Here's a little ti plant landscaping project I did several weeks ago. 
So far, I'm ecstatic that none of the plants I stuck in the ground have died. I whacked these out of an overgrown jungle area on the property. That's what's both cool and frustrating about this place. You can just cut stuff, stick it in the ground and it will grow. That makes it difficult to really get rid of overgrowth if you really want to. If you leave it lying there after you cut it or pull it out, it will grow back. Another frustrating thing is that since I planted these three weeks ago, it's been raining nearly non-stop.
I saw a hilarious bumper sticker today: "Fat people are hard to kidnap." Indeed.
Today I had my first interview for a story I've been assigned by the Journal. Tomorrow is interview number two. This should be fun. One of the things I love most about being a journalist is meeting lots of interesting people who do interesting things. Today, I spoke with the woman in charge of putting on Hilo's annual Chinese New Year Festival. Ironically, she's not Chinese. Tomorrow, I'll talk to a man who saves old plantation homes by disassembling them, then re-assembling as authentically as possible in a new location.
There really have sprung up some lovely art galleries in downtown Hilo. Today, I wandered into the Arthur Johnson Gallery, where Arthur himself was there to greet me. That usually isn't the case, as it's a co-op of seven different local artists who alternate days working the gallery. That's what Arthur told me. His work, and the work of his cohorts, is beautiful, with plenty of rich, vibrant colors reflecting those found here on the island. I also walking into another shop I had been meaning to explore. It's called Katmandu. I somehow expected some sort of high-end Asian furniture store. Instead, it's full of Buddhas. Lots and lots of Buddhas. Big Buddhas, small Buddhas, reclining Buddhas. There were, however, no fat Buddhas. Only trim, fit Buddhas. (Watch out for the kidnappers, Buddha!) They also had some nice rugs and cabinets with colorful murals. The cabinets and all other furniture, were designed to house the Buddhas. It's a Buddha place. They should call it that.
I stopped to pick up a few items at the Farmers' Market and realized I was a little hungry. So I wandered over to the vendor who sell ready to eat foods. She peddles a variety of bentos, sweet breads, banana bread and musubi. Musubi is best described as a brick of rice with a strip of seaweed holding some form of meat to the top. It resembles a giant piece of sushi. It's kind of a local version of a sandwich. Usually the meat that comes with musubi is spam. Sometimes, it's a local, red-dyed, salt-laden hot dog. She sells those, but also offers pork musubis. I've had those. Their pretty good. Today, she had smoked salmon! Ono! I bought one, scarfed it down, then went back for two more! Hey, it's health food. Omega 3s, baby!
I also stopped by to visit my favorite fruit and vegetable vendor, Emily. She always throws extra stuff into my bag. Today she dropped in a handful of rambutans. They are crazy looking fruits; red and hairy, a little bigger than a walnut. Inside, however, is a sweet, gelatinous pulp covering a seed. Very tasty.
As delicious as my musubis were, I felt myself smelling not faintly of fish oil after I was finished. So I stopped into the Hilo Crack Seed and Snacks shop to pick up some tic tacs. I've purchased crack seed there before, along with dried mango. Crack seed is an acquired taste. It is dried plums, called Li Hing Mui, both salty and sweet. Local kids grow up eating it; it's a favorite treat. I actually like it, but not nearly so much as I enjoy salmon musubi.
Today, as I drove past the Poke to Your Taste truck, I noticed he was also selling poi today. That's what's written on the white sheet of paper hanging right by the door. That truck is actually pretty good. His poke is fresh ahi and he lets you pick out your own seasoning. You can add sesame seeds, shoyu (soy sauce) limu(seaweed), hot pepper spicing... whatevahs. It's ono and pretty reasonably priced. Ahi poke was selling for $14.97 per pound at KTA yesterday. Yikes!
Tomorrow, I'm off to Waimea to get my teeth cleaned and to interview the recycled house guy. I think I'll leave a little early so I can stop at Tex on the way up for a Bavarian cream filled malasada. Then I'll have to run extra on the treadmill Friday.
A hui hou. Aloha!
So far, I'm ecstatic that none of the plants I stuck in the ground have died. I whacked these out of an overgrown jungle area on the property. That's what's both cool and frustrating about this place. You can just cut stuff, stick it in the ground and it will grow. That makes it difficult to really get rid of overgrowth if you really want to. If you leave it lying there after you cut it or pull it out, it will grow back. Another frustrating thing is that since I planted these three weeks ago, it's been raining nearly non-stop.I saw a hilarious bumper sticker today: "Fat people are hard to kidnap." Indeed.
Today I had my first interview for a story I've been assigned by the Journal. Tomorrow is interview number two. This should be fun. One of the things I love most about being a journalist is meeting lots of interesting people who do interesting things. Today, I spoke with the woman in charge of putting on Hilo's annual Chinese New Year Festival. Ironically, she's not Chinese. Tomorrow, I'll talk to a man who saves old plantation homes by disassembling them, then re-assembling as authentically as possible in a new location.
There really have sprung up some lovely art galleries in downtown Hilo. Today, I wandered into the Arthur Johnson Gallery, where Arthur himself was there to greet me. That usually isn't the case, as it's a co-op of seven different local artists who alternate days working the gallery. That's what Arthur told me. His work, and the work of his cohorts, is beautiful, with plenty of rich, vibrant colors reflecting those found here on the island. I also walking into another shop I had been meaning to explore. It's called Katmandu. I somehow expected some sort of high-end Asian furniture store. Instead, it's full of Buddhas. Lots and lots of Buddhas. Big Buddhas, small Buddhas, reclining Buddhas. There were, however, no fat Buddhas. Only trim, fit Buddhas. (Watch out for the kidnappers, Buddha!) They also had some nice rugs and cabinets with colorful murals. The cabinets and all other furniture, were designed to house the Buddhas. It's a Buddha place. They should call it that.
I stopped to pick up a few items at the Farmers' Market and realized I was a little hungry. So I wandered over to the vendor who sell ready to eat foods. She peddles a variety of bentos, sweet breads, banana bread and musubi. Musubi is best described as a brick of rice with a strip of seaweed holding some form of meat to the top. It resembles a giant piece of sushi. It's kind of a local version of a sandwich. Usually the meat that comes with musubi is spam. Sometimes, it's a local, red-dyed, salt-laden hot dog. She sells those, but also offers pork musubis. I've had those. Their pretty good. Today, she had smoked salmon! Ono! I bought one, scarfed it down, then went back for two more! Hey, it's health food. Omega 3s, baby!
I also stopped by to visit my favorite fruit and vegetable vendor, Emily. She always throws extra stuff into my bag. Today she dropped in a handful of rambutans. They are crazy looking fruits; red and hairy, a little bigger than a walnut. Inside, however, is a sweet, gelatinous pulp covering a seed. Very tasty.
As delicious as my musubis were, I felt myself smelling not faintly of fish oil after I was finished. So I stopped into the Hilo Crack Seed and Snacks shop to pick up some tic tacs. I've purchased crack seed there before, along with dried mango. Crack seed is an acquired taste. It is dried plums, called Li Hing Mui, both salty and sweet. Local kids grow up eating it; it's a favorite treat. I actually like it, but not nearly so much as I enjoy salmon musubi.
Today, as I drove past the Poke to Your Taste truck, I noticed he was also selling poi today. That's what's written on the white sheet of paper hanging right by the door. That truck is actually pretty good. His poke is fresh ahi and he lets you pick out your own seasoning. You can add sesame seeds, shoyu (soy sauce) limu(seaweed), hot pepper spicing... whatevahs. It's ono and pretty reasonably priced. Ahi poke was selling for $14.97 per pound at KTA yesterday. Yikes!
Tomorrow, I'm off to Waimea to get my teeth cleaned and to interview the recycled house guy. I think I'll leave a little early so I can stop at Tex on the way up for a Bavarian cream filled malasada. Then I'll have to run extra on the treadmill Friday.
A hui hou. Aloha!
Comments