Banyan Tree (Lahaina)

Location: Lahaina, Hawaii, USA
Address: Courthouse Square, Front St.
Date: June 2010
Website:  lahainatown.com

  The banyan tree in Lahaina's main square was planted April 24, 1873 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first Christian missionaries in Hawaii.  It came from India where the banyan tree is the national tree.  As a seedling it was only 8 feet high.  When we finally arrived in Hawaii, it was over 60 feet high and covered an entire block.  Banyan trees are sometimes called strangler trees as they usually start their life on another tree and as the banyan grows it wraps its roots around the host tree.  As a banyan grows it also puts down roots from its branches.  This is why the tree in Lahaina appears at first glance to be several trees, but indeed it is just the one.  It also explains why the tree tends to grow outwards instead of upwards.

  We spent some time admiring the tree as we waited for our whale watching tour to begin.  We also enjoyed some breakfast sandwiches at the appropriately named Banyan Tree Deli & Bakery across the street.

  As we walked along Front Street we also encountered a few characters.  There was a thinking captain in front of The Wharf Cinema Center and a Fred Flintstone in his car advertising ice cream at the Maui Swiss Cafe.

  The Courthouse Square where the banyan tree resides used to be the location of Lahaina Fort.  The fort was demolished and the courthouse was built well before the banyan tree arrived.  In the picture below you can still see some of the remnants of the fort behind the courthouse.

    It is an impressive sight to see the tree that has taken over the square.  These days the tree is managed so that it does not encroach further into the courthouse or the surrounding streets.  It is still an impressive sight to see both by day or by night.  It also does a great job of providing shade and shelter from the Hawaiian sun.

 
  Finally it was time for us to head down to the harbour for our whale watching experience.  As the boat headed out to sea we looked back for one last glimpse of this impressive plant.

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Map of Our World
Banyan Tree (Lahaina)
Banyan Tree Deli & Bakery

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Post # 68

MUSIC - California Girls

  
Artist: Beach Boys
Song: California Girls
Released: 1965
Where to listen: Anywhere in California

    When we visited California we drove all the way from LA to San Diego and then up to San Francisco and finally back down to LA again.  That is a fair bit of driving and this song can take you across the entire state.  California Girls has been making people dream of fun in the sun for over 50 years now.  It is perhaps the best known of the Beach Boys songs.  It is also a great tune for relaxing or singing along.  You get your Beach Boys and your California Girls. 

Artist: David Lee Roth
Song: California Girls
Released: 1985
Where to listen: Anywhere in California

    If you want to mix it up a bit you can also listen to a cover version by David Lee Roth (former Van Halen frontman). This version is only 30 years old and has a campier feel.  It is still Beach Boy approved as Beach Boy member Carl Wilson provides backup vocals.  The song mentions girls from all over the United States but the West coast is the preference. We wish they all could be California.

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Map of Our World
California

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Post # 67

The Naked Cowboy

Location: Manhattan, New York, USA
Address: 7th Ave. & W 46th St.
Date: Dec 2008
Website:  www.nakedcowboy.com

  One person who can usually be found in Times Square every single day is The Naked Cowboy.  Fortunately, The Naked Cowboy is about as naked as that Elmo over there is sober.  The answer is "Not quite".  If you do happen to see a totally naked cowboy in Times Square, that is not the one we are talking about and it might be time to head in the other direction.  The real Naked Cowboy wears a white hat, white boots, white briefs and a guitar.  He has been appearing there for about 15 years now, even on cold winter days.  He also tends to attract quite a crowd when he does arrive.  According to his website he can be found in Times Square daily around lunchtime.  That is if he doesn't have any promotional engagements.  He has recorded several music albums and is in fairly high demand for public appearances.  If you live in New York City you can have him appear at your event for $1000.00 per hour.  Otherwise you can find him for free somewhere in the crowds at Times Square. 

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Map of Our World
The Naked Cowboy

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Post # 66