At around 11, we left home and drove toward Poipu beach to see the Shrimp Lady, Susan. We ordered two Bahia (coconut garlic shrimp), and Susan asked if we live here on the island. We said, no, but we came every year, and the last time we came was December 2010. She said you were lucky to be able to come every year. As she was quite busy, we didn't stay to offer our sympathy about the not readiness of her new shop.
We took our food and went to spouting horn to have a picnic. A bold rooster drew by the smell of the food, and he paced around our picnic table, crowing proudly responding to another rooster's challenge. Jack gave him a bit of rice, and he took it with his beak. He got bolder with the simple invitation. He jumped up on the picnic table came next to my food.
Jack told him: "My wife is very stingy."
"That's because I am very hungry." I enjoyed my shrimp slowly, sucking all the coconut and garlic flavor out of the shells.
Jack said: "how come you always get more shrimp than I do?" Looking at his own plate with what became more of a pile of shells, and the reduced number of shrimps.
I said: "It does look like that way, doesn't it? I think we each got 10 pieces and I think she told you how many pieces there were in each plate on the menu. I just ate slowly."
Jack finished his food and left me alone with the rooster friend - who was standing on the picnic table inches away from my plate, starring at my food with interest - when I still had 3 pieces of shrimp left. The rooster was very valorous.
I have to admit I was intimidated by this rooster, because I had this unpleasant image of being pecked by chickens in my mind. It would be very stupid to be pecked by a good looking, colorful rooster on my annual visit to the island. Since I already finished my rice, I had nothing else to give him but some pieces of shells and bits of coleslaw. I gave him bits of those while I quickly finished my shrimp and felt a bit ripped off. I wished Jack stayed with me when I ate!
After lunch we went watch the spouting horn for a while - it was windy and wavy, and there were big spouts. We then walked passed the souvenir vendors on the way back to the car. I am proud to say I didn't spend a penny there this time - so far. When we got back to the parking lot, Jack stood in front of two identical looking white Nissan Sentra and asked: "Which one is ours?" Before I could answer, he recognized the hotel parking permit on the dashboard, and jumped into the right car.
After we left spouting horn, we wondered where we should go next. We didn't want to go to the botanical garden, which was on the way back, because it would be very troublesome to have to put on bug spray aka deet on our skins. I always felt that I was poisoning my skin when I used that stuff. So we decided to go to check out the Ukulele shop at Old Kaloa Town - Larry's Music.
We walked into the small shop, where a middle age man was playing his Ukulele. We looked around and find different sizes of Ukuleles made of different kind of woods and in different size shapes hung on the walls. After a while the man stopped playing and asked us: "Can I help you?"
SO the conversation began. Jack walked toward him and said: "We don't know squat about Ukuleles. Can you tell us something about it?" He first told us the different kind of Ukuleles - concert, soprano, and tenor. Then he explained different kind of wood, and how their Ukuleles were made. He also went on to tell us how his son had to work with the Chinese manufacturer and make their 3rd rate product become top of the line - "The trick is all on quality control, now we know it, but it sure was painful when it first started." He also told us about his friends who were famous Ukulele makers or players. He went over all the local famous players, and their stories. He told us about his wife, his son's wife, and his grandson who also plays Ukulele with his own style. This guy was so friendly, if we didn't inch our way toward the door, for we got bitten by bugs so badly, we would probably stay there for dinner. Anyway, three hours later we left the shop with no Ukulele. But feeling like soaked sponges full of knowledge about this miniature guitar looking instrument.
This was a guy who entrusted his life's story to two stranger, tourists from the States, who just happened to stepped into his store when he had no other customers. He called this season the newly weds or nearly deads ... Which we didn't appreciate, but he quickly added: "of course you guys are exceptions."
It was a full day for us. We went home, and I made BBQ chicken fried rice and stir-fried bok choy for dinner. Then we fell asleep while watching "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory".
