in her own language too. I didn’t understand every word of her English, but I understood everything she wanted to convey. It was one of those rare conversations that you have with your heart, not with your mind.

This day was not just fantastic. It was not just extraordinary. It was a gift. And I am grateful for it.

Polynesian Spa – An evening in volcanic water

After our impressive day in the Whirinaki Forest and the encounter with Ina, I actually didn’t need any more emotions. And yet, I went to the Polynesian Spa in the evening – just to let the day wind down. I thought: two hours of peace, warmth, relaxation. However, the fact that this facility sources its water directly from an active volcanic system makes the whole experience special.

People actually bathe in volcanic water, in real geothermal thermal water that has been known for its healing properties for centuries. Just this thought enhances the stay – literally and emotionally.

The spa uses two different sources:

• Priest Spring, slightly acidic, sulfur-rich, is supposed to relax muscles and soothe joints.
• Rachel Spring, alkaline, mineral-rich, known for its skin-nourishing effect.

You sit in pools whose water is not just warm – it has been heated by the earth itself, pushed through rock layers, charged with minerals.

It’s a bit like sitting in the very body of the planet.

That’s exciting. That’s powerful. You can feel it.

I stayed there for almost two hours. Just floating, observing, letting it work. The combination of hot water, volcanic energy, steam, peace, and lake view undoubtedly has something magical. For many people, this is probably a spiritual or even healing experience.

And still – the spark didn’t ignite for me personally.

Maybe it’s because I experience such moments more in encounters, in conversations, in nature experiences like today with Ina. The Polynesian Spa is beautiful, pleasant, beneficial – but for me, it remained in the area of “wellness”.

I absolutely believe that this water heals. I also believe that the combination of minerals, temperature, and environment can achieve much good.

Only: it didn’t blow me away.

But that doesn’t make the experience any less exciting. On the contrary: I’m glad I was there. I understood why so many people swear by it. I understood how much power lies in this volcanic source.

And it was a worthy conclusion to a day that was already full of emotions, nature experiences, culture, and connection.

An evening in volcanic water – charged, intense, special.

Just in a calmer way. A way that works for many. For me, it was a lovely winding down. No more, no less.

Hello and welcome!