Jakfruit

Flickr

UPDATE: This is pretty typical of the stuff on offer at the Koloa Sunshine Market, which is held every Monday behind the baseball diamond at Knudsen Park. It starts at noon, but you have to be there at 11:45AM SHARP to get your best spot at the starting line. Bring a 90-year-old person or a visibly pregnant woman to get “early boarding.”

This stuff was sold as “Jakfruit” so that’s what it is. I have no idea what the hell you do with it.

Ginny

I can has iPhone?

Via: Flickr
Title: Jakfruit
By: GinnyRED57
Originally uploaded: 16 Feb ’09, 4.12pm CST PST

Starting Line

Flickr

Waiting for the Koloa Farmer’s Market to open. Gentlemen, start your wallets!

UPDATE: Holy COW, these people are cutthroats! The farmers and gardeners line up at the far end of the access drive behind the baseball field, and display their wares off the back of trucks and on card tables set up by their cars. Some take the time to package and price their veggies and flowers, but the real draw are the gorgeous flowers – especially the ones that have already been arranged. That’s where the serious savings is to be had, because local florist shops charge premium prices for local flowers, as most are shipped to the mainland.

I overheard several ladies discussing that they were heading straight for the flower sellers, because they had out of town or Mainland guests coming and needed arrangements ASAP. This funky gentleman and his gentledog allowed “early boarding” for older people and pregnant women to walk down to the stalls, but NOT BUY anything until the whistle was sounded. Then the rest of us, we ravenous herd of shoppers, were escorted down to await the whistle.

Wham!! We picked out a few veggies and a small hand of ginger for cooking tonight with whatever entree we decide on – sweet corn, green beens, and so on. It was like a scrimmage, especially at a couple of hot points where the best, most artfully arranged flowers were on display.

A fight nearly broke out at the orchid truck. A Southern lady next to me said sharply “No! Excuse me, that one is mine, ma’am. I’m just getting my money out, thank you.” The other shopper stepped back, took a breath, and decided it wasn’t worth it.

Whew!! Who knew shopping was this close to being a contact sport… over flowers?

We had been told to arrive early, but we made a couple of stops looking for a particular kind of hat for David and corrective-lens snorkel mask for me (I broke my contacts), and we’d gotten turned around. When we did get there, we were relieved to see that it was still 20 minutes before start time… so we found a spot in the already crowded lot and joined the group of about 50 people waiting at the starting line. It was a bunch of snowbirds and Mainland elders, mostly, and there were some people who were at the concert the night before so we chatted with them as we waited.

After making our few purchases – $1 for a small hand of fresh ginger (more of an oversized thumb), $2 for fresh green beans, and $4 for the sweet corn, the heat and the intensity got to us and we retreated for the car. More and more people were arriving as we and other early shoppers were leaving, but we got out of their quickly enough to avoid the rush. We were shocked to see how many more cars were parked along the road – that place was THE spot to be on Kauai, apparently.

After dropping the veggies off, we went to Joe’s on the Green for breakfast, which was excellent. Nice day.

Ginny

I can has iPhone?

Via: Flickr
Title: Starting Line
By: GinnyRED57
Originally uploaded: 16 Feb ’09, 3.49pm CST PST

This Is More Like Paradise

We’re currently at Poipu Shoreson Kaua’i for the first week of our vacation, and when we got in last night, we’d had a long day traveling, waiting to change planes, and then waiting for luggage (which made it in on a later interisland flight).

It was after hours when we got to the property, but I knew to look in the lighted cabinet for an envelope with our name on it. It took a while to suss out where our unit was and how to get to it, as the property slopes toward the rocky shoreline pretty steeply and the access path to the building we’re in involves hooking around a little. But find it we did, and were mildly disappointed to find that it was a ground floor unit and not recently updated. It was okay, but could have been nicer for the price we were paying. Some people pay a premium for ground floor, as we were literally steps from the pool, but there’s a lack of privacy and if you open up all the louvers in the windows, anyone passing by can look in and see your business, your stuff, and your mess.

So this morning before taking off for a “random tour” of the west end of Kaua’i, we stopped in at the office to check in, and found that we could be moved to the second floor. Which was great, as that means that it’s on almost the same level as the parking lot, via the hooking-around pathway that leads to a ramp to the lot. So for moving baggage in and out, it’s much nicer (although there’s an elevator in this building too).

We’re now in the new unit, which is significantly more nicely appointed, with upgraded kitchen, appliances, and decor. The carpet is actually woven matting, which is kind of hard on my feet, which are sore from wearing new Teva sandals yesterday. But it’s got a better view of the water, and we’ll be much more comfortable.

It’s Unit 203-A, and if you’re ever interested in staying here, we can recommend it. Also, if you’re an avid cook, the cookware and tools I saw in the kitchen are very good quality (Henckel knives, name brand, matching pots in the cupboard). Usually with condo kitchens you get either a good deal and a mixed bag of kitchen stuff, but in the better quality units, you generally get better quality cookery tools.

At this point on the coast, we’re on a very rocky lava cliff, with crashing waves and small blowholes directly below our lanai. Beaches are a few hundred yards in either direction. When we stayed in the area a few years ago, we were at Poipu Kai, which was just fine also, but not on the water. The crashing of the waves is pretty loud, but also lulling. Sunsets are straight off the lanai, too.

We had a nice time driving around today, although a quick stop in Hanapepe, home of Lilo and Stich, left us a little depressed (and hungry, nothing is open on Sundays). But we were directed to the Grinds Cafe back on the highway, which set us up with truly ono grinds (ie. good sandwiches). They had a pretty awe-inspiring bakery case, too.

We’re headed to a restaurant called Plantation Gardens tonight, and then to a local concert at the Kaua’i Community College Performing Arts center to see a guitarist and hula dancer, along with other guests on the program. Should be an enjoyable evening, so will blog more about it later.

Yeah. All we have to worry about for the next week is eating, figuring out stuff to do, and hoping to see whales. I saw one breach from a distance while we were high up on the Waimea Canyon road, and David watched some dolphins this morning when he walked along the front of the property and stopped to talk to someone who was using binoculars.

Yep. Paradise. We has it. Technorati Tags: , ,

Ono Grinds in Hanapepe

Flickr

Teri Burger and Teri Ono (fish) Sandwich: Ono (good)

UPDATE: This sandwich was TEH AWSUM. I think the teriaki sauce was homemade. Mine was a teri burger, David had the ono (fish) teriaki. Both were ono grinds (good food).

Ginny

I can has iPhone?

Via: Flickr
Title: Ono Grinds in Hanapepe
By: GinnyRED57
Originally uploaded: 15 Feb ’09, 3.48pm CST PST

Good Kauai Morning

Flickr

UPDATE: Dawn from the lawn in front of our original condo at Poipu Shores; we moved later in the afternoon to a “second floor” unit that was actually the same level as the (lower) parking lot. Better view of the ocean, no vegetation screening the sea, and more privacy.

Ginny

I can has iPhone?

Via: Flickr
Title: Good Kauai Morning
By: GinnyRED57
Originally uploaded: 15 Feb ’09, 11.37am CST PST

Lovely Lav View

Flickr

UPDATE: We had good seats in United’s “Economy Plus” section, only because we paid $69 each to “upgrade.” A further request for a REAL upgrade to First Class was shot down at the gate podium; it no longer matters to the airlines that travel agents are salesperson capable of steering business their way.

Ah well, there are ways and ways to get what we want. More after our return trip. This flight was otherwise pleasant, with 3 movies (2 Southern black-white chick bonding movies, 1 Northern crazy white man demands justice movie).

Ginny
I can has iPhone?

Via: Flickr
Title: Lovely Lav View
By: GinnyRED57
Originally uploaded: 14 Feb ’09, 6.56pm CST PST